Michigan State University Athletics
Post-Game Quotes: Eastern Michigan
9/12/2026 7:45:00 PM | Football
Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald
Opening statement…
Thanks everybody for being here. So thankful and appreciative of our first responders, those that protect our freedom. We had a very special Spartan Walk today, walking in with a lot of first responders, and it was really special. We thank them, we glorify them, and we're just so grateful for what they do. I talked to the guys over at the Kellogg Center about Flight 93 before we came over. We kind of take for granted the "Let's roll" mantra, and it was ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others. That was kind of our message as we left the building.
I thought we started fast, but it was pretty emotional to walk in with those first responders. It was very special. I am honored to wear our East Lansing Firefighters t-shirt that they gave me. To be a part of that was really special. And then at the coin flip, to have a firefighter that was at Ground Zero and be a part of it, that was a part of it from day one, again, when the bell rang, they didn't run, they ran to. To lift them up, we're very grateful and thankful.
To the game: I thought we came ready to play. Thought we started fast. And then we had a lull in the second quarter, and I think the credit goes to Eastern Michigan. I thought they put together a good plan. They were more physical than we were in the second quarter on both sides of the ball and in the kick game. I thought Nick (Sheridan), Joe (Rossi), and LeVar (Woods) were right on at halftime. As a head coach, you're listening to the adjustments, you're getting ready to put your two cents in, and by the time I even got up into the locker room after doing a couple interviews on the field, they already had the things that I expected. The things I was going to say they were already talking about it. So terrific job by those three men getting with our three units. And then the guys responded. The way we put together a great drive to start the second half, and then all but one to finish, at the end we were taking the clock out, but on the one to finish, we've got to take care of the ball better, obviously. But I thought it was a very dominant performance in the second half. So, with that, I'll answer any questions.
On the rushing attack…
Yeah, I thought it was much better in the second half. Obviously, a Big Ten team has an opportunity to wear them down a little bit. We took their best punch in the second quarter, and again, credit to Coach (Chris) Creighton and his staff. They had a really good plan. They created a lot of issues and problems that we needed to discuss and fix. But we've got to be better fundamentally. In the second quarter, we weren't doing a great job with block destruction, we weren't fitting gaps right, we didn't tackle well, we went under blocks. And then, the play they scored on, we practiced it. There was a lot of not very happy people on our defensive headphones and defensive staff when we went in at halftime. It should have never happened. So just a lot of things we need to still really work hard on and improve, and we're going to coach the living you-know-what out of our guys.
On how the absence of linebacker Jordan Hall affected the defense…
Yeah, next man up. Next man up. Jordan's a huge piece of our program. He'll go down in Spartan lore when his career is said and done. So, I don't want to minimize not having that big of a fixture of our defense out there. But it's a next-man-up mentality. And those guys that went out there, I think, learned a lot throughout the course of the game. I thought they played much better in the second half, and we need to continue to reinforce those guys playing that way. Jordan was really close to playing today. The medical team told us that he was not cleared late in the week. We made that decision collectively together to make sure that we think about his health, safety, and well-being. I expect that if we practice tomorrow, he'll be ready to go.
On the defense getting off the field on third downs…
Yeah, I think situational football is something that, number one, we game plan for. So, we spend a lot of time on that. Then you practice it situationally throughout the course of the week, and then Joe's (Rossi) got to call it and the guys have got to execute it, right? And so, it's kind of that process. When it doesn't go well, we look inward first as coaches to evaluate the scheme, the fundamentals, the technique, the communication, and then we create solutions for the guys. But they did a pretty good job on that today.
On managing the energy of the exciting weekend with the Spartan Hall of Fame induction and the basketball reunion…
Yeah, I think it's just being focused in the moment and having your mind where your feet are. It was great. Jeremy Fears Jr. was out at practice this week on Thursday. Tried to get him to play receiver, I don't think Tom (Izzo) will let me do that. I saw a bunch of the guys down on the field before the game; that was really cool. I tried to recruit some of those guys again to play, and they told me no. But that's all right. Yeah, it's great. The whole thing was special for the inductees. It's hard-earned and well-deserved, and just a really special week. And just a huge credit to our fans. Again, we walk in the building, our students are there rocking and rolling. The atmosphere was incredible again. And we'll be back in two weeks. So, take a week off, recharge, and we'll see you in two weeks for Big Ten football.
