Post-Game Quotes: Michigan
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio
Opening statement...
First of all, I thought it was a great effort by our football team, and I want to congratulate them. They played extremely hard and came out and did what had to be done. Great job by our defense. Great job by our coaching staff getting our players ready to play. We limited them yard wise. Big play by RJ Williamson in the second half to score. Big play by Cook to Lippett. So two big plays in the second half, and we capped one off at the end as well. I just thought our guys played extremely focused. I would say that focus is the right way to put that. We wanted to make sure that we measured up. We understood all week that just because we've won in the past does not mean we are going to be entitled. We wanted to stay confident and grounded in what we were doing and focus on the task at hand. I thought we were able to do that. A lot of guys had outstanding performances.
On the emotion of the first and last touchdown drives.
The first touchdown drive and series had a big play from Lippett as I remember. We sort of grounded it down there and came up with a big play to get it in the endzone. I thought especially how the game started, it was just another moment of focus for our football team. This is what we were here to do, and this is what we needed to do and this is what we were able to do. The score stayed the same for a while until we were able to get the second one at the end of the first half. It was really a 7-3 game until about 20 seconds to go in the half. Again, these games are a lot closer than the score would indicate. I always say that. At the end of the day, I thought our team played very well. As far as the score at the end, we knew we were going to pop one. They had everyone up there so we popped one. Just felt like we needed to put a stake in them. You might as well just come out and say what you are feeling at some point because you can only be diplomatic for so long. The little brother stuff, all the disrespect, they didn't have to go in that direction. We try to handle ourselves with composure. It doesn't come from the coach; it comes from the program. To throw a stake down in our back yard out here and coming out there like they are all that, it got shoved the last minute and a half. We weren't trying to get a field goal, that wasn't the M.O. If our guys could get it in, we were going to get it in.
On winning six of seven games in the rivalry...
I like to say six of eight. We have been better. It is never over. This is an ongoing process. This is not something that lays dormant. Michigan has a great program, and I don't want to disrespect them in that respect. They are going to play extremely hard, and they will be ready next year. It will be a great game next year. It is down there, so we will have to come ready to play. There are no givens in this game. On whether or not the incident at the start light his team... No, it didn't light our team. We were focused when we came out for the football game. It certainly didn't deter it. It is as it is. Now all our players who are playing for the first time in their life and are on the sidelines for the first time in their life, now they know what we talk about. Now they know.
On Connor Cook's run on the first drive...
When he does something like that, it is going to bring a lot of adrenaline and enthusiasm to our football team. It was a power run and he got his foot down and got vertical. It was a good play call and good concept, and a big play on that drive.
On RJ Williamson's performance...
RJ played very well last week and earned the start. A young player playing well bodes well for the future as we go through this. It is always about playing the best guy. He knows what he is doing out there. This is a play that will be remembered for a long time and there will be a lot of highlights from that play. I thought he played extremely well. He was focused and had a great week of practice and is a very good football player. We have a lot of good football players. Congratulations to him. He is an outstanding young man. When he made that transition, he never sat and moped about it, he just got ready to play.
On the playoff coming into play when play-calling at the end of games...
Not this time. I am not trying to be funny. Not this time. This is embedded. You need to understand that this is our football team, and that is theirs. I understand that dynamics that are a part of that. That does not mean I dislike them personally, but I understand the dynamic that go with this. This is about a group of people here and a group of people there, and this is the way it has been. I am just carrying on the tradition here that has been in existence for quite some time.
On the intensity level being replicated vs. Ohio State...
We don't have to match it until two weeks from now. We will come down from this and ground ourselves again and get ready to play Ohio State. Should be a great football game. We will be fresh.
On Darian Hicks and Taiwan Jones' play...
I thought Taiwan Jones played outstanding. I saw him go up in the air a few times and make some big plays. He was aggressively blitzing. He is the Mike linebacker so the different zone plays go to him if they are running up inside. He was crucial to some stops. Darian played very well. They went after him a little bit you know, big target. He held his own and played extremely well. I think collectively as a group, it was a great game plan by all of our coaches. We played extremely well. If it is difficult to score, you have a chance. I think they score with four or four and a half to go and still needed three scores. We were safe, but nothing ever feels safe, I just want to tell you.
On Jeremy Langford...
