That James Franklin came in second to Mike McIntrye in two major college football coach of the year awards released this afternoon does not diminish what he's accomplished. It actually only accentuates it.
Because merely being in proximity with one another validates the jobs the Penn State and Colorado coaches did this year. Both entered this season lugging doubts among their programs' skeptical followers. Each transcended them. Both thrived. They might as well be co-coaches of the year.
McIntyre won the Associated Press award by a sliver over Franklin, 109 to 98 total points, 25 to 16 in first-place votes.