Spartans Adjusting to Life at Home During Spring Semester
3/30/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – With all classes at Michigan State University being held online for the rest of the spring semester and athletic-related activities on hold until at least May 4 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most of the players on the Spartan football team are at home and getting adjusted to their new daily schedules.
The Spartans were scheduled to start spring practice on March 17, but the Big Ten Conference suspended all organized team activities on March 13. MSU also announced on March 13 that the Green-White Spring Game (April 18) had been canceled.
On Monday, two members of the team's leadership council, Matt Allen and Antjuan Simmons, answered questions from reporters on a conference call to give an update on how the team is handling this unprecedented situation.
Michigan State Offensive Lineman Matt Allen
On how he's been working out at home and if he's been with his brothers, and how he's approaching this time…
Yeah, this is definitely an odd situation, so it's kind of tough to approach things but I'm home with my brother Jack, my brother Brian is out in California getting rehab still; he got injured this past season so he's been rehabbing out in L.A. And then my parents are down in Florida, so it's just been me and Jack at home. Jack's been very helpful. We have little weight racks that in our basement, and I've been working out on that like four days a week and then I'll go outside and usually do stuff on the field three days a week and then usually one more workout on the field. Yeah, usually one more workout on the field and then that's what I've been doing for the most part.
On his reaction to spring practice being canceled and if it was anticipated given everything going on...
Yeah, I mean, I wasn't really anticipating it at all. I don't think anybody, I'm not sure anybody really was. I'm sure there were some people that were but luckily it was, you know, just a spring football season that was canceled. A lot of other athletes that their entire real season was canceled, even basketball they couldn't finish out the rest of the season on what they started and I'm just fortunate that it was during the offseason and not during the season. But at the same time I know that we were still really excited to get to work with the new coaching staff and even though we're not at the building, work is still getting done. We've been having Zoom sessions, three times every week, and then there's been an Eagles meeting with Coach Tucker once a week, and we've really just been getting after things and making sure everybody's staying on top of their stuff and still doing what they need to do even if they're not in the building.
On if the team talks about the potential for there not being college football this fall…
I mean, I've really just been taking it one day at a time, kind of like I said earlier, this is a very unique situation, so I don't know what the outcome will be, so I'm just leaving that in God's hands and doing as much work as I can every day to prepare like we're coming back tomorrow.
On the new offensive philosophy and the new ideas…
I like it; I've agreed with everything that they're putting in, I think there's a lot of good and smart schemes that they're putting in as well. I can't really speak for the defensive side of the ball, but everything that they've been doing on the offensive side has been making a lot of sense to me and I like it. I'm excited for what's to come.
On the toughest thing about trying to implement a new system there and not being in person…
That's a tough question. I mean there's a lot of things that come with that. There's been relationships I've built with my coaches over the past four years and not being able to see them anymore is tough, but I know I'll see them again someday down the road and we'll be able to talk and still see each other, and act like it's been like a week since we hadn't seen each other, if that makes sense. Also with the new coaches coming in I think it gives just like a little bit of life to everybody in the program and just like everybody's... It's kind of like a new start for everybody in the program so everybody's working like they're the guy, and they're the guy to beat. I think it's really lit a fire under everybody and everybody's been coming to work every day. I know for one of my goals this season for during this time is to talk to two to three teammates once a week. And everybody that I've been talking to has been telling me about their workouts and stuff and they've still got that fire and passion in them, so I'm excited for what's coming for the fall.
On his early impressions on new offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic and what he's bringing to the offensive line and the team so far…
Oh yeah, so far I love Coach Kap. He brings a ton of energy every day; he's making sure everybody's on time in meetings as always; just really making sure that everybody's on the same page when it comes to our offense. We've been able to download this app called Learn to Win app, and basically they can just give us quizzes and through the quizzes, we can just learn our offense even better and just in the short time we've had him together, I can tell he's a very intelligent guy and really believes in what he's doing and brings passion every day, which I love to see. Everything I've seen about him, I've liked.
On adapting to a new offensive line coach and if blocking is blocking, or are there any intricacies to learn…
Yeah, I mean there are some things that are similar and then some things that are a lot different. I mean one thing that's a lot different is the lingo that we've been using, so that's been a difficult adjustment, just because over the past four years I've gotten so used to saying things the way that we've always done them, so now that they came in and there's a whole new offense, it's just kind of the biggest adaption so far; just learning the new lingo and stuff. It's basically like learning a new language, at least to me.
