Is James Franklin coaching this week? Why Virginia Tech's season is ending with different coach vs. Virginia

Billy Heyen

Is James Franklin coaching this week? Why Virginia Tech's season is ending with different coach vs. Virginia image

Virginia Tech's football season will end Saturday.

The Hokies can't make it to a bowl game. They enter the day 3-8 before taking on their in-state rival, a talented and ranked Virginia Cavaliers team.

Their new era is just about here. Former Penn State coach James Franklin is ready to take the reins.

But he won't be on the sideline Saturday.

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Is James Franklin coaching this week?

No, James Franklin is not coaching for Virginia Tech on Saturday against Virginia.

The Hokies will still be led by interim head coach Philip Montgomery for one final week.

It's rare for a coaching hire like this to take over in the middle of a campaign. The incoming coach has little-to-no grasp of the other coaches or of the players or schemes in place on the field.

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Franklin is definitely keeping a close eye on things, but he's not yet calling the shots from the sideline.

Franklin also surely recognizes that it's important not to step on the toes of another coach, especially an interim like Montgomery who is just trying to do his job in a tough situation.

Franklin's era is just about here in Blacksburg. But on the field, it's one more week with the old guard on the sideline.

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Senior Editor