As Miami fans focus on the path to the ACC title game and comparisons on the national stage – specifically why the Canes belong ahead of Notre Dame, Alabama, and others as the playoff rankings have already
incited drama – the real focus should be on winning convincingly at Virginia Tech and at Pitt. This is especially true because Miami has squandered games late in the season to destroy their chances at playoff aspirations. That is, the Hurricanes had opportunities to beat Syracuse last year and Pitt in 2017, both of which they failed to take care of business.
This year, the first necessary win will come at a place that is already tough to play: Blacksburg, Virginia against the Virginia Tech Hokies. One story line is the Hokies seek revenge after last year’s instant classic, a game that ended with a controversial touchdown reversal in the final seconds giving Miami a 38-34 win at Hard Rock. For Virginia Tech players who lived it, that call still stings. For fans, it’s unfinished business and an opportunity to be even louder for Enter Sandman and throughout Saturday’s game.
That said, it’s been a turbulent and demoralizing year in Blacksburg, but suddenly, there’s real buzz in the mountains again with another intangible story line that may give the Hokies additional energy for the Miami matchup. Virginia Tech made headlines this week by hiring James Franklin as its new head football coach – a move that instantly injects national credibility, recruiting firepower, and an edge this program has been missing. And with a program that appeared lost throughout the season, the timing couldn’t be better as they attempt to play spoiler against Miami.
Even though it just occurred this week, the Franklin hiring has set up a massive recruiting weekend with many prospects descending onto Lane Stadium for what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest atmospheres for Hokie nation this year. The recruits obviously do not have an impact on the game but the ACC landscape is instantly changed with Franklin at the helm for Virginia Tech. And for a place that is already tough to play, it adds some extra momentum and motivation for the Hokies to right last year’s wrong.
Franklin, long known for his coaching prowess and recruiting acumen at Penn State, inherits a team that’s been searching for an identity and a fanbase desperate for something to believe in. His arrival has already reignited the message boards, ticket offices, and, most importantly, the locker room. The Hokies may be out of contention this season, but make no mistake – the tone has changed in Blacksburg, and Miami will be the first to witness it.
Whenever a team fires a coach, there is often a different dynamic instantly added to the game. An intangible that cannot be measured by the talent on the field and immediately changes the narrative. The Brent Pry firing was weeks ago, but the news of Franklin’s hiring brings a similar energy.
It will be bumping at noon on Saturday in Lane Stadium. It’s obvious Miami has the talent gap. But Mario Cristobal needs to keep the team focused on the task at hand – not on the College Football Playoff storylines. With a charged crowd, a fresh coaching buzz, and dozens of elite recruits watching from the sidelines, this will be a true Hokie experience, a program that will be in the hunt on many ACC recruiting battles going forward.
Saturday initially looked like a layup victory and a meaningless game for Virginia Tech, but now cannot be overlooked as Hokie Nation looks for revenge and reinvigoration as they flip a new page on their program’s history. In a must win, hopefully Miami will not be the first victim of the new era… Canes would prefer that occurs next week as the Hokies face Virginia in a pivotal ACC matchup.
