Capital One Bowl Practice Update No. 3
12/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2008
Video:
Coach Dantonio | Best Buy Shopping Spree | Day For Kids | Universal Studios
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Coach Dantonio | Blair White | Roland Martin
ORLANDO, Fla. - Under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, the Michigan State football team held its third practice at Freedom High School late Sunday afternoon. Prior to practice, head coach Mark Dantonio met with reporters to give an update on MSU's bowl preparation vs. Georgia.
Earlier in the day, Spartan players, along with Georgia, participated in the Day for Kids at Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, interacting with disadvantaged youth from Central Florida.
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Opening statement...
Well, we have a late afternoon start because we got some things done this morning. Our team went out and played miniature golf with some young people and the University of Georgia football team this morning. That's one of the things that if you go into a playoff system, you lose the opportunity to do those type of things, to interact a little bit more and do things outside the course of a normal game week. It's one of the advantages to give back a little bit to the community. That was a positive thing for everybody.
We've had good practices. This is our last practice in full pads. We'll go two days in shells and start to tone it down a little so we have our legs for the game, but I like where we're at. We'll just keep pushing. I think we know what's going on and there's been good recall.
On balancing events and the game during bowl preparation...
I think it was a good thing to see everyone out there (this morning at the community event). It gave us a chance to see the Georgia players as people rather than just a number on film. I think that was good for our players. And it gave a chance for everyone to get to know someone from the community, which was a good thing for them. They also got a chance to go to Universal Studios yesterday.
I hope I do a decent job of balancing - it's got to be about fun too. They've earned the opportunity to be down here. I think we're having a good time. When we come out here (to the practice field), we work...We've had no problem with team meetings and curfews. As long as we stay the course in those areas, I thing we can get things done.
On seeing Georgia coach Mark Richt at the team event...
I had a chance to see him today. He's a good man. Everything I hear about him is impressive, but not just as a coach. As a coach, his record speaks for itself. But when you get to know the man and all the things that you've heard about him, he's a strong man of faith and the way he feels about his players, you can really see that come out.
On Blair White and other players that have emerged this season...
We have quite a few players that found their way from being out of the media spotlight to all of a sudden, they're in it. Guys like (tight end) Charlie Gantt, guys like (wide receiver) Blair White. (Cornerback) Johnny Adams. I could just go on and on and on. (Safety) Marcus Hyde. So people that have stepped to the front. Certainly Blair White has made his presence known, not just last year at the end of the season, but this year with big catches. I can go back to the Northwestern game, the Michigan game, the Wisconsin game - he's had big catches throughout. I think we have good balance from our wide receivers right now. You've seen all of them get the ball and do some good things out there.
On having (wide receiver) Keshawn Martin back in the lineup after missing the last two games with an injury...
Keshawn Martin has been a big play guy for us. He gets in there as the fourth wide receiver and he's a true freshman. He has great speed, great jumping ability and great ball awareness. Along with (B.J.) Cunningham, (Mark) Dell, (Deon) Curry and Blair White, it really gives us five guys who can go in and out of there and play well, and who feel comfortable with the ball.
On if the receiving corps is as healthy as it's been all season...
That's probably pretty fair to say. Because of the injuries, we've played other guys...Blair White is probably the one guy that's maintained his level of play throughout. The other four have been in and out. But they're all healthy right now.
On placekicker Brett Swenson...
Last year there was a couple of kicks he missed slightly. I think he has great confidence right now, and I think that was formed during the summer. So many times when you're in a situation where you're called upon to win a game, which happened last year, where every single point was just crucial for us, I think you take that upon yourself, and it's a different experience than kicking the ball when you're up or down by two touchdowns. So we had a lot of close games last year, and I think that experience helped him this year, and he's come through in the clutch the entire year. He's been great.
I think he's comparable to Paul Edinger. Also Mike Nugent, who was at Ohio State when I was there. Those are two great guys I would compare him with. Aaron Bates (holder) gives him a sense of calmness out there. The two of those guys sort of go hand in hand. Our snapper, Alex Shackleton, has been excellent as well. You can put all of those factors in there. It's really not just one guy - the snap has to be on time, the hold has to be perfect, so it's all three of those guys that have got the job done.
On Javon Ringer and if the rest has helped him and his burst...
I think so. He was a little wore down at the tail end of the season, probably because he went through a virus and he lost about 15 pounds (week of Wisconsin game on Nov. 1). So he was a little bit weak at that point. I think he's come back. He's back to his normal playing weight and he has his burst back.
On the legacy of the senior class...
I think that the legacy of this senior class is that when we came to close games, they won them. We didn't the year before, we got to a bowl game and we raised expectations and gained back some respect, but with this year's seniors, we've been able to win the close football games. If you look at the Iowa game and you look at the Wisconsin game, we found a way, and that's the difference of being 7-5 and 9-3.
NEWS AND NOTES: Several players from the team went to Islands of Adventure Theme Park at Universal Studios after Saturday's practice...following Sunday's practice, the entire team participated in a Best Buy Shopping Spree as part of their bowl gift from Florida Citrus Sports. Players were turned loose with a $400 gift card to be spent at a local Best Buy, and Best Buy will ship the players' gifts home at no extra cost.
