Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images/Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Maryland coach Michael Locksley and James Franklin
Press conferences generally work best when the reporter asks a question and the coach answers it. One Maryland media member apparently decided that format was too restrictive and used Mike Locksley’s availability this week to deliver a 67-second speech about how much James Franklin had personally infuriated him.
The moment came with Maryland preparing to host Franklin’s Virginia Tech team Saturday, bringing years of complicated history back to College Park. The exchange began like a question about crowd energy before gradually transforming into something much closer to a Maryland fan grabbing the microphone at a pep rally.
The Question Became A James Franklin Therapy Session
The reporter in question was Bruce Posner of TerpTalk, who opened by saying he wanted to “make a statement,” which is generally a warning sign during the question portion of a press conference.
He then revisited Franklin’s history with Maryland, saying the coach’s past comments and behavior had “infuriated me to a point of no return.”
The media member told Locksley “You’re our guy,” assured him people at Maryland loved him, and promised the coach would hear that anger directed toward Franklin when Virginia Tech arrives at SECU Stadium.
The whole thing is worth watching simply for Locksley’s expression.
Mike Locksley takes the high road when asked a question about the way James Franklin left Maryland and the disparaging comments he’s made about the university in the past.
Take a listen ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/AoemzBCSJL
— Inside Maryland Sports (@Terrapins247) September 15, 2026
He stood behind the microphone listening to the increasingly passionate monologue without giving much away before eventually redirecting the conversation toward the actual football game.
Locksley said he appreciated the statement but emphasized that none of the personal history would determine what happened Saturday. He wanted Maryland fans to make “The Shell” difficult to play in, just not because of some revenge mission involving two coaches.
Essentially: Love the energy. Maybe point some of it toward third down.
There Is Plenty Of Actual History Behind The Anger
The rant did not materialize completely out of nowhere.
Franklin spent eight seasons on Maryland’s coaching staff over two separate stretches and was once designated Ralph Friedgen’s coach-in-waiting before eventually leaving to become Vanderbilt’s head coach.
His Penn State teams then spent years beating up on Maryland.
The relationship became particularly ugly in 2024 when Penn State scored a touchdown on fourth-and-12 as time expired in a 44-7 win. Locksley called the late touchdown “bulls—,” while Franklin defended playing aggressively with his backups and argued that point differential mattered in the College Football Playoff era.
Franklin’s Penn State teams ultimately went 9-2 against Maryland. Now, he is back in Maryland for the first time as Virginia Tech’s head coach, with both programs entering Saturday at 2-0.
That is already plenty of material for a fun college football grudge match without a reporter becoming emotionally involved.
Locksley has spent the week trying to drain some of that drama from the matchup. He said he respects Franklin, noted their long history together, and repeatedly stressed the game will be decided by the players rather than whatever happened between the coaches years ago.
One person in the press room apparently disagreed with that approach.