Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544665
1 6 M A Y 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M They Said It "So much of this is about how we do things. If you said, 'What would your ultimate goal of spring practice be?' it's how do we prac- tice? What does it look like to show up every day with great consistency? We're asking a lot of our guys in this five-week block of spring practice. There's a growth process. Just showing up isn't good enough. How you study every day, how you prepare, how you take care of your body — all those things have really been our emphasis." — Penn State head football coach Matt Campbell on his goals this spring "You can't come play football here unless you're going to take pride in being a hammer, being physical and being a guy who's nasty." — Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, on the attitude he wants to see from his players "We emphasize three big things. The first is obnoxious communication. We feel like, no matter what sport you play, all good defenses talk. The second thing is shocking effort. … Effort is nonnegotiable. When we turn on the tape, we want to see 11 guys sprinting to the ball. And the last thing is to attack. The way we call the game, we're going to attack. That's our mentality. We want to attack the football, attack the ball carrier, attack the quarterback." — Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn on his overall coaching philosophy "Cousins mans the lighthouse for the new Nittany Lion offense under Matt Campbell. He is a beacon of hope, of loyalty, of conti- nuity, of tradition. And the bridge to a new era of Penn State football. … At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he has the frame to help carry the weight of the makeshift 2026 team on his shoulders and also the bulk to play the tough, physical, mammoth-sized football that Campbell and his offensive line coach, Ryan Clanton, expect for the PSU O-line in the seasons ahead." — Mike Poorman, StateCollege.com columnist, on junior offensive lineman Cooper Cousins "I made a decision when I was 18 years old to come here, and it was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made in my life. I made a lot of friends, I got to play on great football teams, I got to play for a great coach in Joe Paterno. When I'm broadcasting games and I'm talking about Penn State, I can't be bi- ased, but there's no doubt that I bleed blue and white." — Former PSU quarterback turned broadcaster Todd Blackledge on his relationship with his alma mater "Becht will set the culture and instantly stabilize the quarterback room. He brings the grit and toughness the Nittany Lions have lacked, combined with a strong grasp of the offense. His pre-snap command should allow him to quickly get the Nittany Lions' attack up to speed as Campbell installs his system. Becht's skills align perfectly, as he excels at making quick, accurate decisions, delivering the ball on time and managing the pocket while also providing a running threat. His experience and savvy should empower Penn State's talented supporting cast and elevate the offense." — ESPN.com writer Billy Tucker, citing red- shirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht as Penn State's most impactful newcomer in 2026 PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS "If you are focusing on your legacy, you are so far off from the right things. Legacy isn't your fame; it is your faith. People think they get to determine their own legacy. In a way, you are a culmina - tion of the choices you make, but it is a much bigger thing. Did I move in love and gratitude? What will people say about me at my funeral? "It is the same thing with this trophy. I am so very grateful for the wrestling world to think I am the person to receive it, but at the end of the day, this trophy, just like everything else, will collect dust and might have some arms snapped off of it. It is about what you gave." — Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, to WIN Magazine, after being named winner of the Hodge Trophy, which goes to the nation's best collegiate wrestler