Captain's Log, Message Board Entry Three.
Stardate... uncertain. The natives of this quadrant measure time not by celestial bodies but by threads—endless streams of speculation, rumor, and unverified intel. I now enter the third such thread, where anxiety levels rival those of a Klingon battlecruiser under full cloak.
Our mission: to determine whether Virginia Tech has secured James Franklin as its next head football coach. Reports are conflicting. Some claim "sources" have confirmed the hire. Others insist the search continues. A few rogue commenters believe the entire situation is a smokescreen orchestrated by unknown forces... perhaps even Florida State.
Morale among the posters is unstable. Hope rises, then collapses, then rises again—an emotional waveform no Starfleet psychologist has yet charted. I proceed cautiously, for the territory ahead is fraught with hot takes, insider whispers of dubious origin, and at least one individual who insists he saw a plane.
Still, we press on. For where there is rumor, there may be truth... and where there is truth, there may at last be confirmation.
End log.
Comments
I'm increasingly concerned that this is a Sexton masterclass. Even if Whit isn't overly involved, I worry we're being strung along by a guy who knows how to play this game and is much better at it than anyone on our side.
We would look like the biggest idiots after the whole GameDay thing if this doesn't end up happening. I guess at least they called it "early talks"
My evolving theory is that the Gameday push didn't come from Tech, but from Sexton. To try and push other potential suitors off the fence.
I think you are spot-on.
It was Sexton ringing the Dinner Bell to see who else they could get to the table. It was a "last chance" signal but also making it clear that JF2VT isn't a done deal.
I tend to think that there is legitimate interest JF-->VT but Sexton's job isn't to get his clients a job...its to maximize and manipulate the market to get him the best job with the absolute best terms possible...he knows that and is in no rush to finalize.
by "early stages" he meant "negotiations complete"
I'm ready to be let down. Before this season the only time Franklin's name was mentioned was when it came to selling snake oil and poaching recruits from the state of Virginia. To date we are the only team his name has been leaked to be associated with. I'm getting the growing sensation that we're being used, in a bad way. I would love to have him, but this seems to be taking way too long as both sides seem to be dancing around a decision.
I could go for some snake oil and recruit poaching!
I've never been so positive and unsure of something in the same day for nearly 30 consecutive days until this coaching search.
JF III - The Signing
All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy All work and no play makes Alum a dull boy
Today, for sure. And if not today, tomorrow for sure. And if not tomorrow....
Soon...
Apparently!
At this point, it's got to be today or tomorrow. If not, on to Chesney.
Nope. The only ones in a hurry are VT fans. If the committee is still engaged in meaningful negotiations that means we wait.
And don't underestimate Franklin's ability to legally tamper with players, recruits, and coaches at this point.
I just have Hokie PTSD, and only think the worst. Basically, that we are getting Sexton'd and another, more favorable job, will become available. Then we are caught with our pants down. I do believe we will get him, but past failures aren't letting me get my hopes up.
What other more favorable job is out there right now who would actually be interested in Franklin?
The ones who 100% are better jobs than VT right now are Florida, Auburn, Penn St, and UCLA. Penn St fired him, Florida and Auburn are going to be scared away by the perception he is incapable of getting a team over the hump, and he would have to completely reset his recruiting game at UCLA.
Arkansas was after him, but reports from their camp is that they aren't in consideration. And given who else is in the SEC, why would Franklin want that job. You can't win there, at least not to the level that rejuvenates his pedigree.
It sounds like he might be holding out for FSU, but as the FSU alumni chapter here in Raleigh that were at the bar with us on Saturday said, they can't afford to move on from Norvell, as if they could it would have been done a while ago. So that job isn't coming open.
The only job that might move the needle if it comes open is UNC. But, I am not convinced that after the Belichick disaster they are going to let another coach come in, run the program as he sees fit, and be allowed to spend gobs of money to get them to where they can be. If BB is fired, that job is going to be Bubba Cunningham doing a power grab to get that program back under his control after the boosters went rogue last year.
Right now, I completely understand the worry, I just don't see what else out there is legitimately better. And if Franklin really does want to get back into coaching soon, and his buyout makes it worth it to him to do that, he needs to do it soon. And with no additional jobs opening up this weekend, if that leak was on Sexton, to see what might shake loose, we are probably going to see conclusion very soon.
This is kind of my thought process as well. It seems like a lot of the dominos have fallen.
A potential complication would be if LSU or Florida pulled Kiffin or Drinkwitz (apparently PSU is trying for Drink too). Ole Miss and Mizzou aren't top tier SEC jobs, but I think Franklin would definitely view them more favorably than Arkansas and very possibly VT. And I don't think either of those schools would turn their nose up at Franklin the way Auburn, LSU, and UF supposedly are.
Hopefully this much ado about nothing, but that could be a way Sexton/Franklin are playing this.
If I was Franklin I would wait to see what other dominos are going to fall. Like you said what if Mizzou or Ole Miss opened? We don't know the full landscape yet, which is why we want to do this soon, but if I were a coach on the market I'd let some things play out first.
Problem with Mizzou and Ole Miss is the same as Arkansas. Sure, they might have more resources to work with, but at their best those schools might be 6th or 7th in the SEC with fanbases that would want them to eventually contend for titles. You're not going to be able to meet their expectations.
At VT, the expectation would be to contend for ACC titles and get into the playoff. You're not really blocked from being able to do that right now, and if VT is pumping the funding up to where its being reported, money won't be a deciding factor.
