SPARTANS WRAP UP, LOOK TO “REACH HIGHER”
ARLINGTON, Texas – Michigan State completed its final on-field preparation for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic by conducting a walk-through at AT&T Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The No. 3 Spartans (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten) spent more than an hour doing light work for their New Year’s Eve game against No. 2 Alabama (12-1, 8-1 SEC) before heading back to the team hotel for final meetings. The winner advances to the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz.
The walk-through marked the fifth time the Spartans worked on the AT&T Stadium field in the last week. The other four were regular practices. A team photo was taken before the walk-through.
Head Coach Mark Dantonio and Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban shared the spotlight during a morning press conference and again at the Goodyear Big Play Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Coaches, players and fans from both teams attended the luncheon, where Spartans tight end Paul Lang was recognized for his academic achievement. He’s one of only 22 Spartans in school history to earn academic All-Big Ten honors.
After meetings, the Spartans were scheduled to watch a movie together Wednesday night.
“Looking forward to the game tomorrow night,” Dantonio said at the press conference. “And as I said pretty much all week long, this will be a great opportunity but a great challenge for us as a program. And we’re looking forward to our moment.”
Michigan State is widely considered an underdog to Alabama, which puts it in the same company as most of the Tide’s opponents in recent years. But the Spartans aren’t new to the big stage. Dantonio has accomplished just about everything except winning a national title in nine seasons leading the program, making the Spartans’ motto for this season – “reach higher” – quite appropriate.
The only Big Ten coach to win 11 games in five of six seasons is not named Schembechler, Hayes, Yost or Tressell. Dantonio is the only one to have done it. Michigan State has won three of the last six Big Ten championships, is the only school to have won a BCS game/New Year’s Six game the last two seasons and has won four consecutive bowls. The last one was a 42-41 comeback victory over Baylor in the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic last Jan. 1.
“So it's sort of ironic to me that we're playing on December 31st,” Dantonio said. “And we look to go 365. And we left on an upswing, and it was a very positive end of the season for us and it sort of catapulted us into 2015.
“But along with that, we didn't reach our goals. So we were an 11-2 football team and ended up No. 5 in the nation. But nobody felt like they were satisfied, and I think that's what allowed us to move forward sort of with a state of mind that understood that we need to play better.”
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Battle of the Bands!
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| Photos by Ian Halperin/CBAA |
The Michigan State and Alabama bands and spirit groups met at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas on Wednesday to decide who has the most spirit. The winner? Guess that's in the ear of the beholder.
The Final Say
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| Photo by Ian Halperin/CBAA |
Coaches Mark Dantonio of Michigan State and Nick Saban of Alabama came together Wednesday morning for one final press conference prior to the kickoff of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Thursday.
The coaches were cordial and posed with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic trophy (above) but it was obvious they were ready to get their game faces on and start playing.
"Well, when you look at Alabama, first of all, they have very, very good players. Secondly, they're extremely well-coached. They play very disciplined. Due to some of the people I've worked for, I understand technique, et cetera," Dantonio said.
"And as I said earlier, my first statement, it would be a great challenge for us. Great opportunity to be here today, but it will be a great challenge. We'll need to be at our best, play at our best because our best is going to be needed here."
Saban had similar sentiments about Michigan State.
"I think that Michigan State is a team that obviously is hard to beat," Saban said. "They beat you basically on fundamental execution and not making a lot of mistakes. And that always makes the team hard to beat. And then you throw in the kind of competitive resiliency they've shown this year, that's really helped them to be very, very successful."
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Michigan State Tuesday Practice Report
SPARTANS WORK EARLY, LATE, THOROUGHLY
ARLINGTON, Texas – Michigan State turned in its final practice for the College Football Playoff Semifinal atthe Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Tuesday, capping a full day.
The team started the day with pre-dawn wakeup calls so they could bus from the team hotel to AT&T Stadium for an hour-long media session. After more preparation back at the hotel, they returned to the stadium in the afternoon and worked vigorously for two hours.
“Long day,” Head Coach Mark Dantonio said. “We spent about two hours on a bus – half hour, half hour, half hour, half hour (commuting each way). So, long day today and I think it’s important that our players are fresh.”
The No. 3 Spartans (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten) play No. 2 Alabama (12-1, 8-1 SEC) on Thursday. The winner advances the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz.
Coaches and players – mostly the higher-profile players – have met with various media since Saturday. But the Tuesday event was the game’s designated media day where all players and coaches are made available for interviews and a large media contingent shows up.
By this point before a bowl game, it’s not unusual for teams to experience interview fatigue and it’s no different for Michigan State. Dantonio and the Spartans have been gracious with their time and answers all week and seemingly every question has been asked.
“I think enough’s been said,” Dantonio said. “The game’s played on the field.”
In the afternoon, the practice’s content was “a clean-up deal, mental-type preparation and final preparation,” Dantonio said. “There will be some adjustments, I’m sure, but for the most part we’re ready to go.”
Some teams use bowl practices to scrimmage younger players who won’t play in the game. It gives them more chances to develop and it gives the coaches a glimpse of the future. But with another game looming should they win, this isn’t an average bowl week. Michigan State has been guarded with its redshirt and other deep-reserve players this week.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation,” Dantonio said. “We need every single person. So we can’t come out here and scrimmage our young guys because we don’t want to get anybody hurt. They’re a value too, in terms of scout team and things of that nature.”
