Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

QUESTIONS FOR HEAD COACH MARK DANTONIO COACH DANTONIO: It's a pleasure to be here at the Cotton Bowl. It has been very exciting all week. I can't tell you what our hospitality has been like. It is an unbelievable experience for our players, coaches, families. And looking forward to a great challenge on Thursday on New Year's Day. Q. What are the similarities in the timeline from the rise in Baylor's program? When you look at what they have done and when they have done it, what are the similarities? COACH DANTONIO: When we look at Baylor, there are a lot of parallels in terms of how their program has performed really in the past five years and ours as well. Really, their last 29 games I think they're 26-3. And the last 28, we are 25-3. So the similarities are very clear right there. I think they've done it different ways than we've done it. Both in great conferences. Both have had opportunities to win a championship, played at a high level. Look at Baylor right now, you can definitely make a -- you can make a comment that they should be in the playoffs. After watching all those plays for the last 14 games plus and going into even 2013 film, you can certainly see why they feel that way. Excellent football team. Great quarterback. Great skill players. Great philosophy, offensive philosophy, outstanding defense. Always impressed with Phil Bennett as a defensive coordinator. So you look at them and you say they've made it the hard way. They've changed the program. They've changed the culture. There are a lot of similarities, a lot of parallels. Q. You have talked about your defensive backs, [Darqueze] Dennard out there, Trae Waynes. Where would those guys be if you hadn't compared them to the other great defensive backs you've had? COACH DANTONIO: They're on that team that I keep. Trae Waynes, great ball judgment, great speed, long arms, great physical tackle. He looks like Dennard. He is a very intense player. I think their successes speak for themselves, what he has been able to accomplish. Very, very similar. He's on the bus. There have been about 10 or 12 guys on that bus throughout my coaching career. I would certainly feel like Kurtis Drummond is in there as well. Q. What's the best tandem you have had? forward?

How difficult will it be moving

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas COACH DANTONIO: Well, Queze (Darqueze Dennard) wasn't here this year. But, yeah, I have never really looked at it as a tandem but individuals. You can say a great tandem. They are hard guys to replace. I will make the comparison that Queze, when he left, other guys stepped up and picked up. That's what people do. Q. In your game preparations, what you have seen from Bryce Petty? COACH DANTONIO: Bryce Petty, I think it was Christmas Eve, I was watching "Elf" with my kids. And when Elf throws snowballs at those guys, that's what I thought of. I said, there's Bryce Petty. That thing is coming out fast and hot. Great competitor. He has got great awareness. He is creative with the ball. They have some different run plays with him as well. Goes to seven different receivers, eight different receivers on a pretty common time. Great reading the box. Great reading the coverage. I think he is an outstanding quarterback. He is an All-American football player, outstanding player, great leader. Q. How have you been able to keep the team focused from the time you have arrived? You stressed this had to be about the Cotton Bowl and Michigan State. Obviously, there has been a lot going on. How have you kept the team focused? COACH DANTONIO: I think that's key. I think life has a lot of distractions to it. I think if you want to be focused on a challenge, be able to accomplish that particular goal, you stay focused on your task at hand. We constantly talk about that and try not to allow things to take us in a different direction. Coach Narduzzi has had an obviously interesting week. But with all that being said, he has kept his focus. The football team has kept their focus. I think it is very, very important we concentrate on us, we concentrate on Baylor, make sure we have a life experience here at the Cotton Bowl. The Cotton Bowl has provided us with that on a daily basis. And get focused for the game. You got to be fresh at game time, and we intend to do that. Q. You talk about respect a lot. Do you have a good relationship with your players. But if you had a quintessential Dantonio kind of guy, Marcus Rush would be that guy. Coach Briles gave him respect, said he's Steady Eddie. He is there every game, every play. When you hear Marcus getting that kind of respect, what does it mean to you?

