Terry Smith was the longest-tenured member of James Franklin’s football staff at Penn State.

He worked alongside Franklin from the massive NCAA sanctions, to the unlikely Big Ten championship in 2016, to seven New Year’s Six bowls, to a College Football Playoff appearance and to his boss’ firing Sunday after 11-plus seasons.

“I was stunned, like most people in the building and most people around the country,” Smith said Monday during a press conference. “I was fortunate to speak with Coach Franklin last night. 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.”

Director of athleti

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