Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541990
8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6 OPENING SHOT MUTUAL APPRECIATION Terry Smith knew he was taking on a huge challenge when he accepted Penn State's interim head coaching job on Oct. 12. In addition to rebuilding morale among players who were blindsided by James Franklin's dismissal, he also had to lead the team through the most difficult stretch of its 2025 schedule, starting with a visit to Iowa followed by games against No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana. The Nittany Lions dropped all three, but except for the second half of their visit to Columbus, they were competi- tive throughout that brutal three-game stretch. Their resilience was rewarded with a 28-10 win at Michigan State on Nov. 15, followed by a 37-10 trouncing of Nebraska the following week in the team's final home appearance of the year. A crowd listed at 105,038 turned out for Penn State's clash with the Cornhusk- ers, in which Smith was pitted against the man who had given him his start in college coaching, Nebraska's Matt Rhule. Follow- ing the Nittany Lions' win — their first at Beaver Stadium since Sept. 13 — those fans cheered as Smith and his team left the field. "I'm very motivated by the support," Smith said. "My players love me uncondi- tionally. I love them unconditionally. The support means everything. … It encour- ages us. It motivates us. It gives us energy, and it gave our guys energy tonight." A three-year starter at wide receiver for Penn State in the early 1990s, Smith wore a "Joe 409" button on his jacket in honor of Joe Paterno, whose 409 victories are still the most by any head coach in major- college history. "I wouldn't be here if he hadn't coached me and taught me," Smith said. "I'm ac- knowledging him. We had a lot of letter- men here tonight in valuable positions. [Former PSU quarterback] Michael Rob- inson is on the NBC crew. There are other lettermen all over. It showed today. It was just an acknowledgement that I'm proud I've been taught by one of the greatest that ever did it." — Matt Herb PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS