Cousins watches final play, changes the tape

EAST LANSING - There was "a pretty big pit in my stomach," said Kirk Cousins, when the Michigan State quarterback watched the replay of his last-minute interception in Saturday's loss to Notre Dame.

"I went back and watched the play, the last play, a couple times," Cousins said. "And then I let it go. I didn't want to watch the game over again. I didn't feel it was a good use of my time. If I have that kind of time, I'm gonna go watch Wisconsin.

"But I felt I needed to watch that play just a couple more times before I fully put it behind me. Learn from it and put it behind me, that's what I've done."

Cousins - who continues to be listed as the co-starter at quarterback with Keith Nichol - said several teammates comforted him after the ill-timed turnover.

MSU coach Mark Dantonio was asked Tuesday about fans who think that mistake should lead to Cousins' benching.

"I guess for whoever is talking like that, they are out there, I guess," Dantonio said. "The end result is if that if he would have scored, they would be talking about him like he's Joe Montana, rather than Joe off the pickle boat.

"So as I said before, the people in that room know what's going on, and I think he did an outstanding job. And again, when somebody fails, I guess I go back to say, it's not the critic that counts, it's the person in the arena. ... And that's where we are at."

Dantonio also said of Cousins' performance: "He did an outstanding job in the game. He was extremely poised. He went to work two times in a two-minute situation and went right down the field. One time he scored the touchdown, and the other time, you know, emotions got the best of him."

MASH UNIT: More injuries on the offensive line have resulted in more changes on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Ethan Ruhland, who filled in for starter Joel Foreman (ankle) in the second half Saturday, is listed as a co-starter with Foreman.

Brendon Moss is the listed starter at right guard and D.J. Young the starter at right tackle. That's how MSU played with J'Michael Deane (leg) out Saturday, and the combo was effective.

Deane is not on this week's depth chart. MSU is hoping to get Joel Nitchman (knee) back for the game. Nitchman injured himself midway through the opener, but he was available for emergency duty against Notre Dame.

Also, tight end Garrett Celek is back practicing from an undisclosed injury. But freshman running back Edwin Baker (sore knee) is no longer on the depth chart. Baker hasn't played since the opener.

EARLY BIRDS: MSU's next four games are scheduled for noon starts. The Spartans are at Wisconsin on Saturday, then host Michigan, go to Illinois and host Northwestern for homecoming.

After that, it's two straight night games - Oct. 24 at home vs. Iowa and Oct. 31 at Minnesota.