I feel bad for Vanderbilt. I really and truly do. The betrayal we felt two weeks ago when Bill O’Brien abandoned us for the Texans is the same sort of betrayal I imagine Commodores are feeling in Nashville right now. Much like O’Brien led Penn State through muddy waters and back to prominence, Franklin did the same thing at Vanderbilt — perhaps even to a greater degree.

He was their coach yesterday, ubiquitously loved after resurrecting Vanderbilt into a formidable program in only three years. Today, he is our coach. That’s the reality of this tough business — a business that doesn’t take heartbroken fans into account anymore.

Franklin lit a spark in the fanbase that hadn’t been seen at Vanderbilt in a long time. That newfound passion reached full circle this morning, as a group of fans organized a rally to support the players as they walked into the football building to say goodbye to their coach for the last time. It was called #Starwalk, and it took off on social media all day Friday.

Change our circumstances. Be at the #starwalk tomorrow at 8am to support @VandyFootball after team meeting. Our players need us. retweet

— VandyGold (@VandyGold) January 11, 2014

#Vandy fans organizing #StarWalk tomorrow morning for the players? Like the idea!! Fans taking ownership over program. #AnchorDown #VU247

— Chris Smith (@ChrisSmithVU247) January 11, 2014

#starwalk is trending on Twitter. We are #VandyNation! Lets make sure enough people show up that we have to overflow into Dudley!

— VU_From_the_Top (@VUfromthetop) January 11, 2014

VandyNation: any way u can b @ #starwalk tomorrow morning at 7:30ish it will b good for the soul. #VandyFamily. Always been bout this team!

— Mark (@markNwhitebluff) January 11, 2014

Hope to see all the Vandy fans tomorrow at the #StarWalk … It would mean a lot to us #VandyNation

— Andrew Jelks (@andre_dores50) January 11, 2014

The #starwalk doesn’t end when everyone’s inside at 8. We get louder then so they can hear us inside.

— Matt (@SportsGuyZ) January 11, 2014

Good night all. Proud to be a small part of the #vandy family. Good use of twitter 2nite to make #StarWalk happen. We will define ourself.

— VandyGold (@VandyGold) January 11, 2014

All in all, more hundred fans showed up to greet their players this morning. It reminded me of a smaller version of our Rise and Rally event in July 2012 that still gives me chills to think about it.

Several players have shown, including QBs Robinette and McCrary. Fans applauding as they walk up: pic.twitter.com/5r4MhUmjLe — Jeff Lockridge (@jefflockridge) January 11, 2014

Vandy fans up bright and early to cheer on the players as they head into their meeting pic.twitter.com/6PkS3suxNG — Audra Martin (@Audra_Martin) January 11, 2014

James Franklin has arrived #Vandy #coachwatch14 pic.twitter.com/zd5mXZ4YGW

— Audra Martin (@Audra_Martin) January 11, 2014

#starwalk # anchor down pic.twitter.com/3K03UKDluC

— Mark (@markNwhitebluff) January 11, 2014

#StarWalk was big time, thank you #VandyNation

— Patton Robinette (@probinette4) January 11, 2014

I guess I just want to say, thank you Vanderbilt. You have a lot to be proud of. Anchor Down.

UPDATE: Here’s a statement from Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams.

I received a phone call last night from Coach Franklin saying he was going to accept a new opportunity. There is no question that James Franklin’s outstanding work has helped put Vanderbilt football on the national stage.

We are extremely sorry to see the Franklin family leave our university and community, and we thank them and wish them the very best. Because of James, Fumi, Shola and Addy Franklin, our program is stronger in every way than it was just a few short years ago.

While I will personally miss them, I want to assure our campus community and Commodore Nation that we are prepared to begin the process that we’ve used in the past to identify and hire our other very successful head coaches.

We have every expectation to hire an outstanding new football coach to build upon the progress that has been made in recent years.