Charlie Shuman | Offensive Line | 5th/Sr.
Q. I know you're excited about THON, so why don't you tell us why everyone else should be excited about it and what you're most proud of your responsibilities with it.
CS: I think Coach [James] Franklin already spoke on the fact that we're going to wear the THON stickers on the back of our helmets this weekend. The executive director of THON came to me a couple years ago with that idea, and it's been a three-year process to finally get it approved and to have that come out my fifth and last year here is really exciting.
At the end of the day, we're going to play a football game on Saturday but it's exciting to have all the THON families and to have THON on a national stage while we play Wisconsin this weekend.
Q. Coach Franklin just told us, didn't feel like the offensive line was up to par against Michigan. We saw what happened in the trenches, what is the attitude of that group right now and especially when you have another formidable opponent in Wisconsin coming up?
CS: Wisconsin is a great opponent and they are known for their defensive line. In our room we're always excited to face another challenge and learn from the mistakes we made last week and going forward we know we can get better and this week is a great opportunity to prove who we are, and last week wasn't who we are.
Q. Do you plan to dance again at THON this year and what do you guys do for 46 hours? Obviously, you don't spend all of that time dancing.
CS: So dancing, that's still up in the air. I might; I might not.
The 46 hours, we're kind of playing with the THON families. They have activities going the whole time, live entertainment. I don't know you just kind of keep yourself busy and keep your mind off the fact that you've been awake for 50 hours and standing for 40 of that and you remember why you're dancing and why you're doing this, for THON families and what THON raises money for.
Q. You've seen this team suffer some tough losses by wide margins earlier in your career but some of the younger players on this roster have not experienced that. How important is it for this practice week to get off to a strong start?
CS: I think it's definitely just important that we come out today, and I know we will go out today with the attitude that it's the next game up. Wisconsin is the biggest game on our schedule and that's who we're playing this week, and we have a lot of motivation to go back out on the national stage and prove the Penn State that we are and can be.
Q. You've gone against Yetur [Gross-Matos] in practice. How have those gone?
CS: Oh, yeah. He practices hard and I think that's how it shows up on the field. He's always practicing as hard as he can and I know a lot of guys do that and it's paying dividends for him and it's great to see that.
Q. How difficult is it to deal with a guy that has the length that [Yetur Gross-Matos] has?
CS: It's hard. I have the benefit of having my own length so that helps me but it's really hard because he -- I don't know if you've ever seen his ankles. They look like most people's mid-calf or thigh. He's just a big dude. He's strong and powerful. He's quick. He has a huge repertoire that he can go to, if he gets beat on his first move, he has move, two, three and four that can beat you just as well.
Q. Is it crazy to think that [Yetur Gross-Matos] is just a sophomore and you're seeing all of this out of him now, and he has a year or two left here?
CS: Yeah, it's awesome to see for him because he's worked hard since the day he got here, and going forward, he has so much growth that he can do if he keeps working as hard as I know he will.
Q. Early in the season, the rotation at right tackle and more the same recently. How are Will [Fries] and Chasz [Wright] managing that, the unknowns of if they are going to play, and how are they cheering and supporting each other -- solitary snaps as a starter?
CS: Coach [Matt] Limegrover always has a plan of how they are going to rotate and both those guys know that they want to win and that's their main focus. They go as hard as they can all week in practice to prepare like they are going to be the starter, and whoever is on the field, that's how we're going to win a game is them playing the best.
So we are all cheering on each other no matter who is playing and who is starting. It's all about who is going to give us the best opportunity to win the game.
Q. A lot of times we've heard about Trace McSorley being the guy who steps up in the locker room or steps up in a team meeting, trying to get people fired up and encouraging. Coming off a couple rough performances, is that something where the team needs to get him pumped up or is he still the same guy? Has that dynamic changed at all?
CS: No. Nothing changes with Trace [McSorley] since the day we came in as freshmen together. He's been the same guy every week. He knows we have a big test this weekend and he's going to be up for the challenge and he's going to get the guys ready, as well.