Jeremy was banged up a little earlier in the year, and we had games where we got ahead and he only got eight or 10 carries, so we didn't use him as much. Obviously today he was put to work. I thought Nick Hill and Delton Williams also ran well. Jeremy ran the ball as a work horse and is a very, very good football player. He has got some power and is a solid 205 that can break a big one. He is a senior, so he has all of those things working for him.
On whether or not it is a good time to have a bye week...
I don't know. We will find out in two weeks. I think that certainly, we are eight games in and going into the stretch of November when you have to make a championship run. First one up is Ohio State so that will be a test for us. We still have four games to go, and all of them will be exciting and great games.
On whether or not he will sit back and enjoy this game...
Yeah I will do that tonight.
Michigan Head Coach Brady Hoke
Opening Statement
"Obviously, not the results we worked for. Putting 11 points on the board and giving up 35, that's not what we're accustomed to. We made some progress during the week we thought, but we've got to go back to work. We didn't tackle as well as we needed to at all. Give them some credit, they're a good football team. We knew that coming in. Great rivalry. All those things that we need to get back to work on are things that are important for us this next week. That's tackling, that's our front seven playing better. Didn't think we played as well. And then offensively, we had some opportunities. Had some turnovers that we don't want to have. So when you look at it, we didn't play how we needed to play and give them credit."
On his frustration after losing to Michigan State for the third time in four years
"Well you want to win more. So is that frustrating? Yes you want to win more."
On Michigan's missed opportunities on offense
"There were some (missed chances) in execution and making plays. Especially In games like this, the team that makes the most plays, breaks a tackle, has a good run, makes a catch, those things. We had some opportunities, some shots at some big plays. That changes the momentum, but we've got to finish and we've got to execute."
On Michigan State's touchdown at the end of the first half
"Well I still think coming out in the third quarter, it was (still close). Again, we've done this earlier. We've got to stop somebody before halftime, momentum-wise and all those things. Not getting it done. At halftime, our kids in here and how they were interacting with each other and some of the adjustments that were made, they were really positive."
On Michigan's run defense
"I thought we played the run better. I think when you look at the tape, there's some things that I can tell you we did and didn't do well. We've got to coach that better, that's a big part of it. I thought we didn't tackle very well. Some open holes and open spots, guys have to step up and tackle. "
On his post-game message to the team
"Number one, we're all very disappointed and we should be. It's a rivalry game it's a Big Ten game. So that's always part of it, it always starts there. The message also is we're going back to work. That's what we have and we have each other. This has been a very close-knit football team, a very hardworking football team. I know tomorrow when we get back in there, they'll go right back at it."
On Michigan State's final touchdown drive to make the score 35-11
"We had 11 guys out there, they had 11 guys out there. We're trying to compete, they're trying to compete. That's what athletics and competition is."
On one of Michigan's players putting a stake in the ground during pregame
"I think I was aware that something happened, but I'm not fully aware. I heard that a young man put a stake in the ground. I think it was Joe."
On fixing the Michigan offense
"I think we've got some fixing to do. There's no doubt that Doug and the offensive staff and the players as much as anything will go back to work and work hard to make it better."
On Michigan being comfortable losing football games
"I would hope they are never comfortable with that. Because they're competitors, they work hard. They like rewards for working hard."
On his anger with the team's performance
"Number one, they did show up. Number two, they played their asses off and played as hard as they could. And for you to say that (they didn't show up), that's a mistake that you're making. These kids work every day; they fight every day for each other. Am I angry? I'm angry when they don't get the rewards that they work so hard for. Yes that makes me angry. I think that we've had opportunities to play better. We've got to do that. At the same time, it always has to start here."
On Shane Morris coming in for one play towards the end of the fourth quarter
"What happened at the end, we wanted Devin to finish the game. I thought it was important. He wanted to finish the game, it was the last time he'll play at Michigan State. "
On the Michigan offense's performance coming out of a bye week
"We've talked about byes a lot. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not so good. If I were to sit here and tell you I thought we would play that way, I would tell you no. That's not how we prepared and how we practiced. We've just got to keep working at it."
On his anger with himself as a coach
"Always. Because I've got to do a better job. See I'm accountable, and that's how I feel. That's it pretty much."
On the play of quarterback Devin Gardner
"He's constantly trying to make a play. I think the pick-six was a pretty athletic play in some regards by the defender. He tried to maybe put it in there in a small window. I think part of it is, he's aggressive. He believes in himself and believes in making plays. (On the pitch play), I think he thought he had something there or he wouldn't have done it. "
On if he could hear the 'Keep Brady Hoke' chants
"During the course of the game, you hear some things. I didn't hear that."
