Do you want PSU to hire Terry Smith as Head Coach?

Should PSU make Terry the permanent Head Coach

  • Yes

    Votes: 96 48.5%
  • No

    Votes: 71 35.9%
  • On the fence (or waiting for Gunsie’s answer so I can choose the opposite)

    Votes: 31 15.7%

  • Total voters
    198

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
11,163
18,026
113
If PSU gets invited and declines, you think it will be any better? Instead of PSU showing up and getting beat by Pitt, they chicken out? It would be a giant black eye in a year full of them.

If the bowl invite is against Pitt, They have to play. A MAC team, I would be OK with declining.

Is there a penalty for declining? Should be given the conference shared bowl revenue. If PSU declines, they should get nothing from the conference IMO.
 
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BCS PSU

Senior
Jun 2, 2001
364
646
93
If PSU gets invited and declines, you think it will be any better? Instead of PSU showing up and getting beat by Pitt, they chicken out? It would be a giant black eye in a year full of them.

If the bowl invite is against Pitt, They have to play. A MAC team, I would be OK with declining.
First, Pitt probably will go to a slightly higher bowl than the Pinstripe Bowl.

Second, Pitt will have several opt-outs regardless of in what bowl they participate.

Third, it's no given that PSU will beat Rutgers anyway.

Finally, I no longer believe that any Power 4 school that doesn't make the playoffs should play in a bowl; it's become almost embarrassing now.
 

NoBareFeet

Sophomore
Oct 25, 2021
153
175
43
Sure. In the grand scheme of things but they occur during the semester when they're enrolled. Most bowls, even minor ones, are after the fall semester.
So by that logic, the college football playoff is pointless because it falls after the fall semester? Trying to follow the thought process here...
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
2,794
1,901
113
So by that logic, the college football playoff is pointless because it falls after the fall semester? Trying to follow the thought process here...
Again...the playoff determines a champion. The rest are rewards. They're scrimmages were kids get free gifts. Reading would help you follow...or should
 

Connorpozlee

All-American
Aug 29, 2013
2,848
5,506
113
Sure. In the grand scheme of things but they occur during the semester when they're enrolled. Most bowls, even minor ones, are after the fall semester.
So what?
I’m not trying to be a prick, but if you’re playing just to win a championship then you might as well bail after your team’s third loss. If you’re playing just to get to the NFL and put some stuff on tape, then you should bail as soon as you think you’ve done enough to get you drafted where you want to go. If you’re playing because you are a part of the team and you want to compete to win every game with your teammates, then it doesn’t matter what that particular game means in any larger sense and you just play.
 

NoBareFeet

Sophomore
Oct 25, 2021
153
175
43
So what?
I’m not trying to be a prick, but if you’re playing just to win a championship then you might as well bail after your team’s third loss. If you’re playing just to get to the NFL and put some stuff on tape, then you should bail as soon as you think you’ve done enough to get you drafted where you want to go. If you’re playing because you are a part of the team and you want to compete to win every game with your teammates, then it doesn’t matter what that particular game means in any larger sense and you just play.
And if you're a player who falls into the first two buckets you mentioned, you are a pile of crap who I wouldn't want on any team I play on or coach.
 

Connorpozlee

All-American
Aug 29, 2013
2,848
5,506
113
And if you're playing for the first two reasons you mentioned, you are a pile of crap who I wouldn't want on any team I play on or coach.
I wouldn’t even go that far. Rationally, I get it. Personally, I would just play. I get injured and miss out on an NFL career? Well, that sucks but there will many more disappointments in life that I’ll also deal with.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
659
1,072
93
First, Pitt probably will go to a slightly higher bowl than the Pinstripe Bowl.

Second, Pitt will have several opt-outs regardless of in what bowl they participate.

Third, it's no given that PSU will beat Rutgers anyway.

Finally, I no longer believe that any Power 4 school that doesn't make the playoffs should play in a bowl; it's become almost embarrassing now.
The Pinstripe is in NYC, correct? They might want the chance to get Pitt and PSU, knowing attendance is likely to be high for it. But yes, you are correct. Pitt is likely going to a better game.
 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
41,814
31,586
113


It really isn’t that simple, now is it?

Franklin had to be fired after the northwestern game. We’ve discussed it many times, so I won’t go over it again.

