Nov. 17, 2015 Matt Baney | Sr. | LB
Q. I wanted to know what your career has been like transitioning from all the things that this program has been through. Can you kind of take us through what it's been like for you.
MB: Out of high school, I took a scholarship to play at St. Francis University. I was there a full year, and about a week into summer camp, I decided to leave St. Francis and gave Coach Vanderlinden -- the linebackers coach here at the time -- a call. He offered me a preferred walk-on out of high school, so I called him up and asked for a spot, and he told me to be here in a week.
I was on scout team for the first year. I wasn't here when guys were leaving. So I don't know about that a whole lot. That 2012 team was special and being a part of that team means a lot to me. Then, kind of just riding the roller coaster for a few seasons. Coach Franklin's staff has come in and done a great job. Transitioning from coach Vanderlinden to coach Pry has been great as well. Both coaches mean a lot to me, and I owe a lot to both of them.
Q. For Senior Day, getting to walk out there with all these guys that have gone through so much, what will that moment be like for you when you realize you are going to be linked to each other the rest of your lives?
MB: It's special to be part of this group of guys. I didn't come in with them, obviously, but I built a strong relationship with these guys. I was a fan of them when I was at St. Francis. I was still watching Penn State games. You talk to those guys what it was like here and what some of the old staff was like, that's kind of meant a lot to me.
Q. Growing up in State College and playing for State High is it surreal that you've gotten to this point, to start as a kid playing down the street and to be here today and going to walk out this weekend?
MB: I always had the dream of playing at Penn State. Obviously, growing up in State College, a lot of guys do. First time I walked out of that tunnel -- I was ineligible because I transferred, so I was in sweat pants -- it still meant a lot to me. It was a critical part of my career. I still remember that very vividly.
Obviously, growing up in State College, playing at Penn State means a lot.
Q. Best moment for you in your career here?
MB: I would say my favorite moment was probably the Michigan game during coach O'Brien's last year. It was an incredible season. We had a lot of games that went like that, but watching us comeback, the sideline never had a doubt that we were going to win that game. Everyone was behind each other 100 percent. That was a special time for me and for the rest of my teammates.
Q. Two things. Why did you leave St. Francis first? Was there something that you just weren't happy there, or what was the deal there?
MB: Coming out of high school, I was really determined to be a scholarship player. It was always a dream of mine to be a scholarship Division I player. So I went to St. Francis, made my first start as a true freshman, and on the ride home...we would always pass Beaver Stadium, and my first thought was, `Man, I need to get back to Penn State.' I texted my dadand he said, `You're crazy. You just started as a freshman.' That's kind of when I realized what I was doing at St. Francis wasn't really fulfilling my dream and what I wanted to do with football.
Q. You must have had an interesting perspective. As the sanctions took away all the scholarships, it looked like it may have given more opportunity to run-ons. Then as they came back, did you have mixed emotions there, knowing that it may impact your opportunity to play maybe a little bit more?
MB: My choice to come to Penn State had nothing to do with the fact that there was less scholarships. It was just the fact that I really wanted to be at Penn State. When the scholarships came back, I was happy. It was helping us as a team. That's all I cared about. I'm a team first guy, whatever I can do to help the team, whether it be running scout team, or second string or watching the linebacker play during the game and reporting back to Coach Pry. That thought never even crossed my mind.
Q. Can you trace your history, how old were you when you first started coming over here to games? Who were the players you knew and remembered?
MB: I couldn't tell you how old I was. My grandparents had season tickets. So I've been coming to games for a long time. I always got to go to the night games because my grandma didn't want to stay up that late at night to watch the games.
One of the first memories I have is we were playing Ohio State, and they had Troy Smith. I very vividly remember the Tamba Hali sack, where he stood him up on his head and [Troy] fumbled the ball. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the linebackers, obviously, playing linebacker myself. Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, Sean Lee -- those guys were kind of my role models.
