A new chapter of Virginia Tech football begins this fall. One year after firing Brent Pry, the James Franklin era begins on Sept. 5 when the Hokies host VMI at Lane Stadium, under the lights in Franklin's first game as head coach in Blacksburg.
Just over a month after he was fired at Penn State, Franklin emerged quickly as the top candidate for the Virginia Tech search committee that was put together after Pry was fired. The committee moved as fast as it could to lock up Franklin. He was hired 10 days before Thanksgiving.
Since Frank Beamer stepped aside after a tremendous tenure in Blacksburg, the program has taken some big steps backwards under Justin Fuente and Pry. Recruiting and the play on the field took the biggest steps backwards. However, many feel that Virginia Tech has the coach they need to turn things around. Well, expect for one analyst.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum rips James Franklin at Virginia Tech
To say that Virginia Tech hit a grand slam by hiring Franklin would be an understatement. This is the type of hire that the school needs to turn the program around. However, in some shocking way, Finebaum doesn't believe that Franklin is a good coach.
"Well, he's not," Finebaum said. "You've got to remember the media is not overly analytical when it comes to people they like. Franklin got out. Nobody remembered he was fired by the end of the year. He's doing 'GameDay,' sucking up to everybody... He's got an easier job. It's a better fit for him. He's followed a bunch of losers at Virginia Tech, so it shouldn't be very difficult for him."
I bet if Finebaum were asked who the two coaches at Virginia Tech were before Franklin that he was calling "losers", he wouldn't know. I don't think he could come up with Justin Fuente and Brent Pry. No way whatsoever. Not happening.
Read More: James Franklin continues to live rent-free in the heads of Penn State fans
Now, does Franklin have his downfalls as a head coach? Yes, and he would be the first to admit it. Heck, even all the Penn State trolls who live and breathe on every move he makes, 10 months later in Blacksburg, could tell you. However, if you have been following along from the outside, and I don't think Finebaum has, because Virginia Tech is not in the SEC and he isn't exactly glued to what happens outside of the SEC, this is a new era of Virginia Tech football that has nowhere to go but up.
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