OT - Terry Smith for Head Coach?

CentexLion

Junior
Jul 9, 2001
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This is the biggest Penn State sports story right now. So what do the wrestling fans think? Personally, I'd like to see him get the chance.
I'm very happy in the job that Cael is doing, and I believe we should look at extending him. Plus, I do not believe Terry Smith has any wrestling experience.

For me, PSU wrestling is always a bigger sports story than anything else PSU

:p
 
Oct 12, 2021
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This is the biggest Penn State sports story right now. So what do the wrestling fans think? Personally, I'd like to see him get the chance.
Personally, I would not like that very much. I think he’s finally seeing the “Interim Coach” pop and the players love him so they started fighting for him. That’s never turned into a recipe for success. Actually, I’ve only seen it work long-term in hockey.

I’d like to see someone that can bring the offense into the 21st century and certainly don’t see that person being Terry (but I haven’t played for 40 years and it was 4 yards and a cloud of dust, so what would I know?). Then again, the defense seemed to have too much talent to look the way it did sometimes this year too.

I would not be opposed to him getting a 2-year fairly low end deal, however. Pickin’s are slim now so I would definitely be OK with him getting the opportunity to prove me wrong.
 
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shotofespresso

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Nov 7, 2021
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Personally, I would not like that very much. I think he’s finally seeing the “Interim Coach” pop and the players love him so they started fighting for him. That’s never turned into a recipe for success. Actually, I’ve only seen it work long-term in hockey.

I’d like to see someone that can bring the offense into the 21st century and certainly don’t see that person being Terry (but I haven’t played for 40 years and it was 4 yards and a cloud of dust, so what would I know?). Then again, the defense seemed to have too much talent to look the way it did sometimes this year too.

I would not be opposed to him getting a 2-year fairly low end deal, however. Pickin’s are slim now so I would definitely be OK with him getting the opportunity to prove me wrong.
Agree, we shouldn’t be prisoners of the moment.. Love Terry but in reality he lost his first 3 games and then beat MSU and Nebraska.. I think I may have be
able to coach them to those victories.

That said, interview him and if he is the best candidate then hire him..

At this program I would prefer a coach who has head coaching experience and shown he can do it all (coaching, recruiting HS and the Portal, fund raising and other activities).

There is a lot more to coaching these days then getting the team up for 2 avg opponents IMO..
 
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LittleJ

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Oct 4, 2025
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Agree, we shouldn’t be prisoners of the moment.. Love Terry but in reality he lost his first 3 games and then beat MSU and Nebraska.. I think I may have be
able to coach them to those victories.

That said, interview him and if he is the bet candidate then hire him..

At his program I would prefer a coach who has head coaching experience and shown he can do it…

There is a lot more to coaching these days then getting the team up for 2 avg opponents.
I’d rather have a coach that is a PSU guy and not some ladder climber. What splash hire out there will have the best interests of the University in mind? I’m all for giving the reins to Terry.
 
May 7, 2022
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The reason this country is a constitutional republic and the reason why there is a filibuster is that the mob can easily be swayed by the moment and the minority need to be heard.

so no I don’t want terry as the next HC.

good man, doing the lords work and love his Joe position to the media.

if this post doesn’t get this thread locked or moved ….

can corby become a moderator??
 
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Nitlion1986

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If Terry were to get the job I wouldn't bytch about it, but I believe it would be the incorrect choice. I think he would be PSU's version of Frank Solich, good but not good enough to be his predecessor's replacement.
It is going to be Hartline or Lea and I am OK with either, but prefer Hartline.
 

Mongrel

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2021
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18
The reason this country is a constitutional republic and the reason why there is a filibuster is that the mob can easily be swayed by the moment and the minority need to be heard.

so no I don’t want terry as the next HC.

good man, doing the lords work and love his Joe position to the media.

if this post doesn’t get this thread locked or moved ….

can corby become a moderator??
And the reason that there is now a 'nuclear option' is that the mob must be appeased. Yes, the moment can be an influence for bad decisions. but being the contrarian that I am for possibilities, sometimes it is in the moment that the best course of action is revealed. I have a wait and see position on the matter and hope that whoever is the choice becomes wildly successful.
 

nerfstate

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I say keep him interim until you find the “right guy.” He can continue to prove himself and no one has to rush into picking the best available guy instead of the right guy overall. But I will never say my opinion is close to informed on these matters.
 