Q. What would be one thing you take from your time at Penn State on the football team? What would be the one thing that lasts with you?
MB: Just the hard work that it takes to come in as a walk-on and to work every day with never a guarantee to play. You're never guaranteed to play. You're just working and working and working for a spot on the team and kind of earn the respect. It is just the daily grind of being a Division I athlete as a walk-on. That is something that I'll definitely take out of here and use the rest of my life.
Q. What did you do during the bye week?
MB: My dad is actually a coach at State College High School. He coaches the offensive line. So, during the bye week, I was able to get out and watch them. They played a playoff game and had a big win. They've have a bye week coming up this week, and I think they've got a really strong looking team, probably the best team I've seen since my junior year at [State College] and we went on to the state championship.
Christian Hackenberg | Jr. | QB
Q. How would you assess your progression this season, and what would you want to work on moving forward?
CH: I think we all do a really good job of approaching each week as a new challenge, continuing to try and build on the things we're doing well and the things that we're not doing so well and make sure that we try and fix those problems and improve in those areas. That's been my approach. I think that's been our team's approach this whole year.
Q. Saquon's has 108 yards receiving the last two games. How much of a relief is it to you or how much has it opened up the offense knowing you can dump the ball off?
CH: [Saquon Barkley] has done a great job in our screen game and he's done a great job of getting out [of the backfield] when he needs to get out and protect when he needs to protect. We, as an offense, have done a great job of moving on and not forcing the football and being able to get it down to him and letting him make plays. That's been huge for us, and it's been great. It's been great for him just to get that going, as well. Making sure he's making an impact in different areas, not just running the football.
Q. Christian, it's obviously Senior Day, and every Penn State fan out there would be wondering, have you given consideration if this will be your last game here at Beaver Stadium?
CH: Not really. I'm just focusing on it one week at a time, doing what I need to do to make sure I'm the most prepared I can. Right now it is about these seniors and playing as well as I can and make sure that as a team we're really rolling and doing what we need to do. It's a great challenge that we have this week against Michigan. They bring a lot of stuff to the table. So we're really excited about that, and I think that's where all of our heads are right now.
Q. Can you talk about what this senior class has meant to this program? What James did. A lot of people are talking about it this week.
CH: I spent a lot of time with these seniors when I was doing official visits and stuff. To me, they have meant a lot. They took me under their wing, and it meant a lot to me to learn from them in terms of how they handled the situations and what they've been dealt. They deserve to be sent out on a high note. They deserve to be sent out the right way.
Similar to the last few classes that came through, they're very special, and they mean a lot to this program in the grand scheme and the history of this program.
Q. Christian, how did you spend your weekend off?
CH: It was great. I went back home, spent some time with my family. It was really good. I hit the recharge button and feel refreshed and ready to roll.
Q. Oftentimes this season and last season, there's been criticism, there has been public criticism. Why do you think, despite the fact that you've been highly efficient this season, that criticism has somewhat continued?
CH: It is what it is. It's part of being where you are as a player at this level and especially at a program like Penn State. It's part of the deal. So I just focus in on what I can control and the things I have control over is ultimately what I have to do as a student and a football player. I'm enjoying the process and not really paying too much attention to [the criticism].
Q. Von Walker said a couple of weeks ago that when you got here he started picking on you and giving you a hard time. What do you remember about first meeting him? And what did it feel like to be treated as one of the guys from somebody like that?
CH: I love Von. I loved him from the first time I met him because of how hard he worked. He's a great personality, a lot of fun to hang out with and spend time with. It's cool. I'm not the kind of person to really expect any special treatment. I really came in and put my head down and tried to work as hard as anyone else. So I think just having Von there, it was always fun. We always kind of went back and forth at it. At that time, he was playing offense. So we definitely had a lot of good times when we first got here.
