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00:00 Good to see everybody made it back from New Jersey.
00:02 Looking forward to this week's game.
00:06 As we all know, it's a big game.
00:09 And our guys are locked in and already looking forward to it.
00:13 And should be a great week.
00:15 >> Questions?
00:17 >> Obviously, the last four weeks, it was on how you guys won.
00:21 Is there anything, because you have a very good team, is there anything to the rivalry that can help refocus you guys and
00:28 just try and get out of this bar and challenge ahead?
00:31 >> Well, you always are just trying to get better no matter what, rivalry game or not.
00:38 Definitely, you can bring some more focus to it though.
00:41 And we talked about having great attention to detail.
00:43 And so, but as far as if it's Michigan or not Michigan or what have you,
00:50 we just need to start playing better and now it's about finishing.
00:54 So that's our next step.
00:55 We gotta finish and we're looking forward to doing that this weekend.
00:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:05 >> With Mark, obviously, had a lot of success in this rivalry and you were here for all of those things.
01:11 I know he's more of an advisory role or consulting, but is there anything that he adds to this week,
01:16 the way he prioritizes rivalry that can maybe help you more than just something unique?
01:22 >> Right, because he has a secret formula to success, I can't share.
01:29 So I'll just say it that way if that's okay.
01:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:34 >> Harlan, you're an upbeat guy by nature.
01:37 How hard is it been to stay that way because you have to be that way for your team, don't you?
01:42 >> Absolutely, I'm not gonna lie, Saturday was a gut punch.
01:47 That was a gut punch.
01:50 But as a man, as a leader, you have to step up in those situations and
01:55 try to just get understanding of what it's all about, the big picture.
02:00 And then relate it to the young man.
02:03 I told them, hey man, in life, adversity is gonna hit.
02:06 And that's when you find out who a person really is in the midst of adversity.
02:11 And so I'm no different.
02:13 So I have to step up and be the person I say that I am.
02:17 And present that to them so they can have an example to possibly look to.
02:22 >> Is it harder to bounce back from a game like that?
02:26 Or in a strange way, can it help you bounce back because there's no act up?
02:32 >> That's a great question.
02:34 That's a great question.
02:36 I think it can work either way.
02:38 We said the 24 hour rule, and sure enough, 24 hours, you gotta get rid of it.
02:44 And that ain't cold.
02:45 And so I think it's just mentally how you look at it and how you receive it and
02:52 attack it.
02:53 So for me personally, it's an attack mode.
02:58 We lost four in a row, so now it's just attack mode.
03:02 Just keep attacking.
03:04 Eventually, it's gonna turn.
03:06 And so that's how I think.
03:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:18 >> I'm wondering about the special teams mistakes the last couple weeks,
03:21 couple games.
03:22 What kind of things are you working to fix with that?
03:25 And what did you see when you look back on the tape between the end of the Iowa
03:31 game and then the two mistakes there in the fourth quarter?
03:35 >> It's all about, like I said before to the guys, great attention to detail.
03:40 Things that have been covered, you can't, you know.
03:44 So I told our guys this, shout out to my father, rest his soul, but he used to have
03:50 a bunch of sayings, right?
03:52 A bunch of sayings.
03:53 And one he used to say all the time I remember from when I was a little guy,
03:57 but he used to say when the crowd starts hollering and the lights get hot, that's
04:01 when I'm gonna know if you can do it or not.
04:04 And so at quarter time, when the game is on the line, can you perform and
04:08 do what you're supposed to do?
04:09 Attention to detail, discipline, do your job.
04:12 You don't have to do anything extra.
04:14 Doing your job is making a play.
04:16 And so when our guys get to that point, the offense, defense, and special teams,
04:23 that's when we're gonna be playing to the best of our potential,
04:27 late in games, trying to finish them out.
04:29 And you just do it, just being disciplined.
04:33 Because, again, doing your job is making a play.
04:38 Michigan, obviously, good team so far this year.
04:41 They haven't played a schedule that maybe lets people know exactly who they are.
04:44 But I'm wondering what you see when you watch them and what sort of challenges
04:49 they present compared to anybody else you face this year.
04:53 They're very disciplined in what they do, offense, defense, and special teams.
04:59 They play hard, and they have a good passing game as well as running game.
05:06 They got a good balance.
05:08 And they just do a good job, do a good job of coaching those guys up
05:11 and putting them in position to make plays.
05:14 They're a good football team.
05:16 Harlan, from your time as a player to now,
05:18 what has changed the most in this rivalry for you?
05:21 What has changed the most?
05:27 I don't know if much has changed.
05:31 So, as a player, I didn't win as many as I would have liked to have won.
05:36 But as a coach, I have won more.
05:38 So, that's changed, the winning aspect from a personal perspective,
05:45 if I can say that.
05:49 Harlan, obviously, everybody remembers what happened after the game last year.
05:52 I was wondering what you thought about where the team's at,
05:55 and is that something you addressed going into this week
05:57 with what happened and maybe keeping stuff on the field?
06:02 That's it.
06:04 We're focused on this year and just playing the game 11-on-11 on the football field
06:09 because that's all that matters.
