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James Franklin reveals call to Frank Beamer asking for blessing before accepting Virginia Tech job

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax2 hours agoBarkleyTruax
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Former Penn State and new Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin and his wife, Fumi, before his introductory news conference in Blacksburg. (Photo courtesy Virginia Tech Athletics)

James Franklin was named the next head coach at Virginia Tech on Nov. 17. Before accepting the job, Franklin made a special call to a longtime Hokies coach Frank Beamer to ask for his blessing.

Beamer approved, and Franklin put pen to paper. The new Hokies headman has since revealed what he said to the legendary Virginia Tech head coach.

“I wanted to call him to pay respect, number one,” Franklin said, joining the ESPN broadcast team during Virginia Tech’s Week 13 matchup vs. Miami. “He built this program, and everybody loves him and his family. I called my father in law and asked for his blessing to marry his daughter. I’ve done it twice now. I called Frank Beamer. I said, ‘Coach, (I’m) about to make this decision, and before I do, I want your blessing to make sure you would be comfortable with me taking over your program.'”

Franklin said he spoke to both Beamer and his wife during the conversation, and they gave him their blessing. Though, Franklin had to call Beamer three different times before dialing his wife who finally answered.

Their blessing sets in stone a new era for Virginia Tech, one that Franklin hopes will enjoy similar success to what the program enjoyed under Beamer’s longtime leadership. Of course, Franklin arrives in Blacksburg with the reputation of a program builder, and will be tasked with rebuilding the Hokies from the ground up.

“I’ve gotten to know Coach (Frank) Beamer for a long time on the Nike trip, and just following his career,” Franklin said. “Obviously, I got a ton of respect for what he’s been able to do across his career, but also specifically, obviously, here at Virginia Tech.”

The last time Virginia Tech won 10 games in a season — something Franklin did regularly at Penn State — was back in 2016, the program’s first without Frank Beamer. During Beamer’s tenure from 1987-2015, the Hokies accumulated 13 10-win seasons during that stretch including eight in a row from 2004 to 2011.

Franklin will head into his first offseason with the Hokies with a 128-60 overall record as a head coach, which includes his three-year stint at Vanderbilt (24-15). With the backing of Beamer and the rest of Virginia Tech’s faithful, Franklin will begin building his initial staff and roster when the regular season ends after next week’s rivalry matchup vs. Virginia.