Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, July 25, 2012

Penn State seniors Michael Zordich and Michael Mauti led a group of about 25 players who met the media Wednesday to announce their commitment to the football team. Noticeably missing from the players was junior running back Silas Redd, the most sought after Nittany Lion. Southern Cal has shown interest in the star back, but his absence could have been the result of his role at Big Ten media days, starting Thursday morning. Penn State has since announced it will not send players to Chicago, after all.

Zordich and Mauti did all the talking, and here are some of their best quotes:

ZORDICH

"We want tell the nation now that we're proud of who we are. We're the true Penn Staters. We're going to stick together."

"We know it's not going to be easy, but we know what we're made of."

"As a team, we don't see this as a punishment. This is an opportunity. This is the greatest opportunity a Penn Stater could ever be given."

"We're going to embrace this opportunity and make some very special happen in 2012."

"We're going to do everything in our power to get this place back on track."

MAUTI

"We take this as an opportunity to create our own legacy."

"This program was not built by one man, and it sure as hell won't be torn down by one man."

"No sanction, no politician is ever going to take away what we've got here. None of that is ever going to tear us apart."

"We're going to fight for Penn State, we're going to fight for each other, because this is what Penn State is about: fighting through adversity."

Impressive stuff from both guys. The players didn't field any questions from the media, but it's hard not to be impressed with what Zordich and Mauti said and how they handled themselves. This is not how they envisioned their senior years going, however they aren't going to let anyone or anything ruin it. Instead, they're determined to finish up their careers and try to keep Nittany Nation proud of the football program.

Bill O'Brien, for one, must be very proud.

Written statement from team, courtesy of GoPSUSports.com:

"This team is sticking together. We aren?t going anywhere. And we could not be more proud to be Penn Staters now. We look at this as a great opportunity to have the ability to bring back not only a team but an entire university.

This team has taken on more adversity than any team has faced in history which is a testament to our commitment to our teams character, our fans, and our university.  One man didn?t build this program and one man sure as hell cannot tear it down. This program was built on the backs of the thousands of great men who put on the Penn State uniform. Today it is no different.

No sanction or politician can tear this team apart. No one can take away what this university means to us.  We will stick together and create our own legacy. Our loyalty lies only with our teammates, coaches, fans and families. No one else.

It?s not going to be easy but we know that we have acquired the strength that we have overcome and we will embrace our anger and burn it as fuel this season.

We can?t wait for September 1 and to be back in Beaver Stadium and playing for Penn State in front of the best fans in the nation.   We ask everyone to come out, show the support, wear your colors proudly and show that adversity makes the Penn State nation tougher and stronger.

Thank you."