If Penn State was going to move on from veteran head coach James Franklin after an embarrassing loss on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, there was only one logical choice to be the Lions’ interim leader.

Terry Smith.

Penn State has indeed moved on.

So, Smith, the Lions’ associate head coach who has been with the Lions since 2014, is the interim head coach, moving forward.

The Lions made an announcement Sunday afternoon on the decision to fire Franklin in his 12th season and hand the reigns to Smith, a man with strong Pennsylvania ties and a coach who is a terrific recruiter.

Smith is also PSU’s cornerbacks coach.

Franklin is gone after the Lions, three-touchdown underdogs, surrendered a late lead in a 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Saturday.

PSU, viewed as a national championship con

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