A statement that stunned State College

STATE COLLEGE — In a moment that instantly reshaped conversations across the Penn State community, athletic director Pat Kraft delivered one of the most surprising and emphatic public endorsements of the season, praising interim head coach Terry Smith and declaring that Smith “has done far more for this program in a short span” than former head coach James Franklin had accomplished in recent years.

Kraft’s remarks, delivered during a post-game media availability inside Beaver Stadium, were measured but unmistakably pointed. His tone carried the weight of someone who has been evaluating the program from the inside out — not merely as an administrator, but as a guardian of the culture and identity of Penn State football.

It wasn’t just praise.

It wasn’t just support.

It was a bold redefinition of where Penn State believes its future lies.

“He steadied us when we were slipping.”

Kraft began his comments by acknowledging the turbulence that surrounded the program when Smith stepped into the interim role.

“We were drifting,” Kraft said. “Confidence was shaken. Uncertainty was everywhere. And in the middle of all that, Terry walked in and steadied us.”

He went further, drawing a clear comparison that immediately caught reporters off guard.

“In just a few weeks,” Kraft continued, “Terry Smith restored belief, unity, and resilience — qualities we had lost in recent seasons. He has done far more for this program’s stability than James Franklin did at the end of his tenure. That’s simply the truth.”

It was the first time Kraft had publicly drawn such a direct comparison, and the comment instantly rippled across social media, alumni circles, and the locker room itself.

Rebuilding trust inside the Lasch Building

Several players later admitted that Smith’s leadership changed everything inside the facility.

“When Coach Smith talks, it hits different,” one defensive captain said. “He listens. He understands us. He cares.”

Another player noted that Smith’s presence made the locker room feel “lighter but more accountable,” a balance that had slowly eroded in the final months under Franklin.

Kraft highlighted this dynamic directly.

“Terry didn’t just coach football,” Kraft said. “He rebuilt trust. You can feel it every time you walk into the Lasch Building. Guys are talking more. Laughing more. Competing harder. That doesn’t happen unless the person at the top is giving them something real.”

A winning spirit returned

And of course, there were the results on the field.

The thrilling 40–36 win over Rutgers — a tense, gritty performance defined by adaptability and heart — became the turning point of Smith’s interim run. Mistakes didn’t break them. Injuries didn’t weaken them. Pressure didn’t unravel them.

They fought until the final whistle.

Kraft pointed to that game as symbolic of what Smith had revived.

“That performance wasn’t about scheme or strategy alone,” Kraft said. “It was about spirit — something we’d been missing. Terry brought it back.”

Coaches and staff privately admitted that Kraft had voiced similar sentiments before, but never with this level of intensity or public commitment.

A culture that had slipped — and one man who restored it

While Kraft never attacked Franklin directly, the subtext of his comments was impossible to miss. He referenced a “decline in internal cohesion,” a “loss of energy,” and “a locker room that no longer recognized itself.”

He then contrasted it sharply.

“What Terry accomplished in a matter of weeks,” Kraft said, “was something we had struggled to achieve for far longer than anyone wanted to admit.”

Smith’s strength, Kraft emphasized, wasn’t just tactical — it was relational. He had built meaningful connections with players for years as a recruiter and assistant, and now, as interim head coach, those relationships became the foundation of Penn State’s revitalization.

“He didn’t talk down to them,” Kraft said.

“He talked with them. That matters.”

The players’ emotional embrace

When Smith walked down the tunnel after the Rutgers victory, players surrounded him — hugging him, shouting his name, thanking him. It felt less like a celebration and more like a collective exhale.

“Those weren’t just victory hugs,” Kraft said. “Those were gratitude hugs.”

One veteran lineman told reporters:

“He saved this team. People don’t understand how bad it was before he stepped in.”

Another added:

“He brought us back together. That’s leadership.”

This wasn’t the typical interim-coach bump. This was something deeper — the rebuilding of a fractured identity.

Why Pat Kraft went public

Within athletic departments, praise is often measured, diplomatic, politically cautious. Kraft’s decision to speak so openly was rare — and intentional.

Insiders say Kraft wanted to set the tone for the future, not just praise the present. He wanted to make it clear that what Smith accomplished mattered — and should matter as Penn State considers the permanent head coaching role.

“This wasn’t about sending a message,” one staff member said. “This was about telling the truth.”

Kraft’s direct comparison to Franklin was less about criticism and more about recognizing change — a change he believes Penn State desperately needed.

What comes next for Terry Smith?

For now, Smith remains the interim head coach. But Kraft’s public comments have changed the calculation entirely.

Alumni groups have begun advocating for Smith to remain in the role permanently. Players have openly expressed support. Families of players have praised his communication and steady presence. Campus energy feels different — brighter, more united.

Kraft acknowledged the question directly.

“Yes, Terry will absolutely be considered for the permanent position,” he said. “A leader who can rebuild this program from the inside deserves that consideration.”

But he also noted that the decision will be thorough and deliberate.

“This isn’t just about winning games,” Kraft continued. “It’s about building a program worthy of Penn State’s legacy. Terry has shown he understands that.”

A turning point for Penn State football

As the season moves forward, one truth has already taken hold among players, fans, and administrators:

Terry Smith has changed something fundamental.

He returned heart.

He restored faith.

He lit a fire that had dimmed.

And for Pat Kraft, that is the true measure of leadership.

“Titles don’t make a leader,” Kraft said as he ended his press conference. “Impact does. And Terry Smith has made an impact that will stay with this program for years.”

The words hung in the air long after the microphones shut off.

Penn State may not know its future yet — but it knows what has been reborn.

And that rebirth began with Terry Smith.