James Franklin is apparently a big stickler for pleasantries.
The Virginia Tech head coach Franklin had a press conference with reporters on Monday. At one point, Franklin received a question from Michael Howes of The Baltimore Sun.
Howes led off by saying, “Hey, coach” and identifying himself. Franklin replied by saying, “Hey, Michael.”
But as Howes tried to ask his question, Franklin kept on interrupting him by repeatedly saying “Hey, Michael.” Franklin apparently wanted Howes to return the greeting and would not let Howes finish his thought until he did so.
Howes got so flustered at one point that he asked if Franklin could hear him. Here is the bizarre video.
If James Frankin says hey, you better say hey back pic.twitter.com/uLGo48JK03
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 14, 2026
In a post to X later in the day, Howes clarified that the press conference took place over Zoom and that he thought Franklin’s audio was glitching.
James Franklin really wanted to know how my day was this morning.
— Michael Howes (@Mikephowes) September 14, 2026
Couldn’t see him on Zoom and thought the audio was glitching. My apologies, James. pic.twitter.com/tIAOGa4dzm
That was a very strange display of pettiness from Franklin, especially considering that Howes greeted him first, meaning that Franklin’s response should have closed the loop there. Perhaps that was some misplaced way for Franklin to try to break the ice with reporters.
The 54-year-old Franklin is in his first season as the head coach at Virginia Tech and has led the team to a 2-0 start to the season. But Franklin is also known for his strange quirks and raised eyebrows last week as well by accusing the referees of giving Virginia Tech an “un-American” penalty.
