OT: D1

[Fightingscot82]

The players and fans are really behind Smith. They need continuity through this. I think he has a good shot at it. Especially if he wants it. IUP24 is right. Smith doesn't have to be a long time hire. I think that works. They've already lost virtually their entire recruiting class. During the Nebraska game the announcer said they have lost 17 from the class.

And I think all if not nearly all of those from PA.

A former neighbor played at Penn State in the 70s and is in the Letterman's Club. I see online that he's pulling hard for Terry Smith.

[iupgroundhog]

Terry Smith is exactly what Penn State doesn't realize they need. He's a Penn Stater, Paterno connected but not Sandusky tainted, and a tremendous recruiter. He's stable. Not going anywhere if he wins the big ones.

Exciting? No.
Proven P4 guy? Kinda.

The players and fans are really behind Smith. They need continuity through this. I think he has a good shot at it. Especially if he wants it. IUP24 is right. Smith doesn't have to be a long time hire. I think that works. They've already lost virtually their entire recruiting class. During the Nebraska game the announcer said they have lost 17 from the class.

[Fightingscot82]

Vegas favorite is Bob Chesney. I think that could go very well.

[Fightingscot82]

Terry Smith is exactly what Penn State doesn't realize they need. He's a Penn Stater, Paterno connected but not Sandusky tainted, and a tremendous recruiter. He's stable. Not going anywhere if he wins the big ones.

Exciting? No.
Proven P4 guy? Kinda.

[IUP24]

Regarding Terry Smith and Penn State...

Penn State probably didn't correctly estimate what the coaching market was going to look like when they made the decision that they did. And the more names who have turned them down, the clearer it is that the next guy they hire is going to be multiple rungs lesser than what they just got rid of.

My opinion is that he will get offered the job and take it. Their thought is they can hire him for 2 years, at probably 4-5 million per year. His hiring wouldn't upset the apple cart too, too much. In fact, it would probably keep it from tipping over. It would make it harder for Franklin to poach the entire Penn State roster and recruiting class (which is clearly already starting to happen). All Smith would provide is the opportunity for Penn State to feel comfortable having one of their own be in the role until the guy they would actually prefer comes available or is interested in 1-3 years. And at that time, Smith would likely be ready to retire anyways.

I firmly believe (based on what I was told by somebody who has a connection to Smith), that he had no interest in that job (or any head gig anywhere) previously. The decision to wear the pin on his jacket last weekend was clearly him politically campaigning for the job to the Paterno Party in Happy Valley.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I think they don't want another Bill O'Brien situation...where he was only there to get back to the NFL and then they got stuck with James Tenandtwo who couldn't move the needle no matter who he recruited. The Cult wants another JoePa who will be there forever and do the things that JoePa did (maybe call the cops directly this time if another coach is caught buggering teens in the shower room).

It is a Top 10 job....but they need to spend more on the payroll. I think James Tenandtwo was getting away with paying discounted rates.....

I would be totally shocked if they hired Terry Smith. I think there’s a 0% chance that he’s hired, but since anything is possible, I’ll say there’s a .5% chance.

He’s done exactly what you’d hope a decent interim coach can do, and that’s more or less hold things together while also grabbing a couple wins along the way. Penn State will very likely end up bowl eligible after this weekend and if Smith wins the Fresh Steps Cat Litter Bowl or some similarly named game, that only helps his cause if he’s interested in being a head coach elsewhere. No matter what, he’s in a pretty good spot for himself.

[IUPNation]

A month ago ... no way

Now, Terry just may get it.

But, remember, the substitute teacher is always popular.

I think they don't want another Bill O'Brien situation...where he was only there to get back to the NFL and then they got stuck with James Tenandtwo who couldn't move the needle no matter who he recruited. The Cult wants another JoePa who will be there forever and do the things that JoePa did (maybe call the cops directly this time if another coach is caught buggering teens in the shower room).

It is a Top 10 job....but they need to spend more on the payroll. I think James Tenandtwo was getting away with paying discounted rates.....

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Should Terry Smith be given the job full time in Happy Valley?

I don't think hiring some Lane Kiffin type who will bolt when they think a better job in the See Everyone Cheat Conference Opens up....

I mean Marcus Freeman was elevated on the staff after Brian I'm 1-6 vs IUP Kelly bolted for what he thought was a better job at LSU as was Ryan Day when Urban Liar left to bomb spectacularly in Jacksonville.

I think he's probably the best guy that can deal with the JoePa Cult members in the stands............

I mean these days....any coach is only be as good as the program's payroll. The Cult needs to part with a lot more cash to up the payroll.

