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Former ESPN broadcaster Ron Franklin has passed away at the age of 79.
Franklin, who worked for the Worldwide Leader from 1987 to 2011, was a big part of the network’s college football and college basketball coverage, with a focus on the Big 12.
Many in the media paid their respects to Franklin after learning the news of his Tuesday death, including his former broadcast parter, Fran Fraschilla:
Just heard the sad news that my former @espn colleague, Ron Franklin, has passed away. An amazing broadcasting talent & a good man. Was a part of so many great @Big12Conference broadcasts with him. RIP, partner. pic.twitter.com/e2KhP59y8Q
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) January 19, 2022
Just got the sad news that my friend Ron Franklin has passed away.
If you’re a sports fan, you knew Ron Franklin and his amazing voice. Incredibly talented and knowledgeable and very nice and gracious. RIP.
??✝️❤️— Mike Barnes (@MikeBarnesMedia) January 19, 2022
Franklin’s ESPN career wasn’t without controversy, though, as he was fired in 2011, per this Awful Announcing report:
Franklin was fired from ESPN in 2011 after making sexist comments to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards in a production meeting ahead of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. He also drew criticism for a comment made to sideline reporter Holly Rowe during an ESPN college football broadcast in 2005.
Prior to joining ESPN, Franklin had quite a career in Texas, working for the Houston Oilers and Texas Longhorns as their play-by-play man.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