06:11 And that's where our focus is, 11-on-11 on the football field.
06:16 You get plenty of chance to get out there and get after them
06:19 and play hard and all the other stuff.
06:22 We're moving forward past that.
06:25 Do you sense that this week has been different for your guys at all?
06:29 We just got back together today, this morning.
06:31 So, we had to practice.
06:33 But are ready to say yes.
06:36 It's only been today, but they know what it is.
06:39 They know what it's about and the importance of this game to us here at Michigan State.
06:46 I guess kind of in what ways has it been different?
06:48 You mentioned the 24-hour rule and turning the page quickly.
06:51 Something like this, do you think it has helped them to move forward?
06:56 Yes, I think so.
06:57 I think so, knowing that, hey, we got this team coming up and I told them,
07:02 let's be honest about it, they don't care that we lost the last four games.
07:08 They're going to come after us no matter what.
07:10 And we would do the same thing.
07:12 So, we got to get ourselves together and move forward.
07:15 So, that's why the 24-hour rule is so important.
07:21 I don't want to goad you into saying anything and get you in trouble,
07:24 but Coach D made this rivalry personal.
07:28 He called it personal.
07:29 He revived the rivalry with his actions.
07:32 And it's always been personal to you.
07:35 Do you have to sell it all on your players or do you back out and be
07:39 personal to them too, if you know what I mean?
07:41 I do know what you mean.
07:45 So, you go back to Coach Perlis, that's what I always go back to because
07:48 that was my head coach here and how he talked about it
07:52 and gave the history of it and all of that.
07:56 So, in today's world, transfer portal and all that,
08:01 and you're trying to get them to understand as well.
08:05 You try to get them to understand because you don't really know until you
08:08 play it.
08:09 And so, you might even -- some guys you're trying to, "Hey, man,
08:12 this is serious.
08:13 This is big time.
08:14 It's the best rivalry in football in my opinion."
08:18 And so, you're trying to tell them.
08:22 But sometimes they just don't know until they play.
08:24 I've heard many guys say, even if it's freshmen,
08:27 in their first game against these guys, say, "Oh, I see what you mean now."
08:34 So, sometimes it don't matter.
08:35 You can say all you want throughout the week.
08:37 It's not until afterwards sometimes, but once they get in it,
08:40 do they really understand what you've been trying to tell them.
08:42 That leads me to ask you when it became personal for you.
08:46 Was it when you played in it?
08:47 Absolutely.
08:48 Absolutely.
08:51 Coach Perlis -- I blame Coach Perlis.
08:54 I always say that.
08:55 That's just so -- I blame him.
08:57 But, yeah, he got me fired up.
09:00 That's all.
09:01 I've been that way ever since, 1985, man.
09:04 So, it is what it is.
09:06 And so, I always say this, too.
09:09 I think it's great for the state of Michigan.
09:12 I really do.
09:13 I really do.
09:14 Because in this state, you grow up one way or the other.
09:16 So, whenever I go out recruiting in the state, I say, "Who you grew up rooting for?"
09:22 Because they're going to tell you one or the other.
09:24 You're going to get one or the other.
09:26 And you kind of know where they stand, most guys stand.
09:30 But you're always going to have to end the state.
09:32 It is great for the state.
09:33 It really is.
09:34 You're an Ohio guy.
09:35 You didn't have any impression to them until you came here, right?
09:38 That is correct.
09:39 That is correct.
09:40 Because I was different.
09:42 Some people may think, "Well, aren't you Ohio State?"
09:45 You didn't like that.
09:46 I was more -- I watched more pro ball.
09:48 I ain't going to lie to you.
09:49 Growing up, I did watch college ball, but I wasn't into it like that.
09:54 I was more of a pro football guy, just watching them and just enjoyed watching college football.
09:59 So, it wasn't like I hear.
10:01 And listening to Coach Perkins tell us about the rivalry and how it came about, the history,
10:08 that's when I really got into it.
10:11 With Caden, this will obviously be his first start against Michigan, his first time starting at Spartan Stadium under the lights.
10:16 What makes him ready for this moment against Michigan?
10:19 Well, he's a college football player.
10:21 He understands what he was signing up for when he signed the scholarship.
10:25 And this is one of the reasons why he chose to come to Michigan State is to play in games like this.
10:31 He came from a big-time high school program out there in California, at Bosco.
10:36 And so, he's -- I mean, not that Bosco is playing this type of game, but he's used to big-time atmospheres and high expectations.
10:45 So, I expect him to do and have a great game.
10:48 Steve?
10:50 When you look at their run game, it seems like they do some things that you just don't see a ton anymore.
10:55 And with how physical they are and their style, what are the keys that you see that makes that thing work for them with their run game?
11:01 Their discipline and how they attack everything they do.
11:06 So, they know -- you know, you can tell the offensive line is in sync along with the tight ends and their running back.
11:12 Everybody's in sync and understanding their assignments.
11:16 And so, that's what they do good.
11:18 They're not just sort of flipping around defensively.
11:20 They've only locked 10 points once in every other game, I think it was, single digits.
