Lansing Sun

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith

Opening statement…

"Always good to win a game. I was very pleased with the approach this week. In practice this week I thought we had very good Tuesday and Wednesday work leading into Thursday and Friday. Obviously it started on defense, those guys were lights out making it physical. Had an opportunity to respond, ball got down there in the end zone a couple of times, pushed them back. Had some big-time plays, obviously Chuck [Brantley], that was exciting and fun. I thought offensively, there's a lot to like especially on third down. I thought in the first half, third down conversions, these things aren't just third and ones, we converted multiple times to come up with points. I think there was some balance in the offense with the run game and pass game. Special teams was pretty solid. Kicking the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs and we didn't punt the ball much but I did see [Ryan] Eckley with a big one. We were backed up with some bad field position so it was nice to see him get some hang time on that one, he's been working on that. Kaden Schickel had been sick the last couple days, a long snapper. He didn't practice Thursday or Friday and comes out here and battles it out in the first half. Definitely some things to clean up. You go double digits again in penalties, that's gonna catch up to us. We gotta find a way to coach it better starting with us. That will be a point of emphasis again because these guys don't want to have penalties and all that. We had some extended drives on defense and offensively in the red zone had some hiccups there."

On getting to know Spartan Stadium…

"It's been great. The energy, the Spartan walk again, there was just a buzz around the place. The student section was packed and the atmosphere was great. I know our guys like playing in front of it, and hopefully we can continue to build on it being a huge home field advantage."

On senior defensive back Charles Brantley's interception…

"Those things aren't simple, he's got a decision to make when he picks the ball in the end zone. Sometimes it's best to go down and we'll bring it out from the 20. Guys did great effort defensively getting some blocks for him. Great finish there by Chuck landing in the end zone. I was really excited for him, especially since he just picked one earlier that was a lot easier."

On junior offensive lineman Gavin Broscious' injury…

"I don't have an update on Gavin, but that didn't look good and now it is next man up. We have some younger guys that got in the game for the first time with an opportunity. We'll get you an update on that when we know."

On applying a "trap game" approach to the game…

"We want our approach to be pretty consistent. Understanding that there's an urgency to improve every week, whoever we're playing on Saturday, and I thought that they did a good job with it this week."

On Tommy transferring into MSU and being the backup…

"I mean, we've had deep conversations, I mean through the recruiting process he knew what he was signing up for in regards to a quarterback coming over here, I was very insistent on that. He's been an awesome teammate at practice helping out suggestions his experience when he's gone in he's been really effective in practice and scrimmages and he played today and it was not surprising to me for him to see the ball going where it's supposed to be operating getting us in the right flight so I guess all I can say is I'm really glad he's here."

On Nate Carter…

"He opens up things when we need a close runner too like that because Nate's skill set he brought it to second level you're not going catch guy often well blocked nice vision cuts ball back outruns defender skill set both Kay'ron good carries complimenting each other clean efficiency issues little bit front explosive player."

Prairie View A&M Head Coach Bubba McDowell

On his message to team after game...

"I haven't talked them yet but message going 'hey just need make sure take care business.' Responsibilities always give hundred which job gap issues D-line read trying make plays then not being gap supposed importantly using backs secondary spots needed backs coming back field just go always say job okay."

On how this game prepares team upcoming game Southern University...

"Well still different game look things last year look again this year more importantly just go said again if go just supposed offensively defensively meaning just need responsibility not give penalties plays stopping third downs chance move ball offensively something goes wrong usually comes back figure way stop hurting ourselves going Southern regroup play good team home."

On whole experience playing Michigan State...

"Oh yeah big time especially got here Coach Smith let use stadium walk through chance take pictures quick walk through walk around see type atmosphere about like privilege playing stadiums throughout career expression places even more ecstatic came crowd shaping atmosphere prepared week case crowd loud turned system execute most part great time course not way wanted end really don't think 40 points better right now just do things supposed anytime don't do supposed against good team score us."

Sophomore Quarterback Aidan Chiles

On team's performance today...

"There's still room improve put points today can't complain feel like offensively lot self-inflicted wounds overall move ball know move ball."

On thoughts team's growth...

"There no trap game talked everybody come hardest came played better wasn't trap game came did got field that's individually also need same mindset trap games don't come through week preparing every week."

On what offense needs next level...

"Talked before penalties need rid those able finish drives red zone one things really happened today penalties red zone hurt couldn't score came half few penalties inside 25 hurt play bigger games finishing penalties finish drives."

Redshirt Junior Defensive Back Charles Brantley

On drive pick-six...

"Just more focused responding penalty pick six called flag respond drove tried run fake play seen read threw caught"

On thinking taking knee after interception...

"Thinking putting knee yesterday meeting Coach Rossi saying 'If get interception end zone first progression back take knee.' Took look left right didn't see anyone 'I'm take out.'"

On team's defense...

"We play 'howl,' means run till everyone gets ball play toughness technique"

Sixth-year Quarterback Tommy Schuster

On what wanted accomplish stepped onto field...

"Want job execute high level doesn't matter who field offense 1s 2s 3s goal try miss beat assignment sound execute try move ball field get points overall goal play clean try put ball end zone"

On executing role mentor younger players...

"A little different older rest guys point communication big making sure everyone page never want big mess good communication making sure everyone page then going executing prepared well during week just job"

On scoring first touchdown MSU...

"Were 1-yard line double gaps pretty much finding way get went right initially kind played right side bounced left pushed felt good"