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:

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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.