Post-Game Quotes: Indiana
10/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio:
Opening statement...
"Big game for our football team to get our sixth win. I thought the football game went in a different way a little bit. It was very competitive early on. Big plays by Indiana by a couple big-play players. Tevin Coleman then also Shane Wynn. Our best for Jason Spriggs, who went down. Thoughts and prayers are with him.
"I thought our football team played tremendously well. We talked about the fourth quarter issue, but to me, it was more about keeping an edge when things started to turn and when there would be adversity how would we react. And I thought we reacted extremely well at the end of the second quarter. Two big touchdown drives at the end that gives us an 11-point lead and then the third quarter went our way. Exciting finish.
"We were able to run the football. Possession time was about 40/20. We ran the ball for 300-plus, passed the ball for 300-plus. Had one turnover which led to a score, but then come up with two turnovers. So just an outstanding job by our guys.
"As far as the 70th victory, it represents so much to our football team because it represents longevity, which had not been here since Coach Perles had come back in the 80s. From the first guy that made the decision to come to Michigan State in 2007, that includes the guys decided to stay in 2007 when we came, and that encompasses the guys who came this year, the last guy that signed. It's a group effort, and I appreciate the coaches staying, they've all had opportunities to leave. Our administration, the backing they have given us, our athletic director, president, board of trustees, and Spartan fans in general."
On his wide receivers...
"Yeah, I thought they played outstanding. You know, they made a lot of 50-50 catches. Maybe the play of the game might be early on when MacGarrett Kings makes two plays, two unbelievable plays. One of them he takes the ball away from the defender. Clear it's an interception, it's stuck in the defender's hands and he pulls it out of his hands and takes it. So I thought MacGarrett played extremely well. Tony Lippett with his first catch, same situation. Makes a great catch that was very near an interception. You know, Lippett makes the great catch in the third quarter. Burbridge had a great game. Price with a big catch at the end of the first half. Thought they played extremely well. The ball was thrown well, quarterback creates some and makes a big play. We did what we had to do."
On what changed after Cooks' interception...
"I don't know. They knocked our wide receivers and disrupted our wide receivers on that route and I thought he forced it a little bit. But he comes back and makes a number of great throws and we had some great catches. I thought he did a nice job of creating in the pocket when he didn't have anything to go to."
