James Franklin joins Josh Pate - Pate State Speaker Series

James Franklin, fresh off a dramatic exit from Penn State after 12 years, shares the raw emotional journey of being fired and the deliberate, reflective process of rebuilding his career at Virginia Tech. He reveals that the most profound lesson wasn't about football strategy, but about the narrow circle of true loyalty—friends who flew across the country to stand by him, and a staff who answered his call with no guarantees. At Virginia Tech, Franklin is not just rebuilding a roster, but a culture: aligning leadership from the governor to the athletic director, overhauling facility messaging, and re-establishing the program’s national relevance after years of dormancy. He rejects the 'overnight rebuild' myth fueled by Indiana’s portal success, emphasizing that depth, trust, and long-term vision matter more than quick fixes. His philosophy centers on being a 'CEO of culture'—not just a coach—while staying hands-on in practice and prioritizing in-state recruiting with a national reach. The spring game is a proving ground for a team that’s deep but still searching for 'erasers'—players who can change games in critical moments. Franklin’s transformation is clear: the James Franklin who left Penn State was a CEO of a program; the one who arrived at Virginia Tech is a coach who wants to be back in the trenches. He’s redefining success not by wins alone, but by alignment—every detail, from the walls to the staff, must sing the same song.