Virginia Tech Hokies
· 2026-07-14
Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin is on a mission to meet the high standards set by fans and the team's legacy, as he prepares for the upcoming season, which starts with a game against VMI Keydets on September 5th.
Franklin, who is in his first year as the Hokies' head coach, has been making the rounds, meeting with thousands of Virginia Tech supporters, including a recent Hokie Club reception at the Hotel Roanoke. He praised the hard work of his coaching staff and players, saying, "This place takes football very serious."
Franklin evoked the name and legacy of former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, saying, "Obviously, what Coach Beamer was able to do here has left this place with very, very high expectations and standards." Beamer, who coached the Hokies from 1987 to 2015, led the team to 23 bowl appearances and 13 conference championships.
Franklin understands the frustrations of some Hokies fans, who have been disappointed with the team's recent performance. However, he stresses that his staff and players have their goals set high for the 2026 season and beyond. "I know it hasn't looked or felt the way people want it to look or feel for the last nine years or whatever it has been," Franklin said. "But I also think there's an opportunity over there, right? There's a lot of hunger and there's a lot of excitement and people want to get back to playing a style and a brand of Virginia Tech football that they're used to seeing."
The Hokies are scheduled to speak at the ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte on Thursday morning. WDBJ7 Sports Director Dave Walls will be live with coverage on Wednesday and Thursday, as college football season is just six weeks away. Franklin and his team will be working hard during training camp to put out a winning product on the field, one that meets the high standards of Virginia Tech fans.