Ron Franklin Out at ESPN

Today ESPN's Ron Franklin was relieved of his duties with the network following some disparaging remarks directed towards his sideline reporter, Jeannine Edwards. The comments were made within a meeting with other ESPN personnel while waiting on Florida State Head Coach, Jimbo Fisher. This wasn't the first time Franklin expressed comments towards a female sideline reporter. In 2005, Franklin had also insulted sideline reporter Holly Rowe on air late in a Notre Dame blowout of Purdue.

In 2010 Franklin, along with his football analyst of four seasons, Ed Cunningham had the opportunity to broadcast two Iowa Football games for ABC. The first was Iowa State and then later in the season at Michigan. Cunningham had been a friend of the Iowa Football program for years. I believe his first broadcast of an Iowa Football game was at Nebraska in 2000, but we started to get to know him in 2001 when he and Sean McDonough traveled to Iowa City for the Hawkeye's game with Michigan. That was the beginning of many Hawkeye games, including the 2003 Orange Bowl. Ed has always been first class and supportive of Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his program.

But 2010 was the first time I had the opportunity to meet Franklin. Knowing of his run-in with Rowe in 2005 I was anticipating the worst. Rowe has also covered the Hawkeyes many times, the first in 1998 with Iowa State. Rowe is always personable, fair, and enjoys being a part of college football as much as we do. But my first meeting with Franklin was not what I was expecting. A humble, appreciative announcer with no arrogance--kind and respective. I thought either this isn't the Franklin I remember or it was an isolated incident. The same respect was there upon our trip to Ann Arbor. I walked into the booth minutes before kick to say hi, and both Ron and Ed expressed their appreciation that I stopped by and wished us luck in the game with the Wolverines.

The news of this past weekend is disappointing and sad. Whether it is Brett Farve or Ron Franklin you want your lasting impression of someone to be good and to exit on their own terms, not being pushed out for the wrong reasons. Franklin apologized for his comments, but the damage had been done. The football season for Ron was basically over, with only a radio commitment for the Fiesta, which he was taken off of. The news came out and Ron is done immediately. The behavior is inexcusable, but along with this incident being remembered, so should his good memories he brought college football fans.

Goodbye Fox

Tuesday night's Fed Ex Orange Bowl marked the end of BCS college football games on Fox Sports. They will continue to broadcast another traditional bowl game, the Cotton Bowl, but the college game's elite will move exclusively to the ESPN / ABC family in 2011. The Rose Bowl will continue to be shown on ABC while the other BCS match-ups will be on ESPN.

I give Fox much credit for becoming a player in college football. More exposure over more networks is always good for any sport. They thought outside the box and tried producing games differently from what we are accustomed to. However at the end of the day, college football fans are conditioned to how ESPN portrays the game, and that is how we expect it every Saturday.

Walking onto the Land Shark Stadium field prior to the Hawkeye's battle with Georgia Tech I saw Holly Rowe, typically the sideline reporter on ABC's #2 college broadcast team. She, along with play by play man, Sean McDonough and analyst Matt Millen were handling the duties for ESPN radio. My first comment to her was that I wished she was there to be on television with her broadcast partners. Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, Laura Okmin and Chris Meyers had the call for Fox.

McDonough, Millen and Rowe have been around the college game all season long. Stockton and crew were calling their first college game together ever. They, along with Fox showed their inexperience during the night. Mispronounciations were common, especially that of Iowa head coach, Kirk Ferentz, facts were incorrect, and an introduction by Jimmy Carter seemed very odd and out of place.

Each year over half of the teams that earn BCS bowl games are not regulars to the party. It is unfortunate that a team like Iowa will remember a historic win with a broadcast team out of touch. Fox tries to show the college game in a different perspective than the traditional networks, but for less than five games a year, they risk ridicule for presentation. Beginning next year, the broadcasts will be more like what ESPN has made us believe the game should look like.

(Photo Courtesy, Scott Southmayd)

Images from Columbus

On the next to last day of the Iowa Football regular season, the Hawkeyes travelled to Columbus, Ohio for a date with Ohio State with the Rose Bowl on the line.

Upon arrival to Friday's walk through at Ohio Stadium, the Hawkeyes were met with a Rose on the 50 yard line. The team from Iowa knew the importance of the match-up, but the Buckeyes seemed to think a reminder was in order.
Members of the Iowa and Ohio media met the team on Friday afternoon.

The Iowa cheerleaders snap up a few pictures of the empty stadium

On her last day on the job, Celia Eckerman of the University of Iowa Foundation was leaving her position to take on the Development position with the Neuman Catholic Center in downtown Iowa City. Celia has been the person behind the organization of the Huddles at all bowl sites as well as regular season road trips.

Associate Athletic Director, Mark Jennings chats it up with the members of the Florda Citrus Association. The winner of the Hawkeye - Buckeye match-up automatically had the rights to the Rose Bowl. With Iowa in the top 14 of the BCS, a second possible to the BCS is a possibility.

Celebrating with Celia are many of the associates she worked with for huddles. Celia sits next to Iowa play - by play man, Gary Dolphin as well as colleague Scott Brown.

Ohio Stadium sits on the banks of the Olentangy River.

Morning rises on Ohio Stadium

The Buckeye campus.

Ohio State Head Football Coach, Jim Tressel escorts his team to the home side locker rooms.

My favorite sideline announcer, Holly Rowe of ESPN on ABC. Holly was a constant on Hawkeye Football games in 2002 as Iowa steamrolled through the Big Ten schedule. This was her first Hawkeye football game since 2004.

Very few care for the Iowa Student Athletes than John Streif. Streif is part trainer, part travel coordinator for the Hawkeye football program. Without a doubt the most respected person in the Iowa Athletic Department.

Many Buckeye fans in attendance were already smelling Roses. Up to four travel agencies advertised Rose Bowl tours in the morning newspaper, touting they would be open immediately following the Iowa game.

Setting the scene from Columbus is Iowa play by play man, Gary Dolphin and his analyst, Ed Podolak.

The Hawkeyes take the field, although the Ohio State Marching Band provides an obstacle.

Along with Holly, Matt Millen and Sean McDonough set the picture on ABC.

Sun begins to set on Ohio Stadium.

Big Ten Commissionaire Jim Delaney watches the OT from the Ohio Stadium photo deck.