Q. Coach Franklin said he wanted to make it a point to talk to you about the election and everything going on like he always does. Have you voted and what were the conversations like? How did they educate you guys on that?
CS: I think it's important we all take the time to vote. It's our civic duty and we're very busy, so it's kind of hard to follow with everything, but we have all done our research, and going out to the polls, it's our opportunity to make a change and vote for change.
Q. Did someone talk to you guys about, here is X candidate or just where you can find research?
CS: Just doing your own due diligence and who is going to support your views and how you want to see America going forward.
Q. Were there any guys who were like super politically active on the team?
CS: I think there's a few guys that are stronger in voicing their opinions, but I think we all have our own strong opinions that come from the different backgrounds that we've gone from and I think that plays a huge role in who we are as a football team is everyone's backgrounds.
Q. You mentioned the process of getting the stickers on the helmets. Why did it take so long? I don't want to put you in a spot, but if you can tell me nicely, how did that process unfold? How many departments did you have to go through?
CS: It started a few years ago. It was just an idea and we kind of weren't as organized in the beginning, and it's tough, as THON has a new executive committee and a new executive director every year and the turnover isn't always the quickest transition.
So kind of dealing with that, and then this year, we had a great transition from Andrew Smith to Kelly [McCready] and we fostered that relationship. I met up with both of them in the spring, and P.J. Mullen; and that led to the summer, I met with some of the people upstairs in the football building and we got a letter together and sent it over to [Deputy Athletic Director] Phil [Esten] and [Athletic Director] Sandy [Barbour]. They were extremely supportive knowing it was coming from a student athlete and how much Penn State's involved with THON and how much THON means to us. They were very supportive right off the bat for it.
Q. What's daily life like for Nana Asiedu? What role does he have behind the scenes? Has he gotten into a routine and knows what to expect day-to-day in the program?
CS: Yeah, he's always in the locker room and meetings and out in practice. The first two weeks of camp we were calling him Coach Nana. He's kind of helped Coach [Matt] Limegrover with the rotation seeing when he can -- help with the new young guys come in and seeing any tendencies he can pick up on other guys watching film to help us out for game day.
Q. What has surprised you most about the way [Nana Asiedu has] responded to this life obstacle?
CS: He's had a great attitude the whole time. He's been positive since he came in, knowing the situation is exactly what he expected when he committed to come here. I think coming into this program and how supportive we've all been, I think he feels that and he still feels like he's a part of the team and that's carried him to find new ways to get involved.
Q. Another freshman, Jayson Oweh, behind the scenes, the two sacks -- came in as an athletic freak and everyone knew that. How has he progressed as a football player since preseason camp?
CS: He's doing very well. I think it really comes down to all these freshmen have come in and seen the work ethic that we strive to meet up to, and the guys ahead of them, even the redshirt freshman, and those guys, are kind of examples of them. Like the fifth-years are way older, so it's kind of hard sometimes to build that connection because I'm 23 and I think he's 18. So that connection isn't always there, but the younger classes have taken him under their wing, too, and he's developed and I think he'll be a good player.
Q. You've had a lot of dealings with the media, whether through football or the charitable stuff. Have you ever seen a camera person as tall as you?
CS: No. No one's come close.
Q. Except that one? (points to former Penn State offensive lineman Paris Palmer)
CS: Oh, yeah, Paris [Palmer] is the closest.
Q. On a more serious note, can you take us through when you got the scholarship and kind of what that meant to you and your family?
CS: Yeah, so the team -- I started off with the team meeting when Coach [James] Franklin said the Colóns were coming to practice and I was like, okay, surprised he didn't say anything. But I was excited to see them. I had not seen them in a while. We went through the normal routines of meetings and practice, and I saw them, I was waving to them during practice.
At the end. Coach Franklin called me up and that's when he announced I was going to be on scholarship. My parents didn't even know. They just came down because the Colóns were coming down. They kept texting, "We're on our way to State College." I was like, guys, you don't have to.
