Former Penn State head football coach James Franklin is off and running with his new gig at Virginia Tech, playing a somewhat familiar playbook. While that playbook will undoubtedly look painfully familiar to Penn State fans when the Hokies start lining up against their opponents this fall, all Franklin has been able to do so far in Blacksburg is talk the talk. And we all know how Franklin likes to talk up his current situation.
This is not to throw any shade at Franklin and his position at Virginia Tech. Those who know me know that I have long been a defender of James Franklin for more often than was considered cool. I was among the last to walk the plank when it came to defending James Franklin in Happy Valley, and I will stand by that stance. But even I saw that the time was right to make a change in leadership for the good of the program, and perhaps for the good of Franklin’s career moving forward. Change can be good for both, and I believe that will be the case here as Franklin embraces his next opportunity in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Penn State moves forward under the leadership of new head coach Matt Campbell.
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But I am warning you right here and now that Penn State fans should brace to hear about Franklin on a regular basis this season. Every time Franklin says something, we will be hearing about it. Every time Franklin inevitably leads Virginia Tech into a big game, we will be hearing about it. So when Franklin made his debut in front of the ACC media at this week’s ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, you can probably forgive some Penn State fans for looking to see what he said. And, not surprisingly, it seems Franklin is playing a bit of a familiar playbook.
The big theme coming out of Franklin’s ACC media appearance was that he believes Virginia Tech won the offseason.
“I think I would describe it as I think we have won the off-season,” Franklin said as he stepped to the podium at the ACC media day event. “We’ve had a great off-season in terms of implementing our standards and our expectations and our culture.”
It is arguably Franklin’s biggest win since leading Penn State to a Big Ten championship game victory in 2016.
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Jokes aside, Franklin’s job is to generate excitement about the Virginia Tech program and restore some pride in the program that is in desperate need of reasons to feel good again. And he is a master at that by saying all the things Virginia Tech fans, alums, boosters, and execs want to hear. He’s a charmer. He’s a salesman, and a darn good one at that. He is setting the tone for Virginia Tech’s return to ACC notoriety, and I have no doubt that it will be a short time before Virginia Tech is a legitimate top-25 program in the ACC championship hunt, and with that, sniffing a College Football Playoff berth.
Franklin is already playing the hits to the previous generation of the Virginia Tech football family when talking about former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and quarterback Mike Vick.
“I was trying not to fanboy out, right?” Franklin said, per ESPN, reflecting on the two Virginia Tech icons attending a football practice under Franklin. “They built something that was special, and won at a very, very high level for a long time. I want Coach Beamer to … watch our games and be like, that’s what Virginia Tech football is supposed to look like.”
Does that sound familiar, Penn State fans? It should. Franklin made attempts to pay homage to the history of Penn State football during his time as head coach, although how it landed varies for some. Is it fake enthusiasm or honest appreciation? Nobody really knows for sure, but it is the playbook that Franklin has to play until his team can take the field.
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Franklin and Virginia Tech will kick off their season on September 5 with a home game against Virginia Military Institute. Notable games on Virginia Tech’s schedule include road games against Big Ten opponent Maryland, Boston College (coached by Bill O’Brien), Clemson, SMU, and Miami as well as a home game against Pittsburgh.
Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: James Franklin’s ACC media day sounds familiar to Penn State fans