The Spartans will go through a brief stadium walk-through on Wednesday and meetings in the final 24 hours before the game. They’ll also stay off their feet as much as possible.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications
ARLINGTON, Texas – Michigan State turned in its final practice for the College Football Playoff Semifinal atthe Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Tuesday, capping a full day.
The team started the day with pre-dawn wakeup calls so they could bus from the team hotel to AT&T Stadium for an hour-long media session. After more preparation back at the hotel, they returned to the stadium in the afternoon and worked vigorously for two hours.
“Long day,” Head Coach Mark Dantonio said. “We spent about two hours on a bus – half hour, half hour, half hour, half hour (commuting each way). So, long day today and I think it’s important that our players are fresh.”
The No. 3 Spartans (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten) play No. 2 Alabama (12-1, 8-1 SEC) on Thursday. The winner advances the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz.
Coaches and players – mostly the higher-profile players – have met with various media since Saturday. But the Tuesday event was the game’s designated media day where all players and coaches are made available for interviews and a large media contingent shows up.
By this point before a bowl game, it’s not unusual for teams to experience interview fatigue and it’s no different for Michigan State. Dantonio and the Spartans have been gracious with their time and answers all week and seemingly every question has been asked.
“I think enough’s been said,” Dantonio said. “The game’s played on the field.”
In the afternoon, the practice’s content was “a clean-up deal, mental-type preparation and final preparation,” Dantonio said. “There will be some adjustments, I’m sure, but for the most part we’re ready to go.”
Some teams use bowl practices to scrimmage younger players who won’t play in the game. It gives them more chances to develop and it gives the coaches a glimpse of the future. But with another game looming should they win, this isn’t an average bowl week. Michigan State has been guarded with its redshirt and other deep-reserve players this week.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation,” Dantonio said. “We need every single person. So we can’t come out here and scrimmage our young guys because we don’t want to get anybody hurt. They’re a value too, in terms of scout team and things of that nature.”
The Spartans will go through a brief stadium walk-through on Wednesday and meetings in the final 24 hours before the game. They’ll also stay off their feet as much as possible.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications
Alabama Tuesday Practice Report
ALABAMA PUTS FINISHING TOUCHES ON PREPARATIONS FOR
MICHIGAN STATE
ARLINGTON, Texas – After the fun associated with an hour-long media day session, the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide quickly got back to the business at hand and squarely put its focus on the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans.
The Crimson Tide (12-1, 8-1 SEC) put the final touches on its College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic preparation with a two-hour workout in shells and shorts in the team’s third practice, in what would normally be a “Thursday” practice, at AT&T Stadium.
“It was good,” said TE O.J. Howard. “It was a normal Thursday. Everyone had high intensity and had fun. We’re prepared to get ready for the game.”
And ready will Alabama need to be in just its second ever meeting with Michigan State (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten). The lone previous matchup came in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. to close out the 2010 season when the Tide rolled to a 49-7 victory over the Spartans. In that game, Alabama amassed 546 total yards of offense to post the second-best offensive output in a bowl game in program history.
After practice, Alabama is set to enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing at its headquarters hotel. Tomorrow, the Tide will conduct a brief walk-through at AT&T Stadium following the entire team attending the Goodyear Big Play Luncheon.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications
MICHIGAN STATE
ARLINGTON, Texas – After the fun associated with an hour-long media day session, the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide quickly got back to the business at hand and squarely put its focus on the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans.
The Crimson Tide (12-1, 8-1 SEC) put the final touches on its College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic preparation with a two-hour workout in shells and shorts in the team’s third practice, in what would normally be a “Thursday” practice, at AT&T Stadium.
“It was good,” said TE O.J. Howard. “It was a normal Thursday. Everyone had high intensity and had fun. We’re prepared to get ready for the game.”
And ready will Alabama need to be in just its second ever meeting with Michigan State (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten). The lone previous matchup came in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. to close out the 2010 season when the Tide rolled to a 49-7 victory over the Spartans. In that game, Alabama amassed 546 total yards of offense to post the second-best offensive output in a bowl game in program history.
After practice, Alabama is set to enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing at its headquarters hotel. Tomorrow, the Tide will conduct a brief walk-through at AT&T Stadium following the entire team attending the Goodyear Big Play Luncheon.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications
9-year-old scoliosis patient inspires Spartans, Dantonio
One of the heartwarming moments of this year's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is the reunion of Rowan Fitzsimmons, a 9-year-old scoliosis outpatient, and the Michigan State Spartans.
Little Rowan first established a bond with the team, and in particular head coach Mark Dantonio, a year ago when Michigan State came to North Texas to play Baylor in the previous Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
Since then, Rowan has become a huge Spartans fan, and the players and coaches have become fans of hers. You can read more about this special bond in this story from msuspartans.com.
Little Rowan first established a bond with the team, and in particular head coach Mark Dantonio, a year ago when Michigan State came to North Texas to play Baylor in the previous Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
Scenes from Media Day
Both teams playing in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic took turns in front of the media Tuesday on the field of AT&T Stadium. Michigan State went first, then Alabama followed as the media gathered for Thursday's College Football Playoff Semifinal had full access to the teams for an hour each.
It wasn't nearly as grueling as it sounds. In fact, several players managed to have fun. And by now most reporters have asked all the important questions, so Media Day was a chance to delve into the players' and coaches' personalities.
It wasn't nearly as grueling as it sounds. In fact, several players managed to have fun. And by now most reporters have asked all the important questions, so Media Day was a chance to delve into the players' and coaches' personalities.
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