James Franklin, six months into his Hokies tenure, is actively shaping Virginia Tech’s program while navigating the Virginia Tech–Old Dominion rivalry. He highlights the personal dynamics with longtime friend and ODU head coach Ricky Rahne, noting their close family ties and the wish for the rivalry to end someday to preserve their friendship. This candid perspective underscores how competition can strain even strong relationships.
The article traces Franklin’s rekindled connections across programs (Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Penn State) and his focus on rebuilding Tech toward sustained success. He emphasizes strategic progress, including a strong recruiting class (ranked 23rd nationally, third in the ACC) and a robust spring game turnout, while acknowledging remaining questions before the season opener. Franklin describes his mission as restoring the standard of double-digit wins and capitalizing on Tech’s renewed investment, all while balancing personal relationships with competitive drive.
Key takeaways:
– Franklin’s approach blends competitive intensity with preserving important personal relationships, notably with Ricky Rahne.
– Virginia Tech is rebuilding toward the Frank Beamer-era standard, aiming for consistent 10-win seasons.
– Early gains include a top-25 national recruiting class and strong spring game participation, signaling momentum despite ongoing questions ahead of the season.