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

COACH DANTONIO: I think Marcus goes into this game -- maybe it is his 53rd straight start. He has had more starts than any other player in Michigan State football history. And he's been on a football team that has as many wins maybe in the last five years, last four years, as any team in Big Ten history. I think that statement itself talks to his performance. He's played on an outstanding defense. He has been top ten nationally really for the last four years, maybe longer. I'm not sure of the statistics. He's just a guy that's going to do a good job. He's going to be a great pass rusher. He is a great effort guy, comes up with big plays almost every single play. We will miss Marcus Rush. He has been a key to our success. Q. But away from football, personally for you to see him get that kind of respect, he's special to you. COACH DANTONIO: Yeah, he is. He is a Cincinnati guy. I spent my previous three years in Cincinnati. He is from Moeller High School. Had great success from guys from Moeller. He is a coaches' guy. He's a kidder. He is a joker. He's a guy that's going to go hard, and he is a guy that's going to have to get on every now and again to go hard at practice because he has been there so many times. When it comes to game time and wanting to be around guys, he is a foxhole guy and we like being around him. As a coach, I think you always prefer to be around guys that are very level-headed, very confident. So you know what you are getting at game time. You think you are going to get maximum effort. Q. Can you talk about the job that Art Briles has done at Baylor, what you have seen from a distance? How has he turned his program around? COACH DANTONIO: Coach Briles has done an outstanding job. Gotten to know him a little bit on a couple trips we've taken as coaches. I think he's an outstanding person. He has built an A program here. He has built a culture here of championships, not easy to do, especially in the state of Texas with all the different dynamics that you have and all the different college football teams and great college football teams that you have in this state, to be able to do that. And it has been -- he has been proving himself to be a consistent not just a winner but a consistent performer at a championship-type level. Again, I go back to what I said, it will be a great challenge for us on game day. Talk about the offensive philosophy from Texas Tech and Houston, et cetera. But

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas everywhere he has been, offensively they have been cutting edge with their formations, the way they spread you out horizontally, with their passing game down the field, with their run game, take advantage of the numbers in the box. He's surrounded himself with great players. He's surrounded himself with great individuals that have the ability to play extremely hard, extremely focused, and they show great leadership. Q. If you win on Thursday, it will be back-to-back Rose Bowl win and Cotton Bowl win. How does that elevate the Michigan State program? COACH DANTONIO: I think we gained respect especially the last five years nationally. I think we have been in the national conversation here in the last couple years especially. The fact we've won three straight bowl games has elevated us during the bowl season. That will be another challenge for us. But we just need to play one game at a time and try to stay within ourselves and let other people talk. I think we have a national brand. I think we have a national reputation right now. And the only way you prove that is by continuing to win. So our focus needs to be on what we do. Q. Bryce Petty said when he was at quarterback camp with Connor Cook, he was amazed at his compete level. How have you seen that level in him grow, since he was just a backup coming in off the bench in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl a couple years ago? COACH DANTONIO: Connor has always been a great competitor. He has had the ability to let a bad play go and concentrate on the next play. That might be one of his greatest traits. And what I've seen in him, he has grown in experience and confidence. He has a great understanding of our offense. He is extremely strong as quarterback. He is a good athlete back there, so he can move in the pocket and get out of problems. Obviously, you know, defenses create problems. Pressure creates problems at times. But he has been extremely effective for us, and I think he's had a tremendous year thus far. And we've protected him well. We have great set of wide receivers. We got six guys that we play routinely that can play, I think, at any level at any place. Q. The Baylor players talked about a classic style, that speed versus the strength that you guys have. You have speed as well. Is that what makes these bowls interesting? Is this what college football needs is more of these conferences

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas coming together, different styles matching up like this? COACH DANTONIO: I think you get that during bowl seasons. But I think there's always a perception. Maybe because it's a little warmer down here, he is a little faster. Maybe they got a faster stopwatch or smaller ruler. I don't know. (smiling) But everybody sees things differently. There's always a perception from where you're coming, and it is always interesting when you get to game time how you perform and how you stack up. I think that's what's great about bowls. I think that is what’s great about playing in different conferences. We played Oregon and had an opportunity to test ourselves against them and we had an opportunity to test ourselves against a tremendous offensive and defensive football team and really a great football team in every respect.

