Former Penn State quarterback and Super Bowl champion Michael Robinson joins Nittany Game Week for an in-depth conversation about the future of Penn State football. In this interview, Robinson makes his case for why interim head coach Terry Smith deserves the permanent position and explains what he believes went wrong under James Franklin.
KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:
🏈 Why Robinson Used His NBC Platform to Support Terry Smith
Robinson explains his decision to speak publicly about Penn State’s coaching situation during a national broadcast and what motivated him to take a stand.
🏈 The Culture Shift Under Terry Smith
Robinson describes the dramatic difference in team energy and player attitudes between his production meetings for the Oregon game and later in the season after Smith took over.
🏈 “Ball Coach” vs “Program Builder”
Robinson breaks down the distinction between these two coaching philosophies and why he believes Penn State needs the former at this stage of the program’s development.
🏈 Lessons from Joe Paterno
Robinson shares memorable stories from his playing days, including how Paterno took control of play-calling to get Larry Johnson his milestone and what those experiences taught him about coaching.
🏈 Immediate Changes Under Smith
Discussion of specific tactical decisions Smith made upon taking over, including making Kaytron Allen the featured running back and increasing competitive practice periods from one to four per week.
🏈 The Importance of Penn State Roots
Robinson addresses why he believes the next coach should have deep connections to Penn State and Pennsylvania recruiting, and his frustration with coaches using the opening as leverage.
🏈 Diversity in Coaching Opportunities
Robinson raises important questions about career advancement paths for Black position coaches and why Smith’s opportunity matters beyond just Penn State.
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