Nov. 23, 2011
No. 28 - Drew Astorino, Senior, Safety
Q: With the adversity that you have been through, how much more have you leaned on your families?
A: I can really only speak about my family, but I feel that I have the best family. I talk to my dad and mom on a regular basis; talk to my brother and sister on a regular basis. Anytime you need good advice or someone to talk to, my parents have been there for me, especially these last couple weeks. My family's great, including uncles and cousins. I've had more support than I've ever had. It's nice to have a large, big family who supports you no matter what.
Q: You guys have seen some pretty good dual-threat quarterbacks. How much above that is Russell Wilson from what you've seen? How do you go about containing him?
A: We've been facing these kinds of quarterbacks week-in and week-out. It's a struggle. He's obviously great with his feet and even better with his arm. That's the one big thing; that we haven't faced a quarterback with the completion percentage and deep ball accuracy that he has. It's going to be a definite test for the secondary, but I think we're looking forward to it. We have a close-knit group on defense and a close-knit group in the secondary, especially. It's a challenge, but that's what you play for, so we're looking forward to it.
Q: What are your memories from when (Matt) McGloin was a scout team quarterback? How do you think he did holding on as a number two guy to maintain his composure and resiliency?
A: I think McGloin has always been a very good quarterback. He's progressed and gotten better as he's gotten older. He's gotten smarter. He's faced definite adversity throughout his entire career. Playing a half of a game, playing back-up... I think he's done a great job keeping his composure and doing what he needs to do when he gets out there. We're going to need a big game from him and a big game from the offense and the whole entire team.
Q: Devon Still played through the flu last week and Jack Crawford has had a bad knee. How much have guys been doing that this season? Playing through their personal issue and still going out there and contributing? Is that how your senior class has been?
A: Yeah, I mean, we play a pretty violent game. I think everyone is playing with bumps and bruises at all times. Those are tough guys and we expect that from them and they expect that from us. They did a great job, they've been doing a great job this season. We always talk about there's a difference between being hurt and injured. If you're hurt, you're going to play. That's just the game we play.
Q: Talk about the job Nate's (Stupar) done stepping in after (Michael) Mauti went down. What does he mean to you guys?
A: When Mauti went down, it was tough for all of us. He's an emotional leader, a big time player. Nate stepped in and he's done a great job. He goes above and beyond what he's been called to do. He's made big plays, he's good at communicating. We didn't lose much of a step with him in there. That's to say really our whole entire second team. If really almost anyone goes down, we have great backups that push the starters every day in practice. All of our backups could be starters, which is great and makes our team better day in and day out. I think we're really lucky in that regard.
Q: Can you talk about the challenges that Wisconsin presents with Montee Ball?
A: They have a really big line. Montee Ball is having one of the best collegiate seasons anyone has had that I can remember. He's definitely going to be tough to stop. We're going to have to lean on our defensive line and linebackers. We can't miss tackles. We're going to have to gang tackle the ball. It's going to be a challenge, but we're up to that challenge and excited for that challenge.
Q: There's a possibility that some bowls could bypass you guys and you could slip down to a lesser bowl. Would you still be interested in that? Is there any scenario where the players would not be interested to go to a bowl game?
A: We have no control over that situation. We're not really even worried about that situation. We're worried about the biggest game that we've played this season. We're worried about being Big Ten Champs and going to the Rose Bowl. That's our goal. So that's all we're worried about. We can only control what we control and that's out of our hands. We're not even thinking about it.
No. 6 - Derek Moye, Senior, Wide Receiver
Q: What do you think it is in Matt (McGloin) that enabled him to maintain his focus and who he is?
A: I think he went into that mindset this year not knowing if he would be starting. I don't feel like it's very hard for him; he went through the same thing last year. He knew he had to keep his composure and just let things play out and eventually he would get his chance.
Q: Can you talk about the influence of the Wildcat being put into the offense?
A: I thought it helped us out a lot. We felt like Ohio State really didn't know it was coming. We came out there and you could tell they didn't expect it at all. When we were practicing, I thought it would be one of those things that we would practice, but come game time we wouldn't use it. Obviously, it ended up helping us out a lot and a big reason why we had so much success as an offense in the first half.
Q: How have things been different since Matt became the starter?
A: Honestly, it hasn't been really any different. Just knowing that we have one guy back there. Everything else has been pretty normal.
Q: You said a second ago that you thought you would practice the Wildcat, but not use it in the game. Has that happened a lot throughout your career?
A: Yeah, you always have plays that you practice sometimes for different defenses. You know you go out there and they give you a different look and you aren't able to run it. It happens and I think it happens everywhere. I thought it would just be one of those things. Not really packages, but more just specific plays.
