Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Mark Harris
Virginia Tech coach James Franklin expressed disagreement with a penalty called during Saturday's game against VMI, where running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after high-fiving military cadets in the front row. The penalty, which Franklin considers "un-American", occurred despite NCAA rules allowing players to celebrate with fans and officials present nearby. Hawkins' celebration involved holding onto the football, which may have contributed to the penalty under Rule 9-2. The Hokies defeated VMI 73-3, accumulating 619 yards in the process.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
James Franklin, coach of Virginia Tech, is criticizing a penalty given to his team during their game against VMI. With just 6:59 minutes left in the third quarter, Marcellous Hawkins Jr., a Virginia Tech running back, scored his third touchdown and ran over to high-five a group of military cadets. An official in the end zone flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Virginia Tech a penalty. Franklin questioned why high-fiving military personnel is not allowed, calling it "un-American". The Hokies won the game by a landslide 73-3, but Franklin's issue with the officiating crew remains. This incident highlights the strict rules governing excessive celebrations in college football, unlike in the NFL where players have more freedom to celebrate.
Written for “Penn State Coach Criticizes Penalty” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 6108 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
The James Franklin era at Virginia Tech got off to an emphatic start on Saturday with the Hokies trouncing VMI by a count of 73-3.
asserted
Hokies → get → 73
It was very much a celebration in Blacksburg, and as stress-free a day as the Hokies will have all season, but Franklin did have a small bone to pick with the officiating crew after the final whistle.
asserted
Franklin → have → whistle
A coach on the winning side of a 70-point blowout shouldn't have any complaints, but Franklin's issue appears to be well warranted.
asserted
issue → win → complaints
"We got a penalty for high-fiving one of our members of the corps," Franklin said.
asserted
Franklin → get → corps
I don’t know why we can’t high-five somebody in the military; it seems somewhat un-American to me."
asserted
it → know → me
Unlike in the NFL, where there are essentially no limitations on what players can do in terms of celebrating, there is a set of rules for excessive celebrations in college football.
asserted
players → be → football
Apparently, those rules are strictly applied, even when the player in question is celebrating with cadets seated in the front row.
asserted
player → apply → row
Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. was the player flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring what was his third touchdown of the evening.
asserted
what → flag → evening
After punching it into the end zone with 6:59 left in the third quarter, Hawkins immediately ran over to the large group of cadets and high-fived a number of them, which is what drew the penalty from an official in the end zone.
asserted
what → punch → zone
According to NCAA Rule 9-2, players are prohibited from any "delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)."
uncertain
player → accord → himself
Players are also mandated to immediately return the football to an official after scoring.
asserted
Players → mandate → official
Hawkins held onto the football while celebrating with the cadets, which very well could have led to the penalty flag being thrown.
uncertain
flag → hold → cadets
Despite the "un-American" penalty that Franklin very much did not appreciate, it was a big-time Saturday for the Hokies as they picked up 619 yards and held VMI to just 83 of its own.
asserted
they → appreciate → own
Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets dates back to 1872, and the school remains one of a select few public universities with both an active cadet corps and a civilian campus lifestyle today.
asserted
school → date → corps