It means a lot. It felt good for the team to get as excited as they did for me, and Coach Franklin, it just makes the last five years totally worth it. Not that the scholarship made it worth it but all the experiences I've had.
Q. You obviously could have played more at a smaller program. It sounds as if you're very comfortable with the decision you've made. Can you tell us about that a little bit?
CS: Yeah, absolutely. I had a scholarship offer elsewhere, and I ultimately made the decision to come here and it wasn't anything that that program had done, but Penn State was my dream school and it's lived up to its expectations. Not only the football program but all the experiences I've had on campus with THON, the organizations I've been involved with and being the president of SAAB (Student-Athlete Advisory Board) it's made everything worth it.
Q. How much did THON play into your decision to come to Penn State and was that something that was always on your mind when you got here or is that something that grew when you got to Penn State and got to learn more about it?
CS: I actually found out about THON in more detail after I committed. Just coming to Penn State as a football player and being a fan of Penn State Football my whole life, I couldn't pass that opportunity up. Once I found out about THON, it was something I knew right away wanted to be involved with when I got on campus, and SAAB was that avenue and I've grown with both SAAB and THON getting involved.
Q. How have you seen just the rest of your teammates embrace the whole getting involved in THON?
CS: It puts everything that we get to do in perspective. We get to play a game every day and work throughout the year to play 12 games, when really throughout the year -- we have it easy and no matter how hard our workouts can get, we're blessed with the opportunity to play football and play a game where some of those kids don't get that opportunity. It's all about perspective. I think THON gives back to us just as much as we give to it.
Q. You've been a part of this program, every football game that James Franklin has coached. From two 7-win seasons, to now college football season championships. What's the most remarkable part of this five-year transition you've witnessed and in your opinion, what are some things that in general, this locker room has kind of embraced and evolved in its own way among the players?
CS: I think the biggest thing that's evolved in the locker room, and not to dwell on the past, but when I first got here, we were a young team and we kind of thought about memorizing the core values and the biggest transition I've seen is instead of memorizing, we truly embrace them and live them every day.
That was the biggest transition that goes straight on to the field and even people that left the program, it makes them successful in life, whether it's football or a job. I think that's been the biggest transition. We'll implement that this weekend again for Wisconsin and focus on that game.
Garrett Taylor | Safety | Sr./Jr.
Q. Yesterday, what was the bounce-back like for these guys? When we saw you in the locker room on Saturday, a lot of guys said it was quiet and conversations needed to be had. How did yesterday go as a group?
GT: I think it went well. I think we stuck to our process. We looked at the film. Saw what we did well on defense. We saw a lot of things that we needed to improve on. So we took it upon ourselves to make sure we went out there in the jog-through, made the corrections we needed to make and moved on and started getting ready for Wisconsin.
Q. They say in hockey, the guys that work hard, the puck comes to them. Do you feel like the turnovers you've had have been a product of being in the right place at the right time or is it a product of putting in the film work and putting in the work off the field and on the field?
GT: I think it's a little mix of both. Obviously I pride myself on my work ethic and how I prepare for each game. So I think it's part of that but also Coach [Brent] Pry tells us on defense, good things happen when you pursue the ball. I try to do that on each and every play, finish around the pile and the ball just happened to bounce my way a couple times. I think I took advantage of that. So I think it's a combination of both.
Q. Several of the major objectives you guys had coming into the season, like a Big Ten Championship, and getting into the playoff field, are unattainable now. Is motivating yourselves an issue the rest of the way and what do you use to motivate yourself?
GT: I don't think that's been an issue at all. I think we still have a lot ahead of us. I think we have a lot to play for. You know, Coach Banks talks to us about making sure we're playing for ourselves, playing for the guys in the room and playing for the guys on the team.
We owe it to ourselves to go out and play hard these next couple games. I think in the locker room, we've done a good job of not looking back but looking forward and sticking to Coach Franklin's mantra of trying to go 1-0 each week.
