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For Pat Kraft, hiring Matt Campbell was worth the risk of losing Terry Smith

Terry Smith could have kept Penn State's roster and staff together, but may have cost Pat Kraft his job after firing James Franklin.

Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Terry Smith | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Curt Cignetti, Matt Rhule, Mike Elko, Eli Drinkwitz, Clark Lea, and Brent Key all signed extensions this season, and after BYU head coach Kalani Sitake rebuffed Penn State to stay in Provo, it seemed as though athletic director Pat Kraft had struck out. More than that, it appeared that the fans, players, and boosters who advocated for Terry Smith to have the interim tag removed were finally going to get their way.