Opening Statement
Do I have an opening statement? Tonight, we witnessed greatness from Kaytron Allen. Penn State’s been playing football for an awful long time and to be the number one rusher in the history of this place is an impressive thing that he accomplished tonight, and what makes it even more impressive is that he is a guy that had to share carries for four years. And to break the record tonight, hats off to him. Game ball to him. Unbelievable effort and performance. I think he had 160 yards tonight. Just a tremendous effort from him. Nick Singleton tied the career touchdown mark set by Saquon Barkley. Just another unbelievable effort by the tandem. You know, every week since I’ve come in here to talk to you guys, I tell you, these two guys have to touch the ball for us to be successful. I think they touched it 36 times or 35 times tonight for over 200 yards combined. It’s the dynamic duo. They are unbelievable. They’re amazing people, they’re unselfish, they’re happy for each other. Just a great effort for tonight. I want to thank our seniors for everything they’ve been through. For all the victories and the losses, because we learned from the losses. This senior group had a three-year span that won more football games than any three-year group in the history of Penn State football. A lot of victories, and they’ve done tremendous things for our program. I want to thank our managers, our support staff, seniors, all the seniors that contribute behind the scenes. I want to thank those guys, because without them, we can’t operate. Everyone plays a role here at Penn State, and I appreciate them and I’m thankful for all of them. In regard to the game, the opening drive, Nebraska drove down and we had a critical fourth down stop that set the tone for the game. It allowed our defense to gain their confidence. Our offense stepped on the field with confidence, and then they marched down the field for a touchdown. The fourth down stop was the difference in the game. I’m super proud of the effort of our guys. They are playing inspired football. They’re hungry. They want to play in a season that they could easily give up and quit. They’re on the brink of playing some of our best ball. Grunkemeyer is playing unbelievable football. We’re throwing the ball. We’re answering all your questions about throwing the ball down the field. We’re throwing the ball down the field because explosive plays count as the pass interferences, too, because the ball is going down the field, which is opening up our run game, which is why we ran for over 200 yards with those guys. We look like a real football team. I’m super proud of these guys.
Q: What’s going through your head when you’re hearing the fans chanting what they’re chanting and what did it mean to you to see the show of support from your players after the game?
A: I’m very motivated by the support. My players love me unconditionally. I love them unconditionally. Their support means everything. The fans were unbelievable again tonight; this is back-to-back Beaver Stadium turnouts from our fans… just incredible support. You know, we all like support. It encourages us. It motivates us. It gives us energy and it gave our guys energy tonight. We have a game next week against Rutgers. I want our fans to show up and support these guys as we try to get bowl eligible.
Q: What went in the decision to wear a 409 pin tonight?
A: I’ve always acknowledged Joe Paterno. I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t coached me and taught me. So I’m acknowledging him. We had a lot of lettermen here tonight, in valuable positions. Michael Robinson 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.
Q: Your journey the last five games, what have you learned about yourself, and do you feel now that you’re comfortable, do you think you’re ready to be a head coach permanently?
A: I was always ready to be a head coach. I was a head coach for 12 years in high school. It’s a different level, but leading men is leading men. Coaching is coaching. It’s no different than when I worked for Matt Rhule as a receivers coach. I came here for James Franklin; I went to DB coach. Coaching is coaching. I went from taking DBs, a DB history here at Penn State that we didn’t put DBs in the NFL to now, we’re one of the top in the country. Coaching is coaching. I’ve always been a head coach, so I’m very confident in what I do. God has blessed me. My mom has anointed me. My wife keeps a covering over me. I have gifts that I don’t even realize I have. I’m a leader of men. You guys see it. You’re witnessing it every day.
Q: Michael Robinson on the broadcast today mentioned he has spoken with hundreds of former players and quote “every single one of them wants to endorse you to be the next head coach at Penn State”. Lots of guys that have been through this building, some of them you played for, some of them you coach. How much is that aspect feeling right now, and are people coming up to you saying you need to be the head coach, telling you that directly?
A: So, I had the amazing opportunity today to walk in with my granddaughter and experience people chanting her grandfather’s name. How would you feel? It’s amazing. She experienced something that very few people get an opportunity to experience. I have tremendous support from the letterman and alumni. Can’t go around town anymore, can’t get my car washed. My life’s changed, but it’s all pretty good. The thing that motivates me is I’m just keeping my feet on the ground. I’m going to get this team ready to go beat Rutgers next week. My resume is on display every day that you guys watch this on Saturday, tell me what you think.
Q: Terry, you mentioned Kaytron and Nick’s unselfishness, and I would like to know, how does that impact their teammates, their younger teammates, older teammates, and how does that affect our program these last four years?
A: So, a couple things; those guys are the tone setters for the team for unselfishness. This is the ultimate team sport. We need each other to have any success. Another thing that’s happening since I’ve taken over is my level of accountability to our team, whether it’s the coaches, players, staff, everyone is accountable, and no one can fall short. And I call it out. I call it out in our team meetings, staff meetings, in front of everyone. No one wants to be called out. I make a point to call out our best players, because they have to be accountable, they have to give this team more, and that’s what you’re witnessing these last few weeks. Our best players are giving us more. That is the difference in winning now and why we weren’t winning earlier.
Q: What switched in recent weeks since you took over that has put the players in the position to do what they’ve done that maybe they weren’t doing before?
A: I think we have a true identity. Period.
Q: What do you want Penn State’s identity to be and what would it be under you as head coach permanently?
A: Blue collar. We are going to roll up our sleeves and fight every day. We’ll come to work with a lunch pail every day and show up. We play football. We’re going to lose games. We’re going to win games. We’re going to win more games than we lose, but we’re going to show up every single day. That’s what Penn State football is. We fight together. We fight for one another. We’re not conditional love, we’re unconditional love. Through the storm, through the sharpener. We’ll go back and get the sharpener back out when we get ready for next Saturday.
Q: A lot of players obviously played their last game here at Beaver Stadium, but there’s a lot of staff members that aren’t sure what their next step is, and they’re in limbo like you. What is your message to them? What kind of communication are you giving them as they’re trying to figure out their futures as well?
A: Yeah, for the seniors, it’s everything. We wanted to write a script, right? We talked about the pencil and the pencil sharpener, right? You see my message, I thought our speeches were private, I guess they’re not private. But we talked about writing a script, and so I challenged our seniors: write your script for how you want these last games to be. What a performance they wrote. Now we have to follow it up for their last regular season game at Rutgers. We’re going to continue to sharpen and continue to write.