On making the transition from practice to games
"I think some times the execution at the end maybe isn't there as much. I wish I had a better answer, but I do know that we've had really good preparation and very good weeks. Once in a while, things have gone right and there's been too many of them that it hasn't though."
On the Michigan quarterback situation.
"Let us think about it tonight. I think it's Devin's job right now."
Michigan State associate head coach and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi
Opening statement... It's a W...Anytime you get a win against the University of Michigan, it's a big win. Our kids get pumped for every game, whether it's Eastern Michigan or someone else. We're excited for Eastern Michigan; we're excited for everybody we get to play. That's how our kids play every week. We're just proud of those guys. RJ (Willamson) with the pick-six. He had a big game.
On Narduzzi's pride in the defense...
Coach Warner, he's a beauty. He's over here. Coach, sorry you gave up that turnover at the end. I don't really care about the stats. Our kids played tough all day. I think we gave up less than 200 yards. Anytime you do that, against any offense, I don't care who you're playing, that's a good thing...Taiwan Jones had an unbelievable pick down in the red zone. He scooped that thing up and I'm happy for him as well. We did what we needed to, that's what our kids did.
On winning the last six of seven games against Michigan...
I tell you what, we've got a heck of a leader. Mark Dantonio, the things he does during the week, you guys don't get to see all the little things and how he gets our guys motivated during the week. He's a tremendous head football coach, one of the best in the country and Spartan Nation is happy to have him. We've got great leadership.
On RJ Williamson earning the starting position and the performance of the two safeties...
I'll have to go back and look at the tape, but RJ played well last week against Indiana and Montae Nicholson is going to be a great football player. He's still a baby and he's going to be a great player. Trust me, he's going to play a lot of football here in the future. He probably got 25 snaps out there today...We never say, `you're a starter' and then you sit with your role. There's always competition. The beautiful thing about RJ Williamson, guys, is we're on the sideline and making some adjustments in the fourth quarter, I can make adjustments and RJ turns around and he's coaching them up. That's the type of kids we have in this football program. He's not bitter about fighting in the game for a position; he's just a super, super person.
Michigan State offensive coordinator Dave Warner
On the play of senior running back Jeremy Langford
I didn't realize that Jeremy ran 35 times; I was saying I wanted to get Delton Williams and Gerald Holmes in the game; obviously I didn't do that today. Jeremy is playing at a high level, a lot similar to last season, when the Big Ten season rolls around he turns it up. He had a great game, he has been playing good other the last couple of weeks. I think our offensive line deserves a lot of credit as well.
Running with a hot hand...
Yeah, Jeremy has the ability to take it the distance, not that the other guys don't. Jeremy is a little bit more of a guy who can take it the distance any time. It wasn't necessarily going with the hot hand, it was just we were running the football and whoever was in there, we just kept running at them.
Ending the first half with a touchdown... It was very important; the defense did a great job prior to that. They got a three and out and gave us the ball back immediately, we had one timeout. I think we had three minutes left so we took our time and tried to take a little bit of the clock off. Just execute, I don't think there was anything special other than the screen pass that we executed very, very well and got a big play off of that. It seems like we did a pretty good job at the end of the first half, executing a two-minute situation at the end of the half. It was obviously a big momentum booster being able to go into halftime with a last minute score.
On junior Connor Cook running over a Michigan player...
We want our quarterback to run with authority and I think there are times when you get into the secondary as long as you are leading with the left shoulder. We want him to be a threat; I think over the last couple of weeks we've sort of established him to be a little bit more of a threat. It makes us better offensively if he is a threat.
Junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun
On what was said in the huddle following Jeremy Langford's fumble...
Sudden change. That's one of the goals that's on our sheet, sudden change. We just tried to go out there and not focus on that. Adversity is going to hit and the biggest thing is how do we strike back. We tried to come out there with clear heads. We dominated against their offense and make plays.
On what another victory against Michigan means to the program...
I'm happy for Coach Dantonio because it gives him an opportunity to have these wins against them. Not only that, but I love coming out here and competing for Coach Dantonio. He definitely gave us the opportunity to be here, and I would like to give back to him. It was a rivalry game and it's definitely big here at Michigan State, so to get that win is something special.
On how MSU will celebrate the win...
We'll be back at it tomorrow. We just want to get better. We have a lot of areas that we need to clean up so tomorrow will be a day where we come in, we're going to get better, watch film and better understand what we need to be better at for the week coming up.
