Post-Game Quotes
10/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2008
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Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio
On the game...
It's a great win for our football team and for our program. I am so happy for our players, especially our seniors. We came out and handled adversity. We played very well, I thought, early. Every football game has some times when you're going to go up and down and handle some adverse moments, and we just kept playing one play at a time. We saw so many different players have a part in this win. It is big for this program. I can tell you this, when we first came here as a staff, we pointed to this football game as a rivalry game. I have always believed that. I am so proud of our football team.
On wide receiver Blair White...
You don't know who is going to be the stars in this game. Blair came in and had a huge play on the first third down, and then he goes 60-plus yards on a slant. It was a big play. He had a couple of other big plays on third down for first downs, and one on that next to last drive when it was probably too far to kick. Blair is a gamer and a tremendous competitor.
On fifth-year senior quarterback Brian Hoyer's ability to handle pressure...
I thought that Brian, every time I looked into his eyes on the sideline, he was a very determined, confident football player, and we were going to play. That's the way I have always seen Brian Hoyer. You play the cards that are dealt and different things can happen. This is a game of football, and there are a lot of things that can happen on the football field. I thought he played tremendous.
Senior Quarterback Brian Hoyer
On the win over Michigan...
I think collectively, as a program, we got a monkey off our back. Eighteen years of coming down here - this is my first time, and it's my last time. That's pretty special. It's a great accomplishment to do this in my last chance. I think it's a statement. Coach [Don] Treadwell talked before the game about making a change. We need to make a change in this rivalry and make a change in this state. I think the state is probably more green today than it was yesterday.
On MSU's confidence entering and throughout the game...
From the moment we walked into this stadium, we didn't have a lack of confidence. We knew we were going to win this game. I think with that mentality, we were able to keep ourselves us. Coach [Mark] Dantonio talks about handling adversity - whether it's in life or in a football game - whenever we do that, we're able to right the ship and come back.
On Michigan's defensive line...
They were rushing wide and hard, so, especially when it's loud out there, sometimes passers don't get a great jump off the ball. So, you have to step up, and I was able to step up and make some plays when guys are rushing that hard. I think our guys in the middle kept it solid. So, there were definitely opportunities to make some plays.
Senior Running Back Javon Ringer
On the Michigan defense...
I'm not going to say that they were getting tired. I think their defense continued to play hard the entire game. They kept pounding and they kept hitting; they never let up. They kept going to the ball really well. Their defense never gave up. It's a credit to our offensive line; they were really dominant today.
On the play of wide receiver Blair White...
Seeing the performance of Whitey (Blair White) today didn't surprise me at all. Whitey is definitely one of the only athletes that I've looked at and said, `Man, I wish I could do some of the things that he does.' I've watched Whitey time after time make play after play after play ever since my freshman year. Seeing his performance today - I knew he was capable of doing it. I feel so honored to be able to be on the same team as Whitey and play on the same field as someone who works as hard as he does.
