Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Post-Game Quotes: Western Michigan
8/29/2025 11:42:00 PM | Football
Michigan State Head Coach Jonathan Smith
Opening statement…
I'll start with what I kind of told the team – proud of the team, finding a way to win a game. Obviously, kind of a tale of two halves – offensively, defensively throughout the night, the effort they played with. Shout out to (redshirt junior punter) Ryan Eckley, that punt unit, (freshman long snapper) Jack (Wills), making his first start as a snapper. 
That was an effective play of our punt group there. But obviously, the things we want to play more consistently with. I do think defensively, that was a pretty good effort, and it helped our crowd. 
I thought our crowd was great tonight. The energy - student section was packed. I mean, it was a great atmosphere and always appreciate Spartan Nation supporting us like that. And now, you got to move forward, take a deep look at this tape. 
There'll be a ton to improve on and learn from, and then you know this is the first game where you got your game film out there - so offense, defense, special teams and next opponent, they're going to take a deep look at it, and so we got to find the flaws and clean some things up. But overall, you found a way to win the game and now we look to work and improve on it.
On the performance of sophomore RB Brandon Tullis and sophomore RB Makhi Fraizer…
Especially in the first half, I thought the O-Line set the tone in the run game. Makhi (Frazier) had a great game, Brandon (Tullis) early with his touchdown run, and you know, the stats show you kind of the physicality and what we want to be able to do in the run game. Want to find some more consistency in the second half – still, that's run and pass. 
But overall, we did play more than five O-Linemen, you guys saw rotating, like we talked about, and multiple backs carried it. Was overall pleased when you got two backs with that kind of average yards per carry.
On the play of the secondary…
Was really happy with the secondary - the response because we were challenged in the secondary - even the first drive. 
They hit the early deep ball, kind of down the sideline. There was no panic defensively, kind of regrouped. I think that D staff, (Spartans Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Joe) Rossi and that group did a nice job changing 
pressure, coverage, crowd helped us with the crowd noise. I thought we got around the quarterback a little bit, he had to get the ball out, and that definitely helped the secondary.
On if sophomore WR Nick Marsh wasn't being fully showcased tonight…Â
Not in the first half, no. I mean, we threw him a touchdown. 
But we got to continue to find - I think, both Nick (Marsh), and then you guys saw a little bit of (Senior WR) Omari (Kelly) what he can do. (Junior WR Chrishon) McCray had a decent over-route catch. Those guys can do some stuff with the ball and we got to continue to find ways, more ways, just get more explosive. Let's face it in the pass game, I think we had - completion percentage is whatever, but the amount of yards with it is not where we want to be.
On what Western Michigan did in the second half to limit the Spartans offensively…Â
Give them some credit - they got some good coaches over there and maybe it's halftime adjustments without diving into the tape schematics. I do think on the edge for them they did a couple nice jobs on our tackles a couple of times. 
I mean, we had a couple deep shots open, we just couldn't get the ball off. So give them credit for some of the pressure they were able to create on the quarterback.
On the challenge for junior QB Aidan Chiles of going up against a first-time defensive coordinator…Â
Yeah, we didn't want to chase go, so we want to play the first couple of series and find out exactly what it was going to look like, so just trust in your eyes, we got a progression or the type of read, recognize the coverage, if it's one high or two high. Make it kind of simple early on to see what they were going to look like. 
He had some good reps of that tonight, you know, just going through a read, first read, second, got down to the third a couple of times. I think going back to the second half as an offense, we're talking about protection, getting his eyes on the right spot, throwing it out on time. We got to find more consistency.
On what was accomplished and what can be improved upon…
I think defensively - limiting the explosive plays and getting around the quarterback. I thought we did a great job in the run game, because both of them really could carry the ball. So play from the quarterback, run game - I thought they did a nice job of that. Offensively, early on, especially establishing the line of scrimmage, getting the younger - call them younger, but the sophomore backs some carries, and that was great to see. On the special team side, even on the kickoff part of things with (Ryan) Eckley - the hang time he was doing, guys running down, (redshirt sophomore Caleb) Gash making a couple of early tackles. That was awesome to see. I'd go back to this word of consistency, execution in the second half. Offensively, we got to get ourselves in a better down and distance. Generally, we got to get more explosive offensively, without watching this tape - and it's hard to sit there and go eight, 10, 12-play drives - especially in game-ones, we didn't do it tonight.