On addressing the explosive plays given up from a defensive standpoint…
Every day. Every play, every day. Usually when 15-plus or 20-plus plays happen, it's again a schematic issue that we don't execute, it's a fundamental or technique issue, and/or a communication issue. A lot of these today, is credit to Eastern Michigan. They were more physical than we were at the point of attack. We did not fit gaps right. We did not run our feet and tackle the way that we're coached to do it, and that's something we're obviously going to emphasize and get a heck of a lot better at as we work out.
On how redshirt wide receiver Charles Taplin earned playing time today…
Yeah, Tap had a great week of practice. He's been coming on, and you guys heard me say last week when I got up here that I want to play more guys. That was the stress to the players: "I want to play you. I want to get you out there. You've got to earn that trust in practice." He's been grinding, and a lot of guys have. But his number was called, and he stepped up big time in two situations. Really happy for him, really proud of him. He's a young player that's continuing to grow, and we've just got to continue to feed and pour into him and develop him fundamentally, technically, and his confidence. Those were two big plays.
On the team responding…
Yeah, I mean, the emphasis coming out of last week was to start fast in the third quarter. Again, there was no emphasis on "let's have a lull in the second," okay? You achieve what you emphasize, typically. We've got to put together a complete game; we haven't done that yet. It's obvious you guys watch like I do, and you analyze it like I do. I don't talk publicly about it, but you guys do, so creatively and poignantly (smiling). I appreciate your analysis. But yeah, we've just got to get about two weeks into this journey together, 1-0 two times. We've just got to keep grinding, keep getting better.
On playing both Alessio Milivojevic and Cam Fancher…
Well, Cam's played a lot, probably three times as many games as Les (Alessio Milivojevic). He's a very veteran quarterback. We feel great about our quarterback situation. I think Les (Alessio Milivojevic) has been outstanding. But we've got a weapon in Cam, and we've got to find ways to make it work where he can be a part of the game plan. I think you guys can see our confidence in him when we put him in, and his ability when he went out there and played. I was a little mad at Nick (Sheridan) on the last hit he took; I did not want him to get hit at all. But to Cam's credit, he got down pretty quick. So that's just one call I'd probably like to have back, but that's okay.
On what went into going for it on fourth down early in the second half…
If I want to tell my guys they'd better start fast in the third quarter, then I'd better not be scared. It's fourth-and-whiskers. If we don't get it, we don't deserve it. That's also a message from me to the team. We're not playing around; we're playing to win. Credit to our offensive line. We made it probably a little bit closer than it needed to be, but yeah, we're going to be physical. It's also a byproduct of the confidence I have in our defense. I believe that our defense would get a stop if I put them in that situation.
On safety Devin Vaught…
Yeah, we loved him on tape when we recruited him out of the portal. Really thought highly of him. I forget what morning it was, but it was like 5:30 in the morning, and I'm watching all these portal guys on tape, and he was like a two-play guy: "Like, we've got a shot at this kid?" The personnel department, Gas (Bryan Gasser), is like, "Yeah." I'm like, "Get him here now." He jumped out on tape; that's how he played last year. We worked our tails off to get him. He's not a man of a lot of words, but man, oh man, he plays behind his pads. He's been off to a good start for us.
On if Brady Pretzlaff was wearing the "Green Dot" communication helmet, and if that was affected with the absence of Jordan Hall…
Yeah, we have multiple guys on the roster ready. I don't know if you guys see our equipment manager. He's like double-shouldering multiple helmets, because you can only have one green dot out there at a time. So, if a guy goes down, a new guy has to get a green dot. I think we've got 10 guys on the list for green dot that we have to turn in, and Jacob does a great job with our equipment. As far as without Jordan, let me talk to Joe (Rossi). Why don't you ask me maybe on Monday? I didn't feel like we had communication issues necessarily because of the green dot. We had communication issues because we weren't talking at times. So, we've got to get that fixed.
On running back Cam Edwards fumble late in the game…
Yeah, we didn't want his last touch to be what happened there. It was a great way to finish. And I think Jaz (Jaziun Patterson) punched it in, so it was great to see that happen for Jaz (Jaziun Patterson).
On the spread-out offensive attack and if that's by design…
A little bit of that might be end of the game, trying to get as many players in as we can. I also think it speaks to what I was saying earlier in the week: that I want to play a lot of players. The guys that got in there - and there were a few others that we couldn't get in - are doing a great job. I just challenged the guys: this is our first road test coming up, and they need to make it really hard on me to pick the 80 guys that are going to go on the road with us. And they do that by the way they prepare. We had a lot of improvement from a lot of guys this week. I thought we had very competitive practices, and we've just got to keep climbing up the mountain as we go along with that process of preparation.
