:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44347916/95655251.0.jpg)
Michigan State took the podium first at media day. Here are the highlights:
(Sorry for the brevity, but I've got a final today)
First up is Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis:
Hollis: A lot of teams feel like they are down because they aren't in the 4-team playoff...
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Hollis: I'm not going to vote one way or another tomorrow. I am concerned w/Michigan State having a 10-2 record and feeling it's a failure..
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Hollis: ..It's not.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
In other words, "Get happy or getchyo ass out."
Hollis: The Cotton Bowl to the Big 12 conference is their Rose Bowl.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Accurate. The Cotton Bowl has long been the pinnacle of bowl games in Texas.
Hollis: I don't want to reduce student seats (at MSU football games) but I do want to get them all in the same location.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Uh...I don't really know what this means. From what I can tell, the students from both schools are on the 400 level in their respective endzones. I would assume Mr. Hollis knows what he is talking about though.
Next up is the stellar DC, Pat Narduzzi.
Narduzzi: Have watched a ton of football. Every (Baylor) pass is a run and every run is a pass. If you don't stop the run you have no chance
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Almost every Baylor offensive set can turn into a pass or a run or a touchdown.
Narduzzi: This is the fastest team we've seen. We are practicing at a warp speed right now so our kids will be conditioned for it.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
If you say so. I think Kaz would disagree. I believe he also said that Baylor runs plays at a faster rate than Oregon, which is true.
Narduzzi: They're the same plays we see, but at a different tempo.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
I mean, kind of? I do not really watch B1G football, but the majority of the Baylor plays are pretty simple.
Narduzzi: Yesterday was one of the most taxing practices we've had. We condition during practice.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Narduzzi: Three-and-outs are going to be critical (against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl @CottonBowlGame)
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Is it still a three-and-out if Baylor scores on the third play?
Narduzzi: 50 percent of (Baylor's) pass plays are off the run. Play-action.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Briles does love him some play-action.
Narduzzi: Our guys will be ready. That's one thing Coach Dantonio has done for 8 seasons. One of the best things we do.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Can't argue with that. Baylor is in for a fight.
Co-offensive coordinators Dave Warner and Jim Bollman came up next to talk MSU offense and Baylor defense.
Warner: I think (QB Connor Cook) has grown by leaps and bounds during the season. I still think he has a big upside.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
I haven't had a chance to watch the film yet (or find it, for that matter), but I believe Petty and Cook are actually pretty statistically similar. Cook is a very underrated QB, from what I've heard.
Bollman: I think one of the things that may help us is we're not one of the rest of the guys, the spread-out group. We're old-fashioned.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Bollman: We have a great variety and I think that puts some pressure on the defense -- preparing for all the things we do.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Warner: I don't think (Baylor) faced a team like us. It's hard to find those teams that play w/a QB under center and a fullback behind him.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Kansas State says hello. The Snydercats are not exactly the same, but they're similar.
Warner: We're kind of a dinosaur.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
I like this quote.
Head coach Mark Dantonio is up next.
Dantonio: (Baylor offense) is as fast as we've ever seen.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Statistically correct.
Dantonio: It's going to be a challenge to stay balanced against (Baylor defense).
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
For sure, especially if the front seven can limit the run like they have all season.
Dantonio: Very, very excited about the challenge. Dallas is a place you want to go if you're in this business.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
JERRY WORLD IS IN ARLINGTON
Dantonio: It's going to get a lot of national coverage. Growing up, the @CottonBowlGame is one you watched because of the biggness of it
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Biggness.
Dantonio: When you watch (Baylor) across the year, they do a lot of different things. You have to adjust on game day.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Dantonio: Defending Baylor is about getting lined up and playing fast.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
In the Big 12, we play fast football.
Dantonio: We're a 10-2 football team and very proud of what we do. Winning puts us right on the fringe of being in that playoff.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Dantonio: We've lost to two teams that are in the playoff.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Baylor cannot overlook this fact. Sparty is an excellent football team and has all the tools to beat Baylor.
Dantonio: I was born in El Paso, still have relatives in Dallas. It's always nice to say you're from Texas.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
Art Briles approves.
Dantonio: It's important to note that in those (last 3) bowl games we were behind and came back to win.
— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) December 16, 2014
That's it for me, I think Baylor is up next, but I've got to go study, so y'all post the Tweets in the comments or something. Follow along at @MSU_Football and at @BUFootball for the latest.