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

[BuckIdoc]

Very nice response and I don't think you're trolling but of course the rest of the Big Ten would want us to hire a guy that is limited to be our next coach. Especially if that means we don't take Hartline.

I don’t know if that is true. While I certainly don’t want you to beat us on the regular, I also really don’t want the Big10 to turn into the ACC. Ohio state is getting **** on for their record this year, even with playing Texas OOC. We NEED other teams in the conference to be good. Michigan is improving, and we’ll see how sustainable Indiana is, and Oregon’s up there, but I think the Big10 needs more strong programs to rival the SEC. OSU can’t carry the conference alone.

I also think it’s fine if you take Brian. He won’t stay WR/kinda OC for us for forever, and this would be a fabulous opportunity for him. I do worry that it’s too early and that he could flame out spectacularly and become damaged goods, and I don’t want him to have to go through that, but maybe that is an overly pessimistic point of view.

 

[psu0408]

I voted no on this. Kraft has to hire the best HC candidate without regard to legacy status or emotions. People here have been reluctant to give the job to an outside coaching candidate with no HC experience (i.e. Hartline), so objectively, I can't see them giving it to an interim HC who was previously a position coach.

That being said, Terry has done a far better job motivating these players than Franklin did this year. He recognized at Iowa that the offense had to flow around Kaytron Allen, and we've seen a gradual reduction in gimmicky nonsense since then. This offense playing power football does not lose to UCLA or Northwestern. The defense seems to be adapting to Knowles.

If you're going to make Terry the guy, you can't make him a lame duck coach with a short term deal. Gotta give him 5 years, keep Knowles and give him the resources to nab an up and coming OC. Keep the young core of the team and go out and buy 5-10 portal guys with an eye towards 2027.

If it's not Deboer, my vote is for Hartline with Terry as assistant HC and a pay raise. The achilles heel for PSU has been the offense, and I think he would provide an instant spark for recruiting skill position players.

 

[bdgan]

At this point, yep. Kraft is in a bad, bad spot here.

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.

 

[BobPSU92]

I would be happy if PSU hired Terry Smith. Good man. I like his attitude and believe that he can recruit well. Give him a chance.

 

[Itraindogs]

I don’t know if that is true. While I certainly don’t want you to beat us on the regular, I also really don’t want the Big10 to turn into the ACC. Ohio state is getting **** on for their record this year, even with playing Texas OOC. We NEED other teams in the conference to be good. Michigan is improving, and we’ll see how sustainable Indiana is, and Oregon’s up there, but I think the Big10 needs more strong programs to rival the SEC. OSU can’t carry the conference alone.

I also think it’s fine if you take Brian. He won’t stay WR/kinda OC for us for forever, and this would be a fabulous opportunity for him. I do worry that it’s too early and that he could flame out spectacularly and become damaged goods, and I don’t want him to have to go through that, but maybe that is an overly pessimistic point of view.

Agree. Brian needs a couple of years to get ready to run a P4 program, though I am not sure being under Day will ever allow him to do son (given Day's well-known control issues). I, too, think he is too talented to risk taking on a job that he is not prepared for and damaging his reputation.

 

[Nitt1300]

Absent the elusive "home run hire"- which isn't going ti happen- any other option is a risk. I'm not convinced that our administration is up to the task of navigating that risk.

 

[psuno1]

I would be all in for Terry Smith if he would have won @Iowa and vs IU, but he didn't. Next years team will be favored in all but two games @UW @UM if they keep most of the team together. Going to be a tough call.

 

[Midnighter]

Straight-forward question. Many are very vocal one way or the other, but wanted the overall pulse.

No. We could maybe do worse but you don’t fire Franklin to hire his assistant coach. With everything on the line (stadium expansion, adidas rebranding, etc) you need a big/hot name who is going to move the program in a new direction. Hate to say it, but need a clean break from Paterno/Franklin.

Smith would do well to tamp down the brewing LJSR situation about him being the next HC - will divide the locker room and spread ill will. Need to move on with a new coach and Smith needs to play his role in the transition.

 

[G3624]

No. We could maybe do worse but you don’t fire Franklin to hire his assistant coach. With everything on the line (stadium expansion, adidas rebranding, etc) you need a big/hot name who is going to move the program in a new direction. Hate to say it, but need a clean break from Paterno/Franklin.

Smith would do well to tamp down the brewing LJSR situation brewing about him being the next HC - will divide the locker room and spread ill will. Need to move on with a new coach.

