PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith said Saturday night that director of athletics Pat Kraft hasn’t told him when he will name a permanent coach.
After the Nittany Lions’ 40-36 comeback win over Rutgers, Smith was evasive when he was asked if he had received any clarity from Kraft or anyone else at Penn State about his future.
“Last week I came in (to a postgame press conference) with a lot of energy, so to speak,” he said. “I’m just thankful we won the game. I’m just thankful we have an opportunity to go to a bowl game. I’m thankful for those guys who played their hearts out for all of us.”
Smith, a former Penn State wide receiver, joined James Franklin’s staff in 2014 as the cornerbacks coach. He was eventually promoted to associate head coach and became the interim coach when Kraft fired Franklin on Oct. 12.
Since then, he has guided the Lions to a 3-3 record, including consecutive wins over Michigan State, Nebraska and Rutgers to finish the regular season. Many alumni and lettermen have expressed their support for him to get the permanent job.
“It meant a lot,” Smith said about the last six games. “It taught me a lot. I know I can truly do this job. It taught me patience. It taught me I have a special bond with my players. When I go forward in coaching, I have to take advantage of that and really build on that.
“It’s been a good run for me.”
Campbell stars: Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell made a game-high 14 tackles and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 61-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter.
Campbell, a transfer from North Carolina, finished the regular season with a team-high 96 tackles.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Smith said. “He deserves a lot of credit. He plays really hard. He’s very productive. He’s solid. He’s consistent. You know exactly what you’re getting.
“With our injuries at linebacker, I don’t know what we would do if he wasn’t here. He’s a stable piece in the middle for us.”
Grunkemeyer grand: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer continued his progress, completing 17-of-21 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown without a turnover in his sixth start.
For the season, he has completed 69.4% of his passes for 1,079 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions. He finished the game Saturday night with a 3-yard pass to tight end Andrew Rappleyea on fourth-and-2 from the Rutgers 10, sealing it.
“The wide receivers are doing a great job of getting open,” Grunkemeyer said, “and then the running backs are doing a great job helping set up our pass game. The linebackers and safeties have to fit in the box to try to stop them, so it’s really having stuff get open and a great scheme along with it.”
He received praise from Smith for how he’s run the offense in the last six games.
“He’s very efficient in his throws,” he said. “He runs our offense. That’s what a great quarterback does. When you look at Super Bowl champions or championship-caliber quarterbacks, they do what’s necessary for victory. That’s what he’s done for us.”
Bowl possibilities: Penn State won’t learn its bowl destination until next Sunday, Dec. 7.
The Lions might wind up playing in the Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl in New York or the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.
Campbell said several days ago that he would be open to playing in a bowl game. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
“We have a lot of guys that are supposed to be declaring, so I can’t speak for a lot of people,” he said. “But I can speak for myself and maybe the underclassmen, we’re ready. We’re ready to play. Wherever they schedule us for the bowl game, we’re all locked in.”.
Senior running back Nick Singleton said he would talk with his parents before he made a decision on whether to play in the bowl game.
Source: Berkshire mont