On rotating offensive lineman….
I don't exactly know how it finished out playing all the time. I know at the tackle spot, Stanton (Ramil) really comfortable at left, Ashton (Lepo) at right, and Conner (Moore) can play both. I think there was something there at the tackle spot. And so, we knew the tackles were going to rotate, but the guards were a little bit separate. The other one was in that mix is Luka Vincic. He just has a slight foot thing earlier in the week, and so we kind of held him out tonight, but he's still going to be in this mix, rotating as well.
Â
On if he ever considered going for it on fourth down later in the 4th quarter…
At that point, felt like taking the knee since the game was game was in hand. I'm really just disappointed in the previous drive. We want to find a way to get a couple of first downs and just call it then. But we hand the ball off twice, turns into a third-and-5, whatnot. I'd like to be more effective on the first and second down, so we don't put Alessio (Milivojevic) in that spot on third and medium, where we have to throw it to get a first down.
Â
On his thoughts on the new game day experience…
Yeah. I thought it was great. I mean, I go back to start with the Spartan Walk and how that thing was packed, the energy of the crowd, and the student section was pretty much full even when pregame warmups going on. I thought the new additions of just the energy, fireworks, even thunderstruck going with the smoke. We were in the locker room, so we didn't see the flyover, but I think you could feel that, especially early on of kind of in this new energy of the place, because the fan experience is vitally important.
Â
On the rushing attack tonight…
It's good, especially for game one. We're talking about just a small sample size in the first game to see some of that. But it's going to be a long road, a long season, finding ways to keep that going. It's not always going to be easy. We've got to keep on improving, even if Makhi (Fraizer) goes for over a 100 (yards) or whatnot, he's got to keep on tightening up his details. Because I go back to this: That's like the one sample size everybody's got to talk about for about seven days, and so the coaches are doing the same thing, analyzing this thing. We've got to keep working to get better.
Â
On the usage of running back Elijah Tau-Toliver…
He can do it all like those other two can. It's tough to rotate all three maybe equally, and so getting him in the game, and getting some carries was good to see. I know he got in a decent number of special teams as well. It's a long season, and those guys keep battling and going. There's not some specific snap count. It's just tough to rotate three guys evenly.
Â
On Ryan Eckley attempting field goals…
"Yeah, obviously, it happened with Blake (Sislo). We brought him out on the extra points. He would have been our guy with the one field goal attempts that was a little bit longer, and so we felt like he (Ryan Eckley) gave us the best chance on that, but it would have been closer if Blake (Sislo) can go. The other two we're hoping to get healthy sooner than later.
Â
On the defense rotating bodies tonight…
Yeah, it does feel good. I think it feels good with that locker room in there. A lot of guys playing a lot of snaps, with different rotations. You guys saw the packages coming in. Defense lineman rotating almost every other play. Some of that was strategic in regard to when they substitute, but we feel like we got some depth on that side, and they played really hard together.
Â
Western Michigan Head Coach Lance Taylor
On his team's overall performance...
There were moments in tonight's game where there were flashes and splash plays. We made some really big plays on offense, defense and special teams to show a lot of what we've seen there in training camp, who we can be, but way too many errors, mental mistakes, critical errors, putting the ball on the ground, poor decision making, poor coaching decisions by me. We're going to grow and get better from this. I think one of the things I was most proud of is we played for 60 minutes. They fought for 60 minutes, they never gave up.
Â
On the halftime message after trailing 21-0...
I challenged them at halftime. We were down 21 to nothing. It's easy to look at the scoreboard and really come out with no energy, but it says fight opportunity. We got to play. Thirty minutes left. It's zero to zero. Let's go out and attack the second half one play at a time and see where things fall, and I felt that they did that. We came out and started fast in the second half, just weren't able to get anything going after the defense got a stop and offense drives down, and then we don't get any points until late in the fourth quarter. But for us to get a couple of turnovers in the second half, defense gave up zero points in the second half. There were multiple three and outs. We got four sacks in the game, two turnovers, and then the pick six by Tate (Hallock) was really big. We come back and get the onside kick. That gives our players encouragement going into next week.