A month ago ... no way

Now, Terry just may get it.

But, remember, the substitute teacher is always popular.

[IUPNation]

Should Terry Smith be given the job full time in Happy Valley?

I don't think hiring some Lane Kiffin type who will bolt when they think a better job in the See Everyone Cheat Conference Opens up....will work out and the Cultists will be offended they aren't a top 5 destination.

I mean Marcus Freeman was elevated on the staff after Brian I'm 1-6 vs IUP Kelly bolted for what he thought was a better job at LSU as was Ryan Day when Urban Liar left to bomb spectacularly in Jacksonville.

I think he's probably the best guy that can deal with the JoePa Cult members in the stands............

I mean these days....any coach is only be as good as the program's payroll. The Cult needs to part with a lot more cash to up the payroll.

[Fightingscot82]

In a real D1 surprise, a defiant correction came out on a rumor that Bernard Clark was done at RMU. He's 27-55 in 7 seasons.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some coaching carousel stuff:

Jim Mora (formerly of UCLA) is leaving his head coaching position at UConn to take the same job at Colorado State and Eric Morris of North Texas is going to be Mike Gundy's successor at Oklahoma State. I saw some claims from various sports reporters on X/Twitter that Alex Golesh will be leaving USF to take the HC job at Arkansas but I'll wait 'til we see a more solid report before I link that. It could just be hot air from someone who think he or she got a scoop.

Just looking forward to the Lane Kiffin three-ring circus this weekend.

His announcement is coming Saturday (the Egg Bowl is Friday).

It sounds like if he is leaving Ole Miss will not let him coach the remainder of the season.

So, that could be a coach leaving a playoff team (before the playoffs).

Hard to make this stuff up.

I just keep having flashbacks to Lebron "taking his talents to South Beach".

When Lane leaves, he sure makes an exit.

[TheBigCat2192]

Some coaching carousel stuff:

Jim Mora (formerly of UCLA) is leaving his head coaching position at UConn to take the same job at Colorado State and Eric Morris of North Texas is going to be Mike Gundy's successor at Oklahoma State. I saw some claims from various sports reporters on X/Twitter that Alex Golesh will be leaving USF to take the HC job at Arkansas but I'll wait 'til we see a more solid report before I link that. It could just be hot air from someone who think he or she got a scoop.

[IUP24]

I’m not a Pitt hater or a Pitt fan, but try to catch their games when I can. Talk about a bi-polar team. It’s fascinating really. Against Notre Dame they looked like an FCS opponent showing up to collect a check against one of the big dogs. Last night they looked they were the big dogs and GT was there to collect a check. When they’re playing well, they’re a fun team to watch on both sides of the ball. When they’re bad, they’re really bad and it seems like there’s never much in-between.

I’m not a big gambler but if I was, I’d put a bunch of money on Pitt to lose next weekend because it’s a must win game. That’s just kind of how they roll. Hopefully they get the job done and find a way to get into the conference championship game, but I don’t know if they’re consistent enough to do that.

I’d think Miami is a safe bet because they are a more talented team and because they have historically owned Pitt since the turn of the century. I think Pitt has only beaten them like 3-4 times since 2000. They just really, really struggle with them.

Miami’s DL is legit. And Pitt’s OL is not very good. That will look like what it did against ND in the trenches. Just a major mismatch up front.

I would argue about them not winning games that are must win with postseason implications though. People forget, they controlled their destiny in 2018 and won 4 of their last 5 to reach Charlotte. They controlled their destiny in 2021 and won all their games down the stretch to get to the ACC championship. They actually have been fairly good in big games within the ACC that are “must win” types.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I’m not a Pitt hater or a Pitt fan, but try to catch their games when I can. Talk about a bi-polar team. It’s fascinating really. Against Notre Dame they looked like an FCS opponent showing up to collect a check against one of the big dogs. Last night they looked they were the big dogs and GT was there to collect a check. When they’re playing well, they’re a fun team to watch on both sides of the ball. When they’re bad, they’re really bad and it seems like there’s never much in-between.

I’m not a big gambler but if I was, I’d put a bunch of money on Pitt to lose next weekend because it’s a must win game. That’s just kind of how they roll. Hopefully they get the job done and find a way to get into the conference championship game, but I don’t know if they’re consistent enough to do that.

[IUP24]

Yeah unfortunately Good Miami shows up against Pitt more often than not. And with the huge stakes in this one I don’t foresee Bad Miami taking the field at Acrisure on Saturday.

Miami has a ton to play for next week. I don’t expect an unmotivated Miami team coming to Pittsburgh. Couple things break their way, they could be an at-large for the CFP.