Post-Game Quotes: Rutgers

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith

Opening statement…
Obviously a tough one. Credit to Rutgers, but we didn't play well enough to earn a win or earn a chance to continue on playing. We've got a great appreciation for the guys in that locker room, spent a little bit of time digesting, talking to some seniors out of that group that put a lot in this place and played their final game and got a lot of respect for them for really being open minded. To buy in to a new way of doing things this year and I do think they played with great effort and showed some leadership. I told the team, these things are tough when you guys have just finished, so appreciated them and also spoke to the rest of the group. Those that didn't play their last game in Spartan Stadium, I'm still confident that we can get this thing in a way better place. It's gonna take some work, though. We're in the midst of it right now, and these things are disappointing and, it had some definite ups and downs this year, and we got to keep on plugging away and going to work. We gotta believe in our approach, our process and how we're doing it. And want to feel like the guys that have more time here, we can get it going, but we gotta get a lot better. And so that starts with me, the approach, coaches. We're gonna digest this whole season and find ways where we can play better, because we need to, and this place, you can do it here.

We just gotta keep on working to get it done. And a quick thing on this game, I think it really separated in the second quarter, the fourth-and-1, can't get a yard inside the 10, so they take over, they go 95 yards and punch the thing in. More or less a two-minute drive of our field goal, and then we go out there with three snaps, three incompletions, don't take any clock off, and then chip in another one, so the momentum swing there was big, but you regroup at halftime. Gotta get a way to get a stop and really score first in the second half to get yourself back into it. They come down and convert, I think, three or four times on third down, take about eight minutes off the clock and that really, really changed the thing. And that's what Rutgers is about, they're leading the league in time in possession for a reason. They really separated the thing at that point.

On things that have to happen going into the future for the program…
In this landscape, I still think this thing is a game of development, so whoever's on your roster, those guys need to get better and develop. We've got some good players on this roster that have a lot of years left and eligibility and confident that our approach on those guys continue to work, and that's on us as coaches to develop. At the same time, you gotta continue to add good players, they can play at a high level that are in on our approach of doing it, and we are confident we can do that, and it turns into these next couple of months, there will be quite a bit of that.

On freshman defensive back Jaylen Thompson's injury…
He was released and doing okay. He is in concussion protocol from what I was told.

On the next steps heading into the offseason…
This next week we will more or less do exit meetings, and we will meet with every player to digest the season, talk about the future, we will do that, and then the rest of the month of December, transfer portal is open, and we'll be evaluating and trying to add to the roster at that point.

On comparing rebuilding Oregon State to Michigan State…
I think that the landscape has changed going all the way backward six years ago, and you can turn to the transfer portal. NIL was not existing when I first got there. I do say there's some stepping stones, even as frustrating as some of the points of this season were that we can build off of that. If younger players got a good amount of time, that there's value there.  And so, if those guys keep playing and getting some experience, we worked through this season with some young guys and some young spots.

On learning about his players this year…
You do, you learn a lot about how people handle adversity, setback, disappointment, and on the flip side, handle some success and attention, and all that. I do feel like there's a lot of guys in that locker room that are competitive, football means a lot to them, and they'll be ready to bounce back.

On how far away the program is and what's possible this off season…
I think a lot is possible in one offseason. There are some positions that we need to get better, we have to add some depth there. We need some current guys that are getting a lot of snaps to take a step in their game, which I'm excited about doing the work of that. Each year, I think now and especially in this landscape of college football, you're going to have some turnover on your roster, and you have to do a nice job identifying and plug it in spots where you need it.

On his thoughts on Aidan's season…
I thought just looking from start to finish, he continued to compete. He continued to recognize that he at his game, his individual play, needed to continue to work and improving it. I think toward the last few games, and I don't think he's turning the ball over late, comparative of where he was at. He can't do it on his own, we've got to surround him, scheme wise and with some personnel to take a step. I got respect for him, it's not easy to play that position. To go from week 1 to week 12 with all the ups and downs, and the way he handled things, I got a ton of respect.

On explaining his process and procedures…
I spoke to the team in part about appreciation that it was a new way. Anytime there's a new staff its new and different. I appreciate the group that I kind of do feel like they bought into a lot of the work, and the idea of doing it together. We've got to get better and grow and develop. This is the ultimate team game, so we've got to do it as a team, we've emphasized a lot of those things and then I'm just confident that again, guys that strictly make it not just about themselves, are the best teams, and that's what we're confident we're building here.

On what can be carried over from this season to next season…
I think the turnover thing was down the last couple of games offensively, that was a huge hiccup on that side. I think about just the individual players of growth. We were playing in some spots with some guys that were 12-game starters, but those guys continue to work on their game and think about the situations of the game, that we experience maybe early on, and you want to do it better at the end. I think about the two minute today, it was not nearly as good as some two-minute drives. But overall, each individual, if they're going through with work week in and week out, diving into practice, diving into scheme, experiencing games and learning from it, and then back to work on a Tuesday practice. Individually, you want one through 12 guys playing their best.

