V-tech gets 75-million-dollar donation to athletic department and honors college

[Truzzcat]

Not sure how this will be broken up presumably largely to football, but that is a large sum of money, and the wrestling program already has a ton of momentum on its side.

[Simpleman424]

4 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

Not sure how this will be broken up presumably largely to football, but that is a large sum of money, and the wrestling program already has a ton of momentum on its side.

This is great for the university, the community and most of all the kids…can’t hate on it. Already hoping Franklin does well at VT. This will certainly help with that.

[Southend]

As usual, non revenue sports won’t see any benefit. 

[juniorvarsity]

4 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

Not sure how this will be broken up presumably largely to football, but that is a large sum of money, and the wrestling program already has a ton of momentum on its side.

Link to article - Virginia Tech receives historic $75M donation, mostly for athletics

James Franklin is a big deal for the football program. They did make the national championship in the 90s with Michael Vick. They were mostly a 10 wins team in the 2000s, but not lately. 

Non revenue sports get shut out a bit on these things, but I'm sure they'll spend some of it on facilities. 

[Truzzcat]

51 minutes ago, juniorvarsity said:

Link to article - Virginia Tech receives historic $75M donation, mostly for athletics

James Franklin is a big deal for the football program. They did make the national championship in the 90s with Michael Vick. They were mostly a 10 wins team in the 2000s, but not lately. 

Non revenue sports get shut out a bit on these things, but I'm sure they'll spend some of it on facilities. 

I am wondering if Tech brings home a team trophy this year if they can suck in a bit of the funds even though its a losing proposition for ROI. Not a Franklin guy for the most part however I think it would be awesome if the Tech football program could build something, the ACC has become quite dismal. 

[RandolphTJones]

2 hours ago, juniorvarsity said:

Link to article - Virginia Tech receives historic $75M donation, mostly for athletics

James Franklin is a big deal for the football program. They did make the national championship in the 90s with Michael Vick. They were mostly a 10 wins team in the 2000s, but not lately. 

Non revenue sports get shut out a bit on these things, but I'm sure they'll spend some of it on facilities. 

As on Ohio St fan I was sad to see Franklin leave Penn St. 

[nhs67]

12 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I am wondering if Tech brings home a team trophy this year if they can suck in a bit of the funds even though its a losing proposition for ROI. Not a Franklin guy for the most part however I think it would be awesome if the Tech football program could build something, the ACC has become quite dismal. 

How would you define a successful ROI proposition?

In 2025 VTech's Athletic Department spent ~$150 million, with ~$100 million being on Football.  The revenue from football was ~$140 million and the revenue from the rest of the department was ~$20 million.

They did have a surplus of ~$10 million, but Football on an island had a ~$40 million surplus.  If you take football out, they spent ~$50 million and made ~$20 million, a loss of ~$30 million.

I think that points to football getting ~90% at least.  Or at least ~90% of it going to facilities and programs that benefit the football program, which has been mediocre.  Back in the Beamer days, it was feared.  Franklin, I think, brings them back to relevancy and I think that money helps with that.

I think putting most of the money in to football is clearly the best path to the best ROI potential.

Edit: Sorry, I was in football mode.  I think we agree.  Wrestling won't get much, if any.

Edited June 6 by nhs67

[MoveCountermove]

On 6/5/2026 at 9:52 AM, RandolphTJones said:

As on Ohio St fan I was sad to see Franklin leave Penn St. 

Ditto as a UM fan. Thorn in the side as a recruiter, but could not get over the hump in the big games. He’s a really good fit for a Va Tech program that hasn’t been the same since Beamer, though. Should see a significant uptick in recruiting and the staff should round out nicely around him, typically. He could finish out a nice career bringing them back to the top of the ACC and trying to help maintain relevance to that conference in the expanded CFP. 

[MoveCountermove]

On 6/5/2026 at 8:54 PM, nhs67 said:

How would you define a successful ROI proposition?

In 2025 VTech's Athletic Department spent ~$150 million, with ~$100 million being on Football.  The revenue from football was ~$140 million and the revenue from the rest of the department was ~$20 million.

They did have a surplus of ~$10 million, but Football on an island had a ~$40 million surplus.  If you take football out, they spent ~$50 million and made ~$20 million, a loss of ~$30 million.

I think that points to football getting ~90% at least.  Or at least ~90% of it going to facilities and programs that benefit the football program, which has been mediocre.  Back in the Beamer days, it was feared.  Franklin, I think, brings them back to relevancy and I think that money helps with that.

I think putting most of the money in to football is clearly the best path to the best ROI potential.

Edit: Sorry, I was in football mode.  I think we agree.  Wrestling won't get much, if any.

Didn’t read this first to see that you mentioned essentially the same thing I did about Beamer and Franklin. I approve of this take, budget bits included.