Another coach, another heartfelt goodbye. Or was it? The ink is barely dry on James Franklin’s Virginia Tech contract, but the real story isn’t the Hokies’ future; it’s the hidden cost of his past.
The Real Story
James Franklin lands at Virginia Tech, heralded as a savior, but let’s cut through the emotional fanfare. The man just orchestrated a multi-million dollar exit from Penn State, and conveniently, his former defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, gets a tearful shout-out in his very first presser in Blacksburg.
The “renegotiated” PSU buyout? That’s the real headline. Was Franklin pushed, or did he jump after securing a sweet deal for himself and his former employer? Coaches don’t leave top-tier programs for sentimental reasons; they leave for better reasons, often financial ones.
His “emotional tribute” to Pry, delivered in his first Virginia Tech press conference, feels less like genuine sentiment and more like a carefully crafted deflection. A public relations masterstroke designed to soften the blow of his abrupt departure and the financial implications that accompanied it. The timing, impeccable; the sincerity, debatable.
An insider close to the negotiations, speaking anonymously, quipped, “Franklin’s tears for Pry were probably just him calculating the exact percentage of his new salary he’d save on moving costs. Sentimental? Please. This was a chess move, not a breakup.”
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about a coaching change; it’s about the ever-escalating cost of college football’s coaching carousel. Every “renegotiated buyout” means more money flowing out of athletic departments and into the pockets of coaches and their agents. Fans cheer the new hire, but few see the fiscal strings being pulled, or who ultimately pays the price.
It signals a new era where loyalty is a commodity, easily traded for a better contract, and public displays of emotion serve as convenient camouflage for shrewd business decisions. Virginia Tech gets a coach; Penn State gets a check. The players? They’re left to adapt, again, to another sudden shift dictated by a system where the bottom line often overshadows all else.
The Bottom Line
Don’t expect this trend to slow. As long as athletic directors keep writing blank checks and coaches keep playing the emotional card, the business of college football will remain cutthroat, transactional, and wildly expensive. The next ‘heartfelt’ goodbye is already being drafted.
