"I had no problem with it": Stephen A. Smith backs James Franklin's comment for Marcus Freeman to join conference

Penn State coach James Franklin is not a fan of Notre Dame’s independent status. Count ESPN's Stephen A. Smith among those who don’t have a problem with Franklin's thoughts.

On Thursday’s edition of “First Take,” the anchor backed Franklin’s comments ahead of the Orange Bowl. Smith considered that the setting and context of Franklin’s remarks were adequate, as they were at a coaches news conference before the College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday.

“I had no problem with it," Smith said. "And the reason I had no problem with it is because Marcus Freeman represents the football team of Notre Dame, 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.”

What’s more, Smith supported the notion that Notre Dame has benefitted from its status as independent despite finding little breakthrough success on the field.

The Fighting Irish have not won a national championship since 1988, yet the program is among the most popular in the sport. Notre Dame has its own television contract and doesn’t have to share prize earnings from the CFP with a conference or any other school.

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

The ESPN personality remembered that while Notre Dame played in the BCS national championship Game in January 2013, it was a sizeable underdog against Alabama. The Irish fell behind early and wound up losing 42-14.

Penn State will face Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to determine the first team in the national championship game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

What did James Franklin say about Notre Dame ahead of the Orange Bowl?

In the news conference ahead of the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame, James Franklin was critical of a team not belonging to a conference.

“This is no knock on Coach or Notre Dame, but I think everybody should be in a conference," Franklin said. "I think everybody should play a conference championship game or no one should play a conference championship game. I think everybody should play the same number of conference games.”

The Penn State coach also said that teams should play the same number of conference games, adding that playing one more conference matchup makes a big difference.

Franklin also suggested having a college football commissioner, even naming Nick Saban, Chris Petersen and Dave Clawson as potential candidates for the job.