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By Jim Caltagirone
For the Mirror
Credibility may be the best projector for someone’s voice.
In sports, just as in politics, credibility is synonymous with winning, and winning provides a platform for the expression of opinions and observations.
Although James Franklin is still seeking to fulfill the expectations that he stoked during his dissertation on what constitutes an elite football program, his teams have beaten enough middle-of-the pack opponents that he can command the attention of national media representatives.
During a press conference leading up to the College Football Playoff semifinal between Penn State and Notre Dame, Franklin held court on numerous subjects relating to the state of the sport.
He offered his views on topics that included conference scheduling, conference championship games, the regular season start date and the creation of a commissioner-type position.
The ideas, suggestions and beliefs that Franklin expressed were all aired in a climate that was conducive to pontification because the Nittany Lions were among the last four teams standing in the inaugural season of the 12-team playoff.
It’s hard to imagine that the coach of a sub-.500 team could muster similar interest in his reflections and contentions.
If credibility is associated with winning, then winning is linked to power.
In pro sports, the power has been traditionally invested in ownership. The Rooneys and Maras in football and O’Malleys and Buschs in baseball transformed that power into world championships.
The importance of an owner sharing power with the head coach of an NFL team was addressed recently by Troy Aikman during a discussion on the hiring process for the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
As someone who would know, Aikman stated matter-of-factly that the last head coach of the Cowboys to hold real power was Jimmy Johnson well over a quarter century ago.
Evidence of the power-sharing that was vital to the Cowboys winning two Super Bowls during Johnson’s brief five-year tenure is the transformational Herschel Walker trade that Johnson conceived.
The draft picks that resulted from that deal with Minnesota –three in the first round, three in the second round, one in the third round and one in the fifth round — helped Dallas to build a dynasty.
Barry Switzer won a third Super Bowl with the roster that Johnson helped to construct.
Johnson never carried the title of general manager — that has been one of owner Jerry Jones’ roles — but in a nod to a Bill Parcells quote, he had the power to shop for the groceries, as well as cook the dinner.
For the Cowboys, a return to glory is tied, in part, to the hiring of a strong coach who is hands-on with talent evaluation and roster management.
The college football and basketball coaches throughout history who were outspoken on the issues of their sport were more times than not, leaders of championship teams.
In the modern era, Joe Paterno, Nick Saban, Bob Knight and Mike Krzyzewski all used their program’s success to advocate for various interests and reforms.
Social media provides an outlet for every person who feels the need to be heard, but that doesn’t bestow relevance or legitimacy on every post that’s out there.
The so-called social influencers aren’t exactly forthcoming about their credentials.
With players getting paid and transferring at will, Knute Rockne wouldn’t recognize the game of college football today.
But you can be sure that he’d have something to say about it.
Jim Caltagirone writes a monthly column for the Mirror.
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