When James Franklin was fired from Penn State, Virginia Tech entered his life as a fresh opportunity. In interviews, Franklin sounded confident, and it seemed like he was ready to turn that opportunity into something golden. But today’s game turned out to be a disappointing one — not just for Franklin, but for the entire Virginia Tech program.

Whenever a team fires a coach, there is often a different dynamic instantly added to the game. An intangible that cannot be measured by the talent on the field and immediately changes the narrative. The Brent Pry firing was weeks ago, but the news of Franklin’s hiring brings a similar energy.