COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Walking out of the press box at SECU Stadium in the small hours of Sunday morning, it was hard not to feel it.
What began in Blacksburg 10 months ago when James Franklin was introduced as Virginia Tech's next head coach grew over the next few months, as blue-chip recruits and transfers joined the program in droves.
It became pervasive throughout the spring, and before the Hokies even kicked off against VMI two weeks ago, it was undeniable.
Virginia Tech's win against Old Dominion the next week confirmed its validity. Saturday night's 35-26 win over Maryland was something entirely different, though.
Hope sprang eternal throughout Hokie Nation heading into this past weekend. That's what started not as a flicker but as a definitive spark in Cassell Coliseum last fall. But what was so palpable after Franklin and Co. convincingly dispatched the Terps?
Swagger.
The flashes Virginia Tech put on display against VMI and Old Dominion always came with caveats.
"They're just doing what they're supposed to do."
"Don't draw too many conclusions about this team just yet."
While these rebuttals were valid, very little about the way the Hokies played in College Park on Saturday night suggests that it's too early to believe in Virginia Tech's chances this season. Make no mistake, times have changed.
In his first road test wearing maroon and orange, Franklin ended Virginia Tech's dreaded 15-game losing streak against non-conference Power 4 opponents that dated back to 2017. Just as he did against Old Dominion last week, Franklin
made quick work of a lingering dread that had taken hold of the program for nearly a decade.
Not only did he get the result that so many Hokies desperately wanted, but he did it with his self-assured confidence that's contagious to anyone around the program.
Every Ethan Grunkemeyer pass felt almost as inevitable as each of Luke Reynolds' 12 catches. Jeffrey Overton Jr.'s and Marcellous Hawkins' timely runs seemed like the fruits of a week's worth of careful preparation, not just good fortune. The win felt earned in every sense of the word, perhaps more so than any in recent memory.
Saturday's victory was made more special by the historic efforts of Grunkemeyer and Reynolds.
After going 31-for-39 (79%) with 314 yards and three touchdowns, Grunkemeyer became the first Virginia Tech quarterback to log back-to-back 300+ yard passing games since Ryan Willis in 2018. He's also the first signal-caller to throw 31 completions in consecutive games since at least 1987.
Meanwhile, Reynolds became the first Virginia Tech tight end on record, dating back to 1987, to record consecutive 100+ receiving-yard games. He also became the first Hokie pass-catcher to tally back-to-back games with double-digit catches since Damon Hazelton in 2018.
Hokies fans haven't seen production like this in far, far too long. That they're getting it from not one but two of Franklin's former players at Penn State lends credibility to his ability to run the program in the modern era, something his predecessors never could do.
Virginia Tech wasn't perfect against Maryland. Giving up 359 yards through the air can hardly be considered a good day at the office. Likewise, nine penalties for 76 yards is frustrating, given Franklin's previous comments about that particular issue.
The difference between this season and those in recent memories, though, is that when Franklin says the team will clean things up, it's easy to believe him.
It isn't blind faith, although he hasn't given Hokies fans many reasons not to trust him. It's simply understanding that what's taken place on the field through three games is indicative of the kind of program fans envisioned Virginia Tech could be under Franklin's guidance.
The Hokies' performance against Maryland is all the more refreshing when considering the stakes of this game.
Dropping this matchup wouldn't have been the end of the Hokies' season, but it sure would have dampened the optimism buoying this program right now. Additionally, in the run-up to Saturday, there was an uptick in trash talk between two programs that shared a historic, standoff-ish past.
Jaquez White's comments about Maryland quarterback Malik Washington's arm gave the Terps ample bulletin board material. Franklin's relationship with Maryland's head coach, Mike Locksley, while at Penn State offered another backdrop of tension for a matchup that suddenly felt much more significant than it did just weeks prior.
Consequently, there was real juice inside SECU Stadium in front of a sellout crowd. That is, until Virginia Tech impressed its will on the host and never looked back, causing the Maryland faithful to head for the exits in waves by the end of the third quarter.
The moment wasn't too big. The Hokies' playmakers rose to the occasion. What was previously out of reach for Virginia Tech looked matter-of-fact.
The feeling around this program now that Virginia Tech is 3-0 for the first time since 2017 is unfamiliar among a fanbase that has grown used to mediocrity. While the season is young and the Hokies have plenty to improve on, there's real reason to take Franklin at his word that Virginia Tech will someday soon "look, feel, smell, and operate like a big-time football program."
Call it confidence. Call it swagger. Just don't call it fake.
