James Franklin, Virginia Tech’s new head football coach, made sure Wednesday he thanked the former head coach he succeeded in Blacksburg.

He is a man that Franklin, Penn State’s former head football coach, knows well.

Franklin got choked up a couple of times talking about Brent Pry, who was fired by Virginia Tech earlier this season.

Pry was Franklin’s defensive coordinator for three seasons at Vanderbilt and Franklin’s first eight seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Pry left PSU to take the Virginia Tech head coaching job ahead of the 2022 season.

“I’d like to acknowledge Brent Pry,” Franklin said at his introductory news conference, quickly getting emotional.

“I always say I’m not going to get emotional, and then I get emotional. … Brent Pry’s a good friend.”

“Brent Pry’s dad was m

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