That's going to be our motivation going into this Saturday, just making sure we take care of what we need to take care of to go 1-0.
Q. What's the key to stopping Jonathan Taylor?
GT: Obviously they are a talented team up front and he's a very talented back. But you know, I've been saying for a long time, I think we're really talented as a defense. I think you've got to look at guys like Shareef [Miller], Yetur [Gross-Matos], Kevin [Givens], our front seven are playing really well right now.
I think it's going to start up front and I think our guys are going to do a great job of giving Wisconsin hard looks and getting knocked back off the ball and I think we're going to come out with the right intentions on defense. I think everything after that will take care of itself.
Q. You were in the same recruiting class as Tommy Stevens. What was he like back then? How have you seen him grow to the point where he is now?
GT: I think he still has that personality of, you know, very humble guy, a guy who is willing to work hard, and you know, Tommy [Stevens] has a great personality, always a great spot in our locker room. He still has that. You know, over the years, I've seen him grow and really trust the process and really try to take notes from Trace [McSorley] on becoming a good -- not even a good quarterback; a great quarterback.
So he's always watching extra film. Always getting extra reps after practice and stuff like that. You know, he's taken the approach of that next-man-up mentality, so he's always prepared for whenever his number is going to be called, and he's been super selfless throughout this whole process.
Q. You're a guy who had to wait your time a bit. How rewarding do you think it's going to be for [Tommy Stevens] when it is finally his time?
GT: I think it's going to be big for him. You know, obviously it's huge. You go through a lot, waiting your turn, working hard and sometimes it's hard because the future that you want might not be there in front of you. I think right now, Tommy is doing a great job embracing his role on the team right now, and I don't think he's super worried on what's to come yet. I think he's still focused on what's ahead this season.
I think when his time does come, I think he'll be ready and I think he's going to do a great job.
Q. We hear a lot about Trace [McSorley] stepping up to support his teammates after games and tough moments. A little stretch here where he's been banged up and a lot of noise about the performance of the offense starting with him. Do you have to then in turn make sure he's getting that support that he typically gives out?
GT: I think that's part of it.
Obviously Trace [McSorley] is one of the leaders of our team and he's been that for a couple years now, and he always does a great job of keeping everyone's spirits up in the locker room and making sure we're staying focused and on task.
I think Trace does know that he has the full support of his team like we all make sure that he knows that we've got his back and we believe in him and there's never been, you know, a moment of doubt from the players and coaching staff. We've all got his back and he's tough as hell and he's battled through a lot for this team, so we are going to put it all on the line for him.
Q. Coach Franklin mentioned after the game Saturday, that he wanted to find a way to kind of limit the reps a little bit it sounded like to get the defense fresh because of all the snaps you've taken in recent weeks, over the course of practice, trying to manage that. Do you think that's necessary for your group and do you anticipate it being the case?
GT: Speaking from my point of view as a player, like I really don't know. We listen to what the coaches have and we believe that whatever they tell us, it's in our best interests. So I mean, if that's what they think is best for us, we're going to embrace it and try to take advantage of it.
I mean, obviously we've been out there a lot on defense but that's not any fault of the coaches or anything. So whatever they feel, that we need to do to get our bodies right for this Saturday, I think is the right call.
Q. For young defensive players, to be on the football field in the fourth quarter in a tough road environment and the score is out of hand and it's painful, how can they use that as something positive moving forward in their Penn State situation? They have not been in that situation since they got to campus.
GT: I think we do a good job, leaders on the defense, trying to make sure they stay focused, try to tune out the noise and negativity and make sure they are going out there every snap and trying to execute their job and do it to the best of their ability.
I think guys like Micah [Parsons], [Jonathan] Sutherland, Lamont [Wade], those guys, they have done a really good job embracing that. I know it's tough. They might not have necessarily been put in that situation on a game day but we have stuff like winter workouts, our summer workouts, that are meant to push us mentally and physically to simulate that, and those guys have done a great job during that process and I think it's prepared them for this season. So I think they are doing a great job this season.
