Michigan State University Athletics
Player Analysis: Purdue
11/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Several seniors from the Michigan State football team talked after Tuesday's practice about Senior Day and playing for the last time in Spartan Stadium this Saturday against Purdue. The Spartans and Boilermakers meet Saturday at noon; the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
In other news, senior running back Javon Ringer has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which is awarded to the Collegiate Football Player of the Year. Ringer, who leads the nation with 18 touchdowns and ranks second in rushing with 142.7 yards per game, is one of three semifinalists from the Big Ten.
In addition, head coach Mark Dantonio was named one of 15 semifinalists for the George Munger Award for College Coach of the Year. Dantonio has led the Spartans to an 8-2 record (5-1 Big Ten) this fall and his 15 wins are the most ever by an MSU coach in his first two seasons.
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Justin Kershaw | Jesse Miller
Senior Running Back Javon Ringer
On Senior Day this Saturday...
Senior day has really come up fast. You always hear that talk that college is going to fly by - as a freshman you don't really see it coming, but it really does. It really has snuck up on me.
On difficulty of letting go of his college football career...
Yeah, especially with a lot of the friendships that I have developed here and especially with a lot of guys on the team. Just knowing this is the last time I am going to be able to play in Spartan Stadium and in front of our home crowd, which has been good to us in all my years here despite our record. It is definitely going to be hard.
On what he wants to accomplish on senior day...
I want to accomplish a win! I want to be able to just perform well and just be able to go out with my last time playing in Spartan Stadium and make it victorious.
On how his impression of Michigan State University has changed since he was a freshman...
It really has not changed too much at all. I knew since I got here that this is a program that expects excellence, and a program that is going to expect the best out of you. The program asks for you to give it all you got, so my impression of it has not really changed at all.
On what it means having a successful season this year after other disappointing seasons...
It really means a lot after going through the things we have as a team thus far and through the years I have been here. Just to be able to finish up my last season as a Spartan the way God has said it is best for me to do it. I really feel like we have come a long way, and that really means a lot to me.
Senior Defensive End Brandon Long
On how it is going to be like running out of the tunnel for the last time on Saturday...
Words cannot even explain what that is going to be like. I am sad it is going to be the last time, but I am looking forward to it at the same time.
On his last game of his senior season...
This is an amazing feeling, but at the same time it's sad that it is coming to a close. I am glad that I have done a decent job so far this year, and hopefully I can continue that on and have my biggest game this weekend and then on to Penn State as well so hopefully we can get that Big Ten championship.
On what their team has to look out for as a defensive unit against Purdue...
We have to watch out for (Justin) Siller, their quarterback, who has been stepping in and doing a really good job with their option offense. He also brings a whole new element to their offense with the running game and we have to prepare for that. They are doing a two quarterback thing with Siller and (Curtis) Painter, their running backs are extremely talented, and they also have a lot of seniors and a big offensive line as well. We are working hard this week through and preparing for them.
On what Senior Day means to him...
It is really hard to explain actually and it's almost surreal just how fast my career here as been. Looking back to where I was when I first got here up until now, I cannot even believe it. It's incredible but also an odd feeling because there is so much excitement, but then there is also some sadness that it's going to be my last time. But we are going to go out there and make it our best and hopefully get this Big Ten championship and end my senior season with a bang.
Senior Defensive Tackle Justin Kershaw
On preparing for Purdue's two possible quarterbacks...
Our coaches don't leave anything out, so we are going to prepare for both of them. Siller is more of a running quarterback, but he can throw the ball too, and Painter can just really throw it all around and he's a definitely a good quarterback too. We are going to prepare for both of them because they each provide different problems for us.
On what the defense has to do as a unit to come away with a win on Senior Day...
We just have to keep playing like we are playing. Last week, we made too many mistakes but we stayed in the game and played four quarters. Purdue runs a similar type of offense as Michigan so we just have to play our keys and play the way our coaches are teaching us to do this week, and we can win this game.
On what it means to step out onto his home field on last time...
