Just my theory, but I don't think we get Franklin and most likely don't even pursue him. I don't think, as others have pointed out, that the timing is right despite how tired I am with what I've seen from this staff. Mac gets another year unless something happens that is currently unforeseen or undocumented.
I'll further speculate that I don't believe we make that big splash hire that many want, believe we deserve or are entitled to, and that it should happen because you can throw a large sum of money at the candidate and he will automatically take it. I believe this because the best of the best HBC's this day and time are already making a ton of money where they are, they are already successful and have their infrastructure either in place or in the works. With these come comfort and security, but maybe more importantly...confidence, even greater than what they might ordinarily possess. If we were hell bent on hiring Saban (just for the sake of argument), who reportedly makes in the neighborhood of 7 mil per year, do you really think offering him 10 is going to make that much difference? That bump isn't going to be worth coming to Gainesville and basically rebuilding the coaching staff and likely some of the support staff as well. Recruiting has to be a giant focus that takes not only a lot of time, but energy as well. He has to be prepared for a pretty extensive booster tour. Facilities upgrades have started (one kudo I'll give to Mac), but they'll need his push. That's a lot to do, and I'm probably leaving some other details out, after leaving a storied program that has been built in his likeness, apologies to the Bear notwithstanding. On a lesser level, I see a guy like Mike Gundy, were he to be a target, having the same feelings about uprooting. I also have to smile when I hear about Bob Stoops, who I admire, being lured out of retirement for one more big payday. Just can't realistically see it happening.
I really believe our best bet will be to better find the next up-and-comer. That will take as much research for the right candidate as it will selling to the faithful. An arduous task, to be sure, but one I believe that can be well done with the right factors, such as salary and compensation, program resources (staff hires, booster backing, etc.), and fit in terms of good management, X's and O's, and better recruiting, being attended to. We'll have to wait and se how it goes.