When Kraft fired Franklin, I’m sure he wasn’t leaning towards hiring Smith. Kraft can’t make other guys take the job. Just because other guys turned down PSU doesn’t mean that Kraft botched the search. Meanwhile, we don’t know who Kraft went after and how those candidates responded.

It also isn’t on Kraft that lsu and uf fired their coaches mid-season, thereby creating competition for top candidates. None of that changes the strong assertion that Franklin had to be fired mid-season.

Meanwhile, Kraft hasn’t offered Smith the job. We don’t know if he will.
 
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BCS PSU

Senior
Jun 2, 2001
364
646
93
The Pinstripe is in NYC, correct? They might want the chance to get Pitt and PSU, knowing attendance is likely to be high for it. But yes, you are correct. Pitt is likely going to a better game.
Yes. Nothing says college football bowl than playing in a baseball stadium in the Northeast in the middle of December.

I want PSU to finsih 6-6 because this team, even with many holes, obviously was much better than the way they played during most of the six game losing streak. However, I also want this season to end ASAP so that the new era of PSU football can begin ASAP.
 

SRURock24

Senior
Jul 25, 2017
365
433
63
It really isn’t that simple, now is it?

Franklin had to be fired after the northwestern game. We’ve discussed it many times, so I won’t go over it again.

When Kraft fired Franklin, I’m sure he wasn’t leaning towards hiring Smith. Kraft can’t make other guys take he job. Just because other guys turned down PSU doesn’t mean that Kraft botched the search. Meanwhile, we don’t know who Kraft went after and how those candidates responded.

It also isn’t on Kraft that lsu and uf fired their coaches mid-season, thereby creating competition for top candidates. None of that changes the strong assertion that Franklin had to be fired mid-season.

Meanwhile, Kraft hasn’t offered Smith the job. We don’t know if he will.
Assuming what Landon says is true which I don’t fully believe give Glenn Schumann an interview.
 
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PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
659
1,072
93
It really isn’t that simple, now is it?

Franklin had to be fired after the northwestern game. We’ve discussed it many times, so I won’t go over it again.

When Kraft fired Franklin, I’m sure he wasn’t leaning towards hiring Smith. Kraft can’t make other guys take he job. Just because other guys turned down PSU doesn’t mean that Kraft botched the search. Meanwhile, we don’t know who Kraft went after and how those candidates responded.

It also isn’t on Kraft that lsu and uf fired their coaches mid-season, thereby creating competition for top candidates. None of that changes the strong assertion that Franklin had to be fired mid-season.

Meanwhile, Kraft hasn’t offered Smith the job. We don’t know if he will.
I have a really hard time believing that all of the candidates are known publicly. Its not like Kraft has put out a list of who he calls or who he interviews every day.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
659
1,072
93
Yes. Nothing says college football bowl than playing in a baseball stadium in the Northeast in the middle of December.

I want PSU to finsih 6-6 because this team, even with many holes, obviously was much better than the way they played during most of the six game losing streak. However, I also want this season to end ASAP so that the new era of PSU football can begin ASAP.
Looking at it from a Pinstripe perspective, Pitt PSU would be a dream matchup. But otherwise, that bowl game stinks.

I really think Pitt is the one matchup PSU cant turn down. The optics of that would be horrible. Any other matchup, I would be fine with them skipping out and ending this season ASAP as well.
 

ApexLion

All-American
Nov 1, 2021
5,345
9,079
113
It’s interesting. Maybe the football room is far different than the board room, but the most successful people I saw run organizations were the ones who had the ability to motivate their team and to get them to buy in and contribute to the vision the company had. If you can get buy in and develop a shared vision, it’s very powerful.

I don’t believe you need to have the knowledge of many of the details. Get good people and let them do their jobs. Sure the opponents the last two weeks are not world beaters but neither were UCLA and NW. Something is different and the kids immediate response to Terry likely signifies some significant level of buy in.