QUESTIONS FOR QB CONNOR COOK Q. So [Shawn] Oakman said that he doesn't watch Big Ten football because he says it's boring. Do you have a response to that? QB CONNOR COOK: No. But he'll see what Big Ten football is all about come Thursday. That's all I've got to say. Q. Baylor has kind of one of these fancy offenses like that where you guys are kind of pro-style system. How do you guys think you kind of matchup? QB CONNOR COOK: Like, how does our offense match up with their offense? Q. In terms of just your system. QB CONNOR COOK: It's different. They go really fast. We don't -- we have a no huddle thing in our offense. We don't go no huddle all the time like they do. We try to control the football a little bit -- a little slower than they do. They try to outwork you a little bit, outcondition you. They're trying to outwork and wear you down. They try to get you to outpress them. But we're just trying to control the football a little more compared to them. They go a little more fast paced. Q. Even just coming a few years out of high school, you look at Michigan State's kind of pro-style system. You kind of look at maybe up tempo sort of system, not like Baylor, but other systems throughout the country like that. You know, as a quarterback, what went into your decision to do that? QB CONNOR COOK: I was really highly recruited. Michigan State, Ohio, and Akron. And I decided Michigan State was the best school that I could go to. So I didn't really

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas have any options. So that's a major thing in decisions of offense to go to. And lucky for me. Q. And how do you think that pro style versus kind of the spread system prepares you for the next level? QB CONNOR COOK: When you look at the next level, you see everyone on center. They do a lot of drop-back passes, a lot of play action, a lot of concepts. Progress, I feel, spread offense. Everything's out of the gun. Not really many play action fakes. And I feel like you have really good reads, but I really wouldn't know that because I've never been in a spread. That's just my -- what I've seen, what I've heard. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Q. You worked out with Bryce [Petty]. You talked about your friendship and what you guys have come together through off-season workouts. Did you pass along any tips to the defense? QB CONNOR COOK: Just to try and stop him. I mean, I played every opponent they've played. Can't really stop them. But I really didn't say anything to the defense. Bryce is a good guy. I had the opportunity to meet him this past summer working out with him, earlier in the summer out in California, and then went back out to Oregon for Elite 11. And we were roommates out there. So getting to know him was cool. Hard working guy. Super nice, down to earth, humble. But I didn't say anything to the defense. I think they've watched enough film. Q. How could you sum up your Michigan State experience thus far? QB CONNOR COOK: It's been awesome. You know, I was telling my dad the other day I wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere else. So blessed to be in the situation that I'm in. The situation I'm in, second year starter, third year starter next year, to have that experience. Being able to go to a school that's relatively close to home. And then, obviously, to have relationships that I have with these guys and coaches. We had some position guys leave. Our running back coach went to the NFL. We had a defensive line coach just retire. Now Coach Narduzzi moves on. But this is my first major coaching staff change. We've always had minor change. You see other schools that get a new head coach every two years or guys leaving every single year. I've had a stable coaching staff. So thankful for that. And, you know, the campus is gorgeous. The people there are awesome. Spartan nation is great. I just couldn't be more thankful to have the experiences that I've had thus far at Michigan State. More memories.

