From the Locker Room
10/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 13, 2001
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
Michigan State Head Coach Bobby Williams
"One thing I can say is we never make it easy. We always find a way to make it an interesting ball game. I give our guys a lot of credit. They really fought hard. I give Iowa a lot of credit because they fought back and made it a tough game for us. Our guys are making a lot of progress. We made some moves, a lot of guys playing a lot of new positions especially on defense. It was a great victory for us. It was a tough win but it was one that we really need to have."
On Josh Shaw... "Josh Shaw - two interceptions. He was one of the guys that came to my office to ask about playing defensive back. I kicked him out. He had a tremendous game. Josh has been doing pretty well all season long. He's a great practice player. He practices the same way. There's no question that he's going to perform."
On Herb Haygood... "He's having a fantastic season. He had a big day today. (Herb) received the ball and had a huge return. But you look at that return for a touchdown, you have 10 guys doing their job, making their blocks and Herb finishing the run. It was just a great executed return reminiscent of what we had two weeks ago."
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
"Obviously, another tough loss for our football team to go through. Give credit to Michigan State. They did a good job and did the plays necessary."
"It's just disappointing. I think our effort level was good but, obviously, we made a few too many mistakes for us to overcome. Special teams. Penalties on special teams. We didn't start out intensively, like we have been playing. We didn't play like Iowa has been playing."
MSU Player Quotes
MSU DT Josh Shaw
On his two interceptions: "We were running a blitz and we knew they like to run a lot of screens so the tackles were dropping back into coverage and it just so happened that I was in the right place and made the play. It was just being in the right place at the right time."
MSU LB Josh Thornhill:
"I thought it was a good game, obviously because we came out on top. We did some things to shoot ourselves in the foot that allowed Iowa to stay in the game. I give credit to Iowa, they are a good team, but we still shot ourselves in the foot."
On the second half defensive performance: "I think we stepped it up except for that last drive they had. We came out in the second half and proved that we knew what was going on."
MSU QB Jeff Smoker:
"It was a good game, a tough game. I got beat up a little bit. Iowa is a great team. Our offense played pretty well today. We made a few mistakes, but we got the job done.
"The defense played a great game again. Now we've got to forget about it (the game) and get ready for Minnesota.
"It depends on who is going to be the open man, and Herb did a good job of getting open today. I don't think we played Charles (Rogers) any differently. I think the way their defense was set up wasn't exactly the best way to attack Charles on the weak side and the kind of defense they played wasn't the side we wanted to go.
"When he dropped back and the pass isn't there sometimes you have to take it down and run with it and that's what I had to do a few times.
"I think everybody did a good job of executing and everybody worked well together and that's what we need. When that happens - the line does a good job of block, the receivers do a good job - that's what gives me the ability to make plays and that's what everyone did today. We won and that's the important thing. Now we move onto Minnesota next week."
On Haygood and receivers... "Herb did a great job and played a great game. He did a good job of running his patterns and getting open and he was able to find them.
"We've got too many good receivers for them to just key in on one receiver. We've got a couple great receivers out there and a good tight end, it's hard for teams to stock in on one receiver."
WR Herb Haygood:
"We wanted to play well for all the fans. We appreciate the New York firefighters and officers who came out. The coaches told us to go out and maximize our performance."
K Dave Rayner:
"I thought the game was great and I played about as good as I could play. It was a great game and great experience. It did a lot to build my confidence."
MSU TB T.J. Duckett
"They had a good defense. Josh Shaw has some hands. He played good, the whole team played good. The defense came and when they had to and played good. Once again when we eliminate some of these penalties, we'll be ok.
"I made some plays here and there. We came away with the "W." A lot of people scored. Things started out ok. We just have to keep playing hard. We are still a young team, still making a lot of mistakes. We're just going to keep on learning and as the weeks go on, we'll keep improving and just try and get better. We played a hard, and that's all you can ask for."
MSU TB Tyrell Dortch
"It was a lot of fun out there making plays. Anything can happen at any given time so you have to be on your toes a lot, eyes open. I feel good just getting in there and play. That was the first time I really played a game (at cornerback) since high school.
"The more I got in, the more I felt I could make something happen. During the second and third quarter I was ready to make a play anytime. I got that third-and-eight and I almost picked that pass up. I felt comfortable out there. I felt like I was in the groove. They still have me going both ways. I am just helping the team out right now. It's a last minute thing and coach asked me for a favor and I just did it for the team. We got two guys down with broken ankles I am not going to be selfish about it. I am just going to help the team out."
