Vanderbilt's James Franklin Doesn't Hold Anything Back

Coaches are not known for showing their warm, fuzzy side. It is not common to see them overflowing with emotions without winning a national championship, but otherwise they are typically steel traps when it comes to feelings.

Correction--when they are made or even a tidy bit angry it is pretty obvious. Happy? Not so much.

Then there is Vanderbilt's head coach James Franklin. The man did something that hasn't happened in a long time this season (leading the Commodores to a nine win season; first since 1917). Along the way there was no question how he felt about the trip.

Like when the team beat Ole Miss to become bowl eligible. He was so fired up after the game that he threw the mascot over his shoulder, ran him into the locker room and then tossed him in with the players so he could celebrate with the team.

[That part comes at the 5:30 part of the video, but the whole video is pretty cool.]



That clip was something that I found after hearing about thee next clip.

At a press conference for the Music City Bowl a person in the audience made a comment to Franklin. Afterward Franklin was done he showed his appreciation for the nice words the gentleman had to say:



Some folks might call him unprofessional. Others might say he is just keeping it real.

I dig this guy. I see love that he not only appreciated the man's comments from the podium, but he made sure that the man really felt the appreciation by coming down and giving him a hug.

Football is supposed to be about passion. It is supposed to be about family and making people feel like they belong to something larger then themselves. With a person at the helm that is as warm and personable as Franklin (that appears to know his football as well) how can you not want to be a part of the Commodores?

However, I will say that there should be some limits to how 'personable' a head coach (or any coach) should be. Kissing players on the mouth--or even fake kissing players on the mouth--is a little too personable.

But it is just another example of what Franklin is about--making football fun, joking around, and getting the job done on the field (and if a coach ever kisses my son like that I am knocking his *** out).