On when he heard about the spear or stake...
I honestly didn't hear about it. I didn't even know. The Star Spangled Banner was going on at the moment, so I was focusing on thanking this nation for having the opportunity to play.
On Michigan's touchdown...
We were upset about that because we definitely don't want anyone to come into our stadium and score. Things happen. Like I said, we have to go back in and watch the film and better understand how we need to correct things. They have playmakers just like we did so the biggest thing is how are we going to stop them. We'll watch film again, and we'll better in the upcoming week.
On when the focus turns to Ohio State...
Maybe Monday because tomorrow's going to be corrections against Michigan and how we can improve on what we didn't do so well and how we can be better for next game.
Sophomore offensive lineman Jack Conklin
On if Michigan's struggles take anything away from the win...
Not at all. It's the Michigan game. It's a rivalry game. Everyone plays to the best of their abilities. Everyone's pumped up; it's going to be a tough game.
On how much Connor Cook's early run motivated the offensive line...
It's huge. It's awesome to see a quarterback running out there and not slide. It's great.
On if he saw Michigan put a stake in the field and if it led to the last touchdown...
We all saw them throw the stake in the ground. I saw them throw it in the ground. It just fueled us. Everyone was angry about it, obviously. We knew they were going to do something like that so we just came out and played our game. It was right at the beginning of the game when they came out of the tunnel. Last year, they came out and jumped on our `S' so we came out and wanted to stay focused and play our game.
On if he thinks Michigan doesn't respect MSU...
It's a rivalry. Right now, we're the ones winning, so they're not going to be happy about it obviously. We're going to be a classy organization, that's what we're about.
Junior quarterback Connor Cook
On the play of MSU's offensive line...
The o-line played awesome. It was the best game they've played all year. You saw the holes out there, you saw the holes Jeremy (Langford) was running in. You saw how great the pass blocking was. I think the game was won up front, I think the line won the game for us for sure. Obviously defense played awesome as well, but our o-line played they're best game of the year so far.
On his run early in the game ...
I talked to coach previously, and he said heading into the Purdue game that he wanted to run me a little more. I don't think anything other than a quarterback lowering his shoulder and running over a guy gets a team more hyped. If there's one thing that can get the team going, it it's someone lowering his shoulder and trying to be physical. I had that in the back of my mind and I feel like being a QB, for my running ability, people don't expect to see that. It got the sideline going, it got the crowd into it. It gave us a little bit more momentum at the time.
On the dominating fashion of today's victory and how MSU has changed the rivalry since 2007...
It means the world. Like Kurtis (Drummond) said, we don't just play for us, we play for our families and players that have played for us in the past. We want to win every single game. The hype is a little bit more for this game because it's a battle for the state. I'm privileged to be on a team who's done so well against Michigan these past couple of years. We're not going to look at it any other way. We're not going to look at it differently. I think we're just going to go with the same approach every single week.
On MSU's last scoring drive...
I think everyone saw when they ran out and stuck the dagger on our grass and disrespected us right out of the gate. We weren't having that. If we have the ball, we're trying to score. They ran out and I know one of the players had a spear or a dagger or something and just spiked it on our grass. Right before kickoff and disrespecting us.
Senior running back Jeremy Langford
On if Michigan did anything different on defense...
No. The offensive line did a great job up front keeping people out of the box.
On his workload today...
Whenever the coaches trust me to carry the ball, my job is doing that. The coaches trust me, and I did my best with my carries.
Michigan State junior defensive lineman Lawrence Thomas
Opening statement
We came into the game with an aggressive edge. We knew what we had to do today as a team and as a unit. We had to execute everything our coaches gave to us and we did.
On slowing down the Wolverines offense...
You know, we have been practicing all week; we were trying to not let them score. Even though we looked good all game, they scored on a good run. All week in practice we harped on not letting them score. So that's what we came out and did.
Using the game as a building block
This game is really going to help a lot. We will continue to go one game at a time. So we are going to build and look forward to Ohio State.
Michigan State junior cornerback Trae Waynes...
On play of RJ Williamson...
RJ [Williamson] played a great game today. When he got that pick-6 it really helped us out and started our momentum. It was a great play by him. His whole play today was a statement game. He came out and was really enthusiastic and he played very passionately today. We all fed off of it.
On the importance of this rivalry win...