Q. How would you describe the opportunity that awaits this Penn State team, not just Saturday but the rest of the season? How would you describe this opportunity?
GT: I think it's a great opportunity to show how resilient we are as a team. I know right now we're going through what some might call a little bit of adversity.
But this team, we have a lot of fight in us and we have a lot of strong-willed guys. We're not going to go out. We're going to go out every week and prepare how we need to prepare and we're going to work hard and we're going to come out and put together a full four quarters each and every Saturday from here on out.
So I think it's a great opportunity for this team to step up and show everyone what we're made of.
Q. Not just this year, but in the few years that you've been here, what has Nick Scott meant to you?
GT: Nick [Scott], he's kind of like an older brother to me. You know, we weren't always at the same position, but you know, he's always a guy in workouts, in the weight room, kind of a guy I would like try to compete against and he embraced that.
It was kind of lighthearted. We've been close since I got here and now especially since we're across from each other at the starting safety spot, our bond has got even closer. He's kind of taken me under his wing in terms of film study, making sure I have all the confidence I need when I go out there.
We room together at the hotel on trips and stuff, so that's a lot of fun, but you know, Nick is a guy who sacrificed a lot and has done a lot for this team, and to have someone like that be kind of like a mentor for me is huge.
Q. Obviously you have a handful of games left, but how weird is it going to be not having him alongside you next year, not rooming with you next year, all that kind of stuff?
GT: Yeah, it will be different. You try not to look ahead to that sort of stuff. You really want to try to stay focused on Wisconsin and this upcoming week, but I mean, obviously losing guys on the team is never fun. Especially one of your close friends that you're close with, so it's definitely going to be a little weird.
Q. What have you seen or what has led you to believe that you're not going to give up? Who is leading the charge to make sure this thing doesn't go haywire down the stretch?
GT: I think it's kind of hard for me to point to one specific person. I think we have that attitude throughout our entire program. You know, it starts from the top down with Coach [James] Franklin coming in and giving us that message, and then it trickles down to our position coach, Coach [Tim] Banks, we had a talk in our meeting room and it was like, look, we still have room to improve and we have a lot to prove to ourselves and everyone else and then guys like Nick [Scott], Trace [McSorley], Amani [Oruwariye], guys making sure we're not losing focus as a team or as a defense.
I think it's a lot of different people throughout the program, but I think we've all embraced it and we're all taking on that attitude.
Q. How has Lamont Wade been this year? Obviously you were patient when you got here, and he's had to have some patience, too, it would seem. How has Lamont been in meetings and those kind of things?
GT: He's been great. He's always engaged and he's always asking questions. He's embracing his role and what it is right now and obviously, you know, guys aren't happy with their roles -- you're allowed to want more and you're allowed to desire more -- but he hasn't let that affect the way he plays. He's part of special teams, kind of our core special teams guys, so he's been out there making plays on special teams and embracing his role.
I'm super proud of him. He's going to work his butt off to keep trying to increase his role on defense, but he hasn't let that affect him at all.
Q. Because there's an election today, who are maybe some of the most politically active guys in the locker room? Are there people that maybe are more active than others with that? And in a room with that many kids, how do you guys try and not let somebody's views maybe that are different than yours get in the way?
GT: You know, I think everyone speaks their mind. I think you've got guys like Sterling [Jenkins] is a guy I know who is very vocal on social media and stuff on his political opinions. Same with Lamont [Wade].
But I think Coach [James] Franklin does a good job of letting us have the freedom to voice our opinions, but he makes sure that we're not doing it in a disrespectful way or saying something that might affect someone else.
I think in our locker room, we do a great job of everyone's allowed to speak their mind and you have some debates in the locker room sometimes about random stuff, but I don't think it gets in the way of anything at all.
Q. How many teammates do you think voted today? Any idea?
GT: I don't know. I'd say a decent amount of guys probably. It's hard when you have class and practice and you've got to watch film after. I mean, I think if anyone has the free time to do it, I think they will, but I couldn't really give you a number.
