After opening the season with a 73-3 rout of VMI at Lane Stadium last Saturday night, the Virginia Tech football team will host Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon in what is turning into a huge revenge game. It was nearly one year ago to the day when the Monarchs came into Blacksburg and routed the Hokies, which forced the firing of former head coach Brent Pry the next day.
Sure, for fans, this is a major revenge game, and really, for the Hokies players who were here last year, it should be a revenge game as well for them. Pry worked with ODU coach Ricky Rahne at Penn State, but it was his former friend who sealed his fate. Talk about coming full circle: Rahne worked under Franklin at Penn State. This is a reunion weekend in Blacksburg.
However, the rosters are new, the coaching staff is new, and really, the excitement around the Hokies program is new as well. Earlier this week, Franklin admitted that he didn't know too much about the Virginia Tech/Old Dominion history. Now that he's aware, he's ready to turn things around.
"I'm embarrassed to say this, but I didn't realize (that) we've played this opponent seven times (and) we've lost three," Franklin said. "It's not what I thought it was in terms of the record. I've got a ton of respect for their coaching staff, and we better be ready to go."
James Franklin is looking to change the tide in the Old Dominion series for Virginia Tech
The series history is rather embarrassing for the Hokies, if we're being honest. In two of the three losses, Virginia Tech's defense was torched by the Monarchs' offense. That can't happen against a Group of 6 school. Seriously, it can't, especially at home last year in what turned into Pry's final game. Already entering the game 0-2, Virginia Tech let ODU do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, and got the last laugh.
This is a new season and a fresh start for Virginia Tech under Franklin. In an unprecedented move, the former Vanderbilt and Penn State coach brought back Pry just three months after being fired as head coach to run his defense. If there is someone who could pull it off, it's James Franklin.
The Hokies are an 18.5-point favorite against ODU on Saturday, and if they don't cover, then that would be disappointing. The energy level was different against VMI and needs to be the same against Old Dominion on Saturday. Franklin respecting Old Dominion is pure coach-speak when he has a ton of respect for his opponent and their coach. Like so many other series on the schedule, it's time Franklin takes control of them for Virginia Tech like the good old days.
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