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On how he would encapsulate this team through two games this season…
Yeah, I think they're bought in. What we emphasize, they worked their tails off to go do today because of the way they prepared this week. It's a testament to our leadership, to our captains, to our unity council, to the guys running that, which is broken up by position. We practiced very hard this week, and the guys are the ones that get the credit for that. We put together the plan, but they've got to go out and do it. You come off a tough win; you come back and play another MAC team with an opportunity on the horizon like we have, this is easily a letdown game for a team with a lack of maturity or lack of focus and discipline. I thought the way we started the week ended up being the way we finished the week. I'm proud of the guys for that, but in no way, shape, or form satisfied with where I'm at. We've got a ton of work to do. We can't allow a lull to happen. We cannot be out-physicaled. We've got to get a lot better, and I look forward to getting to work on that this week. Thanks, everybody, for being here. Appreciate you. Go Green.
Michigan State Graduate Running Back Cam Edwards
On his fumble and lighter workload this week...
I'm overly hard on myself. The fumble is not acceptable. I was beating myself up about it, but I think I had a great way of responding for the team and putting that play aside. That won't happen from me anymore.
Thoughts on the run game & aggressive plays...
Coach (Nick) Sheridan having a lot of trust in the guys in the room, in the whole line, and everybody on the offense shows that he has a lot of trust in us to go get the fourth-and-one.
On confidence level with taking snaps in the backfield...
When I was in high school, I used to play a little bit of quarterback, and we used to do a little bit of wildcat. I kind of mentioned it over to Coach (Nick) Sheridan and was making a joke out of it. Then he actually took it really seriously. Obviously, I'm just trying to do whatever I can to make this team win. I'm just trying to be a team player.Â
Michigan State Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic
Thoughts on confidence coming into the game and getting ready for next week vs. Notre Dame...
When you start picking up a few wins in a row, your confidence for sure builds. I think the one thing is you can't get complacent. You have to continue to work, come in day in and day out, and continue to work because we have a really good team ahead of us. We're going to enjoy this win, but we've got to get ready to go on the road and play them.
Thoughts on the run game & aggressive plays...
I think the run game was great today. It makes it a lot easier on me to go out there and win a game when you've got a guy like this running for a lot. The guys up front, they played their butts off. I think it makes it easier on me, and I think together, mixing run and pass, it makes this a tough offense to stop.
Thoughts on the slow second quarter & QB situation with Cam Fancher in for a drive...
To start off, the second quarter was fully on me. I need to play better in general. My eyes have got to be better. I've got to make the right read. That second quarter is 100% on me. Coming out of halftime, we really stressed that third quarter last week, and even in the past for our program, talking about the third quarter. We stressed it all week. I think we came out a lot better than last week. Cam's (Fancher) done a great job. Obviously, when you have a really good player like him, you want to get him in the game. It's just knowing the times to put him in and staying ready at all times for both of us. There might be a drive where Cam (Fancher) gets in, like he did this game. He let us all the way down the field, and I came in for the last play where we got a direct snap to Cam (Edwards) and we scored a touchdown. I think it's just really cool that we're going to utilize every single good player on our team, and it's really exciting to see. I'm very happy for Cam (Fancher).
On what has been seen behind the scenes from teammate Charles Taplin leading to big performance...
One thing that's grown with him is his confidence. I wouldn't say he lacked it earlier in the year, but it's definitely something that he's really worked on. He builds it up. Today, I think he had three or four catches. Obviously, his first touchdown. I'm really proud of him. That route was nasty. I'm just proud of him and the way he goes out. He comes in every day and works. I don't think he played last week, and then this week his number was called, and he came in and scored a touchdown. I'm proud of him and all the guys who continue to respond.
On the communication with Cam Fancher when he comes in & idea of Cam Edwards stealing QB1 spot...
This guy thinks he's a quarterback, but I think he's a pretty good running back, so hopefully he can stay in that position. When Cam (Fancher) comes in, it's pretty simple communication. I'm just waiting for whenever it's my time to go back out there.Â
Thoughts on the game plan behind spreading the ball out more offensively...
I think when you have a lot of good receivers, tight ends, and running backs, it's a lot easier to rotate guys and keep fresh legs in there. That's something we want to stress because you don't want to waste any talent that's on the team. I think when guys go out, practice, and show what they can do, they're going to get the opportunity to go in. To be honest, the entire receiving room played very well in practice this week, and I think they went out today and executed their jobs well. It's exciting to see young guys like Tap (Charles Taplin) and Braylon (Collier) get out there and get some of their first catches and touchdowns.
