Michigan State University Athletics
Player Analysis: Indiana
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 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 at Indiana. The Spartans and Hoosiers will meet Saturday at noon in Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Senior quarterback Brian Hoyer
On the upcoming game at Indiana...
You have to be confident regardless of who you are playing. For them, they are going to be hyped up to come back. They lost at home in a game they probably shouldn't have lost and they are going to have extra motivation so we just have to know that it is going to be a tough environment going in there. They're going to be ready to play. Our running game is working well right now. We have to use that but we have to be balanced.
On getting the receivers and himself more involved...
We have to be balanced. We really don't want Javon (Ringer) carrying the ball 39 times a game. If that is what working and we can do it, they we'll do it. They're probably expecting the run with they way we are running the ball and that will open things up in the passing game. We just have to go out, get some balance and take care of business.
On having Arthur Ray Jr. on campus...
It's an inspiration. You look at what the kid has been through and, when he wasn't here, Coach Dantonio would keep us updated and tell us he called Arthur today and he wanted to know how we were doing, he wasn't worried about himself. To have a guy who is that motivated to get back with his teammates and in college is an inspiration. When you have a rough day, you think about what he has gone through and he is just happy to be here. It really puts things in perspective.
Senior running back Javon Ringer
On how his body is holding up...
Thus far I am still feeling pretty good. Come Sunday after the games there is always the occasional soreness and all the bumps and bruises, but those are usually gone by Monday. Other than that, when a new week starts I am ready to go again.
On how other team's defensive is starting to key in on him...
I am looking forward to that challenge and I am just kind of relying on my guys to give me a little crease. I am also looking forward to that because that will help our offense out more because if all eyes are on me, we still have an amazing quarterback in Brian Hoyer and we have tremendous receivers in Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham and Blair White.
On how his size works to his advantage...
I like my height and being able to have a lower center of gravity than everybody, and I try my best not to let anyone get a real big hit on me and let them get my arm, my leg or a shoulder. I think my running style and size helps me not to take so much punishment out there.
Senior Safety Otis Wiley
On being in the zone this season...
I'm just having fun and I have a higher goal to be playing for. I'm playing for God right now; I'm playing for my teammates. It's more of just I'm not worried about making mistakes, and just making plays instead. The main goal is getting the ball back to the offense, and not having turnovers.
On his family and friends supporting him during games...
In those situations the real true friends do come out because they always encourage you, text you. I have my dad always praying for me, always sending me encouragement but he was always in my corner.
On looking ahead to a future after Michigan State...
I'm just living in the moment now, but of course I'm praying about it and just hoping that I excel and if not I'm trying to get my degree. So I'm going to be here this next semester after football, getting my degree and training of course but I need that degree, I can't come out of here empty-handed. I was trying to graduate in three and a half years, buts that's hard, so I will graduate in May 2009.
Senior Offensive Lineman Jesse Miller
On Indiana's motivation to beat MSU...
They are a good team, and we can't look at them as just losing to Ball State. We have to go out there and do what we know how to do, because they are coming ready for us and ready to get a win against us. I'm sure they're motivated just because they played us last season and didn't get the win. Also because they are coming off a from loss last week, I'm sure they are ready to play and we will give it our best shot against them.
On being a Big Ten title contender...
I believe we should be and everyone should believe it. Now we just have to work for it. I have not been watching the other teams; I have just been focusing on one game at a time for us. As far as what's going on in the conference, we have Indiana this week and that's all I know.
On Indiana's defensive end Greg Middleton...
Of course you have to be more aware of where he is at, and the fact that we have a young tackle on the field that hasn't been against a guy that leads the nation in sacks. We just have to make sure we have all our fundamentals down, he is definitely a great player and we are going to have to bring our best against him.
Red-shirt Freshman Tight End Garrett Celek
On his play this season...
I was really excited and nervous at first, but after I got a few plays under my belt I calmed down and was able to make some plays. When I make catches in the game all that goes through my head is just run and if anyone gets in my way I have to just run through them. It's funny because after the plays are over then I start thinking about what I could have done different, but at the time all I am thinking about is just running. The catch I made against Eastern Michigan kind of helped me out because I was always thinking about getting in a real game situation and what it would be like just to catch the ball and then getting hit really hard. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect but that game got me ready for the rest of the games this season.
On his personal improvement...
Running routes use to be way different for me. But I love doing it and that's the area I think that has changed the most for me. I worked on it over the summer with my brother Brent (who is a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles), and I think that's where I have made the most improvement.
