James Franklin has officially been in Blacksburg for the past 10 days and has shaken the ACC coaching ranks at its core. Three months ago, no one would have predicted Penn State would fire Franklin, he would be looking for a new job and would end up at Virginia Tech.
Most Hokie fans would never have imagined this type of hiring either. Virginia Tech’s athletic department means business, and this is the next step to possibly reach the high level everyone would expect.
Do remember, there was once an empty national championship trophy case in the Merriman Athletic Center on the campus of Virginia Tech. The signage read: “for the future national championship trophy.” It has since been taken down but might now have to be moved back into the walkway overlooking the football team’s outdoor practice facility.
While the hiring of Franklin might not mean “national championship or bust,” it does mean university officials expect better than the past eight years.
The question is whether Franklin is the answer. His hiring definitely has gained a lot of national attention for a university in southwest Virginia. This alone has increased the marketing of the university as a whole.
Over 100 recruits were at this weekend’s Miami game with many of the committed Penn State recruits, who are left to wonder if they should follow Franklin here.
I would expect that as many as 20 will move with Franklin. This should also include several via the transfer portal. So, expect his roster to be dotted with former PSU connections.
Franklin relocated 16 assistants when he moved from Vanderbilt to Penn State and is expected to do a lot of the same to Blacksburg. Virginia Tech has given him almost $10 million to pump into coaching.
Now, the question is whether this is a good move for Virginia Tech.
Money-wise, it is a major move for a university that once seemed “cash strapped.” Donors are going to have step up, forking out some major moola to make this happen.
During his recent intro press conference, Franklin admitted the landscape of college athletics, especially football, has changed. Through it all, he said he will not change the way of doing things. But that does include a different way of running a college football program with a general manager and a lot of support staff to balance the amount of money being dealt out to players.
With the increase in proposed monies via the VT Board of Visitors, future players will be well paid. There might be some million-dollar contracts coming to Virginia Tech’s football.
This should mean the talent level will also increase.
Franklin will have to back up the hype of his hiring. His history has shown he can do it at both Penn State and Vanderbilt.
Let’s look at the numbers:
Franklin had a 104-45 record at Penn State
In 12 years at PSU, he had five Top Five finishes and eight Top 25 finishes with a winning percentage of .724.
Played in three New Year’s Day 6 Bowl Games, elite crowd with Alabama and Clemson.
For now, Hokie fans believe in James Franklin. The Magic Eight Ball says, “Too early to tell an answer.”