I would carefully assess what is going on. Real leaders don’t grow on tress.
This
 

leinbacker

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
2,315
3,703
113
I think they should consider giving him a 1-2 year conditional contract based on his performance. He is deserving of that and many of the players with eligibility left will stay. He is also an outstanding recruiter. Keep in mind all the players on the team were recruited under JF also. JF has built many contacts in Pa. And the DMV area and salivating to recruit them to VT. He did produce some marquee NFL talent and will be a tough battle recruiting against him. Terry does have the ability to do that. Short of hiring Ryan Day away as our coach Kraft is in a dilemma of who can take the program to an elite status. Pressure from big $ alumni are going to probably insist on some big name glamour coach. I could perceive mass exodus of current roster under some outside unproven coach who never won a National Championship. Terry could make decisions on OC and DC replacement if necessary as the head coach.

Even today, with the portal, I think a 1-2 year contract will be used against Terry by opposing coaches. Why go to Penn State if you don't know who the coach will be in a year or two and things will be back in turmoil.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
2,794
1,901
113
So what?
I’m not trying to be a prick, but if you’re playing just to win a championship then you might as well bail after your team’s third loss. If you’re playing just to get to the NFL and put some stuff on tape, then you should bail as soon as you think you’ve done enough to get you drafted where you want to go. If you’re playing because you are a part of the team and you want to compete to win every game with your teammates, then it doesn’t matter what that particular game means in any larger sense and you just play.
Again ...how do you not see the difference between finishing out the regular season (which I agree) vs a bowl game. Bowl games are supposed to be a reward. Let those that practiced hard all year get reps.
I want to win if I'm playing a beer hockey league but if I'm entering the draft I'm not playing in a scrimmage for pride.
We've seen the NFL (nor any players...see the Ole Miss opt outs) care as they understand
 

Connorpozlee

All-American
Aug 29, 2013
2,848
5,506
113
Again ...how do you not see the difference between finishing out the regular season (which I agree) vs a bowl game. Bowl games are supposed to be a reward. Let those that practiced hard all year get reps.
I want to win if I'm playing a beer hockey league but if I'm entering the draft I'm not playing in a scrimmage for pride.
We've seen the NFL (nor any players...see the Ole Miss opt outs) care as they understand
Bowl games are just games. No more or less meaningful than regular season games once you’ve been eliminated from championship contention. If I’m only concerned with my own draft positioning and I’m a highly talented player, I’m not playing the regular season either, a la Parsons. It didn’t affect him negatively. Why is a bowl game less meaningful than week 12 against Rutgers?
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
2,794
1,901
113
Bowl games are just games. No more or less meaningful than regular season games once you’ve been eliminated from championship contention. If I’m only concerned with my own draft positioning and I’m a highly talented player, I’m not playing the regular season either, a la Parsons. It didn’t affect him negatively. Why is a bowl game less meaningful than week 12 against Rutgers?
They are not...they were designed to reward teams for elite seasons. They're infinitely less meaningful than a regular season game even after you've been eliminated.

Parsons opted out during COVID different scenario.

Because the Rutgers game is a conference game that goes toward finalizing standing. A bowl game mean literally nothing. Its slightly worse than our week non conference games.
 

NoSoup4U

Senior
Jan 17, 2002
599
842
93
Even today, with the portal, I think a 1-2 year contract will be used against Terry by opposing coaches. Why go to Penn State if you don't know who the coach will be in a year or two and things will be back in turmoil.
Well can the same not be said for using against the kids?

1) Akin to --sorry johnny but there is no guarantee you will be here in 2 years so I need to recruit your replacement now.
or
2)how about in the reverse yeah we can replace Terry in a 1- 2 years but anywhere you decide to go now, could also lose their coach in 2 years, any coach saying they will be there is no guarantee ....and then proceed to list how ever many coaches you like as examples
 

Mongrel

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2021
29
41
13
I don't know if Franklin pissed Kraft off by going behind his back but I doubt that Kraft had the authority to fore Franklin without support from the BOT and some donors. I do know that the timing totally sucked and that it doesn't appear that they had a replacement plan in place.

