Virginia Tech’s James Franklin reveals what he told John Love after missed kick vs. Pitt

James Franklin, the newly appointed head coach of Virginia Tech football, addressed his team’s first loss on Friday night during his postgame press conference. The Hokies fell to Pittsburgh 35-33 after John Love, their kicker, missed a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Despite the heartbreaking finish, Franklin made it abundantly clear that he would stand by Love and support him.

He told Love that he loved him, called him the best kicker in the country, and assured him that he would put him back out there in similar situations. Franklin emphasized that Virginia Tech had numerous other opportunities throughout the game that could have altered the outcome long before the missed kick. He expressed a high level of confidence in Love and reaffirmed his support for the kicker, vowing to put him back in the game under the same circumstances multiple times.

Pittsburgh managed to score 21 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, taking a 35-24 lead and securing the victory. Virginia Tech fought back and had a final chance to mount a comeback, but Love’s 36-yard attempt sailed wide as the clock ran out, resulting in the 35-33 loss. The defeat was a significant blow to Virginia Tech, who had been on a perfect start to the season, but Franklin reassured the team that Love would not be treated solely as the reason for the loss.

With the outcome, the Hokies now face a challenging task as they prepare to host California for their next game on October 10.