On if most teammates have sufficient weight training equipment back home or if any guys are struggling with that right now…
I mean some guys have better things than others, and other guys have been really good at just adapting to the situation. I know guys like AJ Arcuri, he's still in East Lansing right now but he's been working out in his little home gym…and he's using cinder blocks and a wooden broomstick, imagine things like that. Then we have a team group chat, and there's guys like Dom Long has been sending us stuff; he's been buying gallon water bottles every week and he keeps adding more and more gallons to the rack he's been using. You know, I was a little nervous at first about what guys are gonna be able to do but everybody's been posting videos in our group chat just to make sure everybody's staying accountable and everybody's been getting their work done, so it's really good to see.
On what Coach Johnson and Coach Kap have expressed they want the offensive line to look like physically next season…
Honestly I would just say with me personally, the thing that I want best is just guys that know the plays. I feel like an offensive line is a lot different than any other unit on the field because it's five people that have to work in unison as one. And so, when guys are on the same page it's like everybody has one mind and then thinking at the same time all moving in one motion. And so, whatever those guys can bring to the table, mentally, for me, that's what I think is going to be the biggest help for us. Talking to Coach Kap and Coach Johnson, the things they want out of us, they just want hard workers, just kind of like Coach D asked out of all of us. He just wants us to come to work every day and focus on getting two percent better. There's a quote in our building that says, 'A man that moves the mountain begins by moving away small stones.' That's really all they want us to do every day; just come in and work and try and get two percent better and one percent better. Honestly I've been around our offensive line group for four years now and I see that in all of us - every single one of the guys in our room, so it really could be anyone out there this year, just depends who works the hardest. All of us are really getting after this.
On this situation and the group texts and videos, is it bringing the team closer…
Honestly, I mean with the group text and stuff like that I think it has brought us a little bit closer together. I mean, obviously not as close together as we would be if we were together but the situation has just kind of made us… I would say more accountable to each other, as in everybody's checking in on everybody else to make sure that they're able to get their work done and do what has to be done, so that whenever the time comes, if they do find a cure and treatment for this, and we're allowed to get back to school, then we'll be ready to go and we'll be ready to hit the ground running as soon as we get back.
On how much the team is to getting out of the conditioning and fitness activities to where they would've been in the building…
I would say, I think we're fairly close. I mean, like I said earlier, I know there are some guys on our team that have more access to things than others do, but everybody's out there doing their work. And, you know, just because somebody doesn't have a weight rack, doesn't mean they're not getting work done. There are a lot of open fields out there people can run to and then there's still bodyweight exercises that guys can do like push-ups, sit-ups, abs. (This is a) level playing field, because this is something that everybody across the Big Ten has to do. I just think our guys have been trying to find the inches every day and from what I've seen and heard from my teammates, they've been finding those inches, so I'm excited for that. I'm excited to see what the guys look like when they come back because I know I've been doing my best to stay on top of things, and just continue to strive to get better every day. I know a lot of my teammates are doing the exact same thing. I'm excited and I don't really think that this is going to have a huge impact on us; we're ready to go.
On the bowl game win back in December and returning to action after missing games with an injury, and how that gave momentum for the offseason…
It felt great to get back out to the field and get back out on the field with my teammates. Really, that was just the best part about it was just being able to be out there with my teammates again and yeah, I would say I played okay, I don't know. I really kind of try and critique myself as hard as possible just because that's when I feel like I get the most out of it, so I wouldn't say that I played great, there's still a lot to improve on, but I'm excited this offseason to try and improve on the stuff that I didn't do well in that game and that's what I've been looking over with Jack in my spare time that I've been able to do so I'm excited to be able to work with him on these things and try and be the best that I can be for when I come back.
On working with his brother Jack and the advantage of having someone that can help with and give him the physical side of the ball that other guys don't…
I mean we have like our own little blocking pads here in the house and we'll just go right outside the door, and we have a patch of grass that we'll go on and I'll usually have either like one of my buddies, or his girlfriend catch snaps for us and he'll watch my feet while I'm going through stuff and I'll watch my hands while I'm going through stuff. Just in these two weeks I've already felt the improvements in my stuff and in my run blocking it already feels a lot firmer. I'm just thankful that I have him as a brother so he can be here for me in this time of need and I'm just going to squeeze out as much of him as I can. Hopefully he doesn't start to get too tired of me because I'm just going to keep pounding on him for him to help me strive to get better every day.
