Caleb Bacon | DE | R-Sr.
Q: Was there a moment where you were like, “Man, I don’t know what’s going on here. It’s a little crazy, chaotic, with the atmosphere?”
A: I think the first initial runout. And the “We Are Penn State" chants are super cool to me. Knowing the history of how that became a chant here, it’s super cool to hear that.
Q: What did today mean for you?
A: I think it really just all goes back to where I started in high school. And obviously, I always kind of held that chip on my shoulder, being a walk-on. I think if you ask anybody who ever started as a walk-on, they’ll say, “you’ve just got to want it a little more.”
Q: What does today’s performance do in terms of validating that transition [from linebacker to defensive end] for you, and maybe building off of it moving ahead?
A: I think you’ve got to use it a little bit, but at the same time, you flush it. It’s game one, we’ve got a game next week. You can’t let your highs get too high. You can’t let your lows get too low.
Koby Howard | WR | So.
Q: Did you go into camp feeling like you had something to prove? Everybody raved about the kind of camp you had, so what was your mindset at the beginning of camp and how well do you think you did in camp to set up this game?
A: I went in there knowing that I had stuff to prove. I was showing the coaches that I could be trusted, and I really don’t want to come off the field honestly. So, it was just showing the coaches that I could do that and showing them that they could throw me the ball in the game.
Q: Did you feel like going into today that you proved it? Maybe today was like a test that you were super prepared for?
A: I feel like today was just a test, but you know it really doesn’t stop here. I’ve just got to keep proving myself and keep showing the coaches that they can trust me so that when those big moments come, they’re ready to call my number.
Q: Campbell said you’re always the first guy in the facility. Can you talk a little bit about your work ethic?
A: That’s something that was ingrained in me growing up. I feel like I can’t go out there and perform if I’m not working hard. I’m not one of those guys that will just sleep through stuff and not work hard and then expect to go do it on game days because that’s not how it works.
Q: It looked like on your first touchdown; Rocco was kind of looking around and you stopped and sat in your route and saw him looking for somebody. Take us through that play.
A: I was looking to set a run for someone else. I think it was James, but he slipped, so Rocco held onto the ball and I saw him holding onto it. I knew the ball was supposed to be out earlier than that. So, then I knew it was time to go get open and you know, I ran to an open spot and he hit me.