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Great SI article - How Terry Smith's Role Has Changed, and Even Grown, at Penn State

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LMTLION

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I just read another newer article on Terry. Apparently he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.
victorybellrings.com

Terry Smith earns high recognition for commitment and dedication to Penn State

Penn State football assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith was named as one of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association's Hall o
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com
 
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LMTLION

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Nittering Nabob said:
Did anyone like Franklin? 🤷🏾‍♀️

This quote by Smith is incriminatingly interesting.

“Everyone in the building knows that I'm the associate head coach. Under James, that wasn't clear."
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Yup, I too found the quote very interesting. I am now convinced that our former “CEO” head coach was a micromanager who took on too many responsibilities and cracked. He should have delegated important duties to guys like Terry, built a front office for compensation matters, and focused his efforts on aligning strategies and game plans across the coaching silos in the program. It all unraveled in 2025.
 
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Wilbury

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LMTLION said:
Yup, I too found the quote very interesting. I am now convinced that our former “CEO” head coach was a micromanager who took on too many responsibilities and cracked. He should have delegated important duties to guys like Terry, built a front office for compensation matters, and focused his efforts on aligning strategies and game plans across the coaching silos in the program. It all unraveled in 2025.
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Probably an accurate summary of what happened and how Franklin will never be able to change. He'll do fine at VT at least in the short term but it probably won't last.
 
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Ram20

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LMTLION said:
Yup, I too found the quote very interesting. I am now convinced that our former “CEO” head coach was a micromanager who took on too many responsibilities and cracked. He should have delegated important duties to guys like Terry, built a front office for compensation matters, and focused his efforts on aligning strategies and game plans across the coaching silos in the program. It all unraveled in 2025.
Click to expand...
I liked James, I don't want to bash him, there has been plenty of that....but one theme that always keeps resonating...whether being prickly with fans or media...shrinking in big moments, the long stares....he is a very insecure person. I think he suffered from bouts of "imposter syndrome" and it made him controlling, lack confidence, and sensitive. Its hard to win big games with that ethos at the top. He's a good man, I feel sort of bad about it, but in a very deep way, I think James knows his ascension to fame and fortune has been not fully "earned." It used to make me cringe how he had to always suggest that "99% of college teams would die for the success we've had." While true, I was always uncomfortable with that line of thinking, like he isn't defending the program externally, but rather, defending himself from himself.
 
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CVLion

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Ram20 said:
I liked James, I don't want to bash him, there has been plenty of that....but one theme that always keeps resonating...whether being prickly with fans or media...shrinking in big moments, the long stares....he is a very insecure person. I think he suffered from bouts of "imposter syndrome" and it made him controlling, lack confidence, and sensitive. It’s hard to win big games with that ethos at the top. He's a good man, I feel sort of bad about it, but in a very deep way, I think James knows his ascension to fame and fortune has been not fully "earned." It used to make me cringe how he had to always suggest that "99% of college teams would die for the success we've had." While true, I was always uncomfortable with that line of thinking, like he isn't defending the program externally, but rather, defending himself from himself.
Click to expand...

Great summation… I feel very much the same way about Franklin. To me, those downsides and challenges are a shame, because I do think at his core he’s a good person who does have at heart the best intentions for his players.
 
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LionJim

LionJim

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Ram20 said:
I liked James, I don't want to bash him, there has been plenty of that....but one theme that always keeps resonating...whether being prickly with fans or media...shrinking in big moments, the long stares....he is a very insecure person. I think he suffered from bouts of "imposter syndrome" and it made him controlling, lack confidence, and sensitive. Its hard to win big games with that ethos at the top. He's a good man, I feel sort of bad about it, but in a very deep way, I think James knows his ascension to fame and fortune has been not fully "earned." It used to make me cringe how he had to always suggest that "99% of college teams would die for the success we've had." While true, I was always uncomfortable with that line of thinking, like he isn't defending the program externally, but rather, defending himself from himself.
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I don’t totally buy your argument but this is well thought out and carefully constructed. Thanks.

My thoughts about imposter syndrome is that a great great many successful people have it. *I* have it. Especially nowadays when it seems harder and harder for Joe Average to make it big, that can be rough. My point is that unless you’ve got a Fields Medal, having imposter syndrome is a natural defense reaction.
 
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m.knox

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Ram20 said:
I liked James, I don't want to bash him, there has been plenty of that....but one theme that always keeps resonating...whether being prickly with fans or media...shrinking in big moments, the long stares....he is a very insecure person. I think he suffered from bouts of "imposter syndrome" and it made him controlling, lack confidence, and sensitive. Its hard to win big games with that ethos at the top. He's a good man, I feel sort of bad about it, but in a very deep way, I think James knows his ascension to fame and fortune has been not fully "earned." It used to make me cringe how he had to always suggest that "99% of college teams would die for the success we've had." While true, I was always uncomfortable with that line of thinking, like he isn't defending the program externally, but rather, defending himself from himself.
Click to expand...

