Michigan State University Athletics
Player One-on-Ones
11/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2007
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Michigan State Senior Defensive End Ervin Baldwin:
On what'll remember from his time at Michigan State:
Just the people that I've encountered and had the chance to meet. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I've loved everything about the MSU campus, the atmosphere, the camaraderie that everybody has. Like Coach Dantonio says, we're surrounded by excellence. You look at the hockey team, the basketball teams, baseball, volleyball; it's just a great atmosphere.
On his favorite moment at Michigan State:
Probably against Notre Dame last year, picking off Brady Quinn. If we would've gotten the `W' it would've been a lot sweeter, but to pick off one of the guys that finished in the top 5 for the Heisman was pretty special.
On what he expects from the Penn State game:
I expect it to be a physical game. They're probably going to come out and try and run the ball. We've just got to be mentally focused and prepared. Last year we had an opportunity to beat those guys so that gives us great motivation and confidence that we can come into this game and get a `W'.
On the importance of getting to a bowl game:
It's very important to not only get to a bowl game, but to have a winning season. If that happens, we as a senior class can look back at this season and say we helped turn this program around.
On being a junior college transfer:
I'm definitely a big Spartan all the way through now. I'm always going to be a Michigan State Spartan no matter where I am. I wouldn't have it any other way though. If I could do it all over again I'd do it the same way and I'd choose Michigan State. Going to JUCO isn't great, but it's also not a bad thing. It usually helps you grow up faster because you don't get all of the opportunities that you have at a D-1 school. It's hard to come up from JUCO and it's hard to get into a bigger school, so some coaches aren't really going to take a chance on you. When I was 17 I left for California for the first time so that just made me grow up faster and mature as a man much quicker. There are some great JUCO players out there though so if you can come in and get the job done that's all that matters. We've got three starters on the defensive line this year that played JUCO so I guess we've been holding our own this year.
On being a part of turning around the Michigan State program:
Like I said, if we have a winning season the seniors can look back and say we helped turn this thing around and get this program back where it needs to be. Believe me, Coach Dantonio and his staff are going to get it back to the old Michigan State. So I can look back and say "we did it" and we helped turn this program around.
I can remember the first day I worked out with Coach Ken Mannie like it was yesterday. I'll be telling the guys that come to take it all in and listen to the coaches because time flies by fast, so just enjoy the moment. It's not just football; it's the social life too. I tell the guys to have fun, not get caught up in all of the pressure, and enjoy being a student-athlete.
On Coach Dantonio's admiration for the effort of the seniors:
When Coach Dantonio first got here he said that this was the seniors' team and that we needed to be senior leaders. We knew that as seniors we had to talk everyday during camp and be senior leaders. It means a lot to have the head coach say we've done everything that he's asked us to do.
On the team's attitude going into Penn State:
It's a real big week...The last time we went to a bowl game the seniors were freshman, so they went but none of them played so this is a very big week. There are big things ahead of us so we've just got to come out and take care of the little things, be focused, and not get sidetracked thinking about what bowl we'll go to if we win. We're going to be fired up; it's going to be emotional. We've just got to come out ready to play.
On Penn State quarterback Anthony Morella:
He's a tough guy. I remember last year we got a couple of hits on him, and he was getting back up after every play so he's really tough. He's going to make good decisions with the ball and he's not going to turn it over. He's a smart player and he's going to control the tempo. We're going to have to come out and get pressure on him so we can create some turnovers like we did last week.
On the seniors' plans for their last game in Spartan Stadium:
We're just going to be doing what we've been doing all year; that's lead by example, take control of this team and help out the younger guys. We also need to younger guys to come out and help us.
On Coach Dantonio:
He's been great. Coach Dantonio has been the best thing to happen to this program. He stresses fundamentals, technique, hard work and toughness. That's the main thing he's instilled: toughness. He's got us hounding the ball and playing physical on defense.
On last week's win at Purdue:
We're not the same old Spartans. This team is a lot different than the teams from the past years. We've been in close games, we've just got to learn how to finish. We literally could have been 9-1, but we don't want to talk about what we should've done. We just want to focus on this game like it's a one-game playoff and get the win for the seniors.
