It's time to talk about Penn State
MORE HEADLINES - Personnel notes from the game | Conner's latest return is to the end zone | Photos from Pitt's season-opening win | What did 2018 CB Michael Dowell think about Saturday's game? | Video: Narduzzi's post-game press conference | Video: Conner discusses his return to the field | Prospect report: Aliquippa vs. Beaver Falls
After years of anticipation, Penn State game week is finally here. What are the Pitt players are saying about the return of the in-state rivalry.
Mike Caprara
“It’s definitely something to look forward to and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
“I had a graduation party and my mom invited some friends she works with. I’ve never met them, but before they even introduced themselves, they said, ‘You better beat Penn State.’ That’s kind of how it is. That sums it up.”
Terrish Webb
“I’m very excited. It’s a big game. I was in a restaurant the other day and somebody walked up to us like, ‘You guys better be ready for the Penn State game.’ There’s a lot of anticipation for it.
“Being a PA guy, you always hear the saying ‘Who owns the state?’ For them to bring back that game is very good.”
Matt Galambos
“It’s all fun. It’s a nice in-state rivalry. It’s going to be a great game. The stadium’s going to be sold out. We can’t wait, it’s going to be fun.
“I’m from the east side, so there’s a lot of Penn State fans. And here, obviously all Pitt fans. I kind of get a little bit of both, but it’s definitely going to be really fun. Ton of excitement, ton of energy. It will be a good day.”
Shakir Soto
“I hear a lot about it especially back home. There’s a lot of Penn State fans back home. We’ve got to hear about it all the time. But I’m not one to worry and to sit down and argue about it of why we’re going to win. When that day comes, after the game, we’ll find out whoever has bragging rights, which we should have.”
Reggie Mitchell
“I’m excited. There’s so much anticipation. My high school coach texted me the other day: ‘You better beat Penn State. No excuses.’ There’s a lot of hype from the fans and everybody.”
Tyrique Jarrett
“I’m excited. Penn State has always been a team that I wanted to go against, especially since coming out of high school they were my first offer. So with me choosing Pitt, I want to play against those guys.
“They offered me in my junior year and Pitt offered me in the summer. But after Pitt gave me the offer, I was like, okay, I want to stay as close as possible to home because I’m a family guy. And Pitt had a lot of loyalty and stuck with me through thick and thin. I appreciate that.”
Quadree Henderson
“We are embracing it a lot. Coach Narduzzi preaches it a lot: that’s our rivalry, so we have to go out there and beat them next week.”
Zach Challingsworth
“We have it circled on our calendars. We want to be the best in the state…the Penn State game is going to be huge, it’s going to be great, especially as a WPIAL guy getting that rivalry back.”
Scott Orndoff
“We were all pretty fired up because, since we’ve started in camp, everyone’s been asking, ‘Oh, what about Penn State?’ Well, we couldn’t look over Villanova, but now it’s here. It’s real. It’s time to improve from [Saturday] and it’s time to go after them. We have them at our house. It should be a fun day.”
“I think everybody’s excited for the Penn State game. You’ve got an entire state, that that’s the game that everybody has circled on their calendars.”
Brian O’Neill
“I’m absolutely looking forward to the Penn State game. We’re all excited for the Penn State game, I think a lot of people in the Pittsburgh community are…People understand it’s a big game, but at the same time you can’t get over-hyped about one game. If we win one game this year and it’s that one our season’s a failure. That doesn’t make or break us. We’re focused on winning our conference and going from there.”