Post-Game Quotes
11/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2005
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
MSU head coach John L. Smith:
Opening Statement...
"Well I have to congratulate Penn State- they deserve the championship. We could not afford to have made the mistakes we made. I thought our kids came out and I thought they played with effort and they played with heart. Even after the second half when we spotted Penn State with some points I thought we came out and played with some good enthusiasm, but we just made mistakes and in a big game like this we can't have those mistakes. We can't afford the turnovers or the touchdown on the blocked punt. I thought for the most part our defense played hard and we did some good things. It's a sad day and it's a sad day in the locker room not necessarily because of the loss, but because of our seniors. I just want to apologize to the seniors because I had hoped to send them out with a win, but we couldn't do that today. This is a good group of guys and I've said that all along- they're fun to be around and they are a fun group of kids. The one thing that I can take from that locker room is that those guys care about each other and that was good to see. Now what we have to do is get in the weight room and have a good recruiting season and get ready for next year. Again congratulations to Penn State, but now we have to move on."
On Drew Stanton and his injuries...
"He had some bumps and bruises and one day last week he didn't practice because of his thumb- he's got a chip in his throwing hand and maybe we will have to fix that, but Drew will go out there and play no matter what. Everyone is banged and bruised at this point in the season, but that's reasonable."
On the offensive line...
"Penn State has a great defensive line and they just get off of that mark and yes we got schooled, but we didn't get taken to school. We learned some things and those guys fought back, but that was a good lesson and there were a lot of lessons to be learned out there, but we are proud of our offensive line. Like I said we got schooled out there today, but we didn't get taken to school."
On the season and its turn from a winning season to a losing season...
"There's a lot of things that happened. We got tired and beat up a little bit, but I think another thing that wasn't in our favor was our schedule, it got a lot tougher in the second half of the season. To be honest we just weren't as mentally tough as we needed to be. That's something we need to learn and we need to know that things just are not going to happen, we have to take them one step at a time."
On special teams...
"We've been working with them all week on the mistakes that they made. We now have to go out and recruit a kicker and then as personnel gets better around us then we'll be all right, but we're going to start there. We had a kicker recruited, but it hasn't progressed."
On the defense...
"They played hard. They came out and they were solid for the most part- they played against some tough kids, but just can't afford to turn the ball over like we did and if we take that out we did a good job defending Penn State today."
On what John L. said to coach Joe Paterno...
"Congratulations Joe, you have a good team and a good program and you deserve this championship."
SirDarean Adams, So., Bandit
Reflecting on the season...
"I think we learned that we have to stay humble, never give up, and always work hard. We know we have a lot of guys coming back next year, and we just need to stay positive, have the coaches continue to recruit great players, and come back strong. We all expected to make a bowl game this year, and to not go really hurts."
On the positives...
"There are a lot of positives to look at. I think we are a really great team and are only going to get better in the off-season. We have Drew coming back and almost all of our defense as well. I think we have guys that can come in and play well for the graduating seniors."
Gordon Niebylski, Sr., OL
On the game...
"It has basically been the same story for us for the past seven games. We have been able to move the ball well against some great defenses, we just haven't executed in the red zone like we needed to. In the first half, we moved the ball into the red zone three times and failed to score each time."
On the second half...
"At the same time, I was really happy with how we came back in the second half. We were down 17-0 and could have easily folded over against a team like Penn State, but we fought our tails off, and that's the bottom line. I am proud to be part of this team and this organization.
"At halftime, we talked about just executing in the red zone. We were able to move the ball up and down on these guys, but we stalled every time we got inside the 20. We had to finish our drives and put some points on the board. We did that in the second half and it looked like it was coming together, but then there was another turnover and it was 24-7. It seemed like every time we got some momentum there was a turnover. This definitely wasn't the way I wanted to go out, but I'm happy with how we fought back."
Domata Peko, Sr., DT
On the defense today...
"Myself, I didn't get out one play on defense. I stayed in the whole time, worked my heart out, and left it all out on the field. Penn State's a great team and they've got the Big Ten championship. I think we did really great as a defense today, but we just fell a little short."
On mistakes by the offense and special teams...
"It's frustrating, but as a defense, we've just got to be ready to play, even when there are turnovers or a blocked punt. But I'm really proud of our defense and I'm really proud of our seniors."
Drew Stanton, Jr., QB On not finishing plays... "It's just another case of me trying to do too much. We were executing, doing a great job and I was just trying to force too much."
On the seniors last game... "I feel horrible about it. If there was anything I could do to change it I would because those guys deserve a lot more respect. Setting the school touchdown record means nothing to me compared to what I would do for those guys. I would do anything it takes on the football field for those guys to have a successful season, because they really deserve it."
Clifton Ryan, DE, Jr. On the outcome... "I thought we played a pretty good game against those guys. They are a great team and we came out today and fought until the end. When it came down to it, they made plays and we didn't."
On the off season... "We just need to look at the film from the season and figure out where we need to improve. We have been so close, just a few plays away. We just need to find a way to get over the hump. I sat out there for a while and watched them celebrate in our house. That's something that I will never forget, and it will motivate me over the off season."
On Penn State... "They are a heck of a team and they deserve it. They haven't had real good records recently and their coach was kind of on the hot seat, but they pulled together this season and showed people what they can do. We need to look at that team, and see all the stuff they have been through and figure out how we can get there next season."
Jehuu Caulcrick, RB, So. On Senior Day... "This was an emotional game for us today. We were playing for the seniors, and it's tough to know that we are going to be able to play alongside some of those guys anymore."
On the PSU celebration... "We knew about all of the stuff they had planned with what was on the line today and all. And that's not what the game was about for us. We fought hard and they were the better team today, and they deserve it, but it stings to see another team celebrate on your field."
On PSU's turnaround... "I know they went through a lot as a team the past few years and that's motivating to see that it can be turned around like that, and we need to look at that. It's just coming together and getting a winning attitude. This season was disappointing for us record wise, but one positive is I know we grew as a team, and that will help us in the future."
