Vanderbilt coach James Franklin referred to Alabama coach Nick Saban as “Nicky Satan” while speaking at the Macon (Ga.) Central High sports banquet.
“There’s this guy in Alabama. I think his name is Nicky Satan,” Franklin told the crowd. “You guys have probably heard of him before. I’m going to outwork him. I’m going to outwork him. And that’s kind of our plan every single day.”
Is this really a problem? Apparently, it was because according to The Tennessean, Franklin called Saban to apologize.
I would’ve had more respect for Franklin if he didn’t apologize. “Yeah, I said it. So what?”
And when told “James Franklin” was on the line, do you think Saban said (a) “Who’s James Franklin?” or (b) “Wait … the Missouri quarterback is calling?” or (c) “Tell him I’m not here.”
According to the Tennessean, Saban accepted the call.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for Coach Saban,” Franklin told the newspaper. “I just got off the phone with him. Tremendous respect for them. I’ve got tremendous respect for what they’ve done. Everybody is chasing them. The guy has won three or four national championships.
“(I was) really talking about the work ethic that he has a reputation for, and that we’re going to outwork them. I made a joke. And in today’s society with all the media and social media and people with tape recorders and things like that, that doesn’t come off that way. I know people have tremendous pride in Alabama, and their fans are fanatical. So I understand. But it was a joke and I didn’t mean to offend anybody.”
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