On the mix of younger guys and veteran guys on the offensive line and the refocus during the offseason…
I think that helps a ton. I heard a quote once, I'm a big quote guy, and it was from Jordan Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler. He said, 'a hungry lion hunts best.' Basically what he meant by that was when guys get comfortable, that's when they start to relax and being able to have those younger guys nipping at the older guys heels is helping everybody improve. So, even though it doesn't seem like a great thing, some guys might not get as much playing time and other guys might get a lot more playing time, it's pushing them all along as a whole, forward, and it's making everybody better, and that's what I'm excited about.
Michigan State Linebacker Antjuan Simmons
On his thoughts on how everything is going remotely and the coaching staff transition...
I think is everything is going real good. We are still in the process of getting to know each other. With everything going on, it's important for us to stay in contact and just keeping talking to each other and building those relationships.
On how long he's been home and what his average day is like...
On Mondays I've got a tutor at 9 a.m., then I usually work out and eat lunch right after my tutor. I try to watch a little film after I do all that stuff, and then after film, I just work on school work. Mondays and Wednesdays are usually my chill days. I get a lot of free time on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are my busiest days, I've got school work, I usually wake up and do school work in the mornings all the way up until the afternoon - 11 a.m. to Noonish. Then I work out after that, then we have football meetings, then after football meetings I just do school work. Pretty much my days are based around working out, doing school work and football. I have class on Zoom on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every now and then I'll get one on Monday.
On what he is doing to work out at home...
When I came back home, I instantly started looking for stuff I could buy, stuff in stores. I went online and I saw everything was selling out really fast because everyone was loading up on workout stuff for some odd reason, like they were going to use it (laughing). So I went out and bought a bunch of weights. I bought a bench press rack and a few other things that me and my little brother can use while we're home. Every day we just go down there and get a little workout in. We're able to do full body stuff, we have resistance bands, dumbbells, weighted vests. Pretty much all the essential stuff.
On how long it took to get adjusted to new schedule...
Last week, it took me all of last week to get adjusted to this schedule. It took me all of last week, I was going through it last week.
On what it was like when he heard no spring practice...
It's tough, it's real tough, but it is what it is. It's the best thing to do right now for everybody in the public and society. It would be completely unsafe for us and for football teams to be out there working out and doing all that stuff. It would be unsafe for us to do that, so this is the right thing for us to do. And there's no problem with that. It's just going to show who is committed and who is not. That's all it is.
On how he sees his leadership role going into the season with everything that is happening...
Right now, it's a little bit more responsibility, more personal responsibility on you as far as taking care of everything that you are supposed to be doing. Doing the classwork, working out, running when you need to. So it's more on you. For me, it's just been important for me setting the tone, making sure the guys know that if our plans are to win a championship, make sure we are all still working. Treating these last few months as if we are still trying to make it our best offseason, even though we aren't in the facilities working.
On what is different that he is doing to keep in touch outside of meetings...
We're all over Zoom, we're real heavy into that. We treat our days as if we are at school, you know what I mean. That's how we treat it. Say we have practice in the mornings, practice or have meetings in the mornings, that's when we are going to have meetings. And we just treat it like that as if it's another day in the building. It's just we do it on Zoom instead of in person.
On learning the defensive schemes and X's and O's digitally...
I don't think anything is stopping guys from going out in their backyard or down the street from their house. Learning stuff on computers is a little bit more challenging, but the thing is it's important to get out and do reps. So say we have a different drop, working on drops or if our coach wants us working a different technique, working that technique. Instead of just sitting around and doing their own thing, you do things that relate to the team or to the technique that our coaches want from us.
On how the transition has been with the coaching staff with some of the returning coaches and some of the new coaching staff...
I've got nothing but the utmost respect for Coach Haze (Hazelton). I've loved every second talking to him, being around him. He's got a lot of energy, you can tell he cares, he's passionate. When he talks, we listen. He's got that type of presence with us and with the team. He's definitely somebody that we appreciate for transitioning and joining Coach Tucker with us. As far as combining with all the coaches, I mean all of them, all the coaches just want to coach football. We have Coach Barnett, Coach Tressel and Coach Hazelton. Any one of those three guys can go be a coordinator anywhere else and they chose to come here and share that spotlight with each other and share it with us. We take a lot of gratitude with that and we are just happy to have them and ready to work with them.
