James Franklin refuses to hide his lingering resentment after a brutal exit from Happy Valley. The veteran head coach took control of the Virginia Tech program this winter and immediately put the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference on notice. He just confirmed what the college football landscape already suspected about his mindset.
James Franklin Discusses Penn State Exit and New Mindset at Virginia Tech
Franklin appeared in an interview with On3’s Andy Staples and talked about his new Virginia Tech job. He also openly addressed his motivation during spring practice.
He said, “Yeah, I got a huge chip on my shoulder. Kind of an unusual situation, again. 10 months earlier, we’re playing for national championship. Now, obviously, some things happened that were in my control, and I take total responsibility for that. Yeah, I got a big chip on my shoulder. Extremely motivated.”
Franklin continued, “I really enjoy coming to work every day, for people that are passionate about making Virginia Tech proud. And I feel responsibility to coach Beamer. I feel responsibility to Bud Foster.”
Big guest on the show today. James Franklin joins and is honest about having a huge chip on his shoulder after the way things went down at Penn State last year. pic.twitter.com/kxxAI966rs
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) April 2, 2026
Penn State entered the 2025 season with national title aspirations before spiraling out of control in early October. The breaking point arrived in State College when the heavily favored Nittany Lions suffered a shocking 22-21 defeat to Northwestern. Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft pulled the plug on the Franklin era fewer than 24 hours later on Oct. 12, 2025.
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Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock wasted no time securing his new leader. The Hokies needed an immediate savior after a disastrous 2025 campaign that began with a 0-3 start and ended with a 3-9 overall record. Franklin immediately went to work reshaping the culture inside Lane Stadium.
Franklin secured commitments from multiple players via the winter transfer portal, including a significant contingent of former Nittany Lions. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer and tight end Luke Reynolds headline the influx of former Penn State players now wearing maroon and orange. Franklin also raided the Duke roster to secure wide receiver Que’Sean Brown.
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In addition, Franklin understands he is stepping into a program with deep traditions and massive expectations. Invoking Frank Beamer and Bud Foster carries significant weight in southwest Virginia. Those two men defined the gritty, blue-collar identity of Hokie football for decades. Franklin is actively trying to recreate that menacing defensive culture.
The new era begins when Franklin leads Virginia Tech against VMI on Sept. 5.