Goggles Paisano

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Well I am not impressed with any of the rumored to candidates, so he has that going for him.

Noone on the short list is better than Franklin IMO.

This whole thing was ill-timed, and so many high level recruits have bailed, not to mention the portal blood bath that is likely in January.

This is a three year mess minimum, take it to the bank.

It's an awesome time to be a PSU wrestling fan, so let's get back to it!
 

RockySmith

Senior
Dec 10, 2020
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Someone pointed out that PSU thought Franklin had to go. If you were picking his replacement, why would you choose his top lieutenant and expect a different direction for the program?

And the guy asked why would you let a bunch of 21 year olds choose? I would add that if you let the kids in the school choose the principal, that doesn’t mean you get a good one, it might mean the opposite.

both points made sense to me.
 

shotofespresso

Sophomore
Nov 7, 2021
39
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If Terry were to get the job I wouldn't bytch about it, but I believe it would be the incorrect choice. I think he would be PSU's version of Frank Solich, good but not good enough to be his predecessor's replacement.
It is going to be Hartline or Lea and I am OK with either, but prefer Hartline.
Chesney has been gaining some momentum as well. I would be fine with him as well. I think my number one choice would be DeBoer if they could pull it off.
 
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It's too much of a recruiting handicap for kids in school 5 years. It would doom the program to 3 years of mediocrity, minimum. I trust Terry loves PSU too much to take such a deal.
Nope I can't agree with that. Especially when all the kids that are threatening to transfer now claim they'll stay if he's retained.
Besides, are you of the belief that the higher end talent we should be recruiting to Penn State is looking to stay 5 years? I'd love to see that, but John Calipari and the sort pushed that vessel out to sea years ago.

I don't live in PA so I wouldn't know what they'd have to release, but I don't know why contract length would have to be transparent. I doubt an incoming freshman would file a FOIA and I don't believe term length would be listed on the state salaries website, but I've been wrong before. If he didn't like it, he could go. He's done less-than-nothing to show me he's fit to be the Head Coach of a D1 school the caliber of PSU.

Don't really care if he loves PSU or not. I thought they should give him a shot because he seems to have connected with the players, but I'd prefer a complete teardown to another long-term run at mediocrity. A lot of folks love PSU. I simply explained what I would offer...
 

manatree

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This is the biggest Penn State sports story right now. So what do the wrestling fans think? Personally, I'd like to see him get the chance.

Personally, I’d like for you to come back and start another thread to ask our thoughts on the death of Jimmy Cliff, or Who’s the Hottest, or Fly Eagles Fly, How to Smoke Your Meat, or What Time Do the Lots Open, because obviously wrestling fans are too damn stupid to find the McAndrew Board.
 
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Oct 12, 2021
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Personally, I’d like for you to come back and start another thread to ask our thoughts on the death of Jimmy Cliff, or Who’s the Hottest, or Fly Eagles Fly, How to Smoke Your Meat, or What Time Do the Lots Open, because obviously wrestling fans are too damn stupid to find the McAndrew Board.
I thought “OT” meant off-topic. All these years it meant “overtime.” Guess I’ll stick to wrestling.
 

nerfstate

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I didn’t create the thread, but I’ll take a stab at answering that question. As an online community this bunch here may be dysfunctional, but at a size that on good days is endearing and on bad days mildly annoying. College football message boards on the other hand. . . .

In other words,
Seinfeld Do Better GIF by Jess Stempel
 
Feb 11, 2018
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Nope I can't agree with that. Especially when all the kids that are threatening to transfer now claim they'll stay if he's retained.
Besides, are you of the belief that the higher end talent we should be recruiting to Penn State is looking to stay 5 years? I'd love to see that, but John Calipari and the sort pushed that vessel out to sea years ago.

