James Franklin's debut as Virginia Tech's head coach was a resounding success, with the Hokies dismantling VMI 73-3 in one of the most lopsided openers of the season. But the new coach wasn't all smiles after the game, as he took aim at a penalty that left him scratching his head.
Late in the blowout, running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. celebrated a big run by high-fiving a member of the military on the sideline. The gesture drew an immediate personal foul flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, a call that Franklin openly questioned.
"We got a penalty for high-fiving one of our members of the core," Franklin said, using a term for the military. "Not a huge fan. I don't know why we can't high-five somebody in the military. It seems somewhat un-American to me."
The coach's frustration was palpable, but he also acknowledged the need for his team to clean up its act. "We tell the guys all the time: you show softness or weakness anywhere, then the next opponent is going to attack that same weakness," Franklin said postgame. "So we're going to have to be prepared and ready for the things that we didn't do well, because Old Dominion is going to be all over this tape just like we're going to be all over theirs."
Despite the penalty concerns, Franklin was pleased with the overall performance, especially the opportunity it gave backups to shine. "Not everybody believes this, but my belief, when you get a game like this, and the points get the way they got, my job is to get the starters out and get the backups in," he explained. "But they should have the opportunity to play football, like getting the threes and fours in there and still call the defense and call the offense. We need to see what Bryce Baker is able to do. To put Bryce Baker in and just hand the ball off the whole second half, that's not fair to Bryce Baker, and that's not the right thing for us to do for developing Bryce and other players on our roster."
Franklin emphasized the value of that depth-building experience. "So, that depth showed up today, and this is going to be valuable for them," he said. "They're going to get coached. They're going to get evaluated. They're going to get patted on the back. They're also probably going to get their ass ripped a few times too."
The Hokies' dominant start has already turned heads, but Franklin knows the real test comes next week against Old Dominion. As the team prepares, they'll also be mindful of avoiding silly penalties. The debate over the high-five call is likely to continue, but Franklin's stance is clear: celebrating with those who serve should never be a penalty. For more on the season's opening weekend, check out the full slate of games that kicked off the 2026 season.
While the Hokies celebrate their big win, other coaches are dealing with their own controversies. Colin Cowherd's recent comments about Alabama's crowd have sparked a backlash, showing that college football drama never sleeps. And as Virginia Tech moves forward, they'll hope to avoid the kind of distractions that have plagued other programs.