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Q. Playing in the big game, depending how well Michigan does or how well Ohio State does, do you feel you take a back seat to that with a chip on your shoulder? QB CONNOR COOK: A little bit. I always say, no matter what goes on, no matter what people say doesn't really affect me or affect us as a team. We always have a chip on our shoulder no matter what. We're always hungry. So we really don't let stuff like that really affect us. The coach's job is always keeping us hungry. Q. Despite the fact Baylor puts points on offense, do you think your defense gets downplayed a little bit? QB CONNOR COOK: I don't think so. I think our defense has played good all year. There's been a couple games they've -- it's got to be on us. Defense is going to shut down their team. Last year was different. We see defenses come around that often, but sometimes it's up to us as offense to put 40+ points a game. Can't always rely on our defense. So I don't think our defense gets downplayed that much. They're a great defense. Q. By not making the playoffs, how does it feel being in the Cotton Bowl? How has the week been for you? Hospitality and everything? QB CONNOR COOK: It's been great. The hotel we're staying at is awesome. Close to the stadium, obviously. And being able to practice here -- I don't think it gets much better than Cowboy (AT&T) Stadium, which is just unbelievable. The hospitality has been great. Great players’ lounge in the hotel. XBoxes, PS4s, speakers, little remote control airplanes you can fly around. So that's been a lot of fun. Went to Six Flags yesterday. And the whole experience has been great. Q. What do you feel about the first time you met Bryce [Petty] out at camp? What do you remember about the first time you met him? QB CONNOR COOK: First time I met him we went out to dinner. We all got down to San Diego late in the afternoon. Q. Do you remember where you ate? QB CONNOR COOK: I think it was called Buca di Beppo, Italian joint. So, yeah, we all went there. Massive portions, just sharing all that stuff. But, like I said before, he's a nice guy. Down to earth. Hard working guy. You know, waited his turn at Baylor. I don't know what it was, how many days it was from his last -- from his last high school football game to his first college football game he

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas played. But just a humble guy. Funny. Similar to me. Similar personalities. Like to crack jokes and make fun -- not make fun of people but make fun of situations, you know. Q. Observational comment, right? QB CONNOR COOK: Yes. Q. Can you talk about how your teams are kind of similar? You mentioned the chip on your shoulder. Baylor is the same way. QB CONNOR COOK: Not really. Just usually, when Bryce and I talk, we just talk about -- we text each other "good luck" before the game or "Great job last night. Saw you play. Saw some highlights." Small talk like that. But haven't really talked about not getting any respect. Q. Have you run into him since you've been down here? QB CONNOR COOK: Yeah. The first night we were down here, first practice at AT&T Stadium, we had a team dinner. We were on one side, and they were on the other side. And we met up and got a picture with some of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, so that was fun. Q. Being that you're the offensive quarterback here, what have you seen and what have you learned about Baylor's defense watching film? QB CONNOR COOK: Yeah, they're a hit-and-run defense. Stop the run. They really don't try to confuse you a whole lot. Lining up different things. They're pretty much going to line up. They don't try to disguise much. They're good at what they do. They've got experienced guys back there. Guys that are sound in their reads and their assignments. They got talented guys at each position. Their defensive line is good. Linebackers are good. They don't commit a lot of turnovers, so it's going to be a challenge to know what they run cover for. We've seen a lot of that this year. But, like I said, they've got good guys at small positions. Q. Anybody stick out to you on their defense? QB CONNOR COOK: Yeah. Both cornerbacks are really good. Like to jam and press. Makes it more difficult to get off paces. linebackers are quick running the ball. They're pretty much a cohesive line.

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas Q. What does it mean for you to be able to finish out the year in the Cotton Bowl, third biggest bowl in college ball? QB CONNOR COOK: It means a lot. It means a lot to our program, our guys, too, our coaches, being able to play a role in this. Nationally televised game. A lot of people will be watching. It's a New Year's Day bowl in a stadium like this, this big. It's going to be awesome. And playing against a great opponent like Baylor on a big-time stage. We're just happy to be here. Q. What was your first impressions when you walked in here? Just the wow factor? QB CONNOR COOK: Oh, for sure, yeah. I was pretty amazed. I think the main thing that jumps out to you is the scoreboard. So I walked in, immediately looked up at the scoreboard and was just, like, wow. You look around. You see how tall the seats go up and everything else around it is just super nice. So, obviously, I think me, like everyone else, we walked in and couldn't take our eyes off that scoreboard.