Michigan State Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker Brady Pretzlaff
The coaches do a great job of getting everyone prepared for every situation. You never really know when a situation like that is going to come up, but you just trust your preparation and what the coaches get you ready for, which is to go out and compete and dominate in that situation. I think Jordan (Hall) has been a great leader. Throughout this week, it's hard for a guy like that, who has played so much and is so passionate about the game, to go down. He has done a great job taking on a coaching role and getting us ready, so it's been great to see that.
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On the change in defense from the first half to the second half…
We want to get all four quarters to be to our standard that we set as a defense. We did put a huge emphasis on coming out hot in the third quarter; that was something we struggled with last week a little bit. We talked a lot about physicality, and a lot of props to Coach (Joe) Rossi, and his adjustments made at half, and us taking those over and taking on the challenge to be more physical and play our ball as far away.
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On wearing the green dot…
I was wearing it all day today. I think it was pretty good. Even last week, with Jordan (Hall) going down for some of the game, I got the green dot a little bit. We all kind of have it in practice, so it's something that you're ready for and used to hearing it and trying to relay it to everyone. It's something I have to continue to get used to having it for situations like that. I think the preparation led to it just being another thing that was kind of habitual for me.
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On EMU touchdown…
I think the physicality piece is the brand of ball that MSU is known for. I grew up watching it. That's what we're really trying to get back to playing. Our physicality wasn't where it needed to be on that drive, and we corrected it and moved on and responded. That's what you guys can expect out of us.
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Michigan State Redshirt Junior Defensive Lineman Eli Coenen
On getting two sacks today…
It's the whole d-line. It's a power unit, so it's two sacks for the unit, not just me. And that's what I love. We all work together. We all love each other, and that's what we get after the quarterback. Being able to have them and go out with all those guys, I trust every single one of them. It's all of us getting that, not just me.
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On how he stays locked in despite all the noise…
I would say the routine. Keeping the same schedule. Doing the same thing. Keep stacking the days. Keep going.
Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton
Opening Statement…
First, I met Pat Fitzgerald back in the late '90s. Y'all made an unbelievable hire. I think you probably already know that, but I think he's a great human being and a great football coach, and you can see the identity of this football team and this football program, even in two weeks. He's a leader, not only just of men, and I've never coached with him or whatever, but I'm even just talking about from the American Football Coaches Association. He's a leader amongst all football coaches in the country. When he speaks, people listen. He's super bright and has great integrity. And so, congrats to him and to Michigan State. We came here to win. And to do that, you got to play pretty well. When you go jogging in February and it's not week one yet, you think about this day. And you think about all the things that could happen by coming in here and winning the game and so we wanted that badly. And so that part, you just get the one shot. And so that's hard, but I'll tell you what, I love my team more now than I did three and a half hours ago if that's possible. Proud of them, and I believe that we have what it takes to become a really good football team. I really do, and we're gonna keep forging forward. I promise you that. So, congrats to Michigan State.
On his thoughts at halftime and the difference in the second half…
Yeah, when you're behind, you don't necessarily like where you're at. But yeah, we were definitely within reach. We were playing well enough to know that we could do this. I think that we wore down a little bit, even the takeaway that you talked about, even on that drive. Early on, they had some nice runs and whatnot, but it was not just the pile moving forward, right, and consistently and just getting chunk yardage. Defense was hanging with them, toe to toe. But I do, I think we wore down a little bit. And then offensively we were moving the ball, but obviously we didn't finish drives. We didn't finish drives. And apparently we were just an inch or so short on the review. That ended up being a big one. I think that we just weren't able to finish drives, but it's also credit to them. They're good players over there and well coached. But yeah, at halftime there wasn't any smiling or anything like that. I promise you that. But there was definitely the continued belief that we could do what we came here to do.
On what a game like this does for his team…
Yeah, I mean we'll see, right? And I say that, I do know what it's going to do. I know the character of the guys in the locker room, and so sometimes it's hard to articulate. I tried to do it to them. Like I'm a competitive guy, right? And so, like I said, I was jogging in February thinking about winning this game, and I mean that sincerely. And so it's not okay, right? You want to win when you have an opportunity to win a game, and so I don't know how long I have to pause, and then I'm also going to tell you that playing hard, playing well, and getting better is super important to me and to us, and so we took we took some steps forward today, despite not winning the game. I've been doing this for a while. You don't play very well, and people come up to you and just say, 'Hey, but you got the dub. You know, 1-0 we'll go get them next week.' And that's never made me feel good. When we don't play well and win, right? You're glad that you win, but I'm just telling you, maybe it's the coach in me — I've been doing it for a long time — that I do not get satisfaction from not playing well.
