Terry Smith Should Have Been Named HC

[psu0408]

While Franklin's midseason firing was an emotional decision, the only logical reason to do so is to see what you have with Terry Smith. He took a team that looked lifeless with a first-year QB and almost beat Iowa in Kinnick, and almost beat the National Champs at home. He did a much better job coaching and motivating the 2025 team than Franklin did.

Fast forward to the coaching search. No chance at Cignetti, nor luring an Urban Meyer/Saban type out of retirement. Not going to get Kiffin, nor would he have been a good fit. Did not seem interested in an offensive mind like Will Stein or Hartline due to lack of HC experience. Said no to Chesney, and got turned down by Sitake.

With 2026 looking like a complete rebuild anyway, give Terry a modest 4-year deal, promote Howle to OC and he likely salvages a portion of the recruiting class while limiting transfers. He had broad support amongst the current players and former lettermen. If he completely bombed after 2 years, you can cut him loose with little financial commitment.

With Campbell, you have a guy with no recruiting relationships in the region who now has no recruiting class, and had to overpay ISU players to simply fill a roster that isn't capable of competing in the Big Ten. If he can't turn things around on the recruiting trail and in the portal over the next two years, you're looking at a major buyout and a program that's less attractive for prospective coaches.

 

[Nitt1300]

You only make the change to upgrade. Terry wasn't that- Campbell isn't either. That Kraft let Chesney get away was criminal stupidity.

 

[Gitzit]

NO. We need a big name hire lol. It;s over and we have Campbell, give him a few years, and then see where things stand.

Campbell has a 4 star DT tackle verbaL something that was always hard to do under Franklin. He also found Josiah who is probably the best defensive freshman I have seen PSU get.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

While Franklin's midseason firing was an emotional decision, the only logical reason to do so is to see what you have with Terry Smith. He took a team that looked lifeless with a first-year QB and almost beat Iowa in Kinnick, and almost beat the National Champs at home. He did a much better job coaching and motivating the 2025 team than Franklin did.

Fast forward to the coaching search. No chance at Cignetti, nor luring an Urban Meyer/Saban type out of retirement. Not going to get Kiffin, nor would he have been a good fit. Did not seem interested in an offensive mind like Will Stein or Hartline due to lack of HC experience. Said no to Chesney, and got turned down by Sitake.

With 2026 looking like a complete rebuild anyway, give Terry a modest 4-year deal, promote Howle to OC and he likely salvages a portion of the recruiting class while limiting transfers. He had broad support amongst the current players and former lettermen. If he completely bombed after 2 years, you can cut him loose with little financial commitment.

With Campbell, you have a guy with no recruiting relationships in the region who now has no recruiting class, and had to overpay ISU players to simply fill a roster that isn't capable of competing in the Big Ten. If he can't turn things around on the recruiting trail and in the portal over the next two years, you're looking at a major buyout and a program that's less attractive for prospective coaches.

LMAO, the #1 thing that has made this program less attractive to any competent, proven Coach is named Krafty The Clown (in fact, the top 10 reasons this program has become less attractive is Krafty The Clown, Krafty The Clown, Krafty The Clown, Krafty The Clown..... etc....). But your "solutions" to solve this problem don't even mention this destructive, self-absorbed, bloviating empty-suit loser. LMAO. More of that insightful analysis of you people that have FDS (Franklin Derangement Syndrome) and want to absurdly (and laughably) place the blame the blame on Franklin, while giving Krafty and his terrible snap-judgement decision-making (research and analysis be damned) and behavior a free pass (decision-making which hired a very average new Head Coach and provide him with a $30 million roster budget [more than ever provided to Franklin] which was quickly burned on awful, over-paid Free Agents that are completely uncompetitive in the b1g). But hey, don't worry, all we need to do is give Kraft and his chosen coach more time to further destroy things - yea, that will fix it. LMFAO at some of you people just beyone naive and pathetic.

 

[Auxgym]

While Franklin's midseason firing was an emotional decision, the only logical reason to do so is to see what you have with Terry Smith. He took a team that looked lifeless with a first-year QB and almost beat Iowa in Kinnick, and almost beat the National Champs at home. He did a much better job coaching and motivating the 2025 team than Franklin did.

Fast forward to the coaching search. No chance at Cignetti, nor luring an Urban Meyer/Saban type out of retirement. Not going to get Kiffin, nor would he have been a good fit. Did not seem interested in an offensive mind like Will Stein or Hartline due to lack of HC experience. Said no to Chesney, and got turned down by Sitake.

