Michigan State junior quarterback Aidan Chiles and sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh have a tight-knit relationship, but in a frustrating 38-27 loss to Nebraska over the weekend, the two teammates were seen having a heated exchange on the sidelines.
To recap, the Spartans stormed back from an early 14-point deficit to take a 21-14 lead in the third quarter, but it did not last long. Nebraska quickly responded with a touchdown of its own, and then immediately got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff after the Spartans could not field the ball cleanly and the Cornhuskers recovered. Nebraska capitalized on the momentum by adding a field goal to take a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. That lead grew to 10 points later in the fourth quarter when Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola threw a screen pass to wide receiver Nyziah Hunter, who took it 59 yards to the end zone. Nebraska took a 31-21 point lead, following the extra point, with 6:45 remaining on the clock.
With MSU down 10 points, and facing a fourth-down-and-8, Chiles was sacked from his blindside by Nebraska defensive lineman Cameron Lenhardt, which led to a turnover on downs and the Cornhuskers taking over at Michigan State's 17-yard line with 5:17 left to play.
Soon after that, Chiles and Marsh were seen having an intense discussion on the sideline. Marsh finished the game with just four catches for 41 yards. The Spartans want to make it a point to get Marsh the ball more often, and perhaps the lack of opportunities played into Marsh's frustrations.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson would score two plays after Nebraska took over the ball to give Nebraska a commanding 38-21 advantage with the extra point. Backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic — who played early in the game when Chiles briefly exited due to injury and reentered late when the game was out of reach for the Spartans — added a touchdown for the Spartans, but it was too little late, and the score eventually went final at 38-27.
Regarding the exchange between Chiles and Marsh, it was certainly passionate. It was clear the players were frustrated, but was it a big deal? Not at all, according to Chiles. In fact, Chiles highlighted the kind of relationship he has with Marsh where the two can speak freely to each other.
Speaking on Monday, Chiles addressed what happened between him and Marsh on the sidelines at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
According the video below from Spartans Illustarted, Chiles made it clear there is no rift between him and Marsh. In fact, the two sat next to each other on the plane ride back to East Lansing.
"Just two competitive football players being passionate about the game," Chiles said about the exchange with Marsh during the Nebraska game. "Things aren't going our way, and we were both frustrated. That's just how it goes. We're cool now. It is what it is, we talked about it. We sat next to each other on the plane. So, you know, we had our conversation, it looks worse than it was, but it is what it is."
Chiles was also asked if the use of tablets on the sideline to review video of what is happening on the field helps with the communication during disagreements since it allows players and coaches to analyze what is going wrong. Chiles said that having the ability to watch video of previous plays in real time is helpful, but in a heated situation like what transpired between him and Marsh, it was better to let each other air their grievance and cool off first, then review the film later.
"I mean, yeah, but it really doesn't matter at that point," Chiles said after being asked about video capabilities on the sideline. "It's just like, he's frustrated, I'm frustrated, it is what it is. It's not like me just going up to him (with the video) like, 'Look, look.' It's not gonna do anything different, it's just probably gonna make things worse. So, at the of the day, we just have to come back and watch the film on our own, and watch the film as a team, as an offense, and just see how things could have been different, and we'll understand it later."
Overall, Chiles was adamant there is no beef here. Chiles sees Marsh as his brother, and sometimes siblings disagree.
"I don't think there was any real controversy," Chiles said about the discussion with Marsh. "It was more just two competitive players, passionate about the game again. It was just, we were talking, I don't think it was any animosity between the two of us. It was more just frustration. You get frustrated, like a sibling, like we're brothers, and things are going to happen that we don't like, and that's just what it was."
Chiles values the connection he has with Marsh. When Marsh says he is getting open and needs the ball more, Chiles respects that and does not think Marsh is being demanding. Both players will do what they have to do to try to end Michigan State's current two-game losing streak.
"We've grown to build a relationship where he can come up to me and let me know, like, 'Hey, bro, I need the ball,'" Chiles said about his bond with Marsh. "That's just what it is. And no matter how he says it, no matter how he comes to me, we can continue to have those conversations.
" ... And no matter if some people might take it as rude or mean or whatever, in the heat of the moment, I'm on the football field. I'm feeling what he's feeling, but I don't gotta act how he's acting. I don't have to react how somebody else on the street will react. I just know what he's feeling, and, I (say) 'OK, cool, that's how he feels, he wants to ball.' We'll talk about it, we'll figure it out. But I mean, as brothers, he means well, and he wants the ball. It's as simple as that."