11:23 So, when you're noticing that they're doing well, that's how it's --
11:26 Sync type of thing.
11:27 Their discipline in what they do.
11:29 They understand where they fit and where they need to be in their assignments.
11:32 So, that's what good teams do.
11:36 You said you don't know until you're in it.
11:39 Whether it's coaching in this rivalry or playing in this rivalry, do you have one specific memory that kind of defines it?
11:46 Again, other than that, like, oh, this is what it is.
11:48 But do you have a game, win or loss, or anything that you're like, okay, this is what it's about?
11:53 Mine is 48, no hard feelings.
11:59 Thank you.
12:02 Looking back at the Rutgers game, kind of two things.
12:06 You said about one, Khalil G coming in for Malik.
12:12 As long as he came back late, but what's the situation there?
12:16 Was that a play's performance issue or was it injury?
12:21 Malik got a little dinged up, but like you said, you saw him come back in, so he's good.
12:25 He's ready to go.
12:26 But it was more than he got a little dinged and make sure he was okay.
12:30 And secondly, two receiver fumbles.
12:34 The one play to Malik, Carb, they had it stripped from him.
12:41 With that, I mean, you mentioned the attention to detail.
12:43 How do you work that with the receivers?
12:45 And with that play with Carb, was there a thought to challenge that?
12:50 No, you clearly saw the guy make a good play.
12:53 I was standing literally right there.
12:55 I mean, it was a kick bump and he swatted it out.
12:57 When we say hook and swat, that's defense and back.
13:00 And then boom, and he got it out.
13:01 I saw it.
13:02 I saw it right there.
13:04 But we got to continue.
13:05 We've been talking about the turnovers and penalties and things like that,
13:08 and the penalties were down this week.
13:10 We've got to continue to work on getting the turnovers.
13:12 We have to secure the ball the best we can.
13:16 I even talked about getting two hands on it some kind of way so that you catch it
13:20 and tuck it away quickly and put two hands up there.
13:22 Whatever you have to do to secure the ball.
13:24 So we're working on it.
13:26 Our offensive staff is a heck of a staff,
13:28 and they're going to keep working on it and getting our guys to where they can
13:31 hold on to the ball once they have it.
13:35 I was wondering about the backfield rotation.
13:37 We saw more of Jalen on Saturday.
13:39 He looked like he's getting healthier.
13:40 Is he almost 100% -- and I guess is Harold Joyner now just like a permanent
13:45 third running back or third on the depth chart and more past pro
13:49 after bouncing around all those positions?
13:51 Yes.
13:52 Yes to the question on everything that you said.
13:56 Jalen Berger I thought looked really good out there on Saturday.
14:01 He's from Terrence, so he probably had a little extra juice.
14:03 But he looked good.
14:04 I thought he looked good.
14:06 Of course, Nathan Carter is a heck of a back,
14:08 and being able to use Harold Joyner out there, he does a good job.
14:13 He understands how to nice little run.
14:15 So that's a good complement of backs I think that we have right now,
14:19 and they do a good job.
14:24 Hey, Harlan.
14:25 Just going back to the Rutgers game.
14:26 The players after the game, you've watched the film now,
14:29 but the players after the game, I think all of them said,
14:32 made the point that the Rutgers played hard to the end.
14:35 They kind of say that maybe you guys didn't play as hard
14:38 or you guys didn't play hard.
14:39 But I'm curious what you saw.
14:40 If you saw any give on your guys' part with the sort of going south there?
14:46 I'm not going to necessarily say give.
14:48 It was the discipline thing I mentioned earlier.
14:51 You know, just doing your job, doing your job.
14:56 Sometimes when things start going awry, guys are like,
15:00 "No, I'm going to do my job.
15:02 I got to do something else to go make a play."
15:04 Again, doing your job is making a play.
15:06 Being disciplined is making a play, and that's what we have to do.
15:10 In some areas on the field, we have a lot of young guys
15:13 having been in real tight situations like that.
15:16 So we're learning and growing at the same time,
15:19 and hopefully we're getting these lessons as we go through.
15:25 The pre-game availability report had some new guys on it ahead of that game
15:29 until we didn't get a chance to ask questions.
15:31 Anybody else that's a voluntary opt-out or anything,
15:34 or are those all injury situations if they're on that list?
15:36 Injury situations, yeah, no opt-out situations as of today,
15:41 this morning, or anything that I've heard.
15:47 Anybody else?
15:48 Time for a couple more and we'll wrap it up with you, Matt.
15:51 You touched on Michigan's offense, but they had changes
15:54 in all phases of the game from the last time you played them.
15:57 But same quarterback, same top two running backs.
16:00 How much different do you think they are now than when you played them last year?
16:04 Well, there's more experience.
16:06 They've got those same guys, but they're more experienced.
16:09 They've got another year under their belt, and they're playing like that.
16:12 They understand the offense and, like I said, their assignments
16:15 and where they need to be, and so they're playing like a more experienced group,
16:19 if that makes sense.
16:23 All right.
16:24 Thank you, Coach.
16:25 Thank you, Coach.