God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
You hear that prayer a lot in the South. It isn’t soft. It’s tough love dressed up as grace. Accept what you can’t fix. Get after what you can. Don’t confuse the two.
I watched James Franklin’s press conference the way I usually do. He looked tired. Under the weather. That’s fair. He just coached a team through a nor’easter in Chestnut Hill on Saturday, wind gusting near 40, rain sideways, empty seats after the weather won the first half. Virginia Tech still found a way, 21-14. First 4-0 start since 2017. Ugly and beautiful at the same time, which is exactly how he described it.
Then something small happened that wasn’t small if you’ve been paying attention.
Dillon from The Key Play started in. Franklin asked, “How are you?” and let him go. Didn’t repeat it. Didn’t hold the room until he got the courtesy back.
That’s not how this started. Day one in Blacksburg he did it to Andy Bitter. A couple weeks ago the whole country saw “Hey Michael” with the Baltimore Sun reporter until the man finally answered the question. I don’t care what the national clip hunters think. I like it. He’s been telling these young men and this staff to do things the right way, every second, every practice, every intentional action. Press conferences are part of the same sermon. Treat people like people. Ut Prosim isn’t a bumper sticker. Franklin is paid well. He still acts like the job is bigger than the paycheck.
I hope he was just worn down from Saturday and not folding. One devout Hokie to another: we got you, Coach.
The rest of the presser was ordinary in the best way. ESPN writers are showing up now because Virginia Tech is back on the bubble of mattering. Receiving votes in the AP poll. Eighty-six points. Fifth team out. Pitt got 52. Both 4-0. Both 1-0 in the league. Friday night, 7 o’clock, Lane Stadium, ESPN.
“We have respect for Pitt,” Franklin said. Translation: we’re going to study them until it hurts and take whatever we can use.
What he didn’t say is the game may be won or lost in the tight end room.
Luke Reynolds has been the story through three games: 25 catches, 265 yards, four touchdowns. Best PFF grade among tight ends in the country at one point. On a pace that makes old Hokie receiving records nervous. Against Boston College the weather stuffed the passing game and he still found work. Five catches. A rush. Blocking. You saw him pave for Overton. You saw Benji Gosnell throw the kind of block that springs a 76-yard touchdown that wins the thing. That tight end group is covering for a banged-up line and filling holes in the receiver room. They’re everywhere. Diversity of jobs, not a slogan. Actual football.
Pitt under Pat Narduzzi doesn’t rattle easy. They’ll need the old Lane Stadium to show up Friday. The Hokie Quake. The kind that used to travel.
A lot of Hokies are mad this team isn’t ranked. I could care less about the poll. I hope the players feel the slight and bottle it. That’s the kind of fuel that lasts past October.
Accept what you can’t change. Rankings. Weather. Other people’s manners.
Change what you can. How you practice. How you block. How you treat the man asking the question.
Wisdom is knowing Friday night is one of the ones you can change.
