As interim coach Terry Smith did his on-field interview, several players clustered behind him holding signs that read, "Hire Terry Smith." Moments earlier, Smith walked to midfield to shake hands with Matt Rhule -- the coach who gave him his first FBS opportunity at Temple more than a decade ago.

After James Franklin was fired, Terry Smith took over Penn State as the interim head coach. The early games didn’t show much impact, but in the last two matchups against Nebraska and Michigan State, everyone witnessed the dominance of Terry Smith and his Penn State squad.

If you want to know about Terry Smith’s Penn State playing career, you could ask Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. If you want to know what Smith was like when he directed the Gateway High School football program in western Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2012,

Terry Smith’s popularity has grown to the point where he can’t even go get his car washed in State College any longer without being recognized. It’s clear there are many that hope the interim tag is dropped and he is named the next head coach to lead Penn State football.

Player support, on-field momentum and a looming formal interview are pushing Terry Smith closer to Penn State’s full-time job.

The former Nittany Lion standout says the team’s culture has shifted for the better and credits Smith for restoring energy, confidence and connection.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy believes Penn State’s coaching search has effectively narrowed to two names in interim coach Terry Smith and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea. He laid out the case for both during this week’s Always College Football.