Â
On the second half improvement...
I don't think any of us are happy with that result either way, first half or second half. We're better than we played, and you saw moments of that. I thought we responded well coming out of halftime. We attacked the second half and played better than we did in the first. Where we've got to be more mentally tough and respond to adversity is after we go right down the field on the opening drive of the second half and don't get points. I decide to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a long field goal, and we turn it over on downs. They get the ball and go right down to score. It was a big swing in momentum. From that moment, I felt we didn't respond. We had a really good week of preparation. They wanted this game. It meant a lot to our guys. They're disappointed, but we've got to respond to adversity better. That's where we'll grow and get better. Every game one you hope that one of the biggest jumps is from game one to game two. We've got a great opportunity to do that.
Â
On what to focus on before North Texas...
One of the biggest things in all three phases is just being disciplined to do my job. We had more mental errors and critical errors in big moments than we have had. Whether it was trying to do too much after getting down 7–0, 14–0, 21–0, I did feel at times some guys were pressing to try and make a play, trying to do too much. Just focusing on that play, doing my job, trusting the guy next to me. We have to clean up the mental errors. I told our staff and our players this; I believe in what we're doing, I know we're on the right track, we've got the right players, and we're going to get better from this experience. But we have to double down on our standards and know that what we're doing works.
Â
On explosive plays and the future...
We made way too many mistakes, but I'm excited about the future of this season and who we can be. We've got to work and grow every single day and be consistent to just do your job every single play. We can't have one great play and then two or three bad plays. It cost us the ball game like it did tonight. I hope our fans saw that they fought. Nobody is happy with that result, everybody's upset right now if you're a Bronco, but I hope our fans saw the flashes and glimpses of who we can be, the talent we have if we come together and get better.
Â
On the quarterbacks...
I thought both quarterbacks played really well at times. They both showed why we're playing two quarterbacks and why they both earned the right to play in this game. Brady (Jones) played well, took us down on the first drive, made some really good throws, made some really good decisions, but also some bad throws and bad decisions. Broc (Lowry) came in the second half, very similar to Brady, first drive in the second half he takes us down the field. Again, we don't get any points out of it, but he made some really good plays, made a couple of decisions he wants back. Both played really well.
Senior Wide Receiver Omari Kelly
On his statistics and game tonight…
It felt good to get opportunities to showcase what I can do in front of everybody. I appreciate the offensive line and everyone else helping me get those opportunities.
On not being the number one guy on the scouting report…
I can't really say anything negative about it because it doesn't make my life any easier. At the end of the day, I still need to go out there and do my job.
Sophomore Running Back Makhi Frazier
On his statistics tonight, most carries of his career…
The offensive line really opened the way, we just went out there, did our job and stayed focused.Â
Junior Linebacker Jordan Hall
On how the defense played…
Not allowing any points defensively is a big accomplishment. There is still a lot we can do to improve, but as we continue through these weeks we are going to try and continue to improve and limit our mistakes as much as we can.
On buckling in after the big pass play from WMU…
I'm going to correct you just a little bit there, we are always buckled up you know things don't always go our way. The foundation of what our defense is being able to respond when things don't always go our way.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Wayne Matthews III
On the play of the defense…
I feel like we stepped up in a huge way as far as pass rush. First we have to stop the run to get there, and I felt like we did that today.
Redshirt Junior Defensive Lineman Alex VanSumeren
On the play of the defense…
Like Jordan said, it's a good starting point. We've been working really hard to get to this point. It's either a 1 or a 0 and it was a 1 for us today…onto the next one.
Â
Junior Quarterback Aidan Chiles
On first half performance and the difference in the second half…
First half, energy and adrenaline came out. Came out shooting. Came out fired up. Second half, I think they made adjustments. But at the same time, we got to come out and execute, and we didn't do our job. At the end of the day, we got the win so I can't really be mad, but at the end of they day, we need to be better. We just gotta finish stronger.
Â
On getting back on track…
We just need to slow it down and continue to do what we have been doing. Just play our game. We can't let other teams dictate our pace, our speed, and how we operate.