Q. Looking ahead here a little bit, how do you hope you're remembered here at Penn State?
CH: I just want to make sure, in terms of teammates' eyes, that they knew that I went out there and left it all on the field, played with that fiery competitor inside of me, and really let it all hang out. That's kind of how I try and play. That's how I try and live my life. At the end of the day, that is something that I hope happens. Ultimately, that's going to be determined by people outside of myself.
Q. What do you remember about the Eastern Michigan game, your first start here? What's the difference between you walking out of the tunnel that game and walking out of the tunnel this weekend?
CH: That feels like forever ago, but it really wasn't. It was awesome to be able to come out as a freshman and have a lot of guys around me make plays. It was a great experience. It's one of those things you really never forget. Your first college game at home, and then we were able to go out and win. So that always helps.
That's one of those things that doesn't change. Walking out of that tunnel is special every Saturday, and it's something that you look forward to, and it's something that is ingrained in your brain as you move forward. It's something that is really special to each and every one of these guys.
Q. What has been the most memorable game of your career?
CH: Obviously, the Michigan game my freshman year was a lot of fun. It was a game with so many ups and downs and so many balls bouncing different ways. That was always a lot of fun. I loved the Wisconsin game at home in 2012, as well. I think the Pinstripe Bowl was pretty fun, too.
Q. They both mentioned the quadruple overtime game versus Michigan, as well. Why is that everyone's most memorable game? What was so special about it to you guys?
CH: I think it was so draining and had so many ups and downs. We could have lost that game so many times, and we could have won that game that so many times. It's one of those things you look back at it, and how everything unfolded, it was insane. Next thing you look down, and it was like 5 1/2 hours [of playing football]. It was really draining physically and mentally.
Q. Coming out of right field on this one, and Brandon Bell was telling me you guys were in basketball class together this summer. The goal wasn't to be too competitive, but it didn't really work. What do you remember about that class?
CH: Yeah, we would go at it, and Coach Morris, who teaches the class, was loving every second of it. He made sure he kind of enticed it whenever he could. He pushed the right buttons. We went at it. It's just something that I wouldn't expect to end up any other way. If Brandon thought that was how it was going to be going in, then he had a different mindset than I did. I knew it was going to be pretty competitive.
Anthony Zettel | Sr. | DT
Q. You're one of six players that played in 2011 under Joe Paterno. I'm just kind of curious, how much of a factor was Joe Paterno and your commitment, and just what has your career been like going through five coaches in five years?
AZ: We came to Penn State because this was the most solidified program in the country. You knew what you were going to get when you came here. I didn't come here strictly because of Coach Paterno. It was a little bit of an extra. I knew he was [older] when I came here and [I did know if he] was going to be here my whole career.
At the same time, I came here for the guys in the locker room, the guys on the team, the guys that you go to battle with every day. So when the sanctions and stuff hit and everybody had a choice to leave, it really was a point where there's very few teams in the country that could have done what we did, and most of the guys stayed. That's just the kind of guys that are in that locker room, and that's basically why I chose Penn State.
It was everything I thought. I wouldn't change anything. I wouldn't change a thing just because it made our program stronger. The players, the coaches and everybody got a little tougher.
Q. James talked about the trust the team had to build with the coaching staff after so much disruption in the program. Do you have that trust now? What was that moment for you when things sort of clicked with this staff?
AZ: Any time a new staff comes in, they have to earn your trust. You have to earn their trust, too. As players, they can watch film and know the type of player we are, but they don't know the type of person we are. That trust factor is huge.
Now, I've trust that coach Shoop is going to call the right play, and I hope he trusts I'm going to run the right play and it is the same with my teammates. When coach Franklin first came in, we'd already had a couple of coaches. So there was a wall between some players and coaches that we had to get down. I think we did that over the last year and a half. I think he's done a great job.
Also, all of his assistant coaches have done a tremendous job at breaking that wall down and just being more down to earth with us and treating us like men. That helps keep that trust factor because when the game's on the line -- fourth quarter -- do you trust the person next to you? That's basically what it comes down to.
