Should Penn State football hire Terry Smith after win over Nebraska?

What Terry Smith will remember most from Penn State football's 37-10 win over Nebraska didn't happen during the game. It came long before, as he walked into Beaver Stadium alongside his granddaughter.

There, Smith got to watch as she heard praise pour in from Penn State fans, alumni, former players and lettermen.

"I had the amazing opportunity today to walk in with my granddaughter and experiencepeople chanting her grandfather’s name," Smith said. "How would you feel? It’s amazing. She experienced something that very few people get an opportunity to experience."

With another inspiring win, Smith has presented the case that he's the man to take up the mantle. Should Penn State make him its full-time head coach?

By Smith's own admission, the growing support he's received from Nittany Lions fans, lettermen and alumni has overtaken him. The interim coach can't travel around State College without some level of praise being fed his way. Since stepping in as interim head coach six weeks ago, Smith has turned a team on the brink of collapse into one that's won back-to-back games and played its best football of the season Saturday.

While Penn State has courted a host of candidates to find a new full-time coach, Smith has bided his time currying favor with the Nittany Lions' base. Against Nebraska, he wore a pin that read "Joe 409," in reference to Joe Paterno, whom he played under for the Nittany Lions from 1987-91.

Plus, he already knows what it's like to lead a program, albeit on a different scale. He was the head coach for Gateway High School from 2002-12. To him, it makes no difference. Leadership is leadership.

Penn State is a part of Smith's identity, and in turn he's brought an identity back to Penn State.

"He got put in a tough position, especially after Coach Franklin got fired, him being here so long and having to take over in the middle of the season," wide receiver Trebor Pena said. "He's handled it the right way, and he's been a man. Respectful, motivated, he's everything you want."

His players have taken notice and rallied behind him. Against Nebraska, Kaytron Allen broke out for 160 yards to become the program's all-time rusher. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer went 11-for-12 with 181 yards and two touchdowns − the most efficient game of his brief starting tenure.

While the Nittany Lions milled around the field after the game Saturday, a handful of players were spotted holding signs reading "Hire Terry Smith."

"He just keeps it real with us," quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer said. "In team meetings, he says how he feels, and we respond to that. Him making the case for wanting to be the head coach, we respond to that because he's showing us his true colors and his emotions. We all see that and want it for him."

Smith's case to take the job isn't just off-hand discussion. He has tangible leverage within the locker room.

Smith is now in his 12th season on the Nittany Lions coaching staff. He'd been associate head coach for five of those years before stepping to head the program. Before Saturday night, he'd danced around the idea of his own hiring. In the postgame press conference Saturday night, however, Smith's words didn't carry any uncertainty.

"My resume is on display every day that you guys watch this on Saturday," Smith said. "Tell me what you think."

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Should Penn State football hire Terry Smith after win over Nebraska?