On how the new defense is going and comparing it to the old defense...
Adjusting to a new coach, it's going to be different terminology, different ways to do things. It's a million different ways to draw up or play off of blocks. It's different, but it's the same in many ways. Football is football at the end of the day. Some people might be here, some people might be there. It's nothing, it's just football.
On his position going forward...
I just play linebacker. That's it, man, as of right now I'm a linebacker, and I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to stay unless they tell me something different. I wouldn't be offended or anything like that. Like I said, football is football and I just want to play.
On working out with his brother on how it is going and the last time they got to spend time like this together...
High school. We're rarely at home at the same time. The only times I've gotten to see my little brother is if he so happens to come to a game or he's in the area of Lansing, he stops by. All the way up to this point, I probably saw my little brother about four times (this year). So I'm definitely happy and excited to be around him.
On what he is watching when watching film...
Just games, just watching football. Trying to see if I can pick up on something. Keeping those feels and those thoughts like rotating in my mind. I don't want my brain to fall asleep on football, because then if I fall asleep on football, it's going to be a minute trying to get those juices back going and get those thoughts back on.
On what the new Strength and Conditioning head coach Jason Novak has been like...
Coach Novak, yeah, he's the real deal. We all love Coach Novak, we're all happy that he is here. I think we're really just starting to scratch the surface of what he was trying to do with us. We were just starting to get comfortable with all the strength staff, all the new faces. I think they were getting real comfortable as well. We were really about to take off and really spring out there. Of course this kind of slowed it some, but it's all good. He's still sending us workouts, checking up on us. (Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Lorenzo Guess) Coach Guess texted me today, this morning actually, and he's going to put together other speed workouts for me to do while I'm home. I mean that's all it is, it's just staying in contact with each other and just keep working.
On who he has seen step up and be a leader on the defensive side so far...
Everybody has stepped up. I would feel bad mentioning a few guys and leaving out the rest of the guys. Everybody has stepped up, you can ask anybody that, our recruiting people, coaches, players. Everybody has stepped up. We haven't had any guys miss tutors, any guys miss Zoom classes, none of that. We've all been on time for all academic required stuff, football required stuff, we haven't missed anything. We've been clicking and on beat. I would discredit my teammates if I didn't show appreciation to all of them.
The Spartans were scheduled to start spring practice on March 17, but the Big Ten Conference suspended all organized team activities on March 13. MSU also announced on March 13 that the Green-White Spring Game (April 18) had been canceled.
On Monday, two members of the team's leadership council, Matt Allen and Antjuan Simmons, answered questions from reporters on a conference call to give an update on how the team is handling this unprecedented situation.
Michigan State Offensive Lineman Matt Allen
On how he's been working out at home and if he's been with his brothers, and how he's approaching this time…
Yeah, this is definitely an odd situation, so it's kind of tough to approach things but I'm home with my brother Jack, my brother Brian is out in California getting rehab still; he got injured this past season so he's been rehabbing out in L.A. And then my parents are down in Florida, so it's just been me and Jack at home. Jack's been very helpful. We have little weight racks that in our basement, and I've been working out on that like four days a week and then I'll go outside and usually do stuff on the field three days a week and then usually one more workout on the field. Yeah, usually one more workout on the field and then that's what I've been doing for the most part.
On his reaction to spring practice being canceled and if it was anticipated given everything going on...
Yeah, I mean, I wasn't really anticipating it at all. I don't think anybody, I'm not sure anybody really was. I'm sure there were some people that were but luckily it was, you know, just a spring football season that was canceled. A lot of other athletes that their entire real season was canceled, even basketball they couldn't finish out the rest of the season on what they started and I'm just fortunate that it was during the offseason and not during the season. But at the same time I know that we were still really excited to get to work with the new coaching staff and even though we're not at the building, work is still getting done. We've been having Zoom sessions, three times every week, and then there's been an Eagles meeting with Coach Tucker once a week, and we've really just been getting after things and making sure everybody's staying on top of their stuff and still doing what they need to do even if they're not in the building.
On if the team talks about the potential for there not being college football this fall…
I mean, I've really just been taking it one day at a time, kind of like I said earlier, this is a very unique situation, so I don't know what the outcome will be, so I'm just leaving that in God's hands and doing as much work as I can every day to prepare like we're coming back tomorrow.