Here are some other things I'm pretty sure of.
  • Franklin's recruiting has been below expectations ever since the 2022 class. Especially weak at WR, DT, & LB. Portal additions haven't been great either.
  • I suspect Franklin knew he was headed into a tough rebuilding period and that's why he tried to seize the moment to extend his contract before next year.
  • Something went very bad with this year's team. The concerns about DT & LB proved to be legitimate but there is no excuse for losing to UCLA & Northwestern. Franklin said this was the most talented team he's had at PSU and the wheels came off before losing Allar & Rojas. Listening to the announcers talk about how horrible the play calling and clock management was embarrassing.
  • Allar got worse instead of better. I've never seen a QB spend so much time studying the plays on his wristband. I think he's very talented but way overcoached.
  • Franklin appeared uninterested at times. He looked like a deer in the headlights at times and that seemed to carry over to the players. I think the pressure of so many close losses followed by fan criticism really got to him.
Now we're in a tough spot. PSU was never going to get the top guy from schools like GA, TX, A&M, ND, and OSU so who did they (Kraft) think they could get? The guys from Iowa State or James Madison might be very good coaches but they probably lack recruiting connections in the northeast. I'm sure that PSU is willing to spend what it takes to get us back to the top 15 in a couple of years but I'd be amazed if we see the playoffs for at least 3 years.
Overall, these are astute observations IMHO. I do have some disagreement with the comments on DT. Except for the Jalen Carter and Walter Nolans of the world, recruiting DTs requires the ability to project into what a prospect can develop. Franklin's decision to hire Knowles was curious in that he used a system that required the DTs to stand up the OL and push them into the backfield. The linebackers them step into the gaps and to make the tackle or drop into coverage. The DTs currently on the roster and the most recent recruits fit a mold of defenses that slant into the gaps and create disruption in the backfield and pressure the QB when necessary. BGJ was too enamored with the way that OSU shut down the Oregon defense in the playoffs. It was a poor job of evaluating how a style of defense fit the talent already accumulated.

With regard to Terry Smith, should he be the next head coach? Maybe. This is where Pat Kraft is going to have to earn his salary. Past experience, familiarity with the program, and innate ability are characteristics to be used as a guide with respect to who you talk too.

I had to deal with a similar situation in my professional career (I'm now retired). I had been with the company for about a year. When I arrived, I found what is typical occurrence in companies that have experienced growing pains. The processing systems currently in place had over time created their own inefficiencies. Additionally, these same processes had not adapted to a changing marketplace. This had resulted in low employee morale and turnover.

After making changes to how things were processed. I next had to deal with a lingering morale issue with the customer service manager and supervisor. They were both reasonably competent individuals but still had a jaded attitude due to past history. This meant finding a way to adjust their attitude or replacing them. After addressing this issue with them, they made a decision to move on.

Consequently, I needed to find a new customer service manager. Solving this problem started with the usual method of networking and running ads. After interviewing multiple candidates with management experience, my attention focused on an employee who had only been with the company for a little over a month. He had no prior management experience, but after having informal conversations with him about the current department and his observations about the current status quo I made the decision that he was the right person for the job despite not having had a formal interview.

This required me putting my neck on the line and selling my boss (the company owner) that this was the right move despite his not having been with the company very long and no prior management experience. My boss reluctantly agreed with my recommendation, and he was offered and accepted the job.

The result was that at the end of the year Christmas celebration he was awarded 'Newcomer of the Year' and I was announced as the new vice president, invited to join the Board of Directors and given the Chairman's award as employee of the year. There were other reasons why I was promoted, but it was a significant reason.

Concerning Terry Smith, he took over a program that was clearly in disarray. He has made obvious adjustments to game planning and has clearly won the support of the team when it could have easily evolved into a situation where everyone is focused more on what happens once the season is finished. The team has clearly refocused to the here and now.

Other posters have raised a valid question of why Terry Smith was not offered a coordinators position when it came open. Another poster astutely observed that BGJ recruited players to 'play for him and not PSU'. When you look at his previous internal promotions an argument can be made that he made decisions based on their loyalty to him and not PSU. One thing that is clear to me is that Terry Smith's loyalty was PSU first. This is probably why Pat Kraft decided to make Terry the interim head coach and not one of the current coordinators. A case can be made that some of BGJ's prior dismissals were made based on their not being completely bought in to how BGJ wanted things handled and they did not have a loyalty first to BGJ.

The decision with respect to the new coach now falls to Pat Kraft. After all of the considerations, he needs to hire the person based on who he believes can do the job. Everything else is window dressing. With his decision, he will reap the accolades or suffer the scorn and the resulting adverse consequences.