Harlon Barnett Press Conference Coverage
11/13/2023 2:27:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett held a press conference Monday inside the Spartan Stadium North End Zone Media Center to preview the upcoming game against Indiana.
Michigan State (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) travels to Indiana (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. in Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed on the FOX Sports app.
Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett transcript:
Opening statement…
Hello everyone, back again for another week to get on track, play with discipline, and finish a game against another great opponent in the Big Ten in Indiana. Our guys had a good practice today and I look forward to many more practices throughout the course of the week, as we prepare.
On if he was to write a book about the season, what would this chapter be…
Finish. It will be about finish; you always want to finish what you start. I remember for years with coach Dantonio his dad always said, 'complete the circles,' so you got to finish, once you start something you have to finish. That's where we are right now, we need to finish, regardless of what happens in the future, we can control what we control and that's finish.
On if this game is extra motivation because of last year's game…
You know, I haven't even looked at it in that perspective. It's a new year, they have a new team, we have a new team, so I never come from that perspective like that. It's more of let's get better, let's play hard, finish, and let's try to get a win. No, it hasn't been a motivational thing based on what happened last year, that was us not finishing. We have to finish.
On Khris Bogle injury and what he saw in the defensive ends against Ohio State…
We thought they did well, Jalen Thompson as well as Zion (Young) did a really good job. They're going to be good football players; they held their own. Bogle will be back this week, he was at practice today.
On Ken Talley playing both defensive end and defensive tackle…
He's been coming along well, he been playing some defensive tackle, we're trying to beef him up a little bit. Naturally his size is more of a defensive end. He is another guy that played well for us, he made some plays, had a tackle for loss. It's a promising defensive line front, we can all stay together and move forward.
What he learned from the offense in the last game and how it can be implied going forward…
What I thought, it's always one guy here or there with the execution piece, doing their job, finishing their job with great execution, and getting it done. There's always this one little thing and you're like, 'man, there it is,' if we just execute. We keep talking great attention to detail, then doing your job and finishing at a very high level, consistently. We just got to keep preaching it to them until they get it.
On quarterback situation and if Andrew Schorfhaar will have to play if Katin Houser goes down…
Yes, Schorfhaar will have to play. We have some options if worst comes to worst, but we'll figure it out, there is some other things we could possibly do, hopefully it doesn't get to that. (Noah) Kim is not ready and he's still healing up.
On if Tre Mosley or Jaron Glover will return this week…
Probably Jaron, I'm not too sure about Tre, but Jaron we should get back soon. I don't know when, but he should be back.
On what he's seen from Indiana…
They played a high scoring game this past Saturday. The quarterback was throwing a lot of back shoulder fades, he runs the ball well, he's a big guy; he had a touchdown run where he was stoned by a couple guys, stayed on his feet, and kept going for a touchdown. A good quarterback, defense plays hard, and they compete. It's going to be another tough Big Ten football game down in Bloomington, we're looking forward to it and we feel like we can go down there and win.
On how he's communicating with recruits…
That can be tough, you just have to let them know it's still a great place. I am a Spartan, it's probably a little bit easier for me because I want to see us succeed here regardless; I can talk in terms of that, how good the place is, the history of it regardless who's here as the next coach. That makes it easier for me, you got to keep selling the university. It will always be Michigan State first.
On the dynamic of the backfield with Jaren Mangham complimenting Carter…
It helps us out tremendously because Nate doesn't have to carry the whole load and Jaren is a good back. He's starting to get his feet up underneath him, he hits the hole, he's quick for a big body guy, and we're fired up that he's playing for us now and getting some time.
On the teams' body language in practice…
I saw our guys locked in and focused on the attention of details that we been talking about. As we start giving them pieces of the gameplan, they were doing well. We had a meeting, watch film, had a walk through, and then practice. You get to see it three different times of what we're trying to accomplish, and they were on task and focused today. The way these guys are, they're so resilient, they just bounce back ready to go play football. I talk about getting better as a football player, you're still getting a chance to play a football game. There are only 12 football games on the schedule before the season, that's what we prepared all off-season for, we still have two to finish out on.
Looking back, would he have used Sam Leavitt differently…
That's always a hindsight, 20-20, I thought about that at one point, 'do you try to save him for the last four games.' Who knew this was going to happen, we did what we did, he played when he played, and you can't go back and change that. Keep moving forward.
On what he saw last week with Indiana putting up 45 points…
They played hard and they're going to continue to fight. Like most Big Ten teams they're going to keep playing and fight until the very end, like our game last year with those guys. Since Tom Allen's been there, those guys come to play. I know he teaches the love thing down there and love one another and it shows up on film and that's how they play. We're expecting a tough, hard-fought game.
On Chance Rucker learning experience from last Saturday…
Some of the things he'll have to learn from is applying the coaching. He was right there on some of the plays, he used the right hand as opposed to the left hand on the one touchdown play, it was a good ball by the quarterback, but Chance could've given himself a better 'chance,' no pun intended, if he used the left hand instead of the right. Coach Salgado has been coaching those guys up on since he's been here that if we didn't do that, could've got the ball out. He's continued to learn, he's still a true freshman, still learning Big Ten football, and getting better. All this experience that he's gathering now is going to help us in the future. He continues to improve and get better, in the off-season he must get bigger, stronger, and faster and he'll be just fine. He's a quiet young man, but that'll improve when his confidence improves over time. I always say a great defense, is a loud defense, with their mouth and their pads smacking people, he's learning how to start talking a little bit more.
