Thank you Virginia Tech

Jun 26, 2025
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I'm not 100% sure either, I have seen people ripping penn state for writing that check and also people celebrating penn state getting the buyout from 49M-9M. Best I can tell, Franklin/Sexton pump faked he may not take a job this cycle or next(knowing full well they were already in deep negotiations with VT) and offered PSU a take it or leave it massive reduction in the buyout to $9M. Penn State was probably giddy to pay it considering the full figure. Franklin then signs with VT for $8-9M a year which nullifies the buyout for penn state, so James and Sexton got a cool $9M from Kraft when merely 2 weeks later, he would have had to pay nothing.

It's an annual compensation guarantee until they negotiated a lump sum. I think you're making a huge (and wrong assumption) that VaTech is paying him comparable to PSU. In any event, he doesn't start at VaTech until next year so PSU is already on the hook for a massive amount of that $9 million for the remainder of this year. The remaining amount - a couple million is probably a reasonable amount to pay to eliminate the future annual guarantees without knowing what VaTech is ultimately going to pay.
 

RolexKong

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2025
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It's an annual compensation guarantee until they negotiated a lump sum. I think you're making a huge (and wrong assumption) that VaTech is paying him comparable to PSU. In any event, he doesn't start at VaTech until next year so PSU is already on the hook for a massive amount of that $9 million for the remainder of this year. The remaining amount - a couple million is probably a reasonable amount to pay to eliminate the future annual guarantees without knowing what VaTech is ultimately going to pay.
"This year" has six weeks remaining. What prevents Big Game from going on VA Tech's payroll sooner?
 

PAgeologist

Senior
Oct 19, 2021
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I'm not 100% sure either, I have seen people ripping penn state for writing that check and also people celebrating penn state getting the buyout from 49M-9M. Best I can tell, Franklin/Sexton pump faked he may not take a job this cycle or next(knowing full well they were already in deep negotiations with VT) and offered PSU a take it or leave it massive reduction in the buyout to $9M. Penn State was probably giddy to pay it considering the full figure. Franklin then signs with VT for $8-9M a year which nullifies the buyout for penn state, so James and Sexton got a cool $9M from Kraft when merely 2 weeks later, he would have had to pay nothing.
I thought PSU was on the hook for the difference between what he made here and his new job? So if he made $10 mil here and $8-9 mil at VT, PSU is paying $1-2 mil per year for the remaining years on his contract here.
 

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
11,139
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I'm not 100% sure either, I have seen people ripping penn state for writing that check and also people celebrating penn state getting the buyout from 49M-9M. Best I can tell, Franklin/Sexton pump faked he may not take a job this cycle or next(knowing full well they were already in deep negotiations with VT) and offered PSU a take it or leave it massive reduction in the buyout to $9M. Penn State was probably giddy to pay it considering the full figure. Franklin then signs with VT for $8-9M a year which nullifies the buyout for penn state, so James and Sexton got a cool $9M from Kraft when merely 2 weeks later, he would have had to pay nothing.

Likely scenario but call his bluff; it’s not like they had to pay the $49mm in one lump sum. No way Franklin stays out of coaching for any length of time.
 
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RolexKong

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Aug 15, 2025
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Yeah that “dumb” Va Tech AD has hired a very good coach more than 2 weeks before the early signing period for high school kids when the vast majority sign and 6 weeks before the start of the two week transfer portal window. Meanwhile, Krafty is . . . who the hell knows.
Whatever you say, toots.

 

WPB_lion

Sophomore
Jun 5, 2001
71
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As I understand it (and will have to wait for 100% confirmation) PSU AD/Admin made a $9 million "oops" this week - which was a last remaining chip for Sexton to play before HCJF signed his VT deal.
Not that it should surprise anyone. Par for the course.
PSU fired Franklin October which is a savings for this season because they did not have to pay him for the remainder of the season. I do not know if he gets paid based on the percentage of the year that he is working (in which case it would be an approximately 25% savings on his annual salary) or the percentage of the football season he is coaching (which would be an approximately 75% savings on his annual salary), but the savings mitigates the $9 million that we have agreed to pay.

Franklin was a dead man walking after NW. IMO, Terry Smith is doing a better job than Franklin would have done for the remainder of the year. Plus, we put our toe in the water for coaches earlier than we would have if we allowed Franklin to coach for the remainder of the year. It was a good decision to let him go early and the fact that Franklin found a job that reduces the payout by $40 million confirms that. If Franklin went winless for the remainder of the season, which was a distinct possibility given the downward trajectory of the team's willingness to play for him, Franklin would have had a much more difficult time finding a job that pays this well.
 
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ApexLion

All-American
Nov 1, 2021
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If true. Va Tech found an AD dumber than Jim Weaver (yes, I know it's poor form to speak ill of the dead, in this case both of them).
Jim Weaver was universally liked by coaches and his peers so I'm not sure what you are referring to. Plus, they now compete in a variety of sports annually which was due to Jim's leadership.

