The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: Assistant Coaches, The Franklin-VT Marriage, And More

28 Comments

1. 

   75nokehkey December 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM

   I’ve come to the same conclusion- tech’s main competitor for Franklin (3 years?) is Clemson. He’d absolutely feel a better chance of national title would be there.
2. 

   RustyHokie94 December 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM

   Dear baby Jesus, can't talk yet but still omnipotent, make football fun again.
3. 

   razz4242 December 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM

   Where is all this money coming from and is sustainable over the next decade plus?
4. 

   CPVT3 December 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM

   Whelp. Terry Smith being retained by Campbell
5. 

   JHokieD December 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM

   Is Poindexter a UvA grad?
   1. 

      HOKIE SEAN December 5, 2025 at 9:19 PM

      Yes
   2. 

      teaysvalleyhokie December 5, 2025 at 9:27 PM

      Well, he certainly WENT there, I haven't found anything that says he graduated. His PSU coaching profile lists education as "Virginia, 1999", which seems to imply that he was a 1999 grad.
   3. 

      Hokie1992 December 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM

      Poindexter the football player and the Hokies have history.
6. 

   HokieVan December 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM

   I met Ty Howle’s father standing in line at The Peddler steakhouse in Raleigh. That was late last year. Very nice man. He was proif of his son. I was wearing a VT shirt … go figure … and he started the conversation. Small world.
7. 

   Hcsva7325 December 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM

   Great hire by PSU
8. 

   hokiejim63 December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM

   Oops! 2026 class
9. 

   hokiejim63 December 5, 2025 at 7:13 PM

   UVA has 14 3-stars in their 2926 class.
10. 

    pgaiser1 December 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM

    Re: UVA, they have quite a bit of money to spend and they have put it to good use, but they've also had some really nice bounces along the way. Games where they got outplayed and won, NCSU being noncon, historically down year for the league, dodging most of the league's top teams, and then somehow drawing Duke and not Miami in Charlotte. Hell, even drawing this version of VT the one time they really needed the win. I don't think they're going back to 3-9 UVA, but this year still feels like an outlier in terms of the success they have had.
    1. 

       hokies1579 December 6, 2025 at 1:03 AM

       +3
11. 

    vtfin91 December 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM

    Not following on a minor bowl game delaying coaches coming over....fairly standard to bring a handful immediately...Fu brought 4 from Memphis day 1, and they were in the midst of their biggest season in years, but many many other examples, including right now with a bunch.
12. 

    middletennhokie December 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM

    Q2: I think CJF stays until 2029/30 when the ACC implodes, then all bets are off unless VT can figure out how to get into the Premier League. I don't think he is as tied to the mid Atlantic as we might think (Washington State, Idaho State, GB Packers, K State, Vandy).
    1. 

       astrohokiebob December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM

       IDK... at some point people may think of their legacy and how they will be remembered. IF, if he is successful at VT and he is making millions why leave for more millions? Stay and solidify your position in Hall of Fame. Become a legend who took VT to the Championship. He is definitely motivated hope the fan base can enjoy the ride...
       1. 

          teaysvalleyhokie December 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM

          Well, we should ask Lane Kiffin. Not an exact match, but the point is, some guys live for the new challenge. Buzz, for one. Guy can't stay put. Admittedly, he probably wears out his welcome everywhere. Kiffin is similar. He took Ol Miss, who was a middling SEC team, to the top, and I suspect they would have given him nearly anything he wanted. But the bright lights of SEC got his attention.
    2. 

       HokieTC December 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM

       +1
       1. 

          VTownie December 8, 2025 at 7:26 PM

          If Franklin stays for more than 4 years, I will be very happy. If he can win here, we should have at least one really good season by then. If that is not enough to keep him, then so be it, but at least he would be leaving us in a better place than he found it.
13. 

    tallahasseehokie December 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM

    Good scoop, even if it takes till January 10th to get most important coaches inked I think this 7 man team plus James will handle portal recruitment just fine. Money talks and all players across the country know what he’s up to…building a championship team.
14. 

    Spartacusjones December 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM

    Now that it looks like PSU will sign Campbell as HC, that would open the Portal for PSU players in 5 days. I suspect that would start to answer questions about who is interested in becoming a Hokie. It might screw their bowl game a bit too
    1. 

       middletennhokie December 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM

       Great angle, this will be interesting. Not just the portal, but maybe some coaches too if Campbell decides to bring his own guys.
       1. 

          HokieCrazy1994 December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM

          I don't think this rule applies to when a new coach is hired. I think it only happens when a current coach departs. The rules that I read specifically point out a "departure". I suspect they will keep the current coaching staff intact for the bowl game, so nobody is departing. My interpretation, anyway.
          1. 

             MKD December 6, 2025 at 9:14 AM

             It also applies when a new coach is hired. There's a 5 day grace period after official hire, then players can enter the portal. At least that's the way I understand the rules.
             1. 

                RustyHokie94 December 6, 2025 at 11:54 AM

                Correct, it does apply to when a new coach is hired.
15. 

    astrohokiebob December 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM

    Thanks for the thoughtful answer about CJaF and and his longevity in Blacksburg - I certainly hope we have a winner here for the long run...
16. 

    Va Tech 71 December 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM

    Matt Cambell from Iowa St hired at Penn St