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Opening statement…
I'll start with what I kind of told the team – proud of the team, finding a way to win a game. Obviously, kind of a tale of two halves – offensively, defensively throughout the night, the effort they played with. Shout out to (redshirt junior punter) Ryan Eckley, that punt unit, (freshman long snapper) Jack (Wills), making his first start as a snapper. 
That was an effective play of our punt group there. But obviously, the things we want to play more consistently with. I do think defensively, that was a pretty good effort, and it helped our crowd. 
I thought our crowd was great tonight. The energy - student section was packed. I mean, it was a great atmosphere and always appreciate Spartan Nation supporting us like that. And now, you got to move forward, take a deep look at this tape. 
There'll be a ton to improve on and learn from, and then you know this is the first game where you got your game film out there - so offense, defense, special teams and next opponent, they're going to take a deep look at it, and so we got to find the flaws and clean some things up. But overall, you found a way to win the game and now we look to work and improve on it.
On the performance of sophomore RB Brandon Tullis and sophomore RB Makhi Fraizer…
Especially in the first half, I thought the O-Line set the tone in the run game. Makhi (Frazier) had a great game, Brandon (Tullis) early with his touchdown run, and you know, the stats show you kind of the physicality and what we want to be able to do in the run game. Want to find some more consistency in the second half – still, that's run and pass. 
But overall, we did play more than five O-Linemen, you guys saw rotating, like we talked about, and multiple backs carried it. Was overall pleased when you got two backs with that kind of average yards per carry.
On the play of the secondary…
Was really happy with the secondary - the response because we were challenged in the secondary - even the first drive. 
They hit the early deep ball, kind of down the sideline. There was no panic defensively, kind of regrouped. I think that D staff, (Spartans Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Joe) Rossi and that group did a nice job changing 
pressure, coverage, crowd helped us with the crowd noise. I thought we got around the quarterback a little bit, he had to get the ball out, and that definitely helped the secondary.
On if sophomore WR Nick Marsh wasn't being fully showcased tonight…Â
Not in the first half, no. I mean, we threw him a touchdown. 
But we got to continue to find - I think, both Nick (Marsh), and then you guys saw a little bit of (Senior WR) Omari (Kelly) what he can do. (Junior WR Chrishon) McCray had a decent over-route catch. Those guys can do some stuff with the ball and we got to continue to find ways, more ways, just get more explosive. Let's face it in the pass game, I think we had - completion percentage is whatever, but the amount of yards with it is not where we want to be.
On what Western Michigan did in the second half to limit the Spartans offensively…Â
Give them some credit - they got some good coaches over there and maybe it's halftime adjustments without diving into the tape schematics. I do think on the edge for them they did a couple nice jobs on our tackles a couple of times. 
I mean, we had a couple deep shots open, we just couldn't get the ball off. So give them credit for some of the pressure they were able to create on the quarterback.
On the challenge for junior QB Aidan Chiles of going up against a first-time defensive coordinator…Â
Yeah, we didn't want to chase go, so we want to play the first couple of series and find out exactly what it was going to look like, so just trust in your eyes, we got a progression or the type of read, recognize the coverage, if it's one high or two high. Make it kind of simple early on to see what they were going to look like. 
He had some good reps of that tonight, you know, just going through a read, first read, second, got down to the third a couple of times. I think going back to the second half as an offense, we're talking about protection, getting his eyes on the right spot, throwing it out on time. We got to find more consistency.
On what was accomplished and what can be improved upon…
I think defensively - limiting the explosive plays and getting around the quarterback. I thought we did a great job in the run game, because both of them really could carry the ball. So play from the quarterback, run game - I thought they did a nice job of that. Offensively, early on, especially establishing the line of scrimmage, getting the younger - call them younger, but the sophomore backs some carries, and that was great to see. On the special team side, even on the kickoff part of things with (Ryan) Eckley - the hang time he was doing, guys running down, (redshirt sophomore Caleb) Gash making a couple of early tackles. That was awesome to see. I'd go back to this word of consistency, execution in the second half. Offensively, we got to get ourselves in a better down and distance. Generally, we got to get more explosive offensively, without watching this tape - and it's hard to sit there and go eight, 10, 12-play drives - especially in game-ones, we didn't do it tonight.