On the new offensive philosophy and the new ideas…
I like it; I've agreed with everything that they're putting in, I think there's a lot of good and smart schemes that they're putting in as well. I can't really speak for the defensive side of the ball, but everything that they've been doing on the offensive side has been making a lot of sense to me and I like it. I'm excited for what's to come.
On the toughest thing about trying to implement a new system there and not being in person…
That's a tough question. I mean there's a lot of things that come with that. There's been relationships I've built with my coaches over the past four years and not being able to see them anymore is tough, but I know I'll see them again someday down the road and we'll be able to talk and still see each other, and act like it's been like a week since we hadn't seen each other, if that makes sense. Also with the new coaches coming in I think it gives just like a little bit of life to everybody in the program and just like everybody's... It's kind of like a new start for everybody in the program so everybody's working like they're the guy, and they're the guy to beat. I think it's really lit a fire under everybody and everybody's been coming to work every day. I know for one of my goals this season for during this time is to talk to two to three teammates once a week. And everybody that I've been talking to has been telling me about their workouts and stuff and they've still got that fire and passion in them, so I'm excited for what's coming for the fall.
On his early impressions on new offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic and what he's bringing to the offensive line and the team so far…
Oh yeah, so far I love Coach Kap. He brings a ton of energy every day; he's making sure everybody's on time in meetings as always; just really making sure that everybody's on the same page when it comes to our offense. We've been able to download this app called Learn to Win app, and basically they can just give us quizzes and through the quizzes, we can just learn our offense even better and just in the short time we've had him together, I can tell he's a very intelligent guy and really believes in what he's doing and brings passion every day, which I love to see. Everything I've seen about him, I've liked.
On adapting to a new offensive line coach and if blocking is blocking, or are there any intricacies to learn…
Yeah, I mean there are some things that are similar and then some things that are a lot different. I mean one thing that's a lot different is the lingo that we've been using, so that's been a difficult adjustment, just because over the past four years I've gotten so used to saying things the way that we've always done them, so now that they came in and there's a whole new offense, it's just kind of the biggest adaption so far; just learning the new lingo and stuff. It's basically like learning a new language, at least to me.
On if most teammates have sufficient weight training equipment back home or if any guys are struggling with that right now…
I mean some guys have better things than others, and other guys have been really good at just adapting to the situation. I know guys like AJ Arcuri, he's still in East Lansing right now but he's been working out in his little home gym…and he's using cinder blocks and a wooden broomstick, imagine things like that. Then we have a team group chat, and there's guys like Dom Long has been sending us stuff; he's been buying gallon water bottles every week and he keeps adding more and more gallons to the rack he's been using. You know, I was a little nervous at first about what guys are gonna be able to do but everybody's been posting videos in our group chat just to make sure everybody's staying accountable and everybody's been getting their work done, so it's really good to see.
On what Coach Johnson and Coach Kap have expressed they want the offensive line to look like physically next season…
Honestly I would just say with me personally, the thing that I want best is just guys that know the plays. I feel like an offensive line is a lot different than any other unit on the field because it's five people that have to work in unison as one. And so, when guys are on the same page it's like everybody has one mind and then thinking at the same time all moving in one motion. And so, whatever those guys can bring to the table, mentally, for me, that's what I think is going to be the biggest help for us. Talking to Coach Kap and Coach Johnson, the things they want out of us, they just want hard workers, just kind of like Coach D asked out of all of us. He just wants us to come to work every day and focus on getting two percent better. There's a quote in our building that says, 'A man that moves the mountain begins by moving away small stones.' That's really all they want us to do every day; just come in and work and try and get two percent better and one percent better. Honestly I've been around our offensive line group for four years now and I see that in all of us - every single one of the guys in our room, so it really could be anyone out there this year, just depends who works the hardest. All of us are really getting after this.
On this situation and the group texts and videos, is it bringing the team closer…
Honestly, I mean with the group text and stuff like that I think it has brought us a little bit closer together. I mean, obviously not as close together as we would be if we were together but the situation has just kind of made us… I would say more accountable to each other, as in everybody's checking in on everybody else to make sure that they're able to get their work done and do what has to be done, so that whenever the time comes, if they do find a cure and treatment for this, and we're allowed to get back to school, then we'll be ready to go and we'll be ready to hit the ground running as soon as we get back.