QUESTIONS FOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JOEL HEATH Q. Just talk about your experience so far with the bowl. DL JOEL HEATH: It's been good. They have great hospitality here. Texas is known for that. I love being here in this environment and with great people. I just really appreciate it. Q. So I hear you're a first-year starter. Talk about that transition for you. DL JOEL HEATH: It takes time to get comfortable. And once you do, once you get that first game under your belt, you feel like you can do it every week. So I'm happy with it. Q. What have you learned about yourself this year as a starter? DL JOEL HEATH: I learned I can be more consistent than I've been. I learned I can improve in every area of my game, whatever it is, whether it's pass rush or blocking or whatever it is. I've learned that. Q. Is this your first bowl game that you're going to be playing in? DL JOEL HEATH: This is. This is my first. Q. Tell us about the excitement of that.

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas DL JOEL HEATH: It's a bit scary. But at the same time, I feel like it's just like any other game. Another opportunity to play a big competition, just like we played Oregon, Ohio State. I feel like it's similar in the competition, so I should come out with the same attitude. Q. What's it been like being in Texas? DL JOEL HEATH: Like they say, everything is bigger here. So I felt that way. I was kind of surprised that it's been kind of cold. It feels like Michigan weather. That kind of caught me off guard a little bit. But, otherwise, it's been a really good experience. Q. So what do you know about Baylor? DL JOEL HEATH: They're a fast-paced offense. They've got great guys, great players. They have a great coaching staff. I respect them fully. Q. Are you from Cincinnati? DL JOEL HEATH: I'm from Cincinnati, yes. Q. And you stayed in the Midwest why? DL JOEL HEATH: I stayed because the people there, they welcome you. It's got a similar feel, especially in Michigan. Coach Barnett was actually from Princeton. He recruited me, so I kind of had that same feeling, like, okay, I want to be here because they know about me. They know what I can do and had similar backgrounds. Q. What is your strength as a player? DL JOEL HEATH: My strength, I would have to say, just being able to work power moves. I think just being able to come off the ball and get to the quarterback and have a good pass rush, I would say. Q. What's everything been like for the team? How's the environment been for you guys since you've been here? DL JOEL HEATH: It's been excellent. I can't say I've been to a better bowl. It's really been just great hospitality and the people are great. You couldn't find it anywhere else. Q. Now your coach is from here. So what has he told you guys about Texas? DL JOEL HEATH: He's told us a lot. One of the things he mentioned was some of the

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas guys who originally played for Michigan, Michigan State, how they came from Texas. They were recruited from Texas because Texas wouldn't take them. And that was one thing that kind of resonated with me. There's great recruits here. So that's one thing he said to me. Q. Now how would you describe your season in its entirety. You guys started at No. 8, I believe, and were made No. 8. So you've been fairly consistent this season? DL JOEL HEATH: Yeah, I would say so. I would say overall, we had a great season. It wasn't what we expected in the sense that we wanted to be in the playoffs. But when it comes down to it, I feel like we expected more but we had a great season. Q. So how important would winning this game be going into next season for you guys? DL JOEL HEATH: I think it's a good staple. A good send-off letting us know we ended on a good note, positive note, leading into next season. Q. What is the Big Ten like and based on film, how would you compare to Big 12 play? DL JOEL HEATH: Every team has got a different style. But I would say similar to Indiana, same fast-paced offense. I feel like that's how it is here.

QUESTIONS FOR WR KEITH MUMPHERY Q. Talk about what your bowl experience has been so far. WR KEITH MUMPHERY: It's been great. The things we've done, I loved the Mavericks game. Just being able to be part of this and come and practice on the field that Dez Bryant played on is special. It's something we can tell -- I can tell my grandkids, like, 30 years from now. Q. So why did you go to Michigan State coming from Georgia? You left the warmth going to the cold. WR KEITH MUMPHREY: I just went with my heart, my family. I'm a firm believer in Christ. And I believe everything happens for a reason. When I went up with there and talked with Coach D (Dantonio), I just felt it was the place to be. They were real godly people, and that's where you want to be when you're trying to make decisions. You want to be with people who are going to keep it real. So I just stuck with my heart. Q. So what's your experience been like at Michigan State?

