The Virginia Tech Hokies are sitting pretty at 2-0 after taking down the Old Dominion Monarchs 44-21 this past Saturday. It might not look like a blowout on the score sheet, but Head Coach James Franklin apparently found plenty to fire up his squad for what’s coming next: their first road game of the season, a trip to Maryland. And oh boy, does Franklin know Maryland.
The History: Crushing Wins and a Sideline Showdown
Franklin’s history with the Terrapins is intense, to say the least. During his run as Penn State’s head coach from 2014-25, his Nittany Lions absolutely owned Maryland, racking up a dominant 9-2 record. We’re not talking close games here either. Six of those wins were by 30 or more points! Maryland’s only two victories against Franklin in that era came way back in 2014 and then again in 2020. Just look at the scores from the last four matchups: Penn State won 31-14, 30-0, 51-15, and 44-7. Want to talk about real pain? In 2017, PSU dropped a 66-3 bomb, and then a 59-0 shutout in 2019. Maryland fans probably still have nightmares.
But the real drama exploded after that 44-7 victory in 2024. Maryland coach Mike Locksley was *furious* and confronted Franklin right at midfield during the handshake. The beef? Penn State throwing a touchdown pass on the final play of the game. Locksley didn’t hold back, reportedly fuming even though it was young backups getting some reps. “It was bulls, is what it was,” Locksley blasted, per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN. “I respect the game. I’ve got a lot of respect for James, his program. I think it was bulls,.” Talk about a mic drop!
Franklin’s Defense and Deep Maryland Roots
Franklin, though, was not having any of it. He fired back, pointing out Locksley’s starters were still in the game and trying to score themselves. His response was ice-cold logic with a serious edge: “Your 1s are in the game, you were trying to score, we’re trying to score. On top of that, you’re playing Cover 0. Play Cover 2. And on top of that, there’s also a change in college football. We are trying to play as long as we can, make the playoffs, and be seeded as high as possible, and scoring as many points and a point differential matters. All that matters. If you don’t get that, it’s really not my problem.” He even highlighted that his “3s and 4s” were out there, and Locksley’s starters still couldn’t stop them. Ouch. Interestingly, the receiver on that final controversial play, Tyseer Denmark, is now a Hokie himself!
This beef just adds another layer to Franklin’s deep ties with the University of Maryland. Before his coaching success elsewhere, he was Maryland’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2000-05. He was one of only two assistants retained by Ralph Friedgen in 2001, and guess who the other one was? Locksley! They spent three seasons together on the Terrapins’ coaching staff. Franklin later returned in 2008 as offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, and even head coach-in-waiting. But a change in athletic directors derailed that, and he left for Vanderbilt. He reflected positively on his time there on Monday, but you have to wonder if the 2024 confrontation has lingering tension for this upcoming game.
So, here we go. The Hokies are on the road for the first time in the Franklin era, heading right into a stadium with a history that runs deep, and a coach who has some serious beef with the opposing sideline. You can bet your last dollar this isn’t just another game. Keep your eyes locked on that sideline this weekend, because there’s more than just a win on the line!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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