On how much the team is to getting out of the conditioning and fitness activities to where they would've been in the building…
I would say, I think we're fairly close. I mean, like I said earlier, I know there are some guys on our team that have more access to things than others do, but everybody's out there doing their work. And, you know, just because somebody doesn't have a weight rack, doesn't mean they're not getting work done. There are a lot of open fields out there people can run to and then there's still bodyweight exercises that guys can do like push-ups, sit-ups, abs. (This is a) level playing field, because this is something that everybody across the Big Ten has to do. I just think our guys have been trying to find the inches every day and from what I've seen and heard from my teammates, they've been finding those inches, so I'm excited for that. I'm excited to see what the guys look like when they come back because I know I've been doing my best to stay on top of things, and just continue to strive to get better every day. I know a lot of my teammates are doing the exact same thing. I'm excited and I don't really think that this is going to have a huge impact on us; we're ready to go.
On the bowl game win back in December and returning to action after missing games with an injury, and how that gave momentum for the offseason…
It felt great to get back out to the field and get back out on the field with my teammates. Really, that was just the best part about it was just being able to be out there with my teammates again and yeah, I would say I played okay, I don't know. I really kind of try and critique myself as hard as possible just because that's when I feel like I get the most out of it, so I wouldn't say that I played great, there's still a lot to improve on, but I'm excited this offseason to try and improve on the stuff that I didn't do well in that game and that's what I've been looking over with Jack in my spare time that I've been able to do so I'm excited to be able to work with him on these things and try and be the best that I can be for when I come back.
On working with his brother Jack and the advantage of having someone that can help with and give him the physical side of the ball that other guys don't…
I mean we have like our own little blocking pads here in the house and we'll just go right outside the door, and we have a patch of grass that we'll go on and I'll usually have either like one of my buddies, or his girlfriend catch snaps for us and he'll watch my feet while I'm going through stuff and I'll watch my hands while I'm going through stuff. Just in these two weeks I've already felt the improvements in my stuff and in my run blocking it already feels a lot firmer. I'm just thankful that I have him as a brother so he can be here for me in this time of need and I'm just going to squeeze out as much of him as I can. Hopefully he doesn't start to get too tired of me because I'm just going to keep pounding on him for him to help me strive to get better every day.
On the mix of younger guys and veteran guys on the offensive line and the refocus during the offseason…
I think that helps a ton. I heard a quote once, I'm a big quote guy, and it was from Jordan Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler. He said, 'a hungry lion hunts best.' Basically what he meant by that was when guys get comfortable, that's when they start to relax and being able to have those younger guys nipping at the older guys heels is helping everybody improve. So, even though it doesn't seem like a great thing, some guys might not get as much playing time and other guys might get a lot more playing time, it's pushing them all along as a whole, forward, and it's making everybody better, and that's what I'm excited about.
Michigan State Linebacker Antjuan Simmons
On his thoughts on how everything is going remotely and the coaching staff transition...
I think is everything is going real good. We are still in the process of getting to know each other. With everything going on, it's important for us to stay in contact and just keeping talking to each other and building those relationships.
On how long he's been home and what his average day is like...
On Mondays I've got a tutor at 9 a.m., then I usually work out and eat lunch right after my tutor. I try to watch a little film after I do all that stuff, and then after film, I just work on school work. Mondays and Wednesdays are usually my chill days. I get a lot of free time on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are my busiest days, I've got school work, I usually wake up and do school work in the mornings all the way up until the afternoon - 11 a.m. to Noonish. Then I work out after that, then we have football meetings, then after football meetings I just do school work. Pretty much my days are based around working out, doing school work and football. I have class on Zoom on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every now and then I'll get one on Monday.
On what he is doing to work out at home...
When I came back home, I instantly started looking for stuff I could buy, stuff in stores. I went online and I saw everything was selling out really fast because everyone was loading up on workout stuff for some odd reason, like they were going to use it (laughing). So I went out and bought a bunch of weights. I bought a bench press rack and a few other things that me and my little brother can use while we're home. Every day we just go down there and get a little workout in. We're able to do full body stuff, we have resistance bands, dumbbells, weighted vests. Pretty much all the essential stuff.
On how long it took to get adjusted to new schedule...
Last week, it took me all of last week to get adjusted to this schedule. It took me all of last week, I was going through it last week.
On what it was like when he heard no spring practice...
