James Franklin is gone, dozens of players are leaving, and the beyond abysmal season is over. Head coaches and coordinators are being locked down by their programs or signing new blockbuster deals with a new team.
Yet, the Penn State Nittany Lions are still without an official head coach. Now, the program is at risk of losing its interim head coach, Terry Smith, as the Nittany Lions hold out on offering him the full-time gig, and other programs have started circling in the waters.
Despite current and former players advocating for Smith to be the next man up and other candidates getting taken off the board, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft has seemingly refused to admit his interim HC is the right man for the job.
Penn State really might be without a head coach
Reportedly, Smith is now receiving interest from the UConn Huskies and the Memphis Tigers to fill their coaching vacancies. All of a sudden, it is looking more and more possible that Penn State will have to dip well below its usual level for the team's next head coach.
Even legendary Penn State defensive end Micah Parsons has chimed in on the matter, saying, "If we have any common sense, if they ever want me to come back, they better put Terry there. I’ma be honest with you."
Kraft has continued to look at the next level for his program's next head football coach, eying the New York Giants' former head coach Brian Daboll as coaches from the NCAA level get crossed off his list.
With rumors that the Nittany Lions were looking at Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide's leader made it very clear that he had never looked in Penn State's direction nor had any conversations been had.
There is a disaster brewing (or more accurately, overflowing) in Happy Valley, and it is well past time for Kraft to recognize the mess he has made. It's well past time to hire Smith.