Penn State fans aren't buying the idea of James Franklin as their permanent coach. The Nittany Lions' recent blowout victory over Nebraska may have been seen as a testament to interim head coach Terry Smith's leadership, but for many students and alumni, it was also a reminder that the school needs stability behind the helm.
Following news of Franklin's departure to Virginia Tech, the crowd at Beaver Stadium turned on Franklin, yelling "Terry" in chants. It appears that fans are now turning their attention to the man leading them: Smith, who has been leading the team since November. Fans and players alike have shown support for Smith, with multiple signs held up by players reading "Hire Terry Smith."
Smith's message of urgency was clear during a press conference earlier in the week, as he suggested that Franklin's presence could be detrimental to recruits due to the uncertainty surrounding the coaching search. The current interim head coach has been doing an admirable job so far, and fans are now calling for him to take on the permanent role.
With Smith at the helm, Penn State is showing signs of improvement - including their recent victories over Nebraska and Michigan State. But with Franklin gone, there's a sense of urgency surrounding the coaching search, and it remains to be seen how the administration will handle the situation. One thing is clear: Terry Smith has earned himself a spot in the hearts of fans, and now he needs to prove that he can lead this team to sustained success.
Following news of Franklin's departure to Virginia Tech, the crowd at Beaver Stadium turned on Franklin, yelling "Terry" in chants. It appears that fans are now turning their attention to the man leading them: Smith, who has been leading the team since November. Fans and players alike have shown support for Smith, with multiple signs held up by players reading "Hire Terry Smith."
Smith's message of urgency was clear during a press conference earlier in the week, as he suggested that Franklin's presence could be detrimental to recruits due to the uncertainty surrounding the coaching search. The current interim head coach has been doing an admirable job so far, and fans are now calling for him to take on the permanent role.
With Smith at the helm, Penn State is showing signs of improvement - including their recent victories over Nebraska and Michigan State. But with Franklin gone, there's a sense of urgency surrounding the coaching search, and it remains to be seen how the administration will handle the situation. One thing is clear: Terry Smith has earned himself a spot in the hearts of fans, and now he needs to prove that he can lead this team to sustained success.
He's def done a solid job so far & those "Hire Terry" signs from the players are giving me LIFE 
But, like, let's be real... Penn State needs stability & consistency behind the helm ASAP 
What if the admin takes ages to make a decision? It's all on Smith now to prove that he can lead this team 2 sustained success 
. I mean, James Franklin's departure was a bummer, but it sounds like Terry Smith is stepping up his game 
. Plus, he's already showing improvement on the field - those wins over Nebraska and Michigan State were huge 
! Now it's time for him to prove that he can keep it up and lead the team to a championship 
. I'm all about giving Smith a chance to shine - let's see what he can do, Penn State fans are counting on you 
.
They're really giving him props for doing an amazing job despite being on an interim basis 
. And honestly, who can blame them? The guy's message of urgency is so true - stability behind the helm is key 
. It's been crazy to see how quickly fans have turned against Franklin after his departure 
. Smith seems like a breath of fresh air, and I'm excited to see what he'll do if he gets the permanent job 
.
. One thing's for sure, though - Terry Smith has definitely earned himself some fans 
.
. Smith has definitely won over some hearts with his message of urgency and his impressive performances on the field 
. But does he have the experience and credentials to lead Penn State to sustained success? That's still a big question mark 
.
. i mean terry smith did an amazing job keeping it together since november and now its time for him to take the reins 
. smiths got the vibe right with those recent wins over nebraska & michigan state 
... now its up to admin to make it happen 
It seems like fans are putting all their eggs in one basket, and it's gonna be tough for them if things don't start clicking right away. Plus, have we even seen any concrete plans from the admin on what exactly they're looking for in a permanent coach? 
... but then again, Terry Smith is doing a great job leading the team right now and he deserves some credit 
, but at the same time, I don't know if he's ready for this kind of pressure to lead the Nittany Lions to a championship 
.
. smith is already getting the hype, but let's see if he can back it up.