I don't live in PA so I wouldn't know what they'd have to release, but I don't know why contract length would have to be transparent. I doubt an incoming freshman would file a FOIA and I don't believe term length would be listed on the state salaries website, but I've been wrong before. If he didn't like it, he could go. He's done less-than-nothing to show me he's fit to be the Head Coach of a D1 school the caliber of PSU.

Don't really care if he loves PSU or not. I thought they should give him a shot because he seems to have connected with the players, but I'd prefer a complete teardown to another long-term run at mediocrity. A lot of folks love PSU. I simply explained what I would offer...
Respectfully, I think your NBA analogy is wholly inapplicable.

I do not recall Penn State football losing many quality recruits who had a path to the starting lineup. Big name big money transfers seem to be news, in part, because they are not all that common.

Singleton and Allen staying for a 4th season was a big deal AND only possible with NIL. Pre-NIL patterns are really irrelevant, except for the following:

NFL rules require a player to be out of high school for at least three years to be eligible for the draft.

Quick math primer: 3 years is greater than 2 years. So yes, quality recruits are going to be less likely to play somewhere that there is a greater chance of a coaching change the season before they become draft eligible.
 
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HwtsRgr8

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Nov 24, 2025
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I have never been a fan of promoting from within if you are looking to change culture.
 

SkiSkiSki

Senior
May 29, 2001
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I have never been a fan of promoting from within if you are looking to change culture.
Unless you are looking to change the culture back to what it once was rather than following the fashionable trend. Nebraska lost its identity after getting rid of Solich and still has not recovered. I would trade it begins with love and ends with love for it begins with discipline and hard work and ends with execution and no excuses.
 
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Respectfully, I think your NBA analogy is wholly inapplicable.

I do not recall Penn State football losing many quality recruits who had a path to the starting lineup. Big name big money transfers seem to be news, in part, because they are not all that common.

Singleton and Allen staying for a 4th season was a big deal AND only possible with NIL. Pre-NIL patterns are really irrelevant, except for the following:

NFL rules require a player to be out of high school for at least three years to be eligible for the draft.

Quick math primer: 3 years is greater than 2 years. So yes, quality recruits are going to be less likely to play somewhere that there is a greater chance of a coaching change the season before they become draft eligible.
Respectfully, there was not an NBA analogy in my post. There was an NCAA analogy (Calipari, Pitino… 1-and-done) and an NHL analogy. Don’t need the math primer, but if you want to lay them out on the table, I’m willing to take the Pepsi Challenge against you regarding education/intelligence anytime.

Now that I got that out of my system, I don’t think your analogy is the best ether. Most guys aren’t starting as freshmen. I’d have Chaz Coleman starting, but PSU doesn’t. Players may also skip the 3-year rule with special exemption. You may have thought I was referring to the NBA because of the “physical maturity” standard (as used by the NFL but not by the NBA.

I love your Singleton and Allen reference. Players like that are absolute gold. Four and five year players have made NCAA basketball teams like Butler competitive and I love to see them outplay the 1-and-dones.
 
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CTStall

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Oct 24, 2020
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I think there are a few variables moving forward with head coach hiring.

A. Can you keep Smith on staff by creating and Assistant H/C position with pay raise ? If so, that might save some of the exodus of current players and maybe some recruits.
B. If the above is possible than a Chesney hire might work. You would still have some core plus I would think some James Madison transfers and recruits.
C. If Smith leaves(Franklin entices him) than I think they need to land a Big program coach. Deboer, Campbell(Iowa State) or maybe Hartline.That type of hire would create some transfer/recruit reload to avoid a severe drop of field performance. They need to keep the stands full with the ongoing rebuild of Beaver Stadium.
 
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Oct 12, 2021
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I think there are a few variables moving forward.