On rotating offensive lineman….
I don't exactly know how it finished out playing all the time. I know at the tackle spot, Stanton (Ramil) really comfortable at left, Ashton (Lepo) at right, and Conner (Moore) can play both. I think there was something there at the tackle spot. And so, we knew the tackles were going to rotate, but the guards were a little bit separate. The other one was in that mix is Luka Vincic. He just has a slight foot thing earlier in the week, and so we kind of held him out tonight, but he's still going to be in this mix, rotating as well.
Â
On if he ever considered going for it on fourth down later in the 4th quarter…
At that point, felt like taking the knee since the game was game was in hand. I'm really just disappointed in the previous drive. We want to find a way to get a couple of first downs and just call it then. But we hand the ball off twice, turns into a third-and-5, whatnot. I'd like to be more effective on the first and second down, so we don't put Alessio (Milivojevic) in that spot on third and medium, where we have to throw it to get a first down.
Â
On his thoughts on the new game day experience…
Yeah. I thought it was great. I mean, I go back to start with the Spartan Walk and how that thing was packed, the energy of the crowd, and the student section was pretty much full even when pregame warmups going on. I thought the new additions of just the energy, fireworks, even thunderstruck going with the smoke. We were in the locker room, so we didn't see the flyover, but I think you could feel that, especially early on of kind of in this new energy of the place, because the fan experience is vitally important.
Â
On the rushing attack tonight…
It's good, especially for game one. We're talking about just a small sample size in the first game to see some of that. But it's going to be a long road, a long season, finding ways to keep that going. It's not always going to be easy. We've got to keep on improving, even if Makhi (Fraizer) goes for over a 100 (yards) or whatnot, he's got to keep on tightening up his details. Because I go back to this: That's like the one sample size everybody's got to talk about for about seven days, and so the coaches are doing the same thing, analyzing this thing. We've got to keep working to get better.
Â
On the usage of running back Elijah Tau-Toliver…
He can do it all like those other two can. It's tough to rotate all three maybe equally, and so getting him in the game, and getting some carries was good to see. I know he got in a decent number of special teams as well. It's a long season, and those guys keep battling and going. There's not some specific snap count. It's just tough to rotate three guys evenly.
Â
On Ryan Eckley attempting field goals…
"Yeah, obviously, it happened with Blake (Sislo). We brought him out on the extra points. He would have been our guy with the one field goal attempts that was a little bit longer, and so we felt like he (Ryan Eckley) gave us the best chance on that, but it would have been closer if Blake (Sislo) can go. The other two we're hoping to get healthy sooner than later.
Â
On the defense rotating bodies tonight…
Yeah, it does feel good. I think it feels good with that locker room in there. A lot of guys playing a lot of snaps, with different rotations. You guys saw the packages coming in. Defense lineman rotating almost every other play. Some of that was strategic in regard to when they substitute, but we feel like we got some depth on that side, and they played really hard together.
Â
Western Michigan Head Coach Lance Taylor
On his team's overall performance...
There were moments in tonight's game where there were flashes and splash plays. We made some really big plays on offense, defense and special teams to show a lot of what we've seen there in training camp, who we can be, but way too many errors, mental mistakes, critical errors, putting the ball on the ground, poor decision making, poor coaching decisions by me. We're going to grow and get better from this. I think one of the things I was most proud of is we played for 60 minutes. They fought for 60 minutes, they never gave up.
Â
On the halftime message after trailing 21-0...
I challenged them at halftime. We were down 21 to nothing. It's easy to look at the scoreboard and really come out with no energy, but it says fight opportunity. We got to play. Thirty minutes left. It's zero to zero. Let's go out and attack the second half one play at a time and see where things fall, and I felt that they did that. We came out and started fast in the second half, just weren't able to get anything going after the defense got a stop and offense drives down, and then we don't get any points until late in the fourth quarter. But for us to get a couple of turnovers in the second half, defense gave up zero points in the second half. There were multiple three and outs. We got four sacks in the game, two turnovers, and then the pick six by Tate (Hallock) was really big. We come back and get the onside kick. That gives our players encouragement going into next week.
