From The Locker Room
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
MICHIGAN STATE vs. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
POST GAME QUOTES
Sept. 8, 2001
MSU Head Coach Bobby Williams
"It wasn't pretty, but it was a win. It was unfortunate that we had some breakdowns today in our special teams. It was our first game, and we played like it was our first game. As I said, it was really unfortunate that we had breakdowns in the punting because it really took away from the overall performance of the defense."
"I have to give a lot of credit to Central Michigan, I thought they really played well. They played hard, competed and really tried hard to keep us off balance with their no-huddle offense. I thought it was a really fast football game. I have to give our defense a lot of credit because we got into some bad situations and they got some plays on us, but overall those guys really held together."
"I thought there were some positives on offense and defense, but we definitely have to get this punt situation squared away."
On the punting game breakdown:
"The blocks all came off of the edge, we have what we call right and left wings and on all four punt blocks the guy slipped inside."
On the quarterback situation:
"I said all along we plan on using both quarterbacks and that is what we did today. We are going to continue to do that because I thought both quarterbacks did some good things. Unfortunately, we had plans of getting (Damon) Dowdell in the game but the punt breakdowns prevented us from doing that."
"We are going to keep the quarterback situation the same as it was today. We are going to utilize both quarterbacks."
On team as a whole:
"One thing this game tells me is that I think this team has matured a little bit. I think there have been times in the past when we have had breakdowns like this and we have lost the game. We had these breakdowns today and we got a win. The game today could have gone either way several times throughout the game."
"The defense came in and played well. Late in the game we had some breakdowns and the defense got a couple of turnovers late, deep in our territory."
MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill:
"I think we played pretty good. The few times we were out there running around just trying to get the ball down, because of the no huddle offense but I think for the most part we played it pretty well. For the most part, our defense did well but there's still room to improve."
On next week's game:
"Hopefully, we'll have a lot more toughness as a team as a whole - more discipline, less penalties. It's the first game and you expect to have that kind of stuff go on. The most improvement we have to make is from week one to week two. It will show next week."
MSU senior tailback Little John Flowers
"It wasn't a pretty victory. Central Michigan came out and played real hard. We just have to eliminate our mistakes and get right on our punt team and all the special teams and we'll be all right."
On the play of Central Michigan:
"It wasn't too much of a surprise. I think we really shot ourselves in the foot a lot. They came out and played real hard. They were stopping the run all day. We were up - I think 28-7 at the half-time and we came out and went up 35-7- and we started shooting ourselves in the foot. At the end of the game it looked closer than it really was.
"We have to go out there and go to practice and put this game aside and go get ready for the Big Ten season. Everybody else coming here is going to be up to our level, we're going to have to step it up a notch."
On Potential:
"We have a lot of potential. We have all kind of weapons, we just have to pick our games up and raise it up another level and don't play down to our opponent's level.
"I figured we should have came out there and played Michigan State football and go out soundly. We were up soundly and then mistakes after mistakes and penalties made it look closer than it really was."
MSU senior safety Lorenzo Guess:
"We played real good today. We had three turnovers, that's our goal every week. You want to be good on all special teams. We had four punts blocked today. We just weren't blocking them. They run nothing special. They run the same thing we do but we just weren't blocking them."
MSU sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker:
"I wasn't exactly sure how they were going to switch us in or out. I was happy with the amount of time I had. We won the game and that's what's most important. I am not sure if they are going to do the same thing (next week) or if they are going to change. We both have things to still improve on. Our passing game looked better today. I got hit a little more than I would have liked."
MSU junior tailback T.J. Duckett:
"A win is a win. Central Michigan played great. Offensively, we had too many penalties and made a lot of mistakes, we just have to look at the tape, build on that and prepare for next week."
MSU senior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke:
"It was all right. I didn't play mistake free football by any means. We got a lot to work on. Central gave us a great effort, we got to give them a lot of respect for doing what they did to us."
On special teams
"I think we trained to the point where we're not going to let adversity bother us like that. Obviously, it was kind of deflating to our spirits. I think our team has complete faith in the coaching staff."
"Everybody's happy that we are 1-0 but we are not satisfied at all with our performance. We need to step it up a notch."
MSU junior wide receiver BJ Lovett:
On the Offense
"It could be better but we kept them honest with the blitz. I felt comfortable with both quarterbacks. I thought we were a bit rusty. I feel that each week we will get better."
MSU sophomore wide receiver Charles Rodgers:
"Our first game, it was exciting. It is really different from practice. We came out with a win. It was an ugly win, but it was a win. I wanted to come out here and help my teammates. It has been a long year for me sitting out. I felt that I had a pretty good game. I'm happy with my results. We tried to make a statement, not just in the Big Ten, but nationwide. We got off to a right start."
CMU Head Coach Mike DeBord:
"I'm really proud of the way our kids fought. The effort, the fight, the fourth quarter ... I mean, we won the fourth quarter but yet it wasn't enough. I think the thing in this ballgame that hurt was a three-minute period in the second quarter. We fumbled the ball on offense, which resulted in a (MSU) score, and then a safety came up on a scramble and they got the long-ball play on a scramble for a touchdown."
"We're not going to hang our heads. We're going to keep fighting. We've got the opportunity to have a good football team. I really do because of their attitude and fight."
On James King's four punt blocks:
"I thought George Ricumstrict, our special teams coordinator, did a great job with the scheme against their punt. We've worked hard this week on our scheme that we were using and trying to get with so we could get James a seam and obviously it paid off with the players' hard work and then also Coach Ricumstrict's scheme."
CMU Freshman DB James King:
On blocking four punts:
"It was a team effort. It took all 10 players. If everyone doesn't hit their gaps in time, I don't have a window."
