Stanton looks to bounce back with Lions

The State News caught up with Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton. The MSU alumnus and second-year pro is attempting to bounce back from a knee injury he sustained in training camp last season that forced him to miss the entire year. While at MSU, Stanton also was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team three times and was the recipient of the 2007 Michigan Athlete of the Year award.

The State News What are you up to this summer?

Drew Stanton I have a shorter summer than everyone else. I’ve been practicing and watching a lot of film to get prepared for next season. I’ll get some time to relax when I head up north for the 4th of July.

SN What’s it like playing for a team that you grew up watching?

DS Playing for the Lions is a great feeling. When I get a chance to step back and look at my childhood dreams, I’ve realized how fortunate I am. But when you walk through the doors, you are being paid to come out and perform. I have to approach it like it’s my job and work to improve my game.

SN What are your expectations for this season with the Lions?

DS I want to try and improve and be ready if the opportunity comes so I can make the most of it. After not having a chance to play last year, I don’t know where I fit in but I want to be a part of the Lions and help bring them back to prominence. But I can only worry about things I have control over and just do my best every day.

SN How is your injured knee doing?

DS It’s doing really well. I couldn’t have been happier with how it was at minicamp. It didn’t swell up or get sore. I’ve been trying to not put as much stress on it as I did before.

I’m looking forward to strengthening it and making sure that it doesn’t get too weak.

SN We hear that your nickname is Rocky. What’s the story behind that?

DS Well, I was riding my bike in Okemos when I was really young and I went over the handlebars and cut my head open. A little rock went in my head and I was knocked completely unconscious.

The doctors said it wasn’t going to hurt me so they just left it in there. It’s not very noticeable but you can feel it and move it around. No one really calls me Rocky anymore either. The nickname kind of became an urban legend or tall tale.

SN What made you decide to come to MSU?

DS I was looking at where I would be happiest going to school if football didn’t work out. MSU fulfilled everything on that level. I loved the school, the people, the campus and pretty much everything about MSU. It was great getting a chance to play in the Big Ten and having an opportunity to play close to home so my family could come see me.

SN What is your best memory at MSU?

DS Well, I could break it down to one thing from every season.

During my sophomore season, it was getting a chance to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards against Minnesota. My junior year, it was when we went to Notre Dame and beat them in an overtime game. My senior year was definitely when we came back and won even though we were down 35 points to Northwestern.

SN What was the key to your 35-point comeback in the Northwestern game your senior year?

DS When you are down that much, you have to try and score touchdowns and make the most of it. You have to really focus in on one play and not try to do too much.

Our offense was able to get moving and get Northwestern on their heels.

Our defense came up with some big plays and our special teams blocked a field goal and then scored one field goal to ice the game.

It took a huge team effort to get in a position to win that game.