PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While it’s a group that’s hurting, Penn State interim football coach Terry Smith wanted to show at an introductory news conference at University Park Monday that he’s a Penn State man. That he will do what is best for those in the uniform and all who love the school.
“I'm fortunate that I played for Coach Paterno and now I worked for another very successful coach here at Penn State in Coach Franklin.,” Smith said. “I'm a third generation Penn Stater. My dad sits up top. He's a '68 grad; I'm a '91 grad; my son is an '07 grad; and my daughter graduated here recently.”
“I call this place home. I love this place. I love the Blue and White. I'm proud to be sitting in front of you.”
Even sitting 3-3 on a season where hopes were for a national championship, Smith said they don’t change their expectations and will represent Penn State with pride. What they need to do is stick together, stay focused, ‘keep the standard the standard’ and what was repeated a couple of times of what they need to do.
“We need to get back to enjoying ball, being tough, gritty, and passionate,” Smith said.
Smith was brought to back to Penn State University by James Franklin, two years removed from being the Gateway High School head coach. He said he found out about Franklin’s firing about 1:20 Sunday afternoon, 25 minutes before a team meeting. Smith said he was stunned and that Franklin was allowed to tell the team directly.
“I was fortunate to speak with Coach Franklin (Sunday) night,” Smith said. “It was a heartfelt conversation. I just wanted to express my gratitude and thankfulness for him and all that he's done for me, my family, and this program.”
“He took us out of a dark era and got us to be a relevant program again. We don't take that for granted.”
Smith doesn’t feel like the better team won each of the last three games, all losses which led to Franklin losing his job. From the double overtime loss to Oregon at home to being 20-point favorites in losses at UCLA and at Beaver Stadium against Northwestern.
“So, I promise we're going to put a better product on the field that every Penn Stater will be super proud of,” Smith said.
He said his father moved them out of Aliquippa and showed with a Penn State education, you can have a better life. The lessons he learned at Penn State mean everything to him and he wants to give back to the community because he doesn’t see this as a job, he just wants everyone to be better.
“One thing that hasn't changed is Penn State is Penn State,” Smith said. “We all know the expectations of being here. (Athletic Director) Pat (Kraft) made it clear: We're going to be successful. We have always been successful. It's the only way we know.”