The barrier for success at VT, certainly for a coach looking to rehab his image, is attainable at a level you're not going to have at an Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mizzou, etc. He would have that at FSU or Clemson, but I just don't see either of those opening up this year.
You can make the argument as a coach that you can contend at a high level at Ole Miss or Mizzou in a way you can't for Arkansas. That's the reason that you don't see those jobs opening, because Kiffin and Drink may think they're in a better situation at those schools than they'd be at PSU, UF, or LSU. So I would say they are decidedly not the same problem as Arkansas.
I think the one that sticks in the back of my head is USC. Lincoln Riley certainly hasn't delivered what was initially expected of him, especially with some talented rosters, mostly offensively. It had been mentioned that if the season didn't end well, there could be a separation there. Last time that job was open, it seemed there was mutual interest between the two.
Obviously, UNC was one as well but there have bee enough signs in close losses and defeats that make me think Jordon's boyfriend will stay. F$U is indeed broke at the moment, and I don't think Franklin fits an SEC mold outside of somewhere like Missouri, which could come open if Drink goes to Pedo State. I'll always worry with this admin because Whit is still there. I know Rocovich is leading the way and seemingly doing a very good job, it's just I have no faith until faith is restored.
If we get caught with our pants down, is our weiner orange or maroon?
or do we have one at all?
Striped like VT candy cane
HokiePTSD is a great username for a new tkpcer
think we're going to eventually get confirmation that Franklin approved the framework Friday night (Bud's quick plane trip); lawyers put the final language together over the weekend, and BOV is getting their courtesy briefing today/tomorrow in the closed "personnel matter" session.
edit: looks like it was today!
Agreed. The Gameday thing seemed like a soft launch to me. And my takeaway from the laptop creeper shot of the announcement graphic yesterday was "not if but when". The graphics team ain't putting together graphics for different coaches based purely on speculation. Although that would be an epic troll job...
What is this portal window date people are talking about? Everything I am googling shows the portal window isn't until January. Is the tweet about Franklin being able to contact recruits actually a real thing?
Its a new transfer window when you hire a coach. its like 5 days after a new coach is announced...it has no impact on us (not even sure if it applies as we might have been grandfathered in) but we've lost all of our transfers that were going to transfer midseason anyway.
Since Franklin isn't currently associated with a team he could in theory be reaching out to any active player or staff gauging their interest in playing for him at (hopefully) Tech
Gotcha. So that tweet the other day referencing Franklin having 5 days to "tamper" is irrelevant since he can tamper all he wants until he signs with a school.
The 5 days was referring to him delaying our players from leaving but that person isn't connected at all to VT so they didn't realize that we had already lost our players we were going to lose
Can threads go plaid?
James Franklin III - The Frankening
Will JF3 try to get us to change our entry song from Enter Sandman to Frankenstein /s
I'm for him going full Anti-PSU and getting us a Black Out game though. LED lights included.
Begging for us not to go the flashing LED light route... let's stand out from the crowd by avoiding that nonsense and acting like we're at a Vegas strip club. It's like being a rebel by NOT having any tattoos.
I never said anything about flashing..., but we need the ability to go dark easily for a black out game entrance.
I'll flash the camera if it'll help the team.
I'm with you, I hate the LED lights
The lights are fine, it's the flashing on/off nonsense. Every stadium feels like a house where the kids just got tall enough to reach the light switches
I'm with you on the flashing lights. There is way too much stimuli at the games as it is, I don't need anymore. I also don't need the lights flashing while trying to walk down the stairs to get a hotdog.
\\//_
My take on all of this:
In reality, I can see this as not being the case for Sexton because he would essentially allow his client's public market value to depreciate...but maybe they don't care so much about that when the final dollar amount is inked.
Expressing any amount of concern or hesitation over on 247 gets you instantly dogpiled, they have gone full Jonestown over there lol, just excessively hostile to anyone suggesting that maybe there's trouble afoot
Alum: Nice touch with this thread start.
It sets up perfectly for part four, though hopefully with less whales and no double dumbasses
Got the Thamel bomb fellas, it's happening
"Ball in his court" thread series came to a dramatic close... Here's what transpired:
That, my friends is a SLAM DUNK!!!
Article from ESPN
I hate Finebaum but his comment that "you have to do absolutely nothing to improve VT" is spot on after this season of a dumpster fire.
I thought the same thing after watching that clip haha
Good article. Thanks for the link. Read it, enjoyed it, could NOT bring myself to listen to Finebaum, he's an absolute jerk.
It was the most absolutely lack of insight commentary I've ever seen in my life. I dont understand him or why he is popular on ESPN supposedly.
Because he deep throat's the $ec
Give him some credit. He's also cupping
And fingering the brown hole.
I saw this comment and was like "what the hell have I walked into!?!?!" so had to read all the preceding comments to catch up
So who are our top OC and DC looks????
Per Chris Coleman on the TSL stream yesterday, the staff is already decided. Who knows when we find out, but maybe that is cause they are still coaching.
If that's the case, what a stark contrast to when we hired Pry and had to wait weeks to find out who the coordinators would be. I really hope they keep JC Price on staff because I believe he is a heck of a good d-line coach. Keeping Matt Moore as the O-line coach would please me too but I defer to the experts on his coaching prowess. Our running game is definitely the strength of our offense this season.
We're still going to have to wait weeks to find out who the coordinators will be, because they're coaching elsewhere right now.
I wonder if he's looking at Odu's head coach