CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: PITT VS MICHIGAN STATE

December 30, 2021

SirVocea Dennis

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Pitt Panthers

Press Conference

Michigan State 31, Pittsburgh 21

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by SirVocea Dennis. Questions, please.

Q. What can you say about being at this level, ACC championship, playing in this game? What does it say about where Pitt is, reflecting back of your time in central New York and your come-up to where you are today?

SIRVOCEA DENNIS: Well, for Pitt it's big, it's huge. Obviously we didn't like the outcome, but just being here is something that's, like I said, big for the program.

Like Johnny said earlier, we're here to stay. We're in a good place. We're ACC champions. That was just huge for the year.

But for me, being a small town kid, that's amazing. This is, to be honest, something that I never thought I'd be, a place I never thought I'd be.

Just being here and taking in the moment, enjoying it, it's amazing. I appreciate everyone around me, the program, the university, that helped me get here, that we climbed here together.

Q. When Michigan State is running all these plays in the fourth quarter, do you feel as a defense you're getting tired mentally or physically, or something you don't even notice?

SIRVOCEA DENNIS: Yeah, if you prepare well, whether that's game planning, knowing what they're going to run, condition-wise, you don't notice it.

Not a lot of guys noticed it tonight. We just kept our head down and tried to fight hard today.

Q. You had such a great season, especially with John and Phil. They knew it was their last ride. What was it like talking with them after this loss?

SIRVOCEA DENNIS: I love those guys, man. It breaks my heart that they have to leave. But whether we won or lost, it was going to be emotional with those guys because we formed a family. We've been around each other for so long, enjoying each other's times fought because we're brothers.

Basically bought into each other and showed love to each other. It was very emotional. It was a great talk. They're my brothers for life. I wish down the line someday we still talk, we still go out for drinks, look back on the things that we did together as a team and as a unit, just enjoy each other.

At the end of the day you create bonds, and those bonds, we hope they're forever.

Q. Your alma mater CBA won a state championship. What does that mean to you, and what can you say about Coach Casey Brown and Pat Narduzzi, these two coaches?

SIRVOCEA DENNIS: Yeah, first off, I want to say congratulations to CBA. That's something I've never done. That's something that hasn't been done at that school for a long time. I'm very happy for them.

Yeah, Coach Brown, amazing guy, amazing coach. He helped me a lot with the development not only as a player but as a man. That goes a long way. At the end of the day that's what these coaches are here to do.

Coach Narduzzi is doing the same thing. He's making sure that I reach my potential of being that man that I want to be, the best I can be.

Those guys, you know, they're unbelievable because being a coach, it's so many kids you have to be in their lives, try to make sure they reach that potential. They're just amazing guys and they do it so well.