Change of Scenery: James Franklin to Virginia Tech

Written by Carter Ball

When James Franklin was first fired from Penn State, I viewed Auburn as a perfect fit. At Penn State under Franklin, it was evident that he had created a true culture. His teams did not take games off against bad teams (he almost never got upset), his fans were always loud, and his teams were consistent. I believed a program like Auburn, with the resources of the SEC, could be a perfect match for Franklin and his struggles to recruit at Penn State. However, for a non-SEC program, Virginia Tech is the best fit possible for Franklin. Franklin has recruited the Virginia/DMV area at an elite clip at Penn State, and at VT, Franklin comes into a conference where consecutive 10-2 finishes can win the league and vault the Hokies into the playoffs. With the team's recent lack of success, expectations will be low. This is a home run hire for both sides.

Hiring Grade: A-