No, you're wrong. There is no need to rewrite history. Get over it. It is what it is. Take off your red hat and wear the blue.

 

[Midnighter]

No, you're wrong. There is no need to rewrite history. Get over it. It is what it is. Take off your red hat and wear the blue.

Thanks for the rambling nonsense new guy. Ignored (as incoherent drivel is too rampant here as it is). Peace.

 

[Calabrin]

Terry Smith is the all-sentiment, zero-logic choice for head coach.

Terry simply does not have the connections necessary to build a program of this caliber. Penn State needs to hire someone a) younger, b) with more of a track record than a being a position coach, c) who has connections to other coaches and staff within the college football realm so he can bring in capable assistants.

I understand the argument in favor of Terry. I get that it's the "warm, fuzzy" option. But hiring him would be a heart-over-head move. Terry should absolutely be retained in some capacity. I'm sure they can find him a job somewhere. No one is doubting his love for or loyalty to the program. But I don't think he's the right pick.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Every school seems to hire a mercenary. Doesn't work out in a lot of cases. Maybe zigging when the market is zagging is the way to go. Howie Roseman thinking differently has produced two Super Bowl wins in 8 years

Auburn had a similar situation a few years back. Cadillac Williams did well as an interim coach and had a lot of support among players and alums to be the new HC. Auburn instead hired Hugh Freeze, who as we know was fired this year after amassing a terrible W-L record. Now they will move on to the next mercenary

Is doing what everyone else is doing really the way to go?

 

[Bison13]

I believe there are only four possible candidates at this point. DeBoer, Hartline, Chesney and Smith in that order. I would be fine with any of them, depending on what happens next week maybe those four shift in their order. Those of you talking about giving him a one to two year trial, that’s ridiculous. You can’t recruit you can’t get kids in the portal and you can’t keep good assistants either.
Considering how well they played against Iowa, Indiana and the first half of the Ohio State game, I’m not sure any other guy in the country could’ve done that with his bad as the locker room was after Northwestern.
Everybody clamoring about recruiting and NIL also have to remember that besides Adidas, they’re gonna need money from everyday Joe’s like us. I’m not saying that it will definitely happen but it sounds like the alumni base might be willing to give a little bit more if Terry is the guy.
The other group who say you can’t fire the head coach and just replace him with an assistant, obviously some of you guys don’t remember . Dabo, Ed Overton and Ryan Day were all interim first. And it’s obvious that Terry felt that there were some systematic changes that needed to be done and he’s done them.

Again, I think there’s guys ahead of him but unless something crazy happens in the next seven days, I’d be fine with Terry and think this team would win at least eight games next year with him

 

[Nitt1300]

Thanks for the rambling nonsense new guy. Ignored (as incoherent drivel is too rampant here as it is). Peace.

You've been a member here for far too long to be allergic to a bit of rambling nonsense.

 

[m.knox]

It's funny that beating Michigan State, Nebraska and Rutgers makes anyone want a coach.

We all know it has nothing to do with his coaching ability. The players like him. The fans like "he's a Penn State/Paterno guy"

No one cares about your insufferable opinion.

Last night was the most complete game the team played, and without Allar or Rojas. I guess it is just happenstance.... lol....

You have some sort of fantasy construct in your little brain.

 

[PSUAVLNC]

Its amazing to me since the firing if Joe how the powers that be have run away from Penn State people....and look where its gotten us. (Sandy)

Its so obvious Terry Smith should be hired a blind person can see it.

For crying out loud hire a coach who knows what it means to be "Penn State".

Have some pride in who we are!!!!

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

We'll never know the reasons or reasons for firing Franklin, but at the time he deserved it.
Terry was and is the pot of gold, he stopped the chaos , controlled the coordinators , got
the team to play with fire, and all while keeping whats left of a recruiting class.
Franklin adamantly refused to run Katron more, throw down field, and why is it that the
defensive line is attacking more, and the O line the same. Watching UCLA play last night
it was a football crime to lose to that team.
Franklin lost J. Seider on a lateral move, and supposedly asked for a raise behind PK's back.
Penn State is on a financial tip with the stadium expansion, NIL, and the possibility of hiring
a supposedly a home run hire in the current 50 mil range. Financially, moving ahead the
Penn State alums , lettermen , and big business donors will have TS's back, so it seems to
me.
The only other hire that makes sense is Bob Chesney, and that raises as much experience
skepticism as hiring Terry only worse losing the locker room.
Personally i don't want anyone associated with Ohio State, and have my doubts about southern
coaches.

