Michigan State and Penn State locked up in a matchup for the Land Grant Trophy on Friday night inside of Detroit’s Ford Field. The Spartans, who came into the game at 4-7, had upset on their mind – facing the 9-2 Nittany Lions.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, it went far from it, with Penn State dominating the Spartans, 42-0, after a horrific offensive performance from MSU.
Check out what interim head coach Harlon Barnett said to the media following the Spartans season ending loss:
Interim MSU coach Harlon Barnett: "Another disappointing loss." Says he hoped the Spartans would have competed and finished better. " I still love these guys. I will always love them. A gritty bunch, a resilient bunch, and they will always have my love and respect."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 25, 2023
Barnett getting emotional, thinking back to the "gut-punch" loss to Rutgers and having to talk to the team afterward. "That was something that was tough."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 25, 2023
Barnett: "Any kind of a competitor, you're thinking we're gonna get this thing right for next year and get it done."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 25, 2023
Barnett asked what he'd tell the next coach: "Well, I'll be looking in the mirror," he says with a grin and nod/wink. "You gotta love the student-athletes above anything. You gotta do it all for them, you gotta be about people first. And then everything else will come."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 25, 2023
Barnett says he thinks it can be "fairly quick" for MSU to get back to the top of the Big Ten. "I don't think its as far away as others may think." Won't put a time on it, "but it's not way, way out there."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 25, 2023
Barnett says that Michigan State needs to continue to recruit, "tough, fast, and physical" players.
— Spartans Illustrated (@SpartansRivals) November 25, 2023
Coach Barnett wraps up the press conference by saying "I finished 2-8. That's terrible. But we going to get that changed"
— Spartans Illustrated (@SpartansRivals) November 25, 2023
