Ethan Grunkemeyer | QB | Redshirt Freshman
Opening Statement
A: Before we start, I just want to talk a little bit about our team. I mean, we just played the number two team in the country. They’ve got a top five offense, top five defense, and a Heisman contender at Quarterback. So, the questions about our buy-in as a team, I think right there just goes to show the commitment our team has. I’m super proud of those guys in that locker room, and there isn't anybody else I would want to go to battle with.
Q: Why did you want to come out and say that [opening statement] first? Just to let us know how you feel or what was the idea behind that”
A: People talking about, you know, “Have they given up?” And I think that goes to show there is no quit with this team.
Q: Terry (Smith) has been very adamant about throwing the ball down the field, how comfortable were you with that today?
A: I felt super comfortable. I think just seeing the windows, you know, felt good. Game one, maybe they felt tight. Game two, loosen up a little bit, and game three, you get to see it better.
Dani Dennis-Sutton | DE | Senior
Q: A very different home environment than the last game against Northwestern today. Can you talk about the support, the energy the crowd gave you in today's matchup?
A: I think we had a great crowd. I don't know the attendance numbers but had a great feel out there. Gave us energy. I think they even got us a false start, I believe. I think they had a great performance, the crowd did.
Q: Dani, you said you spoke to the team, and you kind of tipped your cap to the offense. What did you see from your quarterback in Ethan Grunkemeyer today? It seemed like his best game in a lot of different ways today.
A: I've said this before. I believe in Grunk. I believed in him before this stuff even happened, before he was the starting quarterback. Before every game I just tell him, “Go out there, bro. Defense got your back.” Obviously, I wasn't watching too much as I was sort of trying to be locked in on what I'm doing. But from what I saw, he had a pretty good game. I'm proud of him, and I think he has a bright future.
Q: Terry (Smith) just talked about the senior leaders on this team. Guys like you, Zane (Durant), Nick Singleton, and the way that you guys haven't given up and you continue to set the tone. What have you learned about yourself in this stretch because I know this is not the season you came back for?
A: It's life. You're going to have adversity at times. Things aren't going to go the way you want to go. Coach Terry has done a great job of just emphasizing that we're not quitting. You can't quit. You can't quit in life. And if you quit now, you're going to be a quitter forever. We're just trying to roll with that. We're trying to enjoy our last couple weeks here. Nobody knows what Penn State is going to be next year or what's going to happen, so we just try and enjoy our brotherhood, love each other and just go out there and play hard.