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

WR KEITH MUMPHREY: Coming from where I come from, it's been the best time of my life. I had a time -- I had a chance to grow as a man, learn a lot of things that I want to learn back at home, and I picked up on a lot of skills that I needed to know to help me later on in life and in college. Q. So you're the first in your family to graduate? WR KEITH MUMPHREY: Yes. It's awesome. To know I can be a role model to kids and to my little cousin. I just strive every day to be the best I can, and just to have an opportunity has motivated me to go even harder and help change kids' lives. Q. Education has clearly been a big factor. What's your major? WR KEITH MUMPHREY: Communication. Q. Why did you do that? WR KEITH MUMPHREY: I'm a people person. I got a passion for working with people. That's the only thing I know how to do. I don't think I could ever have a desk job. I like to get out and mingle and help change other people's lives through my communication skills. Q. You're from Charleston. What brought you to Michigan State? What was it about Michigan State that just really sold you? WR KEITH MUMPHREY: The people. The coaches. Like godly people. And they kept everything real. I can tell, I get vibes off of people, like bad vibes, good vibes. Q. What are some of the things you learned from Coach D (Dantonio) aside from maybe some more faith building. What else have you learned? WR KEITH MUMPHREY: Life after football and family first and brotherhood. We live through each other each and every day. And they got my back and I got their back. So that's one of the main things, brotherhood.

QUESTIONS FOR OT JACK CONKLIN Q. Talk about your experience at Michigan State. So how did you choose Michigan State over Michigan. OT JACK CONKLIN: I started off as a walk-on, actually. So I didn't have any offers. I was actually going to go to a prep school in Virginia. And Coach D (Dantonio) called me in, and I sat down. And he said come to Michigan State first semester, pay. And

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas then, if everything goes well, you'll go on scholarship. So they were willing to take a chance on me, so I decided I'm going to take a chance on them. It was a little difficult at first because both my parents actually graduated from Michigan. Q. House divided? OT JACK CONKLIN: But, as soon as I got there, there was not a problem at all. I love Michigan State. They're the only team to take a chance on me, and it's paid dividends. I mean, now we're playing in the Cotton Bowl. Q. Talk about being a walk-on. What was that experience like? You were a preferred walk-on, as they call them. So just talk about that transition and the mindset you had to have going in. OT JACK CONKLIN: Definitely the mindset going in was I have something I need to earn. I felt like being the walk-on and not a scholarship player, I felt like I had more of a chip on my shoulder. I felt like I deserved the scholarship, so I went into every practice like I need to earn that. Show the coaches I deserve to be like every other guy here. Q. Do you still feel like you're overlooked a little bit by the national media as a player? OT JACK CONKLIN: It is what it is. But I go into every game thinking I'm one of the best in the nation. If you're not confident going into the game, you're not going to play well. But I am young, and there's a lot of great older tackles in the nation. So it will come with time. I just got to keep performing the way I'm performing. Q. Just talk about how do your teammates adjust with you being a walk-on to, like, a scholarship player. Was there a difference in how they treated you? OT JACK CONKLIN: Not at all. Especially our team. We're so close and everything, you wouldn't know who is a scholarship player and who is a walk-on player. We're so close. It's a family. And it doesn't matter if you're a scholarship player or a walk-on. Even a student assistant that's around. Everyone gets along, and everyone is just family. Q. Just talk about working under Coach Dantonio and what you've learned about yourself in this whole process. OT JACK CONKLIN: It's really humbling. Coach D is just so family oriented and straightforward about everything. He's not going to take any crap or anything. It really humbles you as a person to know -- especially he takes us around -- being part of a

Michigan State Media Day Tuesday, December 30, 2014 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas team you're one of these figureheads and in your community. But he always humbles us. We go to the Children's Hospital and we go and do small things like that. And it's just great to see us giving back to people around us. Quotes by Caption Northwest, Inc. -- 425-343-4946