Q: Has all of the adversity placed on you guys brought you closer together?
A: I wouldn't say it has or it hasn't. I think we were a close group to begin with. We block everything out that's going on the outside. Like I said, we're a close group to begin with. This is probably the closest team that I've been a part of at Penn State. I don't know how much closer we can get.
Q: Have you guys leaned on your families more throughout this situation?
A: Not really. When I talk to my mom or my brother, I don't want to talk about it. Everyone else, your friends and everyone up here, wants to talk about everything going on. When you talk to your family, you want to talk about everything else.
Q: You rank among the top 5 in four career receiving categories. Have you stopped at all to think about that? Will you stop to think about that when all is said and done?
A: Maybe after the season's over. I feel like it's definitely a great accomplishment to be named with guys like Bobby Engram and Deon Butler. But, I feel like we still have a job to get done and I still have a job to get done to help the team win a Big Ten Championship.
Q: You said after the Nebraska game that the team wants to play in a bowl game. Even if the team were to slip down to a lower bowl, are all of the players set on playing in a bowl game no matter where it would be or who the opponent might be?
A: We obviously want to go out and compete against whomever we play. That's something that's an afterthought to us right now. We're worried about Wisconsin this week. We want to get to the Big Ten Championship and win the Big Ten Championship to get to the Rose Bowl.
Q: Can you talk about how many people ask about the situation? Has it been difficult for you to block that out?
A: Not at all. It's kind of something that you guys, the media, blow up. It's obviously a big deal, but as far as being on the players' minds, it's not a big deal for us to go out there and play. Like I said, we had a goal set at the beginning of the year. It's not hard for us to stay focused on that goal.
Q: With the Ohio State win, how much did that help you to get back to some normalcy or a normal routine?
A: I think even after we lost to Nebraska, things got back to normal. We went out there and we played well. We didn't play as well as we could, but we still played a pretty decent game and kept the game close. We had a chance to win it at the end. I think we kept our goals in mind and knew we had to go out and beat Ohio State and focus on this week.
No. 34 - Nate Stupar, Senior, Linebacker
Q: Have you or anyone else on your team reached out to Coach Paterno? Has anyone had a desire to do that this week?
A: I don't think so. I haven't seen him around or had an opportunity to go see him. I know our team has been really focused on being in the film room and getting to practice; just really being focused on Wisconsin. We've definitely been thinking about him and we hope he's doing all right with what's he's going through and we've been praying for him.
Q: When (Michael) Mauti went down, you filled in. Can you talk about the season you've had stepping in for him?
A: Obviously, you never want something like that to happen to a teammate where you have to step in and take someone's place like that. He's a tremendous athlete. I can't wait until he gets back next year and does what he does on the field, making plays. I can't thank enough my God for the great season he's given me. He gives everything to me. He's given me this athletic ability. I thank him everyday for me to go out there and play everyday. Not many people have the opportunity to go out and play at a DI level program like Penn State. I thank him for every thing he's given me, every interception, every tackle, every sack.
Q: I think you guys are 18-19 point underdogs for this game. Do you guys think about that at all or discuss that as a team? What does that say about the challenge Wisconsin presents you guys?
A: It's just people looking at numbers and creating another number. Yeah, you're an 18-point underdog. That doesn't mean anything to me, that doesn't mean anything to my teammates. Ohio State beat Wisconsin; we beat Ohio State. They shut them down with 7 points or something in the first half. Our defense has the capability of shutting down any team. We're just going to work hard this week and let the numbers speak for themselves come Saturday.
Q: I know you're a very faithful person and your family is from around here. How much has this adversity increased communication and interaction within the team? Has the team gotten a lot closer through it?
A: This team was already united and we were such a close-knit team before this. I haven't been a part of a team since high school that was this close together, just being united. Just having fun with each other and just playing amazing football. Through this situation, it's a distraction outside, but I don't think it's distracted us at all. The media blows it up. You have to put it behind you and just keep moving forward.
Q: Will Thanksgiving be any more meaningful to the team this year after the last couple weeks?
A: It's a good time to reflect and be thankful for what you have. It's a good opportunity to be inspired just to work harder. For me, knowing this is my last week of a (regular) season game, it's weird knowing that football's not guaranteed after this game. There's a little motivation to keep going and work hard.
Q: What would you say to people around that country that say that football players here have been treated differently?
A: Obviously, we get treated differently with the book program and get more Gatorades than other students do (laughter). A lot of people don't see what we go through and I guess if they understood what we go through on a daily basis, maybe they would have a better understanding. Being treated differently, it's hard to say. I know it's hard to keep things under wraps with the media blowing things up or things getting blown out of proportion or people assuming things. You have to take different precautions or angles for disciplinary actions.