When the Virginia Tech football program hired James Franklin, they knew that they were getting a good football coach. They also knew that they were getting a coach that is the subject of conversation, whether things were going well or badly.
Quite frankly, Hokies fans would have taken anything after what they have been through over the last decade. Truthfully, who would blame them? However, with the good comes some bad, and that was the case on Monday at his weekly press conference
Social media is giving James Franklin and Virginia Tech attention with his Monday press conference
When Franklin spoke to the media about last Saturday's blowout win over Old Dominion and this week's upcoming matchup against Maryland, things took a weird turn. After his opening statement and questions from the media assembled in person, it was opened up to questions from Zoom.
Michael Howes of the Baltimore Sun was next up and began with a “Hey, coach” before starting to ask his question. Franklin responded with “Hey, Michael.'' After Howes paused and began to ask another question, Franklin again said, Hey, Michael.'' Then things got awkward.
“What do you remember about work,” Howes said before Franklin cut him off and said, “Hey, Michael.”
Howes began again, “What do you remember about work,” when Franklin once again cut him off and said, “Hey, Michael.”
Franklin then said “Hey, Michael, how you doing, Michael? Michael, how ya doing?”
Howes finally acknowledged him and said, “I’m good, how are you?” before Franklin responded: “Good, good.”
As you can expect, social media blew up, and Penn State fans actually were joining forces with Maryland fans to troll Franklin. Of course, all other fanbases and actual college football analysts chimed in, mostly ripping Franklin.
Of course, the James Franklin obsession is alive and well in State College, and Matt Campbell's presser on Tuesday even had a might-hearted moment trolling Franklin. It doesn't take much for the Penn State obsession to come alive and well.
So the country is having fun at Franklin's expense, which is expected. However, what they are doing is giving Franklin and Virginia Tech attention. Nobody has talked this much about Virginia Tech and Hokies football in a long time. As long as the results on the field continue to be what they are, fans will live with it. If things go south, then things could get dicey.
James Franklin is not a popular coach across the country, but he does publicity, and he's getting that and then some for Monday's presser. Was that done intentionally? Only Franklin knows, but Franklin and Virginia Tech are getting attention that he likely wanted a day later. You can bet Wednesday night's session with the media will draw more attention than it usually does.
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