With 2026 looking like a complete rebuild anyway, give Terry a modest 4-year deal, promote Howle to OC and he likely salvages a portion of the recruiting class while limiting transfers. He had broad support amongst the current players and former lettermen. If he completely bombed after 2 years, you can cut him loose with little financial commitment.

With Campbell, you have a guy with no recruiting relationships in the region who now has no recruiting class, and had to overpay ISU players to simply fill a roster that isn't capable of competing in the Big Ten. If he can't turn things around on the recruiting trail and in the portal over the next two years, you're looking at a major buyout and a program that's less attractive for prospective coaches.

There is nothing like beating a dead horse.

 

[KingLando]

While Franklin's midseason firing was an emotional decision, the only logical reason to do so is to see what you have with Terry Smith. He took a team that looked lifeless with a first-year QB and almost beat Iowa in Kinnick, and almost beat the National Champs at home. He did a much better job coaching and motivating the 2025 team than Franklin did.

Fast forward to the coaching search. No chance at Cignetti, nor luring an Urban Meyer/Saban type out of retirement. Not going to get Kiffin, nor would he have been a good fit. Did not seem interested in an offensive mind like Will Stein or Hartline due to lack of HC experience. Said no to Chesney, and got turned down by Sitake.

With 2026 looking like a complete rebuild anyway, give Terry a modest 4-year deal, promote Howle to OC and he likely salvages a portion of the recruiting class while limiting transfers. He had broad support amongst the current players and former lettermen. If he completely bombed after 2 years, you can cut him loose with little financial commitment.

With Campbell, you have a guy with no recruiting relationships in the region who now has no recruiting class, and had to overpay ISU players to simply fill a roster that isn't capable of competing in the Big Ten. If he can't turn things around on the recruiting trail and in the portal over the next two years, you're looking at a major buyout and a program that's less attractive for prospective coaches.

Is there a competition going on to see who can say the most ridiculous thing after 6 games?
Terry Smith had no business being the HC. He shouldn't even be on our current staff--if he wasn't we'd have a different HC right now.
A four year deal? lol--it just gets worse.

 

[MacNit]

You only make the change to upgrade. Terry wasn't that- Campbell isn't either. That Kraft let Chesney get away was criminal stupidity.

Urban was oh so close.

Oh well, it better than spinning out when’s the another dozen years.

Get the NIL money or perish anyway!

 

[KingLando]

I'd have rather called Tom Bradley even though he hasn't coached since 2020 than put Smith in charge. Or Larry Johnson Sr if you care about Penn State ties. Terry Smith wasn't on any list to be a HC

 

[stater02]

I'd have rather called Tom Bradley even though he hasn't coached since 2020 than put Smith in charge. Or Larry Johnson Sr if you care about Penn State ties. Terry Smith wasn't on any list to be a HC

Wasn’t he interviewing or about to interview with Memphis? I am sure there were a few schools kicking tires.

 

[KingLando]

Wasn’t he interviewing or about to interview with Memphis? I am sure there were a few schools kicking tires.

No, Memphis decided it was hiring Huff immediately
Smith had two options--coach here or follow Franklin
Honest question, why do you think teams were considering hiring him to be a HC?
Not trying to be an ***--I'm just really confused by this. Smith is a really good guy but he's never coached outside the state of Pennsylvania and only got this job because of Justin King

 

[stater02]

No, Memphis decided it was hiring Huff immediately
Smith had two options--coach here or follow Franklin
Honest question, why do you think teams were considering hiring him to be a HC?
Not trying to be an ***--I'm just really confused by this. Smith is a really good guy but he's never coached outside the state of Pennsylvania and only got this job because of Justin King

I really don’t know. I was just asking because I thought I read he was interviewing there, or some other school in the SouthEast. I may have misremembered.

It would not surprise me if some CUSA or Sun Belt school was sniffing around. Pure speculation on my part. Love Terry’s loyalty to Penn State, but I did not think he should have been made permanent HC. I was never on that bandwagon.

 

[KingLando]

Love Terry’s loyalty to Penn State, but I did not think he should have been made permanent HC.

This I agree with--100%

 

[Marshall2323]

NO. We need a big name hire lol. It;s over and we have Campbell, give him a few years, and then see where things stand.

Campbell has a 4 star DT tackle verbaL something that was always hard to do under Franklin. He also found Josiah who is probably the best defensive freshman I have seen PSU get.

2027 recruiting class ranks 7th in the Big Ten

 

[Chumboshifko1]

This I agree with--100%

🫵 .....Glug!!