Q. Do you remember that moment when you thought you kind of knew the wall was down for good?
AZ: It wasn't a certain moment. It is about off-season workouts and the bonds you build over time. Those relationships are built over time. In a split second, they can get destroyed, but at the same time, coach Franklin has done a tremendous job of keeping everybody together and focused on the same mission.
Q. What would beating Michigan and finish undefeated at home do in helping to continue to grow the program?
AZ: It would mean everything. Coming from Michigan, there is a little bit of that competition factor, whether it be Michigan State or Michigan. They are both great teams, they're both in the Big Ten and that means [if we win] it's a Big Ten win.
I think just being a competitive person, I always want to go home with that win. Not for bragging rights, but just so that everybody knows that we beat them.
Also, [both Michigan and Penn State] are huge programs. So it is two big programs coming together and clashing and going to war, it's going to be a phenomenal game.
Q. Do you have much of a sense of the great defensive tackles who preceded you? Who are the ones you kind of looked up to here?
AZ: Coming in, I liked watching Jared Odrick and how he played. I feel like that's the kind of guy I could play like. Also, when I got here, watching Jordan Hill, Devon Still and DaQuan Jones, those guys are great tandems that are successful now in the NFL.
I think just consistently respecting what came before you and what will come after has made Austin Johnson and I into one of those great tandems that Penn State has had. I think we're up there with the best. I'm being biased, but I think we might be the best. I don't know about that.
Q. Anthony, what was your favorite moment with Joe Paterno, and also what has been the favorite moment to your career so far at Penn State?
AZ: Watching win No. 409 Illinois when they missed that field goal. That is my coach Paterno memory. That was the biggest game I remember. As a personal memory, I would say the interception for a touchdown versus Ohio State. It just changed the game. From a team perspective, when we went to Wisconsin -- no -- the four overtime win against Michigan. That was the best moment.
We've had a lot of great moments here, team wins that really change your life when you look back at it.
Q. What's maybe one or two things that we don't know or that we don't see about Christian [Hackenberg]? I know we've seen the videos of you guys golfing together and you ripping on him pretty hard, but what are some of the things we don't know about Christian?
AZ: He loves the outdoors. He loves hunting. He loves just chilling. He's a good person to talk to. He's a good listener. There's a lot of things, like those kinds of things you don't see. Those are like little things that people don't know about him. He's a really good dude.
Q. And have you gone hunting or fishing with him?
AZ: I haven't. I can't go on a deer hunting because I talk too much. I went when I was like nine years old, and they said they'd never take me again. So I never went again. I like fishing. We've fished a little bit at his grandpa's place. We'll probably go on some fishing trips later in our lives.
Q. Have you thought about how emotional it's going to be in that tunnel? Who do you think is going to be the most emotional?
AZ: From emotional perspective, I don't know. Everybody kind of handles it differently. I try to keep my emotions more on the inside. It's all within. Try not to cry too much even though I cry at some movies. King Kong is the saddest movie ever at the end.
I think there will be a lot [of emotion] -- just that it is our last game at Beaver Stadium. These fans, this community, Beaver Stadium, it's has been an unbelievably great experience. You can't take that from us. I'll remember this for the rest of my life -- walking out of the tunnel with my teammates. I will remember the the locker room times, all the relationships I have with these guys, coaches, and everyone. I'll just never forget them.
I think just the whole grand experience I've had at Penn State and now coming down to the last game is emotional. I know everybody on our team, even the younger guys, get emotional for a big game like this. You get the butterflies and stuff.
Q. With everything you've been through this year, how has Sean Spencer stepped in and stepped up for you?
AZ: He does a tremendous job rotating us, keeping us fresh. Coach Spencer and I are really close. He's kind of like my dad. I can just talk to him about anything and he will listen. We're really close as a coach/player and as a friend. When I'm playing for him, I know I can trust him. He's made the Wild Dogs a better overall group. There is more depth and we try to bring the energy to every game. That's kind of the mindset we have.