Ron Franklin, Longtime ESPN Broadcaster, Passes Away at 79

Posted Jan 20, 2022
Ron Franklin was a prominent voice for a generation of fans growing up watching college football and basketball on ESPN. The veteran broadcaster passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79. Franklin is best known for his work with ESPN, where he called games and anchored studio shows from 1987 to 2011. Fran Fraschilla first shared the news. (Barrett Sports Media)

Related: Other News

NCAA tournament expansion nobody wanted is latest example of college leaders abandoning fans
Every single person who signed off on the decision Thursday to expand the NCAA basketball tournament to 76 teams understands that they are doing something...
Mon May 18, 2026

An outrageous owner and savvy businessman, Ted Turner reshaped the sports world
Ted Turner was a sportsman of all types, a world champion in sailing and a World Series-winning owner in baseball. He famously owned the Atlanta...
Sun May 17, 2026

Michael Jordan surprises former teacher in hospice care with phone call
An elderly woman in Wilmington is checking off a special bucket-list wish. Ms. Etta is a hospice patient at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, but many...
Sun May 17, 2026

All-American RB Ahmad Hardy discharged after shooting, heads back to Missouri to begin recovery
All-American running back Ahmad Hardy has been discharged from a Mississippi hospital following a shooting, and the Missouri standout is returning to Columbia to begin...
Fri May 15, 2026