Post-Game Quotes
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 19, 2008
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
On his overall impressions of the game...
First of all, I thought it was a great day and a great crowd. We came out of here healthy, so that's a positive thing. There were about 30,000 people here today, and we had about 500 young people here this morning for our Kid's Day. As far as how we played and everything, I thought we had pretty good execution from all three of our quarterbacks, we caught the ball in traffic very well, we had a limited amount of turnovers, a couple of offsides penalties that we need to take care of, but we held onto the football. I thought we played hard and it came down to a competitive situation in the end, and that's what you like to see. I like what's going on and I like our attitudes.
On where this year's team is compared to last year's at this same point...
There's more recall. We've lost some great players, and we're filling those gaps. I thought a lot of guys took a step forward today. B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell played very, very well, and Chris D. Rucker made some big plays. We have to solidify some things, but in the long run, we are ahead of where we were.
On the significance of the game ending on a competitive note...
I think it was important for our guys. When you go out to practice, you always have to have a goal in mind. We're always going to try and make it competitive. This was real, it wasn't a phony little scrimmage game.
On the lack of rushing offense...
I think you have to look at the defense. We played pretty well up front defensively and applied some pressure to the quarterback. I also thought we tackled very well. We've tackled very well all spring, and the same thing held true. Our linebackers are active and can run.
On the team needs to improve in the coming weeks...
We have to continue to solidify the offensive line, get production from the wide-outs and continue to grow at the back-up quarterback position. I think we punted pretty well and we kicked pretty well. We are trying to lay a foundation here and August is around the corner and we'll assess that as we get there. We'll look at the entire spring and critique it, and then have some answers.
On the play of the two back-up quarterbacks...
They both did some good things out there and they both had a couple errors. They throw the ball well and they are getting comfortable with the system. They threw on rhythm today, which is exciting.
Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer
His overall thoughts on the game...
It was fun. When you know the guys on the other side of the ball, it's kind of a personal game, so that made it fun.
On how he feels he's improved so far for the upcoming season...
I feel like I've matured as a quarterback, going through my reads, reading defenses and other stuff like that. It was what I wanted to get out of it. The last few practices, I've just been trying to get better every day.
On what impressed him about the game...
I thought, overall, it was a real good game. Both teams battled back and forth. I thought the young receivers stepped up and did a real good job, so did both of our quarterbacks. Blair White did a great job, I think people underestimate him. I think the receivers did a great job altogether.
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Kirk Cousins
On his overall feelings...
It was really fun. Finally being able to go out there in the stadium felt like football again.
On what to expect from the team in the fall...
I really feel like we are headed in the right direction with Coach Dantonio, and that we are going to build on what we did last year.
On how he rates his progress...
I feel like I have a lot of learning to do. There were a lot of things today, even though we won. I need to get this experience and learn from my mistakes. We'll go into fall camp ready to do and keep working from there.
On the amount of weight he has gained...
It's been a gradual process. I played my senior year at about 171-172, and when I came here I was at about 180-185. Now I'm up to about 197. So I'm hoping that I'll put some more on over the summer and be about 205 going into the fall. I'll keep working hard in the weight room with Coach Manny and we'll see how it goes.
On his assessment of his performance...
I made a lot of mistakes, there's no doubt about that. Fortunately the guys around me were able to help me out. It was just fun to get out here and play a game. I have a long way to go, though.
On how he sees the competition for the No. 2 quarterback...
It's pretty close right now. I haven't gotten a direct word from the coaches since spring ball started. They told us we were even going into spring ball. Foles is a great guy, and it's a healthy competition. I really trust him out there, so I'm going to compete against him, but at the same time we're both going to treat each other with respect and dignity in the process.
Red-shirt freshman wide receiver B.J. Cunningham
On the play of the receivers today...
Our receivers were killing out there today; we all played well. Devin Thomas was a big loss, but we have some guys that are ready to fill his shoes and step up.
On what he expects from his fellow receivers in the upcoming season...
We have a lot of fast guys who can catch the ball, so we should be good. We're all real close; we all came in together. We're around each other all the time, we have good chemistry with the quarterbacks. It should be a good year.
On the chemistry that the receivers have developed...
We're together all the time. Mark (Dell) and I were suitemates and we're probably going to live together next year. We hang out with the Rucker boys all the time. Carl (Grimes), Blair (White) and all of them, we're always hanging out together, so we have good chemistry.
Sophomore linebacker Greg Jones
On the team's emotions during the game...
Nobody was yelling at each other, not once during the entire game did anyone yell at one another. We were all sticking together and figuring things out and trying to stop them.
On how the team has improved since the bowl game...
I think we realized what we were doing wrong in the bowl game and the other games when we lost by seven points or less. I think we just came together and realized what we need to do to play better. Our off-season workouts have been hard, but we came together as a team and just kept pushing each other to make sure we finish.
On the matchup between the green and white squads...
I think the matchup was even. They had a good defensive line and we had a good offensive line. It was a good game, it was fun, and I'm going to look back on this as a fun time. I would never give this up for the world.
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Nick Foles
On playing today...
It was a lot of fun being out here in a game situation in front of a crowd. This crowd was great. I got to see what things I need to work on. I saw a lot of good things out of our team, so that was really neat.
On what he needs to work on...
My progression, making it quicker. A quicker release, learning the defense better, blitzes and things like that. You can always get better.
On how he played today...
It's a work in progress. There were times when I felt really comfortable and other times when I got really frustrated. Overall, I have a lot to work on and I am looking forward to this summer.
On Kirk Cousins playing...
I thought he played great. I was really impressed and proud of how he played.
On playing for both teams...
You go to one team, score a touchdown for that team, go to the other and cheer for them too. It was fun, different because you don't really know who to root for, but it was fun playing with all the players.
Senior safety Otis Wiley
On being a senior captain and leading the team to a win...
It is good to know that everyone is looking up to me and Jesse and we just lead by example. We fought back - we had a lot of penalties though. But we won the game so I'm happy. Brian Hoyer is probably mad now, but in the end we all played well.
On where the team is now compared to last spring...
We know so much more. We jelled together coming off of last season. We ended on a good note, and we have been together now with the coaching staff for two years. It is a positive thing for us.
On the interception return at the end...
It would have been better if I had scored, but we won the game. Brian Hoyer tried to tackle me. I hope I drug him a little bit. It was all for fun and games.
Sophomore wide receiver Mark Dell
On the quarterbacks...
I try to get chemistry with all of the quarterbacks. At the end of practice, we all have to play on the same team so we have to get our chemistry up. The quarterbacks, to me, looked great. [Brian] Hoyer on the opposite end made some nice throws so that the receiver couldn't do anything but catch the ball. Our quarterbacks did what they had to do as well.
On the spring game as a whole...
It was just fun. Everything was exciting, from the first snap to the end of the game, it was an exciting game. The receivers on both sides really impressed me today. It was just a good turnout.
On this spring compared to last...
We just have more confidence and we're more relaxed out there. When you start as a freshman, you get a little nervous sometimes. I just came out here, relaxed, and did what I had to do to make plays.
I definitely think that we're a little more ahead. The team we have has bonded a little bit more. We went to the bowl game and we didn't get the win; we just came together after the bowl game and said that we're going to get the win this time.
