Everything Penn State coach Terry Smith said after the Lions' win over Rutgers

Penn State coach Terry Smith held his final news conference of the regular season on Saturday night after his Lions knocked out Rutgers 40-36 to earn a date in the postseason. Selection Sunday is Dec. 8, meaning the team has seven days plus a few hours to wait and see who it will play next.

“It was a hard-fought victory,” Smith said in his opening statement. “Definitely not a pretty victory. But victory counts all the same. Offense was unbelievable tonight. They had their way running for over 300 yards. Kaytron [Allen] for over 200 yards. Nick Singleton breaking the all purpose yards record and having a really good day. I was super proud of the offense. They answered the call. One of the things we learned tonight was how to end the game on our terms. We all recall Indiana. It was the same situation with four minutes to. You know, we gave them the ball back, and we all know what happened. This time we had the ball. I don’t know the exact time, but it was around four minutes to go, and we didn’t give the ball back. We ended it on our terms. So that was fantastic.

More: What did Greg Schiano, Penn State players, say about the Lions’ 40-36 win?

“The defense struggled all night. Just didn’t seem to have an answer to cover those guys. Struggled tackling those guys. But when we needed a play the most, we got the fumble recovery for a touchdown. And and then we followed that up with the next series with a fourth down stop, which really sealed the game, because the offense took over from there. So, you know, it was not pretty, but they figured out a way, and that’s football.

“So we’re going to take that victory. Obviously, talk about Ethan Grunkemeyer. Thought he was really good tonight through. The touchdown pass to [Andrew Rappleyea] early on. He gave us some chances on some shots down the field. I think that continues to open up our run game, because you just can’t sit in a box against us. So we’ll continue to press forward with that. We are both eligible. Very thankful for that. The guys really wanted that, and we’ll look forward to playing in a bowl game.”

Watch a video of Smith’s news conference by visiting BWI’s YouTube page here. And, read everything he said below.

On the play of Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

“He’s the future of the position for us,” Smith said. “He’s taking great strides and getting better. He works his tail off during the week. And, you see his production. He’s very efficient in his throws. 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, and that’s what he’s done for us.

“I mean, the two minute drive. Well, the 32 second drive, right before the half, that was big time to get those three points. So, it was critical to the outcome of the game. But we had confidence in him, and that’s why we tried to push the ball down the field and get those three points.”

On Amare Campbell’s play and the game-winning scoop and score

“With his stability there, you know, he’s a heck of a football player, and he deserves a lot of credit,” Smith said. “He plays really hard. He’s very productive, he’s solid, he’s consistent. You know exactly what you’re getting. You know, with our injuries at linebacker, don’t know what we would do if he wasn’t here.

“He’s a stable piece in the middle for us, and just a tremendous effort tonight. And what a play that we really needed. We needed a jolt, and he gave it to us.”

On ending the regular season with Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton thriving

“Personally, I can’t recall ever seeing two backs with such great yardage numbers,” Smith said. “It’s rare two guys share the ball for four years, let alone like, you know, sometimes Saquon Barkley overlapped with Miles Sanders, but they really share. You know, these guys literally shared for four years, and really both of them reaped the rewards of sharing. It speaks volumes to both of their characters. One of them could have transferred, one of them could have went somewhere and been the guy. For them to stay with us, it speaks volumes about Penn State itself. Just super proud of those guys. I went to both of those guys these last couple weeks, and I told them, we’re going to get you guys that record.

“I didn’t want to make it a point where we tell the coaches, go out of your way, but I just knew, if we stuck to our game plan and got those guys 30 plus touches, they would do exactly what they’ve done the back end of the season, and they’re just incredible. Everybody knows we’re running and they can’t stop it. And that speaks volumes to our offensive line and tight ends. I told the Big Ten Network people, I said, we have finally built up calluses on our hands. That’s why defenses are having a hard time stopping a run game.”

On the 4th and 2 play call at the end of the game to seal it

“I was thinking about the Indiana game and what I would do differently,” Smith said. “You know, we all learn from experience. I’m a ton better coach than I was the night of Iowa. I’m a ton better than Indiana, and we shouldn’t have gave Indiana the ball back. And I said we’re not going to do that tonight. It worked out for us. And nothing better than going into victory formation.”

On Terry Smith’s future at Penn State

“Yeah, so, you know, last week I came in with, like, some, energy [laughs]. This week, I’m not. I’m just thankful we won the game. I’m thankful we have an opportunity to go to a bowl game. Thankful for these guys that played their hearts out for all of us. And I just told our guys, we’re going to have an opportunity to go play in a bowl game that is yet to be determined.

“We’ll give these guys a week off, and I think next Sunday is Selection Sunday, we’ll figure out who we’re going to play, and then we just start game planning from there. And, you know, take care of our veteran guys and get our young guys a lot of work and get them ready to go.”

On what being the interim head coach meant

“It taught me a lot,” Smith said. “Taught me that I know I can truly do this job. It taught me patience. It taught me the role of one of the biggest jobs in college football. And it taught me that I have a special bond with people and my players, and that when I go forward in coaching, I have to take advantage of that and really build on that.

“I’m a trust guy, and always tell my guys when I recruit them, I will give trust first so that you can trust me second. Trust is earned. That’s why they care for me. That’s why they love me. You know, chewing Zion Tracy out, and he’s staring down my throat because he knows I love him and I’m giving him proper correction. That’s what that bond is. I appreciate these guys. They work really hard. I can’t ask more of them. It’s been a good run for me.

On the timetable Penn State has to hire its next head coach

“No timetable,” Smith said.

On Grunkemeyer’s improvement on and off the field

“That’s what you expect from QB1,” Smith said. “They have to leave the whole team. Because as that guy goes, we go. If he doesn’t go, look at college football, look at pro football: No team wins a championship without that guy, and everyone’s in search of that guy. And our future is bright. This guy’s only getting better, valuable experience, and he’s growing up every single day right in front us.”

On how the defense played against Rutgers

“They played horribly,” Smith said. “We just got to go back and watch the film and reevaluate. Why did it happen that way? You know, Rutgers offense, I think, is the number two pass offense in the Big Ten. So we can’t disrespect who they are. Those receivers are legit. That catch [Duff] made [before the fumble six along the Penn State sideline] like we get the Indiana catch, and then we get that? You know that will go on one of the best catches of the year, but they were good and efficient.

“Coach Ciarrocca, their offensive coordinator, called a great game, right? He had a plan. He executed the plan. Gave us difficulties. We’re gonna get it fixed for the bowl game, and we’re going to be better. We’ll learn from that. The beauty of it is they made plays when we needed to make plays, and that’s what we want.”