Â
On the second half improvement...
I don't think any of us are happy with that result either way, first half or second half. We're better than we played, and you saw moments of that. I thought we responded well coming out of halftime. We attacked the second half and played better than we did in the first. Where we've got to be more mentally tough and respond to adversity is after we go right down the field on the opening drive of the second half and don't get points. I decide to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a long field goal, and we turn it over on downs. They get the ball and go right down to score. It was a big swing in momentum. From that moment, I felt we didn't respond. We had a really good week of preparation. They wanted this game. It meant a lot to our guys. They're disappointed, but we've got to respond to adversity better. That's where we'll grow and get better. Every game one you hope that one of the biggest jumps is from game one to game two. We've got a great opportunity to do that.
Â
On what to focus on before North Texas...
One of the biggest things in all three phases is just being disciplined to do my job. We had more mental errors and critical errors in big moments than we have had. Whether it was trying to do too much after getting down 7–0, 14–0, 21–0, I did feel at times some guys were pressing to try and make a play, trying to do too much. Just focusing on that play, doing my job, trusting the guy next to me. We have to clean up the mental errors. I told our staff and our players this; I believe in what we're doing, I know we're on the right track, we've got the right players, and we're going to get better from this experience. But we have to double down on our standards and know that what we're doing works.
Â
On explosive plays and the future...
We made way too many mistakes, but I'm excited about the future of this season and who we can be. We've got to work and grow every single day and be consistent to just do your job every single play. We can't have one great play and then two or three bad plays. It cost us the ball game like it did tonight. I hope our fans saw that they fought. Nobody is happy with that result, everybody's upset right now if you're a Bronco, but I hope our fans saw the flashes and glimpses of who we can be, the talent we have if we come together and get better.
Â
On the quarterbacks...
I thought both quarterbacks played really well at times. They both showed why we're playing two quarterbacks and why they both earned the right to play in this game. Brady (Jones) played well, took us down on the first drive, made some really good throws, made some really good decisions, but also some bad throws and bad decisions. Broc (Lowry) came in the second half, very similar to Brady, first drive in the second half he takes us down the field. Again, we don't get any points out of it, but he made some really good plays, made a couple of decisions he wants back. Both played really well.
Senior Wide Receiver Omari Kelly
On his statistics and game tonight…
It felt good to get opportunities to showcase what I can do in front of everybody. I appreciate the offensive line and everyone else helping me get those opportunities.
On not being the number one guy on the scouting report…
I can't really say anything negative about it because it doesn't make my life any easier. At the end of the day, I still need to go out there and do my job.
Sophomore Running Back Makhi Frazier
On his statistics tonight, most carries of his career…
The offensive line really opened the way, we just went out there, did our job and stayed focused.Â
Junior Linebacker Jordan Hall
On how the defense played…
Not allowing any points defensively is a big accomplishment. There is still a lot we can do to improve, but as we continue through these weeks we are going to try and continue to improve and limit our mistakes as much as we can.
On buckling in after the big pass play from WMU…
I'm going to correct you just a little bit there, we are always buckled up you know things don't always go our way. The foundation of what our defense is being able to respond when things don't always go our way.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Wayne Matthews III
On the play of the defense…
I feel like we stepped up in a huge way as far as pass rush. First we have to stop the run to get there, and I felt like we did that today.
Redshirt Junior Defensive Lineman Alex VanSumeren
On the play of the defense…
Like Jordan said, it's a good starting point. We've been working really hard to get to this point. It's either a 1 or a 0 and it was a 1 for us today…onto the next one.
Â
Junior Quarterback Aidan Chiles
On first half performance and the difference in the second half…
First half, energy and adrenaline came out. Came out shooting. Came out fired up. Second half, I think they made adjustments. But at the same time, we got to come out and execute, and we didn't do our job. At the end of the day, we got the win so I can't really be mad, but at the end of they day, we need to be better. We just gotta finish stronger.
Â
On getting back on track…
We just need to slow it down and continue to do what we have been doing. Just play our game. We can't let other teams dictate our pace, our speed, and how we operate.
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