I am proud to be a Spartan because you are amongst excellence and greatness wherever you go around here. I have met great people here, and some of my best friends are on this football team. It has been a special time and I would not change a thing or do I have any regrets. I love the coaches and I love my teammates and I am just thankful for the opportunity to be here and for all the people I have met.
On what would be the perfect finish for his senior year...
I just hope everyone keeps working hard and that we enjoy ourselves and have fun. Of course also winning these next two games and going to the Rose Bowl would be tremendous. That is our goal, and it's crazy when you think about two years ago when we were without a coach...There are guys and coaches that have five-year careers here in the Big Ten or even 20-year long careers (as a coach) and never get an opportunity to play for what we are playing for. We need to just worry about Purdue right now, but that would be a dream come true to win a Big Ten championship and play in the Rose Bowl.
On remembering the win against Michigan when he looks back on his career...
I hope so, I think we are going to look back and see that but we still have a lot of work to do. Saturday is going to be emotional but we just want to focus on trying to win. We still have three games left so we just have to focus on each game and not let these opportunities pass us by.
Senior Offensive Guard Roland Martin
On what makes Mike Bacon different from anyone else on the offensive line...
The one thing that amazes me about him was he was 230 pounds when he got here, and now he has just pumped up since then. He used to be just a little guy that ran around and was a walk-on and just always hung in there and made his way. He has not really changed at all; he is the same guy, but just looks different.
On what type of footprints Javon Ringer will leave here...
He will leave hard working, and humble footprints. He is probably one of the most humble guys you will ever meet, and he said a couple of things this year that were so humble and I was just like "wow," he is just the most humble man in the world. He also tries to out work everyone, and when he first got here is really didn't say much at all. He just always did the extra work and ran around out there on the football field and we would just look at him like he needed to chill out. He just kept on working and now looks at him and what he has accomplished. He's an amazing player and a good person as well.
On what it is like to block for Ringer...
It has been painful, tiresome and confusing. No, I'm joking. It has been a very good experience with Javon back there. Even sometimes when you mess up he can probably get away himself and get loose. If you just do your part, you know he is going to get us enough yards to make us successful. I am not only just blocking for him as a back, but he is also my friend so I always want to do my part to make sure he doesn't get too banged up.
On what it means to step out onto Spartan Stadium for one last time on Saturday...
It is going to be just real mind boggling and I am going to be extremely nervous. I am just thinking about not being able to put that helmet on and be in Spartan Stadium again with my fellow Spartans and all the local people as well. Just saying this is my last game in Spartan Stadium is scary to me honesty. I am just going to go out there and take it all and just try to play my best and make a good memory of there so I can always remember my last game in Spartan Stadium.
Senior Quarterback Brian Hoyer
What the last five years has meant to him, ending his career with this season...
This is really something special the opportunity we have right now. To close out my career hopefully with a win in Spartan Stadium, and put ourselves in a position to win a Big Ten championship is huge. It is just amazing to me how fast it has gone by, and I will go out there and cherish it. In the big sense of things though we are playing for a lot more than the seniors on Saturday.
On how the end of this regular season differs from last season...
Last year's Senior Day we were fighting for something too. We were fighting for a bowl game. It definitely gives you that extra incentive to go out and play and usually you always say lets win this for the seniors, well we are not just trying to win it for the seniors this year, we are trying to win in for the program.
On what has stood out to him personally these last five years...
The things that I will take away most from this place are the relationships and the friendships that I have made. Going out on Saturdays of the games with my teammates, and the people I have meet are what I will remember the most.
On playing his last home game on Saturday...
It really hasn't sunk in yet, and it probably won't even sink after this Saturday because it is our last game at home, but it's not our last game. I'm sure after that Penn State I'm sure then it will sink in that we won't be going out to Spartan Stadium to play anymore. Like I said though, it's not our last game and we are playing for something bigger than just Senior Day.
On how he has changed as a person since he has been at Michigan State...
I think this has taught me how to handle adversity. No matter what you go through in life you have to deal with adversity and change, and you have to deal with that. For the guys that stayed here and stuck around it is something good that we went through and turned into a positive force. The guys that have been here for my five years or four years we have been through a lot together and I think that has definitely brought us closer together. Part of the success we are having this year is how close we are.
