STATE COLLEGE – On Saturday night, a vibrant crowd of 105,038 at Beaver Stadium rallied behind interim head coach Terry Smith as the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 37-10. In a show of solidarity, fans chanted Smith’s name during the fourth quarter, while players displayed signs reading “Hire Terry Smith” following the game.
This enthusiastic endorsement comes after Pat Kraft, the director of athletics, dismissed James Franklin during his twelfth season, appointing Smith as interim head coach on October 12. Since then, the Nittany Lions have recorded a 2-3 record, with victories over Michigan State and Nebraska following losses to Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana. The decisive win against Nebraska marked the Cornhuskers’ most significant defeat of the season.
Running back Nick Singleton expressed strong support for Smith, stating, “He just brings energy all the time. When he first took over, he didn’t flinch. He brought energy to the whole team. He’s been phenomenal.” His sentiments reflect a growing sentiment among players and fans alike regarding Smith’s potential as the permanent head coach.
Kraft has remained silent publicly for six weeks but reportedly explored the possibility of hiring Texas A&M coach Mike Elko before Elko opted for a contract extension. Speculation now surrounds potential candidates including Kalen DeBoer of Alabama, Brent Key from Georgia Tech, and Bob Chesney of James Madison. Despite these discussions, a decision does not appear imminent.
In a nod to his past, Smith wore a button celebrating the late Joe Paterno, who coached him during his playing days at Penn State from 1987 to 1991. Smith remarked, “I’ve always acknowledged Joe Paterno. I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t coached me and taught me.”
The sentiment for Smith’s promotion was echoed by former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, who noted during the NBC broadcast that he had spoken to numerous former players, all of whom believed Smith deserved the permanent position. Offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh highlighted the collective voice of the players and community, stating, “You have your guy. You don’t have to look anywhere else for who the next head coach here should be.”
In addition to the support for Smith, quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer delivered an impressive performance, completing 11 of 12 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown, without any turnovers. This achievement made him the first Penn State quarterback since Todd Blackledge in 1981 to complete 90% of his passes with at least ten attempts in a game. Wide receiver Trebor Pena praised Grunkemeyer, stating, “He hasn’t even scratched the surface yet. I’m so excited to see how he grows and builds off this.”
An injury report revealed that defensive end Chaz Coleman was among 24 players unavailable for the game, alongside safety Antoine Belgrave-Shorter and several young running backs including Jabree Coleman and Tikey Hayes.
Before the game, 34 seniors were honored, marking their final home appearance at Beaver Stadium. Among those recognized were Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, Liam Clifford, and Nick Singleton, all of whom have contributed significantly to the team’s efforts this season.
As the season progresses, the future of Penn State football remains a topic of interest, with Smith’s impact on the team drawing considerable attention from both players and fans. The support for his potential as the next head coach could play a crucial role in shaping the program’s direction moving forward.
