Six months into his tenure at Virginia Tech, James Franklin is doing the rounds across the Commonwealth. The Norfolk leg of that tailgate tour is a sold-out brewery in Ghent. The Hokies head coach flew in on a quick private jet hop from Blacksburg as memories floated back around Old Dominion. And he admits his desire for the rivalry series to end so he can be at peace with the man he’s known for over a decade.
James Franklin didn’t hesitate when Ricky Rahne’s name came up. He talked about showing up to an Old Dominion game last year, his first real tailgate experience with a hot dog included and how much he genuinely enjoyed it. He raved about the atmosphere, the lights, the energy. But the real emphasis is his long-time friend.
“Me and Ricky actually just talked yesterday,” he said. “So we talk fairly often. Our wives and children are very close. I’m godfather of one of his kids. But I don’t think he’s gotten enough credit for what he’s been able to build here. And I’ll be happy when this series is over, because although I think it’s good for the state of Virginia, I don’t know if it’s great for our relationship.”…