By Ed McGranahan.

By Ed McGranahan

This is “common knowledge” pertaining to the N.C. State search for a new head coach as it relates to Chad Morris. N.C. State athletic director Debbie Yow grew fond of James Franklin when both were at Maryland, he as Ralph Friedgen’s coach-in-waiting.

After announcing that Tom O’Brien would not return next season, Yow said Franklin was not a candidate. Franklin, coach at Vanderbilt, has not said a word – about N.C. State or his friendship with Yow or how to vault the fiscal cliff.

It is a prudent strategy because as a minority head coach there will be a number of opportunities out there this year. Until somebody turns his head, Franklin prefers the common approach of “I am focused making Vanderbilt football the best it can be.”

Franklin also knows that building a successful program at Vanderbilt requires negotiating hurdles facing no other coach in the SEC. Every coach wants to win and Vanderbilt makes that difficult as much because of the company it keeps.

A well-funded job in the Big East or ACC with an administration you know and trust to be committed to the same goals is preferable.
The board at N.C. State has been asked to assemble Wednesday, presumably to discuss a potential contract for a future hire.

One of the critical issues at N.C. State is how much it can commit to a football coach’s salary, can the Wolfpack compete for the best and brightest.

When he was hired, Tom O’Brien’s salary was among the lowest in the ACC. According to the annual USA Today survey, O’Brien was to make about $2 million this year, right behind Dabo Swinney.

Based on figures available for the U.S. Department of Education, N.C. State’s athletic budget this year will be similar to Clemson’s in terms of total revenue, expenses and profit.

With the ACC about to bump each member’s share of the pie, it would appear that N.C. State has money to invest in a football coach, whether that’s Franklin or Morris.

With that in mind, N.C. State remains a sleeping giant in football. Lou Holtz and Bo Rein helped elevate its stature (As a side note, some of you are too young to know that Monte Kiffin, Lane’s daddy, followed Rein).

Dick Sheridan was the first to make the Wolfpack competitive for more than a few years. Sheridan went 52-29-3 in seven seasons, second winningest in school history to legendary Earle Edwards who won 77 but had a losing record (1954-70). Recruiting wasn’t his favorite part of the job, and Sheridan walked away from chances to coach at Georgia and LSU.

Mike O’Cain, Chuck Amato and O’Brien were all called out on strikes after Sheridan, Amato after a winning record. We all know that Chad Morris has a substantial contract, the best for an offensive coordinator in the world. And Morris and his wife recently completed construction of a new home, and there are considerations for his children.

A job as Division I head coach would allow him to leave without exercising the buyout, so that shouldn’t be an obstacle if N.C. State wants to pay the going rate for a head coach, about what O’Brien made this year.

If N.C. State really wants to invest in the program, make it player for the ACC Championship along with Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech, then the Wolfpack probably can turn James Franklin’s head.