In the final analysis, it appears Kraft owes $9M to Franklin but it's not a lump sum.

On to the next coach. I suspect Kraft will have to pay more, most likely $12M per to get a coach.
 
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Jun 26, 2025
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"This year" has six weeks remaining. What prevents Big Game from going on VA Tech's payroll sooner?

Because he's not going to coach this year's team. VaTech isn't going to Officially start paying him until this season is over and done. VaTech has no obligation to rearrange their annual benefits to best benefit PSU and Krafty The Clown.
 
Jun 26, 2025
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I thought PSU was on the hook for the difference between what he made here and his new job? So if he made $10 mil here and $8-9 mil at VT, PSU is paying $1-2 mil per year for the remaining years on his contract here.

Actually less, because they're already on the hook for a good $5-$6 million for the remainder of this year from the point he was terminated. The remainder probably comes to well under a million per year especially when you consider present valuing.
 
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Ram20

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Jul 29, 2013
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I thought PSU was on the hook for the difference between what he made here and his new job? So if he made $10 mil here and $8-9 mil at VT, PSU is paying $1-2 mil per year for the remaining years on his contract here.
Franklin was (only) getting $7.5 a year here, im just speculating, but I think VT will be paying him more.
 
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RolexKong

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2025
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PSU fired Franklin October which is a savings for this season because they did not have to pay him for the remainder of the season. I do not know if he gets paid based on the percentage of the year that he is working (in which case it would be an approximately 25% savings on his annual salary) or the percentage of the football season he is coaching (which would be an approximately 75% savings on his annual salary), but the savings mitigates the $9 million that we have agreed to pay.

Franklin was a dead man walking after NW. IMO, Terry Smith is doing a better job than Franklin would have done for the remainder of the year. Plus, we put our toe in the water for coaches earlier than we would have if we allowed Franklin to coach for the remainder of the year. It was a good decision to let him go early and the fact that Franklin found a job that reduces the payout by $40 million confirms that. If Franklin went winless for the remainder of the season, which was a distinct possibility given the downward trajectory of the team's willingness to play for him, Franklin would have had a much more difficult time finding a job that pays this well.
Franklin's contract with PSU is/was on a calendar year basis. From October through December, PSU owed him $2 million in whatever form you want to call it.
 

RolexKong

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2025
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Jim Weaver was universally liked by coaches and his peers so I'm not sure what you are referring to. Plus, they now compete in a variety of sports annually which was due to Jim's leadership.

In the final analysis, it appears Kraft owes $9M to Franklin but it's not a lump sum.

On to the next coach. I suspect Kraft will have to pay more, most likely $12M per to get a coach.
Jim Weaver was a really good guy. But the way Frank Beamer bounced him around was embarrassing.
 

RolexKong

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2025
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Because he's not going to coach this year's team. VaTech isn't going to Officially start paying him until this season is over and done. VaTech has no obligation to rearrange their annual benefits to best benefit PSU and Krafty The Clown.
Va Tech's season is over on 11/29. Would expect Franklin to go on their payroll 12/1 latest.
 

WPB_lion

Sophomore
Jun 5, 2001
71
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Franklin's contract with PSU is/was on a calendar year basis. From October through December, PSU owed him $2 million in whatever form you want to call it.
I would assume the $2 million that they owed him is part of the $9 million that they ultimately settled on. I assume Terry Smith is not making anywhere close to that much money for October, November and December.
 

RolexKong

Sophomore
Aug 15, 2025
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I would assume the $2 million that they owed him is part of the $9 million that they ultimately settled on. I assume Terry Smith is not making anywhere close to that much money for October, November and December.
I would think so. Impossible to say without having access to the payroll records.
 

LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
13,034
18,059
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I'm sure that this feeling is fairly widespread among football coaches and movie directors both.
Hijacking the thread to re-tell one of my favorite stories, just because.

One of the issues I had while growing up was that “learning how to be deaf” is a thing and I didn’t have anyone helping me in this regard. In particular, I got pretty much zero coaching, nobody bothered to tell me that I was living the life of a clueless, obnoxious idiot. (For example, I had no understanding that I could be real loud. I first learned that whistling snots were a thing while alone with a cute coed in an elevator in Pattee Library, rats.)

Anyhoo, in my early years of teaching I shared an office with an adjunct who was the local deaf high school football coach. One day I asked him what he was like with his team, giving them the business. He knew my background so he knew why I was asking and, he was a nice guy, still is, “Do you really want to see?” “Sure, lay it on me.” He laughed and rubbed his hands together in gleeful anticipation and let me have it. I can remember that day forty years ago as if were yesterday, so damn impressive and terrifying.

Andy got me started lifting, every time I think of slacking off at the gym I think of him going off at me and I proceed to finish my workout. My first real coach, how cool is that? There were a lot of fine deaf coaches out there throughout the years, Houston Nutt’s dad was deaf and was a legendary coach.