On if anything established can be carried over…
That's how you've got to do it. You've got to put in the work, and a lot of this work takes place off season, the process of that now starts. During a season, the work on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, give you the best chance on Saturday. You completely that weekly process, then back to the next week should be a little bit better.

On how Nate Carter's penalty and the poor kickoff early in the game affected the team…
It's disappointing that we did that, because we had a nice momentum to start this thing, it's 7-0. I had not talked to him on it yet, but it's not ideal. Then you could kick it off 15 yards back, they start their first drive on the 50, and then they answer right away with 7. These guys play hard, it's an emotional game, but that was disappointing.

On needed improvement areas…
I think just in general areas, we want to affect the passer more, we started off pretty hot doing that. Towards the end of the year, that wasn't as good as we liked and again, that's not individual or only individual players, look at the schemes we are putting more tape out there, and that's why you've got to own some of this as coaches.

On how to improve second half scoring for next year…
We've got to play better in the second half, offensively I think about that. Too many times, where there's good flashes and we've got good plays, but the ability to sustain it on longer drives. We've got to get a little bit more to detail, and on some of those plays to be put in the end zone.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano

Opening statement…
First, let me start by thanking you guys for coming out here and covering us on Thanksgiving weekend. I appreciate that, it means a lot to us. I want to thank our players and our coaches. This is the most mentally tough group of players and coaches I've ever had the honor of working with. I didn't talk much about it this year as the year went on and on and on, but uh I've never- I've been doing this 37 years and  I've never seen a team decimated by injuries like, like our football team starters. Aaron Lewis got hurt in practice. We lose Eric Rogers last week. You know, it's just starter after starter after starter, and guys refuse to let that be anything, but motivation to keep going.  And every day they came out to practice and came to meetings and worked their tails off. So I'm really thrilled, and the coaches did a great job, being an example for the players, I think the players really learned a ton this year, and it's a great advancement for our program. Just keep moving forward, but I'm so proud of them. I want to thank them because they never moaned and groaned. We lost four in a row, there wasn't anything to come out to practice, and I'd have people that I trust come watch practice because you couldn't tell if you had won the last four or lost the last four the way your kids were working and that to me is is what's- that is the chop, and I mentioned it, you know, sometimes I mention it when things are tough, sometimes I mention it when when we're struggling, but that's what the job is, the ability to just keep doing it when your feelings tell you differently, right?  But to direct your feelings and keep hitting that spot over and over again, and I'm just so proud of our guys, we're learning as a program, we're learning, we're getting better and just thrilled. To our seniors: you know, they mean so much, it's ironic, but if you think back to 2020 in the COVID year, in late November, this is where our first game was, or late October.  I was a new head coach here and those those guys that are now seniors were freshmen and uh, for us to come out here and end the way that it did again, just thrilled for them. The way, you know, almost storybooked with the with the snow and the whole way it looked. I was real I'm just so happy for these kids and for these coaches cause they never blinked. They never wavered. They just chopped and, I'm really proud. Obviously some great individual efforts and you guys can ask me about that, but I'm just collectively as a group very, very proud.

On the resilience of the team after four losses…
Yeah, last week was part of it, but I mean, just look, and think about it guys, when you play this sport, you know what you're getting into.  But still, those are your friends. You know those are your friends that are getting surgery. Those are your friends that are in the hospital for half a week, a week because of the game.  Things that happened in the game. And what we asked these student-athletes to do is come back and go to work and, this team was special, and it all goes back to the leadership. This senior class that came in, they just led the way. They really did.  They served as an example, and I think we're fortunate, really fortunate to have those guys come. You remember that group came on 11 days, right? We recruited that class in 11 days.  And certainly a blessing, right? There's no way you could pull that off in 11 days, but a gift from God for sure, to have guys like Tyreem Powell and Robert Longerbeam and Kyle Monangi, and I'll miss some of them by saying it, but in 11 days, that's uh- that's fortunate, a blessing.

On achieving a season record since joining the Big Ten…
It does, and I think fitting is the good word because of how they approached all the adversity.  Look, this group had high, high goals, and I'm not going to get into particulars of what they were, but this group believed. We had a year like we did last year health-wise, I think this record could look a lot different, but that's if's and but's. But I'm really proud of what it looks like today. The way these kids fought, the way these coaches fought never ever wavered. It is fitting to end the season with a game like this, right?  And, you know, hats off to Michigan State, they're a good football team, but this team- our team- was on a mission today.