It's tough, it's real tough, but it is what it is. It's the best thing to do right now for everybody in the public and society. It would be completely unsafe for us and for football teams to be out there working out and doing all that stuff. It would be unsafe for us to do that, so this is the right thing for us to do. And there's no problem with that. It's just going to show who is committed and who is not. That's all it is.
On how he sees his leadership role going into the season with everything that is happening...
Right now, it's a little bit more responsibility, more personal responsibility on you as far as taking care of everything that you are supposed to be doing. Doing the classwork, working out, running when you need to. So it's more on you. For me, it's just been important for me setting the tone, making sure the guys know that if our plans are to win a championship, make sure we are all still working. Treating these last few months as if we are still trying to make it our best offseason, even though we aren't in the facilities working.
On what is different that he is doing to keep in touch outside of meetings...
We're all over Zoom, we're real heavy into that. We treat our days as if we are at school, you know what I mean. That's how we treat it. Say we have practice in the mornings, practice or have meetings in the mornings, that's when we are going to have meetings. And we just treat it like that as if it's another day in the building. It's just we do it on Zoom instead of in person.
On learning the defensive schemes and X's and O's digitally...
I don't think anything is stopping guys from going out in their backyard or down the street from their house. Learning stuff on computers is a little bit more challenging, but the thing is it's important to get out and do reps. So say we have a different drop, working on drops or if our coach wants us working a different technique, working that technique. Instead of just sitting around and doing their own thing, you do things that relate to the team or to the technique that our coaches want from us.
On how the transition has been with the coaching staff with some of the returning coaches and some of the new coaching staff...
I've got nothing but the utmost respect for Coach Haze (Hazelton). I've loved every second talking to him, being around him. He's got a lot of energy, you can tell he cares, he's passionate. When he talks, we listen. He's got that type of presence with us and with the team. He's definitely somebody that we appreciate for transitioning and joining Coach Tucker with us. As far as combining with all the coaches, I mean all of them, all the coaches just want to coach football. We have Coach Barnett, Coach Tressel and Coach Hazelton. Any one of those three guys can go be a coordinator anywhere else and they chose to come here and share that spotlight with each other and share it with us. We take a lot of gratitude with that and we are just happy to have them and ready to work with them.
On how the new defense is going and comparing it to the old defense...
Adjusting to a new coach, it's going to be different terminology, different ways to do things. It's a million different ways to draw up or play off of blocks. It's different, but it's the same in many ways. Football is football at the end of the day. Some people might be here, some people might be there. It's nothing, it's just football.
On his position going forward...
I just play linebacker. That's it, man, as of right now I'm a linebacker, and I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to stay unless they tell me something different. I wouldn't be offended or anything like that. Like I said, football is football and I just want to play.
On working out with his brother on how it is going and the last time they got to spend time like this together...
High school. We're rarely at home at the same time. The only times I've gotten to see my little brother is if he so happens to come to a game or he's in the area of Lansing, he stops by. All the way up to this point, I probably saw my little brother about four times (this year). So I'm definitely happy and excited to be around him.
On what he is watching when watching film...
Just games, just watching football. Trying to see if I can pick up on something. Keeping those feels and those thoughts like rotating in my mind. I don't want my brain to fall asleep on football, because then if I fall asleep on football, it's going to be a minute trying to get those juices back going and get those thoughts back on.
On what the new Strength and Conditioning head coach Jason Novak has been like...
Coach Novak, yeah, he's the real deal. We all love Coach Novak, we're all happy that he is here. I think we're really just starting to scratch the surface of what he was trying to do with us. We were just starting to get comfortable with all the strength staff, all the new faces. I think they were getting real comfortable as well. We were really about to take off and really spring out there. Of course this kind of slowed it some, but it's all good. He's still sending us workouts, checking up on us. (Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Lorenzo Guess) Coach Guess texted me today, this morning actually, and he's going to put together other speed workouts for me to do while I'm home. I mean that's all it is, it's just staying in contact with each other and just keep working.
On who he has seen step up and be a leader on the defensive side so far...
Everybody has stepped up. I would feel bad mentioning a few guys and leaving out the rest of the guys. Everybody has stepped up, you can ask anybody that, our recruiting people, coaches, players. Everybody has stepped up. We haven't had any guys miss tutors, any guys miss Zoom classes, none of that. We've all been on time for all academic required stuff, football required stuff, we haven't missed anything. We've been clicking and on beat. I would discredit my teammates if I didn't show appreciation to all of them.
Players Mentioned
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Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
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Monday, November 24