State News: What did you think about the 2007 MSU football season?

T.J. Duckett: They had a great year, got a chance to get to a bowl game. It’s a great foundation and a great place to start and I’m hoping they do a lot more and get better and better.

Drew Stanton: It was exciting to watch from afar and to hear the reaction from the guys. I think they’re real excited about the future around there. It’s a good thing to see, definitely.

SN: Are the Detroit Lions going in the right direction?

TD: We definitely took a step forward, but we didn’t reach our goal. We didn’t get to where we wanted to but I think we’re heading into the right direction.

DS: As far as the talent we have on offense, a lot of young guys that can definitely contribute and hopefully stay around so it’s a really exciting time around there right now.

SN: What was it like to come back and play for your home-state team, and do you want to come back next season? (Duckett is an unrestricted free agent.)

TD: It was definitely nice to come back and play here. Growing up here and watching everything, watching the Thanksgiving game, that was a dream after watching that so many times to actually getting to play in that game. It was a lot of fun.

DS: Absolutely, I love being back here. I love playing for the Lions, love playing back home and having my family, I think this is the most games my dad has made it to since I went to Michigan State — just that part alone was very fulfilling.

SN: Do you think you have a shot to start this season?

DS: It’s hard to say really because I haven’t been around there long enough to know what’s going on. Like I was saying, before it’s just about trying to make the most out of my opportunities when they come.

That’s all I can really do because, it is really hard to say because they haven’t said anything or related anything to me.

I know they talked to me and obviously drafted me in the second round because they want me to be the quarterback of the future, but it still remains to be seen when that is.

SN: Who are you rooting for to win the Super Bowl?

DS: I’d love to see the Giants pull it out. Same thing with Eli (Manning), I think it’d be well-deserved for him because he’s had an unbelievable playoff run and for him to cap it off playing in the shadow of Peyton (Manning) it’d be great for him.

TD: I’d like to see New England just make history. It’s just a hard thing to do and for them to be right there, so many people are against them but I’d love to see it — I’d love to be on the team that does that, but it’d be fun to see it.