The Whispers Never Truly Die, Do They? James Franklin, Virginia Tech, and the Lingering Question of a Homecoming.

You know, the world of college football coaching changes is a beast all its own. And just when you think you’ve heard every permutation of who might go where, a familiar refrain bubbles up to the surface. For Virginia Tech, a program honestly itching for a fresh chapter, that refrain often centers on one man: James Franklin.

It’s funny, isn’t it, how certain names just become intrinsically linked with certain job openings? In truth, the talk of Franklin, the current Penn State head coach, heading to Blacksburg isn’t exactly new. It’s a narrative that, for once, feels less like fresh gossip and more like a story with a deeply etched history. Virginia Tech, one might recall, has actually tried to lure him to the picturesque mountains of Southwest Virginia before. Back in 2011, when the legendary Frank Beamer was still very much at the helm, the Hokies quietly made their move. Franklin, then making waves at Vanderbilt, ultimately chose to stay put, but the seed of interest, well, it was certainly planted.

So, why Franklin? Why does his name continue to reverberate through the halls of Lane Stadium whenever the coaching carousel begins its dizzying spin? Well, you could say it’s a mix of proven success and, dare I say, a touch of destiny, perhaps. His remarkable job turning around the Commodores, followed by his ongoing, significant achievements at Penn State—transforming them into a consistent Big Ten contender—speaks volumes. He’s a winner, pure and simple. But beyond the wins, there’s a geographical pull, too. A Virginia native, Franklin’s roots are firmly in the Mid-Atlantic. He’s coached at Maryland, Kansas State, Washington State, even a brief stop at Washington State and with the Green Bay Packers. The guy knows the recruiting grounds; he understands the landscape. It’s a perfect fit, or so the thinking goes.

Now, let’s be honest: the air around Justin Fuente in Blacksburg has been thick with speculation for a while now. The results simply haven’t materialized in the way Hokie Nation hoped, and a change, it feels, is more a question of ‘when’ than ‘if.’ Should that inevitable moment arrive, Virginia Tech will, without a shadow of a doubt, be aiming high. And right at the top of their wishlist, still, after all these years and all these coaching cycles, sits James Franklin.

It’s a tale as old as college football itself, this dance between an ambitious program and a coach who might just be 'the one.' The allure of a homecoming, the challenge of elevating a storied program—these are powerful forces. Whether James Franklin ever truly answers that call remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain: as long as the Hokies are searching, his name will be there, a persistent, captivating whisper on the wind.