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Granville's picture Granville
| 8 months 1 week # | James Franklin - Ball is in your court?

We get it, you don't want us to hire him. But this is the James Franklin thread. You don't have to keep reading or commenting if you're tired of talking about him.

Granville's picture Granville
| 8 months 1 week # | James Franklin - Ball is in your court?

So Eric Mac Lain, Kirk Herbstreit, and Pat McAfee all seem to know something . Andy Bitter said publicly that he thinks Franklin to VT is going to happen. I know we're the most snakebitten pessimistic fanbase in the country, but I can't help but think we're looking good here.

bar1990's picture bar1990
ATLIEN
| 8 months 1 week # | Coaching Carousel 2025-26

Looking at this list, it's really interesting how many of these coaches were destined to fail:

  • Arnett was a young DC, taking over for an experienced head coach who invented and ran a scheme that Arnett had no interest in running.
  • FAU, Charlotte, Tulsa, and Kent State are all just really hard jobs. No one has had sustained success at any of those schools ever (Kent is hard, FAU and Charlotte are young, Tulsa is just a tough job).
  • Trent Dilfer was a terrible hire from the get go at another tough job.
  • Hugh Freeze had one great recruiting class and one catch that bounced off a guy's helment. Take those away and his tenure at Ole Miss was mid, even for ole mis standards.
  • Ryan Walters was probably the highest upside of any of these 10 hires (the only other being Tom Herman - I thought that one would go better), but Purdue (or maybe Walters) just weren't prepared for the NIL/Portal era.

It's also interesting that three of the 'in demand' coaches are at their P4 alma maters (Key, Brohm, Dilingham)... I find it... ironic? that while VT is trying to move away from our history, those three programs are leaning into their past. Not saying it's good or bad, or we should be doing something differently, just interesting.

I gotta say, I really thought Newberry was going to flop at Navy. I'm pretty impressed/surprised with how willing he was to innovate on offense there.

HomebrewHokie08's picture HomebrewHokie08
🍺MAKES "BEER" ⚗️🦃
| 8 months 1 week # | James Franklin - Ball is in your court?

Our leverage is that there are worse opportunities sitting open right now. Franklin could wait too long and find himself settling. I am in the camp that LSU, FL, Auburn bases think Franklin is beneath them. So he's picking between us, Ok St, or waiting for more dominos to fall.

Egbert's picture Egbert
BEER
| 8 months 1 week # | James Franklin - Ball is in your court?

Yes but, they are all going to reach a verbal agreement before lawyers/agents draw up any documents and the normal back and forth of detail negotiations occur.
As well, it may include additional silence clauses as the new HC contacts sub coaching staff to go over additional details in order to accurately asses financial requirement of at least OC and DC ballpark costs.

heuplek's picture heuplek
🗿
| 8 months 1 week # | Maximus Fortier commits to Hokies Wrestling

We'll be closer than we've been on paper...the gap between the top 3-4 programs and the ROYs is pretty significant in wrestling though. 2025 Penn State had returning national qualifiers at like every weight class with top 5 wrestlers in 8 weight classes. That's really really hard to beat.

To add: Penn St has broken the team point record each of the past 2 years. All 10 of their wrestlers finished as AA last year - all within the top 6; 8 within the top 3; and 2 champs....they're pretty much as talented this year.

The good news: We signed the #4 class this year and by the looks of it will be continuing or beating that over the next 2 cycles if everything stays on track.

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