Stephen A. Smith defends James Franklin calling for Notre Dame to join a conference

Penn State head coach James Franklin caused a bit of a stir ahead of the Peach Bowl when he declared that Notre Dame should be in a conference. Franklin made the comments during a press conference ahead of the Peach Bowl with Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman right beside him.

Stephen A. Smith was asked about Franklin’s comments during Thursday’s ESPN First Take show. He defended James Franklin and shared that he had no problem with what he said.

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“I had no problem with it. And the reason I had no problem with it is because Marcus Freeman represents the football team of Notre Dame,” Smith said. “But he’s not an administrator, he’s not a chancellor, he’s not a university president. He doesn’t have anything to do with Notre Dame being an independent. So let’s get that out the way first.”

While Smith defended Franklin for his comments about Notre Dame, he also took a shot at the Penn State head coach, who has struggled to win big games during his time leading the Nittany Lions.

“If I’m James Franklin, the one thing that I would hesitate bringing up about a conference is that Mr. Franklin himself, who I like a lot, has a 4-16 record against Ohio State and Michigan. That’s just the truth,” Smith said. “You sure you wanna bring up conferences? You might wanna dial down that subject just a little.”

Notre Dame and Penn State are playing in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, with a spot in the national championship game on the line. Smith revealed that this is the first time he has viewed Notre Dame as a true national title contender in a long time. Even when the Fighting Irish played Alabama for a national title to end the 2012 college football season, he didn’t feel like they could win.

“I have often lamented how do they get away with not being in a conference? Why the hell have they had a TV deal for decades, for crying out loud?” Stephen A. Smith said. “I mean when I think about Notre Dame and I think about the national championship picture, this is the first time in [forever] that I’ve thought about it.

“Even when they were in the national championship game against Alabama I knew they were going to get ramrodded. It was a nice season, but you’re about to get stomped on national television in the national title game tonight, and that was a beat down. This is the first time in a while you’ve looked at Notre Dame this way.”

Ultimately, Stephen A. Smith had no problem with Franklin answering a question and sharing his opinion that Notre Dame should be in a conference.

“I get where he’s coming from,” Smith said. “It might not have been necessary. But I don’t think it’s a big deal that he’s answering a reporters question as it pertains to something like that.”