Penn State Football
Visiting Student-Athlete Postgame Press Conference
vs. Illinois – October 23, 2021
Tarique Barnes | LB | So.
Q: What are the emotions like on the field, in the locker room after this game?
A: I'm proud of this team, proud of the work we put in and proud of the results. There is not much more I can say, this is well warranted, waited on or expected all of that. We went out here and did what we had to do to come away with the win. There is nothing better than to say you did that in somebody else's home, especially against a top 10 opponent. We're very proud to walk away and say we came away with a win.
Q: The last few weeks there has been a couple drives that other teams have won on late touchdowns. What kind of growth have you guys had to not let that happen this time?
A: Just acknowledging that is something that we need to fix, we need to finish. All four quarters in this case, someone else's house we just went to, but knowing that we need to finish in the end. That's a big part of the result of today finishing.
Casey Washington | WR| So.
Q: Take us through the touchdown catch.
A: It's just crazy. The whole game, crazy emotions a lot of ups and downs. There were moments where I felt like I let my team down. My coaches trusted me, they called great calls and they put the team in that position. O-line was blocking their ass off, quarterback was doing great.
Q: What was going through your mind when you realized you caught the ball and won the game?
A: Honestly, I've never been in a position like that, the first thing that came to me I actually cried. It just felt good, my team, they stood behind me no matter what and we did it.
Owen Carney Jr. |OLB| Sr.
Q: Defensively for you guys you have been in positions where you've either had a lead or a tie game late in the fourth and they ended up earlier this season getting points. To not have that today what's it say about where you guys have come from.
A: We talked about that exact moment in the locker room right before the game how we always play three and a half, but not a full four quarters. Today, we gave all we had. We played a good nine and we played a complete football game, and it was amazing. We stayed on each other about that throughout the whole game, we got three quarters stuff we got to two quarters left, we got to finish, we have got to play. We have to claw our way out of it, and that's what we did. We had our teammates backs and we got our offense back.
Q: You had a big decision after the season to come back for an additional year, is this one of those things that makes it worth it?
A: Makes it worth the while. I would have never thought I would have been part of the longest FBS game in history. I'm just happy for this moment and I want to embrace it. The 24-hour rule, we launch our next game after tonight.
Alex Palczewski |OL| Sr.
Q: What's this win mean and why?
A: I mean so much, especially during this season, it's means that that we've been doing the right thing. And proven by the results that we've been doing the right thing and keep on putting in the work. It just means so much, but I am so proud of this team, how much we have come together and how much we just kept on working, no matter what is happening. Everyone has a role to play, and you have to be ready to play every single week.
Q: Walk me through the jumbo Package, B package, what's it called?
A: Beef! if you see on the offensive line we got there, it seems like it just keeps on going. I absolutely love that play and seeing an extra two offensive linemen come on.
Keith Randolph Jr. |DL| R- Fr.
Q: What are you going to remember the most about a nine-overtime game win against a top 10 team on the road?
A: I don't know, that's a loaded question. There's just so many, so many ups and downs during this game. Probably remember when we all stormed the field, and just quiet in the stadium, that is something I tell my kids. We always try to keep each other going and have a great attitude towards the game. I felt the energy on the sideline. We don't win games like this, but we want to win games like this.
Q: Coach Walters talks to you guys about three and a half quarters and to get that four. Just after games like Purdue and Maryland to come out and do that. How much do you guys lean into those words and kind of embrace the last couple of weeks this season?
A: The past few games we played really good the first half, a really good three quarters. Coach says put it all together, let's go out let's play a four-quarter game, and we ended up playing a twelve-quarter game, so good words by him.