It means a lot to us; as a program it's huge. We don't do it just for us, we do it for a lot of the guys, like prior Spartans. We had a lot of guys come practice, and they just said thank you; it meant so much to them. So it means a lot to the front guy to get that `W'.
We had a great defensive performance, but we have to step up and make plays, as well, and keep better hands on, even if they are put in a better position. I would say this is one of our better defensive games.
On the pregame incident and his reaction...
Yes, I saw it, but I just laughed it off because back at home we had rivalries, as well, and they acted the same way. You don't want to get too emotionally attached because it throws you off, so I just shrugged it off and played my game.
Well, it's just Michigan. It's what you expect from them. It really didn't take anyone by surprise."
They [his teammates] were pissed off, I definitely noticed that. Especially the guys from the state of Michigan, they took offense to it, as well. I mean I took offense, too, but like I said, it's what they do, so it really didn't surprise me.
On Michigan player putting a spear in the ground...
Yeah, I saw it, but it's just them being them. We don't really need to go into that. If they want to use that to hype themselves up, they can. We know what we need to do and we're going to do our talking on the field and make a statement. I really didn't even care. It's just them trying to get attention. I just kind of laughed at it.
On the play of Darian Hicks...
I noticed that they went his way a couple times. He really stepped up today. He's making a name for himself.
On goal to keep Michigan from scoring a touchdown...
That was our goal the whole time. We were kind of upset when they did score. That's the game of football. There are going to be ups and downs, but we just have to capitalize. We did get the win and that's the ultimate goal.
Michigan State senior defensive end Marcus Rush
On the stake going into the ground...
Yeah, I saw it. I don't know what they're [Michigan] doing. It gives the [Michigan State] freshman a little taste of what they're going to be dealing with the next three or four years. I guess I'm kind of happy they did that, for the younger guys. It makes them understand a little bit more of what this game was all about.
On statement they wanted to make in this game...
Just come out and dominate. We didn't want to look back at what we did last year. We know we have a new defense. We knew we had to stop the run. We know if they have Devin Gardner back there passing the ball then we're in good position. We're confident in our third down package. That definitely showed today.
On getting the win over Michigan as a senior...
It means everything. It's amazing to walk out of here at the end of the year knowing we beat them again. I won't have to look back and think about losing to Michigan when I'm older. It's something special for sure. It's awesome. Beating Michigan always feels great. It's always special playing them and the entire year we're working on beating them. They're always in our head in whatever we're doing.
On what this is starting to say about Michigan State football...
It shows the quality of the program, inside and out. We've got an amazing staff. Athletic Director to Coach Dantonio. All the coaching positions and all of the players that they brought in. I mean it just goes to show you what kind of coach Dantonio is and what he's done in the past 4 and a half years that I've been here.
Senior Linebacker Taiwan Jones
On the call for targeting that was reversed in his favor
I was pretty upset about the call. More upset that I was possibly going to get ejected. Luckily it worked out in my favor.
On his interception
I figured I knew it was coming so I just read it pretty well. The d-lineman swallowed up the running back which left him just to throw the ball. I just happened to be there. I knew I had it. We practice those types of catches in practice when we do ball drills. I felt myself scoop it up and I knew it didn't hit the ground. On the Michigan players planting a spear on the field before the game
We found that really disrespectful. Even though we don't like them we wouldn't disrespect them. We took that as an insult so that's why we came out with more fire.
On his overall performance
I thought I did things pretty well. I thought I did a good job of communicating and getting my guys lined up. I was really happy with that and hopefully I can continue to do even better.
Senior Wide Receiver Tony Lippett
On the Michigan players planting a spear on the field before the game
I think it was 35, I don't know his name. As they we're coming out they grabbed a spear and nailed it in the ground. I don't know who all saw it but I saw it. We took that personally because they consistently do things like that. It's okay because we just go out there and play in between the lines.
On whether having the bye next week comes at a helpful time
Yes, it's a pretty good time to have a bye week. We want to enjoy this win and then as times approach we're going to get ready for Ohio State.
On his experience over his four years playing in the Michigan rivalry
It's been a long process. When I first got here I didn't really know how it was until we played them. At this point now I know how it is. I've been in battles with them. We respect each other, but we don't get along. That builds up all year. I know it's always going to be a tough, hard-fought game, whenever we play them.
On the team's approach coming into the game
We wanted to take it one drive at a time. We didn't want to get too up or get too down. We had a good drive to start the game, but the key was to stay focused and keep our heads in the game.
