Michigan State Redbox Bowl Player Quotes: Practice 2

SAN FRANCISCO -- Several Michigan State players met with the media Thursday afternoon at the team hotel in San Francisco after the Spartans' second practice in the Bay Area in prep for the upcoming Redbox Bowl against Oregon on New Year's Eve.

Michigan State is looking for its second straight bowl win and sixth in the last seven tries as the Spartans take on Oregon in the Redbox Bowl on Monday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. EST/12 p.m. PST from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game will be televised nationally on FOX, with Joe Davis, Brady Quinn and Bruce Feldman on the call. The Spartans finished the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and went 5-4 in the Big Ten, while Oregon went 8-4 overall and placed fourth in the Pac-12 North Division with a 5-4 conference mark. It will be the first-ever matchup between the two schools in a bowl game.

The following is a select transcript from Thursday's media availability:

Sophomore running back Connor Heyward
On shaking off the rust from not playing or practicing in awhile...
Not really rust, just getting back into game shape. With going home, you sit down and hang out a lot, and eat a lot, you're not really on the go as much as you are when you're at school and practicing like we did before break. With yesterday's practice, if you want to call it rust, we knocked the rust off, and today was kind of more about executing and going out there in kind of an all-effort type of day.

On how these are the last five practices together with the seniors and it being a bridge between end of this season and preparation for next season for younger players like himself...
I think the seniors have all gone out there, and some of them have the chance to go play in the NFL but some of them don't, that's just how life is. But they've all gone out there and led us in the right direction and been very positive, whether we don't want to go out there or not, but you know you have to lean on the guy next to ya.

On having a versatile role this season versus what his expectations were...
Coming in, I didn't know what to expect, they'd talked about using me at outside linebacker, or running back, or the outside slot receiver, like where R.J. Shelton was used, but I trusted the coaches here, and I still do, and I fully believe in what they have in store for me and my teammates. I just go out there and prepare like I'm starting regardless of if I am or not.

Junior wide receiver Darrell Stewart
On bowl projections being all over the place and reaction to when announced that Spartans would be in Redbox Bowl in San Francisco...
I was happy. It's a blessing to be able to come to California again, after not having the season that we expected, but still being blessed to come to California. San Francisco is an amazing place to be, there's nice sight seeing and great people. It's nothing to be down about, I feel like the biggest feeling among the team is we're excited to be in California again. We get to experience another great spot, it might not be as warm as last time (in San Diego), but it's still a great place to be.

On bowl practices after not playing in almost a month...
I just look at it like being able put on pads and play again is a blessing, because you've got some people out there who didn't make a bowl game, so I come out with the aspect and the mindset that I get to play another down, another play, another game in my pads, so I'm excited every time I got out. No matter if my body is sore or what, I'm just happy to get to go out there and play again.

On spending these are the last few practices together with the seniors and it being a bridge between end of this season and preparation for next season for the him and the other younger players...
I feel like it's definitely a bridge because just being able to come back and give it all for the Spartan fans, and I also feel like it's a big end to the season for the seniors that won't be here next season. One of my best friends, Felton Davis, with his injury and what happened, and him being a senior he's not able to come back, so most of the things I play for are for those guys that aren't able to come back and put on the Spartan jersey again. So I'm definitely dedicating this last game and these last week to those guys.

Senior linebacker Andrew Dowell
On coming to California for second year in a row...
It's a beautiful state, great weather out here. The Redbox Bowl Committee has been very accommodating to us, so we're looking forward to the game and hopefully going out and getting a win.

On what this bowl game being the last game of the season means for the team...
We have the opportunity to close out the season on a strong note. This will be our last time together as the 2018 team. This has been a good year for us, we've had our ups and downs, but just to be able to close out the book on a good chapter.

On what to expect from the Spartans in the game...
We're going to come out and fly around, we're getting guys back healthy, so hopefully that will help the offense fire on all cylinders. As a defense, we know they (Oregon) have a great offense, and are really balanced with their passing attack and running attack, so as a defense, we just need to come together and play as one.

Junior safety David Dowell
On overcoming all the injuries all season to get a bowl victory...
I think it will take some of the same things that it took for us to get wins throughout the season, we're going to have to play great on defense and be an opportunistic offense like Coach Dantonio always says, and then just finishing. Coach D always talks about finding the inches, and just making sure that even on those intricate little plays, we come out on top.

On what to expect from the Spartans in the game...
One thing that Coach D has been talking about in practice is having a lot of energy and enthusiasm, so hopefully that will carry over to the game, because that always helps, especially when it gets down to the fourth quarter when it comes to those critical moments of the game to be able to push us forward.

On any fatigue issues with traveling and practicing on same day for first day and practicing again on second day...
Yesterday was kind of getting acclimated and everything like that, and then today we started rolling in practice. You just kind of push that aside mentally and push through everything physically.

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