On the margin of the play reviewed…
Yeah, it's pretty small. You know, what I mean. I'm just not discouraged. And it's discouraging if you just can't stop them, and it's discouraging if you just can't even move the ball. That's discouraging. You just try to figure out how to do those things. That not the feel that I had from this. We moved the ball, and we stopped them. So I think the margins are pretty thin, maybe an inch or two on a review and a non-review. You know what I mean. Those end up being pretty big deals, and there's a lot more to it than that. But yeah, I think the margins are pretty small.
On the rushing performance and touchdown drive…
Yeah, to do what we want to do and to be who we're going to be, you've got to be able to run the football, and that's been frustrating the first two weeks. That was borderline discouraging the first two weeks. And not discouraged at all about our run game, and doesn't mean that everything's fixed. It really is a process of just continuing to get better. And so, in some of the areas that we need to get better at, rushing the football would be one of them. And it was far from perfect, but there was some production today.
On Michigan State's identity…
Tough, physical, disciplined. You know what I mean. That's what I think of. I see downhill running. We recruited (Michigan State redshirt sophomore quarterback) Alessio (Milivojevic). Think he's great, and so it feels like I've said that this week, where they can throw the ball. It's not one of those things. It's not just one play action once in a while. They can throw the football, but I think who — you got to ask him (Michigan State Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald) — but I think who they want to be is a downhill running, tough, physical (team). You know what I mean? Big Ten, Michigan State football, right? And I think that you can see that just in the first two games. And then defensively, super fundamental, disciplined. Guys know who they are and how to play, and then on third down, that's where the creativity comes in, and they're good coaches and good people. So I think again, I think Michigan State hit a grand slam.
On his message to Noah Kim after the game…
Yeah, it was emotional. We have a tradition where the seniors each get a night before a game called a Senior Share. So when (Eastern Michigan fifth-year quarterback) Noah (Kim) and (Eastern Michigan graduate defensive back) Caleb (Coley), both did their Senior Shares last night, it was phenomenal. It was just absolutely phenomenal. Just the raw emotion, but just those guys just being honest and exhorting the team, but kind of telling their story and whatnot. Those are two unbelievable humans, and they're great football players, and so I got to walk off the field with them. And I told them both, I was like, 'You better get that chin up even higher because you should be super proud.' And Caleb (Coley) didn't get to play as long as he wanted to and imagine, so that's hard, right? But those two are great people and great players. And the world really doesn't care about the people part. We say we do, but people, you know what I mean. But we do in our program, and I will forever, hold that as the highest standard and measuring stick, and they're awesome humans.
On the hit on sophomore wide receiver Harold Mack…Â
Yeah, they said that they checked it for targeting, but cleaned it, and that he had fumbled before he hit the ground. I think I saw him fumble before he hit the ground. But yeah, it was a pretty good shot. I mean, he was in the tent. He's, you know. It's the kind of thing that we're trying to prevent, the kind of injury that he potentially has. But so we on the sidelines have to trust that the people upstairs are watching it and seeing it and making the right call. So that's what I'll go with until I see differently.
On the offensive line and injuries affecting it…Â
Yeah, I think Coach Weezy (assistant coach Chris Wiesehan) has been doing a really good job. It's a new offensive line, and then even within the January and post January, you're getting guys who haven't been here ready, and we have a number of guys who would be playing for us who aren't playing right now, and so I can't wait to watch the film. There's guys who are playing virtually for the first time. Seems like they were holding their own out there, and that's encouraging.
Eastern Michigan Senior Jason Marshall
On getting the turnover…
Takeaways are everything. And we had, I mean, no takeaways up to that point. So, it's just getting on the ball and getting our offense another opportunity to score. I think that's something that we could have done a lot better today. We had one, I think we had one takeaway. That's not a standard. That's not how we hold ourselves. So, I mean, but it was a big play, just getting on the ball. Just doing my job.
On the progress of the defense…
We have a way we do things. That's what we do. We play violence. The most important to what you just said is our chemistry with each other. So just our relationship with each other, and we're gonna keep building that every day. Every game, no matter what happens. We're gonna do great things. We're gonna win the MAC. You know that's our goal. So we're going to just keep going, keep pushing.
What can this game teach you…
We're in the game, 14-7 at halftime and it just showed, we can play. We have the guys, we have the scheme, we have the coaches, we have everything we need. And we just have to keep our foot on the pedal. And I mean, that's really it. It just showed we can do what we want to do, and we're gonna do what we say we're gonna do.
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