Why didn’t Penn State players tell reporters, ‘This is our state’? Cabinda: ‘We don’t need to say it’

Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda and running back Saquon Barkley are both well-aware of the trash-talk and tweets from Pitt fans and players alike last season.

Former Panthers running back James Conner went so far as to declare, minutes after Pitt’s win last year, that, “This is our state now.” But, moments after the Nittany Lions’ 33-14 victory Saturday, the media room was absent of any such words from PSU.

“Because,” Cabinda explained, “there’s no need to say it. That’s why.”

Barkley also recalled last season’s Pitt win — and said that Penn State’s already moved on from this year’s.

“You’re supposed to celebrate because you win, but I think they were just too excited (last year),” the Heisman candidate said. “It was Week 2, and they acted like they won the national championship, and they held onto that win the whole season. But that game’s in the past, this game is in the past. Move on, learn from it, and get better and get ready for Georgia State.”

Penn State coach James Franklin opened his postgame press conference by thanking fans, but then delved into the very thing his two star players addressed. He said every week is like a Super Bowl for Penn State, and Saturday was no different from any other game.

“Most important is we’re 1-0 this week, and we were able to get a win,” he said. “That’s what this was for our guys. I know last year for their win, it was like the Super Bowl. But, for us, it was just like beating Akron.”

This story was originally published September 9, 2017 at 8:55 PM with the headline "Why didn’t Penn State players tell reporters, ‘This is our state’? Cabinda: ‘We don’t need to say it’."