From The Locker Room
11/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
Penn State vs. Michigan State
Spartan Stadium - East Lansing, Mich.
Nov. 22, 2003
Michigan State Head Coach John L. Smith
Opening statement
"I don't know what to say. When we started this thing off, everybody said that if we could win four (games), it would be an amazing year. They said that, but then we got to five, and they said that we were stretching it. At six (wins), it was kind of disbelief and now, for this team to have won eight football games, that is just unbelievable. You have to give those kids a whole lot of credit because they accepted what we brought in and they tried to do everything that we asked of them. There was one little bump in the road and that was last week (at Wisconsin), where our effort and our emotion just wasn't where it was supposed to be. But other than that, I think that we overachieved in every game, even though we didn't win them all. I am very proud of them."
On the Spartans' mentality contributing to the win
"There are some things that we have tried to talk about all year. When we came in here 11 months ago, we talked about giving to one another and sharing. We talked about how, the more you give to one another, good things are going to happen for you and it means something to you, at least go out and do that for the seniors. I think that our kids went out today and really took that to heart and played hard for those guys, so that is neat to see. It has been neat to see us grow like that. It has been an amazing year. And I have to say that my coaching staff has done a phenomenal job. For them to have patched things together on this team in the way that they have is just amazing. All of them deserve a lot of credit, a lot of pats on the back, things like that."
On team transformation and individual growth for MSU since last season
"We had to try to change our self-image. We held a terrible image of ourselves individually and as a team, so we had to restructure that. We had to give them a plan and we had to say, 'this is how we are going to do it,' and they have really bought into everything that we have said. They have made every effort to do what we have asked of them. Like I have said since day one, you can't fault these kids for want, because they want to do all the things that are asked of them. Sometimes they can't and that is not their fault because they want to do it and they try to do it."
Penn State Coach Joe Paterno
"I thought we had a shot at it at halftime. We didn't play well and Michigan State did. They could have beaten us by another 20 points if they would have caught the ball a little more. I thought we were ready but we just weren't very sharp. They had two big plays that broke the game open early. One when (Alan) Zemaitis slipped and fell down on that big drive, that was a third-down play. It was execution more than effort that got us. These kids worked hard, we had a good week of practice and I thought we played a pretty good game. It's just been one of those years and I don't think that we're that far away, I really don't."
Thoughts on Penn State's pass defense
"Well, the one Zemaitis just slipped on and the other one, statistically it looked like a big pass but really, we just missed tackles. The first two big plays were missed tackles and we fell down. So then you start to take chances and you start to get a little reckless because you have to make something happen. I think overall they did all right.
"This is as bad of football game as we've played in a long time. We broke down in so many ways. The kicking game broke down, although we did a better job in our returning game. I thought (Calvin) Lowry showed a lot of spunk out there. Our pass protection broke down today."
On next season
"We have a couple of kids who are freshmen and some that will be redshirted. Hopefully, we'll have some new recruits coming in so we can improve."
On what the future holds
"I have to analyze the tapes then see what I am going to do. I want to talk to some kids and get a feel for some things. So I will spend the next two weeks doing that, and then I'll figure out what I want to do. Nothing ever quite worked out how we thought it would work out. Casey Williams got hurt at the beginning and a couple of other things went wrong for us early. We never quite got in the grove and it's not their fault, it's mine. I'm just glad this game is over. I want to get out of here, get on a plane and go home and hug my wife."
MSU Player Quotes
QB Jeff Smoker
On his last game at Spartan Stadium
"I don't know when it will hit me. It hits everyone at a different time. I don't know if I realized it was my last game."
On exiting the game in the fourth quarter
"That was great, it meant a lot to get that kind of ovation and thanks to send me out... It feels good and feels good to get a win and have my family and brothers here. It's great."
On beating Penn State
"It means a lot to me. We haven't beaten them since I've been here. I know all of the coaches really well and some of the players. We've got a great rivalry, Michigan State and Penn State, but we got them this time."
"We really wanted to win here and to do a complete 180 from 4-8 to 8-4 is quite an accomplishment. A lot of people didn't think we'd be able to do it this year and didn't expect a season like this. We did a great job and I'm proud of each and every one of my teammates."
WR Kyle Brown
On his 80-yard TD catch
"It was a basic play. I just did my job, ran a six-yard hitch, I made a move and took it to the house."
On the importance of the play
"It was really big because we were down 3-0. The offense had to go out and make a statement, so we came out there on the first play and did it."
DT Matthias Askew
On the defense's second-half performance
"We know how we can play and from last week to this week, we wanted to finish the season by sending out a message to everybody. The way we played today is how we should have been playing the whole season. We had our little spurts at times, but we wanted to come out especially hard today and finish the season on a good note. Our No. 1 goal was to was to send all the seniors out as winners."
OG Paul Harker
On bowl games
"I don't know what bowl games we are still up for or how it will all work out. We are just excited to get this win and get some momentum. I'm looking forward to finding out where we are going, but wherever we end up is great. It's great to have a winning season and make it to a bowl game."
On Senior Day
"It was very emotional today. I thought last year was my last go-around. After six years it's almost surreal. I was out there just trying to convince myself- yeah, this is it. It was a little sad, but it doesn't get much better than going out on top with a win."
WR Jerramy Scott
On the game
"The seniors had never beat Penn State and I'm glad we came out on top today. We did what it takes to get it done. We left everything on the field. That's what we can be proud of."
On changing positions
"It's hard to switch positions. I'm learning more everyday. Agim Shabaj and I had been switching in and out all week in practice, that's just how it worked out. He has made big plays for us all year long, I just got a chance and took advantage of it. He's helped me adjust a lot. Everyone counts on everyone else to help out. It's a team effort. That's how it works; that's how we win football games."
On his touchdown reception
"When Jeff threw the ball I wasn't very open. I knew I was going to get hit. I just held on. He made a great throw. Our offense was good today, but we will get better."
WR Aaron Alexander
On senior day
"Today was all about getting a win for the seniors, and we were prepared, and we performed. It doesn't matter where we go. All that matters is the seniors left on a good note and we just played a great football game."
On improving
"I feel I can still get better. I can learn more about our system and most importantly get stronger and faster. I feel I can be a better receiver and I need to work on that this summer."
RB DeAndra Cobb
On winning
"It felt good to get back to winning. Now we have a couple of weeks to prepare and carry this energy to a bowl game. We just took Penn State like they were any other team. Their record might not show it, but they were a good team with lots of good athletes. We had a great week in practice. Everyone wanted to send the seniors out on a good note."
