I don't think it really belongs in a story, as it wasn't on the record nor was it intended to be, but I just wanted to pass along a quick interaction I had with Jason Cabinda on the way out of the stadium at Tuesday's press conference that I think you guys might find useful.
First of all, he was really well-spoken and focused during his little press conference with the media following James Franklin. He got up there and tackled all of the questions asked of him - some challenging obviously given the nature of a 39-38 loss at Ohio State on Saturday - and was forthcoming throughout.
He talked about having a players-only meeting, prompted by Trace McSorley, Saquon Barkley and him, and how they all tried to get off anything that was weighing on them following the loss. Said Cabinda, "We just felt like there were some of the just things we had to kind of get off our chest. Making sure the mentality of the team was the same, we were still taking the same approach. Knowing there's a ton still left for -- a ton of football left, a lot still left to be accomplished. Kind of just reiterating those things really."
So, afterward, he came out of the locker room to head to his car and get back to the business at hand while I was also leaving the stadium and we just chatted for a couple of minutes. I asked if they were hanging in there - you know, like someone had died - and he appreciated the gesture, but was pretty relaxed in reiterating just how well they've responded as a team. It was something I noted after the game and passed along, just how well so many of the veterans appeared to be handling a result that wasn't to their liking, but Cabinda just reinforced the notion.
I said something to the effect of it not being the end of the world and he agreed, smiled and pointed over at his car.
It had some kind of goop all over it.
"Lotion," he said. "My teammates pranked me."
Point being, I guess I would just note that regardless of the mettle of the team or all of the other variables that this group has proven over and over again, there's also something to be said about these guys just being kids and, by extension, are by design a pretty resilient demographic. For as much as we put on this game and its outcomes, and certainly the coaching staff isn't immune to those pressures or its gravity, I think sometimes it gets lost that 1) yeah, they're bummed about losing but 2) they're not inconsolable about it.
And, in fact, are living, breathing, and still having fun... at the expense of Cabinda's car.
First of all, he was really well-spoken and focused during his little press conference with the media following James Franklin. He got up there and tackled all of the questions asked of him - some challenging obviously given the nature of a 39-38 loss at Ohio State on Saturday - and was forthcoming throughout.
He talked about having a players-only meeting, prompted by Trace McSorley, Saquon Barkley and him, and how they all tried to get off anything that was weighing on them following the loss. Said Cabinda, "We just felt like there were some of the just things we had to kind of get off our chest. Making sure the mentality of the team was the same, we were still taking the same approach. Knowing there's a ton still left for -- a ton of football left, a lot still left to be accomplished. Kind of just reiterating those things really."
So, afterward, he came out of the locker room to head to his car and get back to the business at hand while I was also leaving the stadium and we just chatted for a couple of minutes. I asked if they were hanging in there - you know, like someone had died - and he appreciated the gesture, but was pretty relaxed in reiterating just how well they've responded as a team. It was something I noted after the game and passed along, just how well so many of the veterans appeared to be handling a result that wasn't to their liking, but Cabinda just reinforced the notion.
I said something to the effect of it not being the end of the world and he agreed, smiled and pointed over at his car.
It had some kind of goop all over it.
"Lotion," he said. "My teammates pranked me."
Point being, I guess I would just note that regardless of the mettle of the team or all of the other variables that this group has proven over and over again, there's also something to be said about these guys just being kids and, by extension, are by design a pretty resilient demographic. For as much as we put on this game and its outcomes, and certainly the coaching staff isn't immune to those pressures or its gravity, I think sometimes it gets lost that 1) yeah, they're bummed about losing but 2) they're not inconsolable about it.
And, in fact, are living, breathing, and still having fun... at the expense of Cabinda's car.
