Michigan State University Athletics
Player Analysis: Michigan
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Members of the Michigan State football team met with the media after Tuesday's practice to talk about this week's game against Michigan. The Spartans and Wolverines meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor.
Coverage:
Player Interviews | Jesse Miller Podcast
Senior Running Back Javon Ringer
On preparing for the University of Michigan this weekend...
This is the biggest game of the year, and everyone is looking forward to it and pumped up for it as well. We have a whole new attitude this week, and you can't really compare Michigan to any other game because they are a whole different category of their own. Everybody is just focused, and I think we are ready. We are not thinking about last week, we did a majority of that Saturday night and Sunday morning, and after that it was forgotten. Michigan is the biggest game of the year for us, and that is what we are focused on.
On Coach Dantonio's demeanor during Tuesday's practice...
I don't remember seeing him today too much with the offense today, he was mostly working with the defense, but in meetings he was very straight forward and also very positive, but also very strong toned with his voice to make sure everyone had the right mind set to come out here and work because it is Michigan week.
On being a leader for the team and making sure a collapse doesn't happen like previous seasons...
We still feel like we have a lot to prove this year, and we still feel like we have to get that idea out of everyone's head thinking that after we lose a game everything goes down hill. We are trying to change that mindset around here, and I know it's going to be good coming off last weekend and then facing a tough opponent like Michigan and hopefully getting a win.
On being favored to win this year against Michigan...
We don't really know who the favorite is this year, and we are not really looking at that. We are not overlooking Michigan at all, or underestimating them despite their record or despite what might have happened in past games against them. We still know they are a great team and have tremendous athletes on their defense, and I really feel like their strongest point of their team is their defense. We are just going in their and expecting a good game.
Junior Linebacker Adam Decker
On what this game means for MSU...
It's a huge game. It's the biggest game on our schedule and it's the most important game of our whole season. It can really make or break our season as far as winning or losing the game. It's the game you will remember more than any of the other ones after the season is over and for the years to come. It's the most important and we're just trying to get ready for it.
On looking to Michigan to get over the loss against Ohio State...
We were disappointed with how we played last week but looking at our schedule and knowing we have Michigan next, it was perfect for us. It didn't give us any time to really reflect on Ohio State for too long. As soon as we realized we have Michigan this week, everyone's attention turned to that and everyone's motivated again, so we will be fine.
On Michigan's up-and-down season...
They have been up and down but it's still Michigan, they're still a great program, they still have great players there. They get the best recruits every year so you know their roster is full of talented guys so we expect them to come out and play their best game of the year against us. And I can almost guarantee they're going to play their best game against us. That's what we're preparing for and that's what we expect to see and I'm sure it will happen.
On what the team learned from the Ohio State game film...
We didn't play well and that was kind of obvious as we watched the film. It's disappointing to have to see yourself not execute and perform the way you would have hoped you would have in that situation. But you just have to use that as motivation on top of the fact that it's already Michigan week, you know coming off of a poor performance, you just have to use it as something to get you refocused and motivated to come out and play harder next week.
On what happened in the Ohio State game...
We just got down early. We just didn't play well from the start and we let them get up on us. They're so good and they're so talented that as soon as they got up and as soon as we started making a couple mistakes they knew how to take advantage of them. We just got a little in over our heads and couldn't get out of it.
Senior Defensive Tackle Justin Kershaw
On Coach Dantonio's attitude in practice following last week's loss...
One thing I can say about Coach Dantonio is he brings it to practice every day. He never lets up. He's definitely getting us ready for this game and especially the leaders on this team. We're looking at this game as the most important game of the year, and I'm glad we are playing this game, especially after what happened last weekend.
On Coach Dantonio's passion for the Michigan rivalry...
I think in any situation if something is important to your leader it's going to be important to everybody else. I like it and I like that he really looks at this game as important. I'm glad he's like that. We need to have this much enthusiasm for the game so we're ready.
On seeing Michigan in a spread offense...
It's real weird. I was watching film the other day and I'm used to seeing them just lining up on the center and running the ball. Now they're in the shotgun all the time and motioning guys and it does look kind of different but I think their system's good. They still move the ball and it's still football but it is different from what they've run in the past and what they're known for.
On Michigan's 2-5 record...
We are not looking at their record that at all. This is a rivalry game, and they are a much better team than what their record shows. We just have to go down there and play like we know how and it will be all right.
Senior Quarterback Brian Hoyer
On recovering from the Ohio State game...
I feel real good today. I got dinged a little bit in the head last Saturday, and I wasn't myself there for a little bit. I had a little bit of headaches this weekend and through Monday morning, but I feel fine today. My hand is also feeling fine, it was bruised but I iced it and I had a full practice today and I am ready to go.
On what Michigan week means to him...
This is the most important game for us. Coach Dantonio will go out and say it and he also told that to our team. It is a huge rivalry for us and it is against the guys we compete with not just once a year, but every day. It is a good opportunity for us because obviously we are disappointed with last week so now we are ready to go out and prove ourselves again.
On what it would mean for him to win against Michigan...
It is something that is definitely important to us, because it would be terrible to go though all your years here and not be able to beat those guys. It is something very important to us, and like I said it is the most important game of the year. We are very excited, and collectively as seniors we have talked about that. We have not beaten these guys and that is something you don't want to walk away from this place and say you were never able to beat Michigan.
On Michigan's defense...
It is mostly the same guys we played last year, so you can definitely see the talent there. They are going to play hard and give us their best shot especially because it is at their place. So, don't think for a second that we are going to underestimate them just because to their record. I think in any rivalry game you can throw out the records just because both teams are going to come out and play as hard as they can.
On treating this game as the most important game of the season...
You know this is a different game because a majority of the players on this team are from Michigan, and they are going to be playing guys they grew up with, and guys they have played with and against in high school. There is closeness to this game, and obviously a lot of history to it as well which makes it personal and also special.
Senior Safety Otis Wiley
On the upcoming Michigan game...
This game means a lot. To win against Michigan turns our program around. We know that we didn't play as well as we could have this past week, but we know to focus to play well this week. It's going to be a great game.
On losing a game, refocusing and bouncing back...
We don't focus on that at all as a team because we know we always can bounce back and that's what our team is jazzed by, by bouncing back and stepping up to adversity. We bounced back from California and we know we're going to bounce back from this one. This is how we answer adversity. We're going in and playing a hard 60 minutes of football and not letting down and always staying relentless. I think the way we handle adversity in the game will determine who wins the game.
On the difficult schedule of playing Michigan right after playing Ohio State...
For us this is good. We know that even though we didn't play up to our ability last week, we have another opportunity to bounce back and play hard this week.
