Sept. 22, 2001
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Notre Dame Head Coach Bob Davie Quotes
On the game
"Really a difficult loss, I thought our players played hard, I thought we competed. It was just a case of not executing."
On Michigan State
"They won the game. They made enough plays, executed well enough to win, and we didn't."
On fake kick
"We had something that we had gone back and researched the last two years, the fake kick. We thought it was there, but we didn't execute... In that situation, I made the call, it was fourth and six. I thought particularly the way we were executing on offense at that point it really gave us just a good opportunity to convert the first down."
On injuries
"As you can see we're not particularly explosive when David Givens (split end) and Arnaz (flanker, Arnaz Battle) aren't in there. We had a hard time generating any explosions, you know we'd make a couple runs, but had a break down at the end. David has a quad [injury] and Arnaz has a fractured fibula."
On Execution
"When you're not real explosive, you really have to execute. There's no margin for error. And that's the kind of team we are right now."
On the Notre Dame team
"We got ourselves in this hole, we have to dig ourselves out of this hole. I still believe in this football team - we're a talented team, but we play a lot of talented teams. This is the way it's going to be every week. We're going to play a bunch of games that are gonna come down to the fourth quarter. All we have right now is each other and that's really all we need is each other."
Notre Dame Player Quotes
Senior tailback Tony Fisher
On the offensive line
"The offensive line was great today. They opened up the holes for Julius and I to go north and south."
On his performance
"I thought I was in a pretty good groove. I just wanted to help this team out, whether it was blocking or catching the ball or whatever. I am just out there trying to play ball. This is my last year so I'm just trying to have a lot of fun and help the team win as many games as possible."
On the game
"Unfortunately, like the past two years, it was just one play that killed us."
Sophomore quarterback Matt LoVecchio
On the loss
"It is definitely not a good feeling. I don't even know what to say right now."
On the offense
"I think we were a couple plays away from tying the football game. I don't know how many problems there would be (perceived) with the offense if we had won. It is not always as bad as you think it is."
On Javin Hunter's touchdown
"I think Javin (Hunter) came up big, especially in the endzone. That play broke down a little bit -- it was all congested. He worked his way back to the other corner of the endzone. That's what an experienced receiver does."
Sophomore cornerback Vontez Duff
On the game-winning touchdown
"It was a good play. I was in football position, but I just didn't wrap up. I didn't make the tackle. I've just got to learn to be in better position and make sure I wrap up. It's all about making plays and I just didn't make that play."
Junior tailback Julius Jones
On his punt return that set up the Irish touchdown
"I felt good back there. My teammates did a great job blocking the corners and I saw daylight. I don't know if I got tackled by the punter, but I hope I didn't."
Michigan State Coach Bobby Williams
On the game
This was a hard fought game and great win for our team. I take my hat off to the entire coaching staff and these players for coming though with this win. This is a tough environment to play in and we had several players playing in their first game here. Our team played well all-around. We played well in the areas I was concerned about, like special teams, and overcame several penalties to pull this game out. I am proud of this team's effort and this win.
On stopping Notre Dame's fake field goal attempt
Our guys were ready for the fake, but we are always yelling from the sidelines to check for the fake. Whenever a situation like that comes to be, with the other team needing that kind of yardage for the first down, we always make sure our guys are watching for a fake.
On Notre Dame's defensive play
I think their front four guys are what kept them in the game. They were able to play well because of the pressure that was placed on our quarterbacks by those four guys. They certainly made our offense work.
On Michigan State quarterbacks, Jeff Smoker and Ryan Van Dyke
Ryan played a real solid game. He made some good decisions out there and made few mistakes. Jeff also played very well for us, too. We will announce on Monday who will start next Saturday. So far, using two quarterbacks has continued to work for us. Both continue to play well and we will continue to use them both.
On the September 11 tragedy
There is no question that this was a tough week for our program. It affected this team hard. Several of our players were deeply affected because they are either from that area or knew people who were lost in the attack.
On winning five straight versus Notre Dame
We told our guys all week to keep their mouths shut and their emotions inside. I know how badly they wanted to beat this team again, but I told them to take those emotions and use them on the field. There is no question that this was a huge win for our university and our program.
Michigan State Player Quotes
Freshman offensive guard William Whittaker
On fellow offensive guard Paul Harker's emergency situation
"I was just praying to myself. I just wanted him to be fine. He is one of us. We are all brothers. We stepped up and maintained composure as a team and that's how we won the game. In the lockeroom we prayed as a team."
Senior tailback Little John Flowers
On the Michigan State five-game winning streak against the Irish
"I love coming up here and playing. This was my last time here, but it was a great feeling to come over here two times and win. It has a great atmosphere, the game's on television. This is football at its best. We just get up to play this game and good things seem to happen.
We showed a lot of poise and a lot of character to come back in the fourth quarter."
Sophomore wide receiver Charles Rogers
On game-winning reception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter
"They came with an all-out blitz. I kind of spun out and saw open grass. I was just trying to make sure I wouldn't get stripped from behind. I just want out there and played my best."
Senior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke
On break-out performance in victory
"This is the best I've ever felt. I am speechless. I am so happy we were able to overcome all the penalties and distractions. It showed a lot of character on our team's part. One of the advantages of coming off the bench is that I can sit there and see what's going on. I am ready all the time. I am a team player and playing time doesn't concern me at all. I am just happy to go out there and help us win ballgames."
Sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker
On pre-game ceremony
"I had a lot of things going through my mind with all the things that have happened. I thought it was important to go out on the field and show respect to the victims and the families."
Junior tailback T.J. Duckett
On penalties
"We started a lot of drives on 1st-and-fifteen and we just can't do that when you play good teams like the Irish. We have to find a way to eliminate those penalties and move forward."