On scoring on 8 of the 9 possessions of the ball during the game…
When you look, we have a Big Ten offense finally. In the last three, three games we've scored over 30 points.  I don't know if we've ever done that in the Big Ten. Kirk Ciarroca's leadership, great offensive staff, just so proud and Joey Harasymiak, so proud of him and his defensive staff, you know, when you look at all the guys that are, that are not playing, and they just keep going, that's, you know, I've literally stayed away from talking about it because nobody cares. But now that it's over, I'm gonna tell you that's a special group of people that overcame, overcame a lot of key contributors, not playing- some of them for the whole season, some of them for big parts of the season. The coaching staff providing leadership is just special.  So offensively, defensively and, we have a lot of guys that you saw play and the beginning of the year weren't weren't even two deep. And now they're playing in a lot of the plays in the game. So proud, really proud.

What comes next for this program and what about the legacy Kyle Monangi leaves…
Well, he's meant everything. I mean, he's a great example to his own room, to the running back room.  He's leaving a legacy there. He's leaving a legacy on our football team as far as how to do things the right way, and to me, that's what it's about. Tradition isn't touching a statue or singing a song, tradition is that which you leave behind that where the younger players take it and then they carry it forward. And as I said, Kyle came in here, five years ago, as an unheralded player, right, guy that maybe had two offers, and he leaves what I think is the best running back in the Big Ten, two years running.  So, very proud.

On creating momentum after certain plays and the drive the players had…
Yeah, there's big play, right? I always talk to you guys, um football games take on a life of their own.  They really do, and there's critical points, and as I always say to the players- I wish I could tell you when they were, and then we wouldn't have to be here every day, right? We could go chill and then just practice those six plays, but the reality is, you gotta play every play as hard as you can, with the most focus you can, and that play I thought was a big play in the game, but there was a lot of big plays. I think Ethan just really ran our offense with precision and control. Uh, I thought Kyle was excellent as always.  Ian Strong again continues to make plays. I love our young receiving core. I think we got a chance to be good there and we're bringing in some guys that I think can really be good too. So, um yeah, I like- I thought our offensive blind did another great job protecting the passer, opening some running lanes. Overall, I thought the offense performed at a high level.

Michigan State Junior Wide Receiver Jack Velling

On his injury that occurred last week and on his path to get back this week…
It's kind of just part of football. I got hit, doctors were taking precautions, and I felt comfortable coming back. I really feel for the seniors who played their last game for the Spartans, and I'm bummed out for us and them.

What changed for the team after their first opening drive…
It's not anything that they were doing. Everything they were doing, we say all week through scouting but it's just the little things like it's been all year. One guy not doing their assignment, one guy not making a block, it's just us killing ourselves. We could move the ball against them but we just couldn't finish.

What the team and he needs to do before next season…
Individually, I need to continue to step up and improve as a leader. Rally behind the guys and keep all of them up. I need to work on myself in the weight room and on the field. As a team, it's just keep taking steps and not taking steps back. We need to build up chemistry and the culture that we have here and keep it going. Just take another step next year and be better next year.

Michigan State Graduate Kicker Jonathan Kim

On what it has been like here at Michigan State being a kicker…
First and foremost just really thankful to God, but also to Michigan State. They took a chance on me, bringing in a guy who hadn't made a collegiate field goal to come in and be the starting kicker. I'm thankful to the coach and also the fans for believing in me. It has absolutely changed the trajectory of my life. If I hadn't come here, then I would be working a 9 to 5 by now. I was lucky enough to get to play two more years of college with a shot at the NFL.

On the future of Michigan State Football…
I'm really excited. Aidan's had a great season and I'm really excited to see what he does with the rest of his time here. I'm a really big fan of Aidan and all the guys. We have a lot of really good young guys here and I think Coach Smith is taking this place in the right direction.

On how much his first kick impacted the rest of the game…
It definitely wasn't helpful to the defense. We got a 15-yard penalty and in my head I was like, I can definitely get it to the back of the end zone and I just swung too hard, got around it and pulled it out, so definitely not useful to the defense.

Michigan State Sophomore Quarterback Aidan Chiles

On spending a full season in this type of leadership role...
This year was a first for everything, a first-year being a leader, being a captain, first year on a new team, as a starter. This year was just getting my feet wet, I understand the position now; I understand what I have to do. I'm realizing it's not all about making friends and being silly, you can't be a leader and make friends all the time. That's how it has to be, at this point where we are, we have to hold each other accountable and we have to do the things that will probably make us not like each other at the end of the day; we've gotta end up loving each other and helping each other as a team, so we can put these games together and not look like we did today.

On the start of the second half when you were waiting to get on the field...
Nothing really emotionally, attitudes change throughout the entire game. Emotionally, I don't think it really affected us, physically waiting in the snow is cold but we signed up for it. We play football, and we didn't come out and do what we were supposed to do. Really it was just an attitude that you had to have and we didn't have the attitude to come out okay. You have to respond and we didn't do that today.

Players Mentioned

Nate Carter

Aidan Chiles

Jonathan Kim

Jaylen Thompson

Jack Velling

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