I had mixed feelings about him. He kind of put me off early on with some statements. That said, he was a great recruiter and indeed, he ran a good program.

In terms of being insecure, Tengwall called it out as well when evaluating Cignetti's success.

Onward and upward. Looking forward to the Matt Campbell era.
 
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LMTLION

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Ram20 said:
I liked James, I don't want to bash him, there has been plenty of that....but one theme that always keeps resonating...whether being prickly with fans or media...shrinking in big moments, the long stares....he is a very insecure person. I think he suffered from bouts of "imposter syndrome" and it made him controlling, lack confidence, and sensitive. Its hard to win big games with that ethos at the top. He's a good man, I feel sort of bad about it, but in a very deep way, I think James knows his ascension to fame and fortune has been not fully "earned." It used to make me cringe how he had to always suggest that "99% of college teams would die for the success we've had." While true, I was always uncomfortable with that line of thinking, like he isn't defending the program externally, but rather, defending himself from himself.
Click to expand...
James recruited very well for the most part, perhaps trailing off a bit near the end of his tenure. He is a good man and deserves recognition for helping to remove a good deal of the Sandusky stink from the program. He is a top 10-15 head coach. He froze in big situations vs top opponents and the team played as uptight as he was. It was so interesting to learn that he had such a rigid and exhaustive pregame walk-through that Terry immediately removed, and the team played better as a result. If Terry played Indiana and Iowa later in the season after he had a few games under his belt, I’m convinced we win those games.
 
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PSUForever

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He seemed like a decent, good guy, family man but seemed like a terrible person to work for.

It is sad that he was all about being "buttoned up" and prepared, for example the ridiculous pre game routine walk throughs we have learned about and his little notes he took to the press conferences about the upcoming opponents or some useless stats he was regurgitating (which by the way I'm sure he made some low level staffer put all that crap together and micromanaged it where that person absolutely despised the assignment). Yet with all that he continually melted down in big games. It is like the guy who prepares and rehearses incessantly for the big presentation then gets up to deliver the presentation and freezes. That was our BGJ.

He should have been canned after the '21 season when it was revealed he had not developed a back up quarterback so we lose to Iowa then lose to a bad Illinois team by not being prepared to stop a heavy run attack in one of the worst Penn State losses in history.
 
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ZouaveLion

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When he started to go after fans in the stands, even at the Blue White Game you had to know that it was over. He clearly didn't want to be here after Kraft denied him of yet another contract extension/revision in the summer of 2025.
I appreciate what he did improve certain aspects of the program but his record vs Ohio St and top 10 teams was pathetic.
 
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OaktonDave

OaktonDave

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LMTLION said:
You come away with an even greater love for Terry. I also appreciated learning just how far MC has gone to connect with the lettermen.

www.si.com

How Terry Smith's Role Has Changed, and Even Grown, at Penn State

The Nittany Lions' former interim head coach has resumed his role as the associate head coach and cornerbacks coach. But it's a "bigger" role now.
www.si.com www.si.com
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If Campbell plays his cards right, lets Terry help him the navigate the challenges of a portion of the letterman, alumni, and fanbase that have never gotten over the loss of JoePa, and, of course, wins, he has a chance to gain a level of acceptance that Franklin never managed.
 
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LMTLION

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PSUForever said:
He seemed like a decent, good guy, family man but seemed like a terrible person to work for.

It is sad that he was all about being "buttoned up" and prepared, for example the ridiculous pre game routine walk throughs we have learned about and his little notes he took to the press conferences about the upcoming opponents or some useless stats he was regurgitating (which by the way I'm sure he made some low level staffer put all that crap together and micromanaged it where that person absolutely despised the assignment). Yet with all that he continually melted down in big games. It is like the guy who prepares and rehearses incessantly for the big presentation then gets up to deliver the presentation and freezes. That was our BGJ.

He should have been canned after the '21 season when it was revealed he had not developed a back up quarterback so we lose to Iowa then lose to a bad Illinois team by not being prepared to stop a heavy run attack in one of the worst Penn State losses in history.
Click to expand...
We learned from Tengwall that the Iowa game was even worse than we imagined. Landon told us they never practiced a silent count to deal with the loud Iowa environment. Pathetic.
 
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PSUForever

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OaktonDave said:
If Campbell plays his cards right, lets Terry help him the navigate the challenges of a portion of the letterman, alumni, and fanbase that have never gotten over the loss of JoePa, and, of course, wins, he has a chance to gain a level of acceptance that Franklin never managed.
Click to expand...
If he just beats some top ten teams more than once a decade he should surpass the respect BGJ had. Low bar. I am quite certain every football lettermen wanted to kick BGJ out the door this year.
 
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