 

[m.knox]

He's totally crapped the bed with his impulsive, zero-thought or plan handling of this situation.

Then you might as well say all 10 of the fired coaches in 2025 were impulsive with zero thought.

Admittedly, it is not ideal by any stretch. If you believe Franklin lost the squad, then "yes" it was appropriate. If you don't, then it was impulsive.

 

[PSUAVLNC]

We'll never know the reasons or reasons for firing Franklin, but at the time he deserved it.
Terry was and is the pot of gold, he stopped the chaos , controlled the coordinators , got
the team to play with fire, and all while keeping whats left of a recruiting class.
Franklin adamantly refused to run Katron more, throw down field, and why is it that the
defensive line is attacking more, and the O line the same. Watching UCLA play last night
it was a football crime to lose to that team.
Franklin lost J. Seider on a lateral move, and supposedly asked for a raise behind PK's back.
Penn State is on a financial tip with the stadium expansion, NIL, and the possibility of hiring
a supposedly a home run hire in the current 50 mil range. Financially, moving ahead the
Penn State alums , lettermen , and big business donors will have TS's back, so it seems to
me.
The only other hire that makes sense is Bob Chesney, and that raises as much experience
skepticism as hiring Terry only worse losing the locker room.
Personally i don't want anyone associated with Ohio State, and have my doubts about southern
coaches.

Amen, no more hiring anyone who has his eye on the next job or is waiting for tOSU to come open, screw that!!!.....hire Terry Smith, no more snake oil salesman and their traveling road shows!!!

 

[KingLando]

If we were not competing with two major SEC programs I'd be a lot more confident we'll land a homerun hire, but much like the housing market there days with inventory tight and competition high not sure the solution to our long-term objectives is readily available. We over-pay for CJF 2.0 and start the coaching parade that many other programs go through. I get how the process works. Kraft is likely doing the best he can in this situation but personally I'd prefer the guy who bleeds blue and white over a coach that has a higher yet unproven ceiling.

Depends on what you consider a HR hire
To me, Hartline is

 

[KingLando]

No one cares about your insufferable opinion.

Last night was the most complete game the team played, and without Allar or Rojas. I guess it is just happenstance.... lol....

You have some sort of fantasy construct in your little brain.

If you didn't care you wouldn't acknowledge it
It's great they played well last night. It doesn't alter who we beat how bad they are without Dylan
The fantasy is last night's win mean Terry should be hired as it somehow proves he can do bur James couldn't.
Again we beat MSU and Nebraska

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Depends on what you consider a HR hire
To me, Hartline is

No ,he has, and always will have a Buckeye heart, and has Zero HC experience.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

I'd always be unsure of how long he'd be at PSU.

 

[MacNit]

Agreed. I didn't expect to see the sentiment last night. It will only get stronger with a butt whipping of Rutgers next week.

That’s bold to assume a win…these same kids + Drew list to a coach-less UCLA

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

I believe there are only four possible candidates at this point. DeBoer, Hartline, Chesney and Smith in that order. I would be fine with any of them, depending on what happens next week maybe those four shift in their order. Those of you talking about giving him a one to two year trial, that’s ridiculous. You can’t recruit you can’t get kids in the portal and you can’t keep good assistants either.
Considering how well they played against Iowa, Indiana and the first half of the Ohio State game, I’m not sure any other guy in the country could’ve done that with his bad as the locker room was after Northwestern.
Everybody clamoring about recruiting and NIL also have to remember that besides Adidas, they’re gonna need money from everyday Joe’s like us. I’m not saying that it will definitely happen but it sounds like the alumni base might be willing to give a little bit more if Terry is the guy.
The other group who say you can’t fire the head coach and just replace him with an assistant, obviously some of you guys don’t remember . Dabo, Ed Overton and Ryan Day were all interim first. And it’s obvious that Terry felt that there were some systematic changes that needed to be done and he’s done them.

