James Franklin took his first loss as Virginia Tech’s head coach Friday night, falling 35-33 to Pitt at Lane Stadium when John Love’s 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide as time expired. As first reported by ClutchPoints, Franklin’s first move afterward was to go find his kicker.
“I told him I loved him, he’s the best kicker in the country, and then go shake hands,” Franklin said. He added that he’d “put him back out there for the same situation every single time.”
The Hokies are now 4-1. Pitt ripped off 21 straight points to lead 35-24 in the fourth quarter before Tech came storming back and fell one kick short.
The IAHHM Take
This is how you protect a locker room. Kickers live on an island, and a coach blaming one in public after a 36-yarder can wreck a season. Franklin did the opposite and pointed to the bigger picture, saying there were “20 other plays” that put Tech in that spot. He’s right. You don’t lose a game on the final kick when you gave up 21 straight points.
The bigger story is that Virginia Tech is relevant again. A 4-1 start in Franklin’s first year is a real sign of life, and it makes the ACC race more interesting for the North Carolina schools too.
Next up, the Hokies host Cal on Oct. 10. Was this a bump in the road or a sign Tech isn’t ready yet?
Source: ClutchPoints
