Penn State Football
Visiting Student-Athletes Postgame Press Conference
vs. Michigan – November 13, 2021
Cade McNamara | QB | Jr.
Q: Tell us take us through the touchdown pass and what happened.
A: They have shown some of the same tendencies throughout the season on really big downs and coach got to set a perfect call for it. We anticipated it, we got it and Eric made us right.
Q: How would you describe Hassan Haskins demeanor throughout the game? It was obviously another heavy workload for him.
A: Hassan is really one of the dudes that is the heart and soul of this team. His grittiness, his toughness is hard to compare to and his performance today was big for our offense and big for this team.
Q: What was your mindset before that last drive? Things had turned around so quickly on you guys, but it looked like it was business as usual.
A: Especially the first half, we knew that we were kind of soft on ourselves. The second half, we were so confident with what we were seeing. It was just kind of a weird scheme of events, it led to a bit of a stall on us but, we knew that after defense stepped up for us so many times the second half, you just have to answer. We have to have their back and I'm glad we were able to.
Q: When Eric limped off against Michigan State, he tried to get back last week and was in uniform but didn't play. Can you sort of describe what it's been like to see him work through that, and for a guy that has a foot or ankle injury, he was to be able to still have the speed he did to reach the end zone.
A: Absolutely. I think that just goes to show the type of dudes that are on this team. I know there are other dudes that are beat up, not just here, but other guys. It just shows how much these dudes care about each other. It upsets them when they're not able to be out there with their brothers. Eric made a huge play for us, and I'm sure he wasn't thinking about that ankle, he was thinking about the team.
Q: You just mentioned this team being different. I'm sure you're aware of that history, that "here we go again," feeling that might come up in a situation like that. How do you block that out in the moment when you're in a game like this?
A: I think we realized that in the offseason as Aiden, Josh, some of the leaders on the team. We've understood that that's been the case for a long time, and we knew that we were going to figure out whether this team is different and all the work that we've been putting in to change this team is going to show when we're facing moments like this. I think we have proven again that we are different.
Q: You've been in a tough spot all year with people scrutinizing you. When you had the sack fumble and you bounce back from that, what were you thinking in that interim between the sack fumble and when you got back out there?
A: I've made it pretty clear that what is said about me doesn't matter. In my mind, the only thing I care about is making sure this team wins. Regarding the fumble, sometimes it happens. I know I need to avoid the rush better. How we deal with adversity is what defines you.
Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Sr.
Q: Did you guys think you would be able to get as much pressure on Sean Clifford?
A: Yeah, I think so. This is one of those games that we knew to hold the ball, that the opportunities would be there we just had to take advantage of them.
Q: The first possession in the game on defense, you guys had three sacks. Did you get the sense that when an offensive line gives up three plays like that in the first drive and the quarterback goes down three times, does that play into their minds at all for the rest of the game?
A: It was definitely more in the quarterback's mind. He knew we were coming with pressure all day. That's it at the start so I'm really impressed with our guys.
Q: You were up, and then in a flash you were down, and like you said, everything was going against you. What turned it? What brought you together there?
A: I think that just goes to show how this team reacts to adversity, and I had kind of suspected going into this season that we were going to be able to respond to this kind of adversity. We went out there in a tough ball game, a very very tough atmosphere, and we went out there and fought the adversity.
Q: I know that sometimes it's felt like Michigan doesn't necessarily have the players to make big plays at the end of games. Do you think that you showed in this game that it's different and that you guys can be those playmakers when those moments come?
A: I never knew that conception was a thing. I didn't know that people were thinking we didn't have the playmakers. I think we got the most talent in the Big Ten so I think guys have really stepped up this game to make the plays.
Q: Aidan, you said a little while ago that you suspected that this team was different before the season started. Why did you feel that way?
A: Right, we talked about the energy in spring ball. We talked about the energy regarding the workouts and everything, but that doesn't necessarily equate to success or how you respond to adversity or anything like that. It was something that was so good to see, and something that I hadn't seen, since I've been here. I think that's just a testament to how we became more player led, and we really rely on each other when times get hard.
Q: You guys have spoken this season about Ohio State and wanting to attain that goal. How do you avoid, and that's two games away, how do you avoid looking ahead?
A: Yeah, it's going to be tough for sure. That game is going to be so big, and I know when it comes, we'll be ready.
Q: You get a nasty, windy, kind of raw day – does that make a defensive player smile like it's our day?
A: Yeah, we knew this team was going to rely on passing, and we saw it was supposed to rain so I got a little happy. It was a little windy and nasty, and it makes it hard to throw so I got a little excited.