Again, I think there’s guys ahead of him but unless something crazy happens in the next seven days, I’d be fine with Terry and think this team would win at least eight games next year with him

Disagree, at this point, it's either Chesney or Smith - because if you go with a new guy, he's going to have to bring his own team (or the nucleus of a team)..... because Smith is likely going to go straight from PSU to Blacksburg, VA cementing the move of PSU's roster and recruits to Franklin's and Smith's new home. If anyone doubts the players' attachment to Smith, they need to rewind the VCR. And Smith has literally PUBLICLY STATED that he will be on the sidelines coaching somewhere next year, whether it is PSU or somewhere else, because that is what he is passionate about and loves to do (he did not say he would be the HC somewhere next year, just said he would be coaching on the sidelines somewhere next year even it it is not in State College. You have to be pretty blind to not be able to read the tea leaves of that.... or not understand that it is James Franklin is the the Head Coach who gave Terry Smith his first Collegiate P4 job in 2014.... and then recognized his contributions by making him AHC in 2016.)

 

[VT00]

For crying out loud hire a coach who knows what it means to be "Penn State".

What exactly does this mean though? Franklin was fired because he didn't win enough big games. Now it's about being "Penn State"?

 

[PSUAVLNC]

What exactly does this mean though? Franklin was fired because he didn't win enough big games. Now it's about being "Penn State"?

If you don't know I can't explain it to you!!

 

[m.knox]

If you didn't care you wouldn't acknowledge it
It's great they played well last night. It doesn't alter who we beat how bad they are without Dylan
The fantasy is last night's win mean Terry should be hired as it somehow proves he can do bur James couldn't.
Again we beat MSU and Nebraska

Another fantasy construct in your little brain.....

LOL... "Dylan" my ***. "Drew"? "Tony"?

I'm not arguing he should be hired. Read what I've posted. I said I'm indifferent. I said that the team last night played the most complete game of the season, and I do give credit to Smith. Period.

 

[VT00]

If you don't know I can't explain it to you!!

You can't explain because it doesn't mean anything.

 

[Nitt1300]

If you don't know I can't explain it to you!!

Joe grew up in Brooklyn and played at Brown. He was not "Penn State" until he was.

 

[m.knox]

That’s bold to assume a win…these same kids + Drew list to a coach-less UCLA

Your right. It is. Should have phrased that a little differently. I was trying to say that the sentiment would get stronger should PSU win.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

You can't explain because it doesn't mean anything.

What are you talking about moron? We don't need a new poster with a VT at the beginning of their handle telling us what it does, or doesn't mean, to be a Penn Stater (you aren't part of "We Are" meathead). Claiming that PSU has no "culture" or "program values" is beyond stupid and flat out false a-hole. Now go away.

 

[MtNittany]

Joe grew up in Brooklyn and played at Brown. He was not "Penn State" until he was.

16 years as an assistant made him PSU long before he became the HC.

 

[VT00]

What are you talking about moron? We don't need a new poster with a VT at the beginning of their handle telling us what it does, or doesn't mean, to be a Penn Stater (you aren't part of "We Are" meathead). Claiming that PSU has no "culture" or "program values" is beyond stupid and flat out false a-hole. Now go away.

I have no connection to VT. The username is now an unfortunate coincidence.

Also, where did I tell anyone what to do or claim that PSU has no culture? LMAO.

I think you have it backward on who the meathead is here.

 

[Nitt1300]

16 years as an assistant made him PSU long before he became the HC.

which was the point, yes

 

[MtNittany]

What are you talking about moron? We don't need a new poster with a VT at the beginning of their handle telling us what it does, or doesn't mean, to be a Penn Stater (you aren't part of "We Are" meathead). Claiming that PSU has no "culture" or "program values" is beyond stupid and flat out false a-hole. Now go away.

Who's we? You got a mouse in your pocket?

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

What are you talking about moron? We don't need a new poster with a VT at the beginning of their handle telling us what it does, or doesn't mean, to be a Penn Stater (you aren't part of "We Are" meathead). Claiming that PSU has no "culture" or "program values" is beyond stupid and flat out false a-hole. Now go away.

Calm down, you unrepentant maniac!

 

[Nittering Nabob]

What exactly does this mean though? Franklin was fired because he didn't win enough big games. Now it's about being "Penn State"?

Franklin primarily got fired because of insubordination. His woeful record against good teams was secondary.

 

[KingLando]

No ,he has, and always will have a Buckeye heart, and has Zero HC experience.

Why do you care that he went to Ohio State?
That's the worst argument against someone.
Smart wasn't a HR hire? Lanning wasn't?
Smart was considered one of the best hires ever before he ever coached a game.

 

[KingLando]

If you don't know I can't explain it to you!!

It's a ridiculous statement