Thanks for indulging me.
 

PSUFTG

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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PSU fired Franklin October which is a savings for this season because they did not have to pay him for the remainder of the season. I do not know if he gets paid based on the percentage of the year that he is working (in which case it would be an approximately 25% savings on his annual salary) or the percentage of the football season he is coaching (which would be an approximately 75% savings on his annual salary), but the savings mitigates the $9 million that we have agreed to pay.
:unsure:
 
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ZouaveLion

Sophomore
Oct 12, 2021
86
153
33
I cannot wait until the 2027 VaTech/Notre Dame game in South Bend. Marcus Freeman cannot stand BGJ and will be looking to run it up...
 

PSUFTG

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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VT almost always plays 2 P4 schools on their OOC slate.
Except for next year (When they have Maryland, plus 3 in state G5 teams on their OOC), they have at least 2 P4 scheduled out every year for the next decade. (The ACC has an 8 game conference schedule - so that is more or less equivalent to a Big Ten team playing one OOC P4)

I wonder how they will react when/if VTHCJF insists on backing out of some of those games, and adopting a full slate of OOC cupcakes (as he did at PSU)?
 

PSU4U

All-American
Aug 6, 2019
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In Franklin’s northwestern post-game PRESSER. o_O , his last as PSU coach, he was asked about his feelings about the situation. He never mentioned Penn State or the fans. He only mentioned his concern for the “kids in that locker room”. Given that and his “the last place” comment, it seems that he feels animosity for or even betrayed by Penn State.

I like Franklin, but he is emotional and comes off thin-skinned. Perhaps the boos this season stuck with him. It’s also been said that his relationship with Kraft had become strained.

Sadly, I don’t think Franklin will reflect fondly on his time at Penn State. Of course, he needs to accept responsibility for what happened at the end. Maybe his feelings will change with time.
They said no to his pay raise request over the summer and at that point the **** began to hit the fan. That should have to everyone that Kraft was getting antsy.
 
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PSUFTG

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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In Franklin’s northwestern post-game PRESSER. o_O , his last as PSU coach, he was asked about his feelings about the situation. He never mentioned Penn State or the fans. He only mentioned his concern for the “kids in that locker room”. Given that and his “the last place” comment, it seems that he feels animosity for or even betrayed by Penn State.

I like Franklin, but he is emotional and comes off thin-skinned. Perhaps the boos this season stuck with him. It’s also been said that his relationship with Kraft had become strained.

Sadly, I don’t think Franklin will reflect fondly on his time at Penn State. Of course, he needs to accept responsibility for what happened at the end. Maybe his feelings will change with time.
Alignment
 
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doctornick

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Sep 4, 2007
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VT almost always plays 2 P4 schools on their OOC slate.
Except for next year (When they have Maryland, plus 3 in state G5 teams on their OOC), they have at least 2 P4 scheduled out every year for the next decade. (The ACC has an 8 game conference schedule - so that is more or less equivalent to a Big Ten team playing one OOC P4)

I wonder how they will react when/if VTHCJF insists on backing out of some of those games, and adopting a full slate of OOC cupcakes (as he did at PSU)?

The ACC is moving to 9 conference games-ish in the near future - details to be worked out, probably starting in 2027. Reason why I say "ish" is because you cannot have an odd number of conference games with an odd number of teams so the thinking is that maybe games against ND will count as conference ones.
 

DaytonRickster

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,840
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Jim Weaver was universally liked by coaches and his peers so I'm not sure what you are referring to. Plus, they now compete in a variety of sports annually which was due to Jim's leadership.

In the final analysis, it appears Kraft owes $9M to Franklin but it's not a lump sum.

On to the next coach. I suspect Kraft will have to pay more, most likely $12M per to get a coach.
I don't think Chesney would demand $12 million per year.
 
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LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
8,486
11,646
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VT almost always plays 2 P4 schools on their OOC slate.
Except for next year (When they have Maryland, plus 3 in state G5 teams on their OOC), they have at least 2 P4 scheduled out every year for the next decade. (The ACC has an 8 game conference schedule - so that is more or less equivalent to a Big Ten team playing one OOC P4)

I wonder how they will react when/if VTHCJF insists on backing out of some of those games, and adopting a full slate of OOC cupcakes (as he did at PSU)?
What games did Franklin back out of at PSU?
 

Catch1lion

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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Hope the Hokies are ready to build a longer runway ! 😂 The first of many excuses is in place .
 
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Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,737
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Why VT? Just by reading some posts on this board, I figured LSU or FL would have given “big game James” a lifetime contract at 15+ million!

Guessing some of you JF lovers can move over to the VT board and stay there.
Aren’t we all going to cheer for Va Tech? I mean it seems to be all the rage on this board to cheer for every player that leaves by their own choice.