Franklin becomes a traitor to Troy

February 5, 2009 7:44 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Tony Franklin is always welcome in the Sun Belt Conference, but how he'll be received after joining his former team's rival is yet to be determined.

Franklin, who left Troy last year to spend less than a season at Auburn, has taken offensive coordinator's position at Middle Tennessee.

Troy and Middle Tennessee are fierce rivals.

The Battle for the Palladium has been raging since 1936 -- the longest running series between Sun Belt rivals -- and Middle Tennessee owns an 11-5 advantage. However, Troy has won the trophy each of the past three seasons.

But that could change with Franklin on board. Although he didn't have a great tenure at Auburn, he was wildly successful at Troy, especially against Sun Belt competition.

"We are excited to have Tony joining our staff," coach Rick Stockstill said. "I know he can help us expand our offensive philosophy while bringing a lot of energy and enthusiasm to that side of the ball.

"He will also be a very valuable asset in recruiting because of his many contacts throughout the country."

The Blue Raiders needed a spark like this especially in a conference that is starting to gain a lot of parity. Teams such as Florida International and Louisiana-Monroe are steadily catching up, making the Sun Belt a much more competitive conference.

If Franklin stays true to form, the Blue Raiders will run a spread offense next year, which is good because they have the quarterback and receivers to do it. Dwight Dasher is the anticipated starting quarterback and star receiver Malcolm Beyah returns for his sophomore season.

During Franklin's first season at Troy, he helped the Trojans to their first Sun Belt title while transforming the Sun Belt's worst offensive unit into the second best. The Trojans ranked first in passing offense after ranking last in that category, too.

In 2007, the Trojans ranked 16th nationally in total offense and 25th in scoring offense.

"I am glad to be coming to Middle Tennessee and working with Coach Stockstill, his staff, and meeting the players," Franklin said. "I am very familiar with Middle Tennessee because of our conference affiliation when I was at Troy and I can't wait to get started. The one thing I am excited about is getting to know all the people and becoming part of the Blue Raider family."

I don't see him as a traitor. No Troy fan should. The circumstances of how he became OC at MTSU does not make him a traitor. He was offered a bigger job at Auburn while he was at Troy, took it, and things didn't work out. After he was fired, he had nowhere to go. Blakeney would've been interested in having him back, but Blakeney didn't have any room on the Troy staff. Now Franklin has a chance to prove the nation and Auburn fans once again what his offense is all about. That set of circumstances is not traitorous. Now if he were still at Troy, and went to MTSU for the same OC position, then that would be considered traitorous.

I wish TF the best and I hope he can do for MTSU what he did for Troy... except I want Troy to keep beating the Blue Raiders!

I'm kinda suprised he wasn't offered a better job. I guess Auburn using him as a scapegoat killed his chances.

(02-05-2009 11:24 PM)MeanGreenEagle Wrote:  I'm kinda suprised he wasn't offered a better job. I guess Auburn using him as a scapegoat killed his chances.

Yeah, I think because of his lack of success at Auburn, no other big teams wanted to take a chance with him. His lack of success though wasn't because of his system, it was because the asst coaches at Auburn never wanted to go with his offensive scheme and because he didn't have players that knew much about his spread attack.

And welcome to the board MeanGreenEagle.

Tony's offense is ideal for smaller programs. the big BCS programs can pull in the talent needed to run pro-style offense. smaller mid-major teams can't so we need an offense that utilizes smaller, faster kids. the spread is the great equalizer, and TF's style is perfect for the Belt.

He'll be a career mid-major coach from now on.

I feel kind of split on the issue.

If he has success at the Muts and turns them around then that's awesome for the Belt and our football rivalry.

But, if he were to go and completely fail and fall on his face...I think I would have to chuckle a little bit.

Here's to the MUTS getting their crap in order and fielding better teams in the future.

good ol' Paul, glad your posting more now bud.