Michigan State - Penn State Post Game Quotes
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2001
Recap?|? Final Stats
Michigan State Head Coach Bobby Williams:
"It was a very, very disappointing loss. It's unfortunate that the game came down to the end because we really fell apart in the third quarter. We had some things going our way for the most part and the momentum really changed. I thought our guys really fought back and really had a chance to come back and win the football game. Now our whole season comes down to one game. We're down to one game and we'll be looking forward to playing that game next week."
On what changed when the score was 31-14:
"They really went after our pass coverage. They hit some plays against us and gave up several big plays in the first half and second half and third quarter by way of pass."
"We changed the coverage up a little bit. We got away from the man principle and went to more zone concepts. They still hit a couple long passes against us in the third quarter in zone coverage."
On momentum swing:
"We had two other opportunities because we got the ball on the plus side of the field twice after that. The defense came back and played well and got us the ball back. We had two other opportunities to get the ball down there but we just didn't come up with the plays."
On Penn State:
"They're a good football team. They have been playing well the past few weeks and they fought back and played well today."
Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno:
"We only thought about this game. MSU played real good against us."
"In the end we had some dumb plays like six guys on the line of scrimmage, the lousy punt and loss of good field position."
"Our defense was lousy. That's not to take anything away from Michigan State they have some good skill players, the two wide outs, tailback, tight ends and quarterback. They (PSU defense) were not aggressive, we made mistakes."
"I thought he (Stewart) was taunting him (Smoker). One of the coaches let me know Stewart was just concerned that he (Smoker) was hurt. I guess they played together in the high school. He (Stewart) played alright, not quite as well as I wanted."
"Mills had a great first series. He has a tight spiral and that was in the back of my head all week when I heard the weather report. He's pretty good. MSU was all around him."
"This is a pretty predictable group (Penn State). They play hard, most of the time I have something to gripe about. Mostly when the guys hear me they work hard although I was disappointed in the defense in the first half."
"We made some plays, I mean we have become a pretty good offensive football team. We're not great but we're good. We made some pretty great throws downfield, made some good catches and we were running it good in a couple of places. There were some great throws, but they were also unfortunate because there were a couple of Michigan State kids around. We were hoping to have Mills throw into the wind during the third. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."
Jeff Smoker:
"I kind of did the same thing to my shoulder as I did before. It's not any worse or anything. I don't think it's quite as bad.
"It's definitely disappointing, especially after all you put into the game and for how hard we worked during the week. We had another great week of practice. We had a great first half. It's just disappointing when you're out there and play hard and don't come out with a win."
On the offense:
"We had that fumble and a few other times when we didn't convert on third down, which was big. You've got to be able to do that. A lot of times in the first half we were staying out of third downs. We were moving the ball so quick."
On missed field goal:
"It wasn't huge. It definitely wasn't the game but it was important. It's always important to get on the board the first half of the game and the first drive of the second half."
On injury:
"I just have to wait and see how it feels. It still hurts. I can move it enough to move in there and throw the ball. I took them that far, I just wanted to finish it off."
On Paterno and what he said:
"I talked to him before the game. I didn't get a chance to talk to him after the game. He got off the field pretty quick. He just said hi and that I was having a great season and to just keep up the good work."
On next week:
"Like the other week, it will depend on how it progresses. If you ask me if I'm going to play, it's the last game of the season - we've got to win. We've got to try and get a chance to go to a bowl game, and I'm going to be in there."
T.J. Duckett:
On rushing records:
"It feels good, but right now there's more important things to deal with rather than that sort of thing. You look at that thing when the season's over and you're where want to be." On the important things:
"Getting to a bowl game and winning. It's a big game next week and we just have to come back and find a way to win. Our heart has to grow each week. We've had some tough losses these past few weeks. We'll find out what we're actually made of in this last game with our back against the wall. We have to come out and play hard."
"We were moving the ball well. It felt good. I don't know what happened. It just stopped. It just went away. The passing game was making big plays. (Charles Rogers) was having a bit day, (Jeff Smoker) was one point and Herb (Haygood) and (Chris) Baker were making catches. We were moving the ball."
"We're down a little. What's left of our heart and our fire has to come up next week."
Josh Thornhill:
"The only person I have to look at is the person in the mirror and know what I did. I feel like I could have done some things better to make a difference.
"We've been here before. I've been here before twice. At least we can convey it to the younger guys what we have to do next week to win. We can't lose focus, we just have to pick up the pieces and move on."
"I don't think we can necessarily satisfy ourselves. Whatever happens now, we just know that we could have done better. I thought getting this win might make some things right and maybe get a little respect back - at least finish out with a winning season."
Herb Haygood
"We didn't play well in the third quarter. Coach always preaches to us that we have to play 60 minutes and today we didn't. I tried to get everybody up and tell them we have a quarter and a half to play. We lost three games we should've won. I don't know what's happened. We've got to win next week."
Charles Rogers
"I don't know what (Penn State coach Joe) Paterno told the boys at halftime, but they came out real physical and changed up their coverage."
"The team is shocked right now. There's a lot of people with their heads down. But there's one game left. It's do or die."