A. Can you keep Smith on staff by creating and Assistant H/C position with pay raise ? If so, that might save some of the exodus of current players and maybe some recruits.
B. If above is possible than a Chesney hire might work. You would still have some core plus I would think some James Madison transfers and recruits.
C. If Smith leaves(Franklin entices him) than I think they need to land a Big program coach. Deboer, Campbell(Iowa State) or maybe Hartline.That type of hire would create some transfer/recruit reload to avoid a severe drop of field performance. They need to keep the stands full with the ongoing rebuild of Beaver Stadium.
98lber knows a lot more about Smith than me, so maybe that wouldn’t work. I would think a guy with his resume should be honored and love that deal. How would an assistant coaching job with a big game choker at a school that has been irrelevant since Beamer left be better than PSU?

Is it wrong for me to hate Cignetti or Ruhle, or anyone who has seemingly turned their nose up at PSU? Cignetti is a great coach but he has a face that is made for slapping. I hear great things about Hartline, but I’m from Ohio and hate the stench of Columbus.
 

CTStall

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Oct 24, 2020
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Personally I think this should be moved to The McAndrew Board There is lots of discussion about this there. I am pretty sure even though we are a bunch of muscle head wrestling fans, we can navigate our way over there.
I personally don't understand why a non wrestling post is an issue on this board. If you don't think the football success/revenue doesn't trickle down to wrestling you are incorrect.
I do ONE sports forum, which I was migrated to by default. It is this wrestling forum. No Facebook, Instagram or X . I personally would Not go to The McAndrew Board.
If you don't have interest in a Thread don't click on it.
 
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Because I specifically said what do WRESTLING fans think. Most of us here are wrestling fans first, football fans after that. Consequently some of us might have a different perspective on the issue than people who only pay attention to football.
Yea, sorry guys. I, once again, forgot “OT” doesn’t mean “Off topic.” I’ll stick to grilling and off-season things to stream and watch.

By the way, I have no problem with those topics either… I’m just struggling to come up with witty responses.
 

Nitlion1986

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I personally don't understand why a non wrestling post is an issue on this board. If you don't think the football success/revenue doesn't trickle down to wrestling you are incorrect.
I do ONE sports forum, which I was migrated to by default. It is this wrestling forum. No Facebook, Instagram or X . I personally would Not go to The McAndrew Board.
If you don't have interest in a Thread don't click on it.
👍
 

Hockeygod11

Sophomore
Jan 29, 2006
101
176
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Terry is a great guy and my neighbor.. I have spoken to him many times and he bleeds blue and white.. With that said I don't see him being the right pick at this time.. While he would have the support of the Penn State faithful and local recruits, I think the team needs to become a more national brand and I am not sure he brings that to the table. Keep him on. Show him the $$$$ but bring in a new HC for a new direction..
 
Feb 11, 2018
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Respectfully, there was not an NBA analogy in my post. There was an NCAA analogy (Calipari, Pitino… 1-and-done)...

You may have thought I was referring to the NBA because of the “physical maturity” standard (as used by the NFL but not by the NBA

Only because Calipari and Pitino refer to basketball and one-and-done referred to entering NBA one year after HS graduation age. So would appear an NBA analogy, especially when compared to 3-year NFL requirement.

Post NIL one-and-done is passé. Even Calipari has evolved.

Most guys aren’t starting as freshmen. ... Players may also skip the 3-year rule with special exemption.

Agreed. Not starting as a true freshman makes 3rd year more important (not less). An exemption is obviously not the norm, so 3 years will hold for most
 

pawrstlersinpa

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Personally I think this should be moved to The McAndrew Board There is lots of discussion about this there. I am pretty sure even though we are a bunch of muscle head wrestling fans, we can navigate our way over there.
Just wait until the bicycling and grilling/smoking threads make their way over here from the defunct BWI board. You'll be sending people to the McTourdefrance board or the McGuyFieri boards right quick.
 

PSUAllTheWay

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Jan 18, 2015
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No. I like Terry as a person and a coach, but he's not going to elevate the program to national championship status. Kraft needs to find the next Cael for football and good luck with that.