EAST LANSING, Mich. — It’s pretty rare for Michigan State coaches to lose their first two in the rivalry against Michigan (neither Mark Dantonio nor Mel Tucker did that), but Jonathan Smith already has.
The Wolverines came into Spartan Stadium and dominated MSU through the run game and a stout defensive attack (minus a few lapses). Smith was the subject of negative chants and boos from the hometown crowd, and with some questionable decisions, he was going to take some tough questions after the game.
In his short, not-even-10-minute press conference, here is what Smith said that was pertinent to Michigan football.
Opening statement
OK, obviously, it’s just not good enough. You know, I thought these guys prepared throughout the week, energized for this one, and came down to sloppy play. I look at the first half offensively, penalties, lack of execution, was pleased defensively bowing up. We give them the ball. First drive, bowing up, holding up to a field goal. Defensively, I thought in the first half, they kept us in that one, and then you get into the start of the second half, a couple tough drives in the third quarter, but finally get an answer offensively, and we got opportunities twice. Their side of the field, fourth down, don’t get it done, and just was not good enough to overcome some of the penalties we inflicted on ourselves, a couple tough calls, not good enough tonight.
On the controversial offsides call
Told he was offsides, and I’ve seen that call go either way. I’ll put it that way.
On the 12 penalties
Well, I think all of this rests with the head coach at the top in regards to everything that takes place in the program. I do think the emotion and it turns into your ability to concentrate, focus, and when they’re especially in the first half, I think offensively, because I think we had eight first half, and the majority of that is on offense. And so, yeah, we didn’t want the extra penalties past the whistle, but didn’t obviously execute well within the whistles on the penalty end.
On struggling vs. Michigan’s defense
Early on, you’ve got some things that you think Marsh is going to have a high chance of seeing it. I do think they need to play catch, the two of them. I think early on we could have a slant that could get caught, and then we throw a hitch down on the not catchable. And again, it’s not those two plays and those two players. This is an entire unit on offense contributing to the thing.
More on the Michigan defense
They’ve got a solid scheme. They’ve got some solid players. We definitely helped them to look better.
On Justice Haynes
Yeah, he’s a solid player, scheme, they’ve got some guys up front, I think he runs hard.
On the offsides call again
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think we get the turnover, the whole thing, that’s a gut punch. Especially again, you’re not going to get every call go your way, those are bang, bang. Not here to say this thing is easy to officiate, I’ll just say that, again, I’ve seen that not called plenty of times.
On his calm demeanor and lack of fire
I mean, yeah, team meetings are definitely different than press conferences, without question. At the same time, I think in regards to some consistency of approach, if I felt like there was a lack of effort going on, I’d be pretty pissed off at that, but I don’t feel that in any way in our guys.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: MSU coach Jonathan Smith reacts after second straight rivalry loss to Michigan football
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