Michigan State (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) travels to Indiana (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. in Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed on the FOX Sports app.
Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett transcript:
Opening statement…
Hello everyone, back again for another week to get on track, play with discipline, and finish a game against another great opponent in the Big Ten in Indiana. Our guys had a good practice today and I look forward to many more practices throughout the course of the week, as we prepare.
On if he was to write a book about the season, what would this chapter be…
Finish. It will be about finish; you always want to finish what you start. I remember for years with coach Dantonio his dad always said, 'complete the circles,' so you got to finish, once you start something you have to finish. That's where we are right now, we need to finish, regardless of what happens in the future, we can control what we control and that's finish.
On if this game is extra motivation because of last year's game…
You know, I haven't even looked at it in that perspective. It's a new year, they have a new team, we have a new team, so I never come from that perspective like that. It's more of let's get better, let's play hard, finish, and let's try to get a win. No, it hasn't been a motivational thing based on what happened last year, that was us not finishing. We have to finish.
On Khris Bogle injury and what he saw in the defensive ends against Ohio State…
We thought they did well, Jalen Thompson as well as Zion (Young) did a really good job. They're going to be good football players; they held their own. Bogle will be back this week, he was at practice today.
On Ken Talley playing both defensive end and defensive tackle…
He's been coming along well, he been playing some defensive tackle, we're trying to beef him up a little bit. Naturally his size is more of a defensive end. He is another guy that played well for us, he made some plays, had a tackle for loss. It's a promising defensive line front, we can all stay together and move forward.
What he learned from the offense in the last game and how it can be implied going forward…
What I thought, it's always one guy here or there with the execution piece, doing their job, finishing their job with great execution, and getting it done. There's always this one little thing and you're like, 'man, there it is,' if we just execute. We keep talking great attention to detail, then doing your job and finishing at a very high level, consistently. We just got to keep preaching it to them until they get it.
On quarterback situation and if Andrew Schorfhaar will have to play if Katin Houser goes down…
Yes, Schorfhaar will have to play. We have some options if worst comes to worst, but we'll figure it out, there is some other things we could possibly do, hopefully it doesn't get to that. (Noah) Kim is not ready and he's still healing up.
On if Tre Mosley or Jaron Glover will return this week…
Probably Jaron, I'm not too sure about Tre, but Jaron we should get back soon. I don't know when, but he should be back.
On what he's seen from Indiana…
They played a high scoring game this past Saturday. The quarterback was throwing a lot of back shoulder fades, he runs the ball well, he's a big guy; he had a touchdown run where he was stoned by a couple guys, stayed on his feet, and kept going for a touchdown. A good quarterback, defense plays hard, and they compete. It's going to be another tough Big Ten football game down in Bloomington, we're looking forward to it and we feel like we can go down there and win.
On how he's communicating with recruits…
That can be tough, you just have to let them know it's still a great place. I am a Spartan, it's probably a little bit easier for me because I want to see us succeed here regardless; I can talk in terms of that, how good the place is, the history of it regardless who's here as the next coach. That makes it easier for me, you got to keep selling the university. It will always be Michigan State first.
On the dynamic of the backfield with Jaren Mangham complimenting Carter…
It helps us out tremendously because Nate doesn't have to carry the whole load and Jaren is a good back. He's starting to get his feet up underneath him, he hits the hole, he's quick for a big body guy, and we're fired up that he's playing for us now and getting some time.
On the teams' body language in practice…
I saw our guys locked in and focused on the attention of details that we been talking about. As we start giving them pieces of the gameplan, they were doing well. We had a meeting, watch film, had a walk through, and then practice. You get to see it three different times of what we're trying to accomplish, and they were on task and focused today. The way these guys are, they're so resilient, they just bounce back ready to go play football. I talk about getting better as a football player, you're still getting a chance to play a football game. There are only 12 football games on the schedule before the season, that's what we prepared all off-season for, we still have two to finish out on.
Looking back, would he have used Sam Leavitt differently…
That's always a hindsight, 20-20, I thought about that at one point, 'do you try to save him for the last four games.' Who knew this was going to happen, we did what we did, he played when he played, and you can't go back and change that. Keep moving forward.
On what he saw last week with Indiana putting up 45 points…
They played hard and they're going to continue to fight. Like most Big Ten teams they're going to keep playing and fight until the very end, like our game last year with those guys. Since Tom Allen's been there, those guys come to play. I know he teaches the love thing down there and love one another and it shows up on film and that's how they play. We're expecting a tough, hard-fought game.
On Chance Rucker learning experience from last Saturday…
Some of the things he'll have to learn from is applying the coaching. He was right there on some of the plays, he used the right hand as opposed to the left hand on the one touchdown play, it was a good ball by the quarterback, but Chance could've given himself a better 'chance,' no pun intended, if he used the left hand instead of the right. Coach Salgado has been coaching those guys up on since he's been here that if we didn't do that, could've got the ball out. He's continued to learn, he's still a true freshman, still learning Big Ten football, and getting better. All this experience that he's gathering now is going to help us in the future. He continues to improve and get better, in the off-season he must get bigger, stronger, and faster and he'll be just fine. He's a quiet young man, but that'll improve when his confidence improves over time. I always say a great defense, is a loud defense, with their mouth and their pads smacking people, he's learning how to start talking a little bit more.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ FootballJonathan Smith Postgame Comments | USC
Sunday, September 21
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 15 2025
Monday, September 15
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | YSU | Sep. 13 2025
Saturday, September 13
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 8 2025
Monday, September 08