Senior Safety RJ Williamson
On the significance of the pick-six he had
It's not just important this game but it's important every game. I had the opportunity to compete and help this ball club win games. When you're playing with a leader like Kurtis Drummond next to you, you get yourself in the right positions to make plays. It felt good to come out here and get this win.
Senior Safety Kurtis Drummond
On whether he thought this was the best the safety tandem of himself and RJ Williamson played all year I would say so. We were just back there being comfortable and having fun. When you're comfortable you're able to fly around and help each other. We definitely had chemistry back there today.
On whether it's surprising anymore to beat Michigan
We're out here trying to win every game. This game just means a little bit more. It's all about bragging rights, and who owns this state. To win this game we're definitely excited, we won't underplay it at all. We're all very excited and had a great celebration in the locker room.
On whether Connor Cook set a tone for the team after he lowered his shoulder on a big-hit in the first drive
He really set the tone. Seeing Connor go out there and lower his shoulder like that got everyone excited. Just knowing Connor and the type of person he is; he brings energy to the whole team. When we see him make a big play like that it really sets the tone for the physical game we're trying to play. On bouncing back after not being able to make big plays in the last few games
That's just football. Sometimes you are going to make plays and sometimes you're not. Today everything was just going my way. I pride myself on being able to make big plays, so anytime I don't make plays it's not like me.
Michigan Player Quotes
Michigan senior defensive end Frank Clark
On the rivalry...
I feel for the guys that have to come back because right now they're [Michigan State] on a two-game winning streak against us. It's hard, but, at the end of the day, we have to go back to work. It's not the last game; it's not the end of the season We've got more season left to play. I'm going to continue to fight for my underclassman.
On Michigan State scoring late in the fourth quarter...
That's something you expect. It's a rivalry game. Everyone has something to prove, and they want to prove something. I guess they got their job accomplished. They did what they had to do tonight and they got the job done.
On head coach Brady Hoke's message to team after game...
We've got more season left. It's one game. They got the better half. Whether we didn't prepare well enough or we didn't come out to play in the second half. The defense didn't execute too well on stopping the run. We gave up over 150 yards. We can't do that. Any time you do that, you're not going to win many games.
On preparing for the remainder of the season...
We've just got to go in the lab and figure out what's wrong. We really haven't played excellent second half defense this year. That's something we have to improve upon, and that's something we have to work on in practice to get better at. Whatever it is, we have to figure it out. That's why we have this time tomorrow and the rest of the week.
Michigan sophomore running back De'Veon Smith
On problems with offense...
We've just got to learn not to turn the ball over. The only thing I say to Devin [Gardner] is "stay positive." That's the only thing I ever say to him.
On the running game...
For me, I just wasn't reading the holes really well. That's just really it. I wasn't reading the holes well.
On progress in individual play since playing Penn State... I feel like I ran a lot better than I did against Penn State. I would say yes.
On goals for the rest of the season...
We still have our goals in front of us with winning. We just have to come back tomorrow and look at our film and see what we did wrong and see what we can learn from it.
On whether this loss hurts more because of the rivalry...
Not really. No. A loss is a loss and it's going to hurt just as bad.
Michigan senior linebacker Jake Ryan
On what he thought was the difference in the game
"On defense, we didn't stop the run. That's what we need to do and create more turnovers. Too many missed tackles I think."
On not being able to capitalize on opportunities
"You can't look at it like that, like the offense was doing something bad. As a defense, we competed."
On where the team goes from here
"Tomorrow, you have to start working again."
On the mood in the locker room
"Disappointing. This is my last one as a senior. We're down. It's a rivalry game and once you lose a rivalry game, it's tough. We're going to go in tomorrow and work."
On being able to build off this game
"You learn every single you play. Our front seven, we didn't have as good of a game as we intended. So, we got to go in there, see what we did wrong, and keep taking those steps forward to get better every single day."
On the Michigan State running game
"It's everything we've seen and we watched film on. It's just a matter of executing."
On the outside noise leading up to the game
"You have to let it go and ignore it. That's what you have to do. They don't know what we do behind the scenes. Got to keep moving forward."
On if he could hear the 'Keep Brady Hoke' chants
"No."
On the play of the defense
"On defense, we didn't stop the run. That's what we needed to do and too many missed tackles I think was one of the key factors for the defense."
On Brady Hoke's postgame message
"We're going in to work tomorrow."
On the turning point in the game
"It was just not executing. We need to execute. That's the bottom line."
