The atmosphere Wednesday at Virginia Tech was quite different from the one in 2014 at Penn State.
As James Franklin was introduced as the Hokies football coach, “Enter Sandman” blared from the sound system and a light show flashed inside Cassell Coliseum.
Hundreds of supporters and students filled one side of Virginia Tech’s basketball arena to welcome Franklin with loud, spirited applause.
Franklin wore a dark suit with a tie and pocket square that was maroon, matching one of the Hokies’ school colors.
“I couldn’t be more excited by this opportunity,” he said.
Eleven years earlier in the smallish Beaver Stadium media room, he was introduced as Penn State coach in front of a handful of family and friends. Virginia Tech folks, on the other hand, pulled out all the stops and made Frankl

The Times Herald Sports![For James Franklin, Virginia Tech is right place at right time [opinion]](https://static.novanewsapp.com/news_info/image/2025/10/06108bbbe8c6433385aecdbbe3e97d71.jpg)

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