James Franklin didn’t stay unemployed for long. After a sudden midseason exit ending his 12-year run at Penn State, the veteran coach has found a new home in Blacksburg. Now, he arrives at Virginia Tech with a point to prove and a clear mission: restoring the Hokies to national prominence.
What Fueled James Franklin’s Move to Virginia Tech?
The numbers tell a story of consistency: 12 years, 194 wins, and a 69.8% winning percentage. Yet, Penn State made the rare decision to fire Franklin in the middle of the season despite his teams reaching a bowl game every year and winning half of them. Upon arriving in Blacksburg, the new Hokies coach didn’t shy away from the past. He addressed his new team directly, explaining the factors behind his struggles at Penn State.
“I’m a player’s coach. That’s all I called about. When things changed at Penn State, the reason I struggled is because I care about the players. I think in today’s college football, it can still be transformational, not just transactional,” Franklin said.
He emphasized the changing landscape of the sport to his new roster.
“There is business in college football in a way there hasn’t been before, and we have to have honest conversations. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do, and we’ve got tough decisions to make. I got a huge chip on my shoulder. This is your program, and we’ll be as good as you’ll decide to be.”
Franklin wasted no time reshaping the roster, signing a deep class featuring 17 recruits and seven transfers. His immediate goal involves reviving an offense that ranked 49th in the FBS, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric. He plans to inject explosiveness into the unit with freshman wideouts Kaylen Adams and Chanz Wiggins.
Additionally, Franklin prioritized the DMV area, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, continuing the program’s aggressive recruiting approach in the region.
What Challenges Await Matt Campbell at Penn State?
Meanwhile, new Penn State coach Matt Campbell hopes to match Franklin’s previous success. The former Iowa State coach took the job after several big-name candidates declined the opportunity. The Nittany Lions face a challenging Big Ten schedule, featuring games against Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana.
Franklin faces a different challenge in the ACC. While Clemson remains a primary obstacle standing in the way, the path appears more manageable compared to the Big Ten gauntlet. However, no team looks poised to run away with the conference title just yet. This situation allows the Hokies to systematically build their program rather than rushing their pursuit of winning.
Without the burden of immediate playoff-or-bust expectations, Franklin begins his journey in the mountains. This environment gives him the chance to fully commit to being the “player’s coach” he described. Now, the question remains: How will this change of scenery impact the veteran coach’s career?
The writer is obviously not from around here.😂😂
The D in DMV is District of Columbia and not Delaware!