Before James Franklin accepted the Virginia Tech job, he did what he has always done in the biggest moments of his life. He picked up the phone.
“I have asked for the blessings of two people,” Franklin said, letting the room settle as he told the story. “Soaya Ala, my father in law, I called him and asked for his blessing to marry his daughter, Fumi. And then the night before signing a contract, I called Coach Beamer and asked him for his blessing of taking over his program.”
He laughed about the logistics. “I was a little concerned because I called him three times and he did not answer the phone,” Franklin said. “So I called his wife and she said, ‘I am sorry, Coach, we did not have your number.’”
The call came. The blessing came. And for Franklin, that meant everything.
“I was able to get Coach Beamer’s blessing and that means a ton to me,” he said. “I am someone that values the history, the traditions, the legends, and obviously nobody is more important to Virginia Tech football than Frank Beamer and his family.”
MORE: 10 coaches who could replace Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss
Franklin stayed on those themes for much of the press conference. Respect. Legacy. Continuity. His voice rarely wavered until he reached the name that hits him differently every time.
Brent Pry.
“I would like to acknowledge Brent Pry,” Franklin began, then paused as emotion grabbed him. “I always say I am not going to get emotional, but then I get emotional.”
He told the room why.
“Brent’s dad was my offensive coordinator in college,” Franklin said. “Brent’s first year coaching was my senior year at the Harvard of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, East Stroudsburg University.”
Those days at East Stroudsburg shaped him. Another legend, Denny Douds, was the face of the program. Pry was breaking into the business. Franklin was the quarterback who absorbed every lesson he could. They both grew up in that tiny football corner of the Poconos.
“Brent and his family were with me at Vanderbilt all three years,” Franklin said. “And then for our first seven years at Penn State...I know this place is better today because of Brent.”
MORE: Deion Sanders says ‘come at me’ not the players or coaches
He let that sit for a moment. Not out of obligation. Out of gratitude.
“I just wanted to show the respect to him,” Franklin said. “I know how much coaches pour their hearts and souls into this job.”
Franklin’s entire introduction carried that tone. He mentioned Michael Vick, Bruce Smith, Antonio Freeman, Corey Moore, Cam Chancellor, Tyrod Taylor, the Fuller family, the Edmunds family. He did not rattle off names to impress anyone. He did it because he understands the room he is walking into.
This is not a program he plans to reinvent. It is one he intends to honor, built by coaches he grew up admiring.
“I am someone that values the history, the traditions, the legends,” he said again. “And we are going to pour everything we have into this place...This is still a players game…and it is still a game where people matter.”
At Virginia Tech, the past matters too. That is why he called Frank Beamer. That is why he was emotional over Brent Pry. And that is why his first public words carried the weight of someone who understands that you do not just inherit a program like this. You earn it.
More college football news:
- 12 coaches who could be fired before December
- Five jobs Coach Prime may conside r
- Mike Elko praises ‘12th man’ in leading the comeback.