Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Conclude Preseason Camp
8/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
(From left) Darien Harris, Jack Allen and Shilique Calhoun have been named the team captains for the 2015 season. (Photo by Dale G. Young, The Detroit News)
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" The Michigan State football team wrapped up preseason camp on Thursday after nearly three weeks of practice for the upcoming season. The Spartans will take the next two days off before reporting back to campus on Sunday to begin game preparations for the Sept. 4 season opener at Western Michigan.
Following Thursday's practice, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio announced the 2015 captains to the team â€" senior center Jack Allen, senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, and senior linebacker Darien Harris.
"This is more about the group of 12 players we've elected to a leadership group," said Dantonio. "From that group, (the team) selected three captains. We'll alternate in one of those other nine every single weekend. It's a little bit more than those three guys leading every weekend, but I think they did a nice job picking the three. Those guys are all guys who have played a lot of football here and have been in the program for five years."
Calhoun was also elected a team captain last season and is just the fourth player at Michigan State under Dantonio to be named a captain on more than one occasion (Kirk Cousins, 2009-11; Greg Jones, 2010-11; Max Bullough, 2012-13).
"I think once you've been elected captain as a junior, that second year you're going to only probably increase what's been going on," said Dantonio on Calhoun. "Kirk Cousins was a three-time captain. Usually it's a senior-dominated type thing. Last year, he [Calhoun] became a captain and he did a great job with it. He's a man of action. There's no question about that. He's always going to be energetic and look at things with a clear mind and put the team first."
QUOTABLE:
Additional quotes from Mark Dantonio following Thursday's practice:
On Darien Harris…
He's a solid guy and he's played a lot of football here for us. He's such a solid person. I think it goes beyond the field sometimes â€" it goes to how they act in the locker room and how they carry themselves. It's tough because we sort of weight the vote and we vote two or three times to make sure that we've got the right three. On the first vote, it was pretty clear that these were the three that they wanted. So, we went in that direction. Again, it's about all 12 of these guys, too. Everyone has a certain amount of leadership qualities among the 12, and they've done a great job with it.
On taking the leadership further than the title…
We all do. The thing about this football team, and we've talked about it since the onset, everybody on our football team has to bring value. They have to bring value in the locker room and on the field as well. If they can't do that, then why are they here? All of our guys take that to heart, I think.
On campus starting to feel like football season…
A little bit. Last night we took the 12 to the band, and it was impressive â€" always is when we go over there. It's about time for football. We've been here for I guess 20 days, whatever it's been, I can't even keep track. It's time to give our guys a break and get their legs back a little bit then start focusing on our next game.
On leadership and chemistry at this point in the preseason…
How they lead will define themselves over the course of the season. I've been very impressed in terms of how they've handled themselves in camp and how they've led in camp and some of the things they've talked about when they've had the opportunity to address our entire football team. When you stand up in front of your peers and talk, there is power in that. You either move up the ladder or move down, sometimes. All of our guys moved up the ladder. It's impressive to see their message to our football team.
On the team chemistry…
I've said from day one here that we've won here because of chemistry. It's been created in the culture here. That chemistry exists within our culture. Because of that, there's energy among our football players. That's never been in question here. When it has, it's been called out â€" usually by them, not me. So, I don't really rank them in terms of this class or that class. We're going to have adverse situations, we're going to have issues. We have to be able to handle our issues on the field or off the field. And that's leadership.
On Jack Allen being the "bad cop"…
You're probably right. He epitomizes what we're trying to do in terms of effort and toughness. He's played a lot of football here. He was an All-American last year, a first-team Big Ten player. He's rock solid as a person.
On having the weekend off…
I really want them to think about what their commitment is to this football team. They can step away from it, but that doesn't mean you step away from what you're doing. You need to step away and get refreshed, but, at the same time, realize that there are challenges ahead. Don't jeopardize the weekend or the challenges ahead with your weekend.
On what Darien Harris adds to the mix…
I think Darien has great relationships across the spectrum of our football team. A little bit of a philosopher maybe. He's been at every level. He's been the guy that has been on scout teams. He's been the guy who's been on special teams. He's been the starter. He's been the guy who is in and out of the starting lineup. He's been a guy who has crossed all spectrums of our football team, and I think he has a real good feel for everything that is going on on our football team in terms of what people are experiencing. He's a dynamic person. He's a very, very good football player.
On Connor Cook's role…
Connor Cook is our quarterback. He drives the car, I don't think there is any question in that. As he goes, we go. It's unfortunate that you can't vote more people in, but I've always tried to say that we're going to take three. I want that fourth guy to rotate. I want all of our guys to walk out at midfield and be a part of that process. He's definitely a leader on this team.
On going to four captains…
We've had four in the past. I think we had four for the first five years, and then we went to three. I think it just sort of turned out that way, and then we found out that it gives more people an opportunity to lead. So, that's the way we've done it.
On Jack's communication development this offseason…
Jack is an easy going guy, believe it or not. He keeps me loose on game day. He can be abrupt at times, just like all of us in this profession. I don't see him being any different than he's been. He's always been a guy who is very well liked on our football team. He's sort of a jokester. He's got a great sense of humor, and he's going to play the game. He's going to come get you.
