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| News Archives :: archives :: '05aug-dec :: '05mar-jul :: '05 jan-feb :: '04 sep-dec :: '04 may-sep :: '04 jan-apr : '03 sep-dec :: '03 jan-aug :: '02 aug-dec :: '02 jan-jul :: '01 nov-dec :: '01 JUL-SEP | |
| Penalty
bug being addressed Head coach Bobby Williams: "We break down every penalty. some are undisciplined penalties. And some are effort penalties. Defensively, we didn't have any last week. But the frustrating part is when you make a play and the play is called back. There were several times when the momentum had shifted and we were back in a hole again." QB Ryan Van Dyke: "Last week was our first road game. A lot of our young guys had never been in that situation before. Notre Dame was doing a lot of yelling out calls that confused our line. But when all else fails and you can't hear the signals, look inside and watch the ball." C Brian Ottney: "You have to pay attention to what the quarterback and the center are saying. A lot of that is knowing the plays. If you know what's happening, you won't have that problem." OL Steve Stewart [on delay of game and false starts]: "It's mostly a matter of not being able to hear. The quarterbacks have to speak up or step a little further over when they call audibles. But we've also jumped when guys have come at us. It's a natural reflex to do that. We've just got to learn to stay down." OL coach Jeff Stoutland: "A lot of it has to do with the communication factor. I think the false starts were caused when a player didn't hear the checks. The defensive player jumped, too. And there's a rule that if the defensive player jumps and is in the neutral zone, the penalty is on the defense. But they never call it that way." (9/21/01)--Click here for the full article from The State News... This is a good one, with much better insight on the Irish than anything the LSJ has put together: When MSU’s secondary runs through Notre Dame Stadium’s south tunnel Saturday, “Touchdown Jesus” will greet them from the north. But if the inexperienced group can’t handle the Irish’s passing attack and gets burned by scampering receivers, the biblical mural won’t be much of a friendly sight. A barrage of long outs and playaction passes are expected early from the Irish, MSU defensive coordinator Bill Miller said. “I think it’s going to be bombs away,” he said. “… Our guys better be ready.” Notre Dame’s two-headed monster at quarterback - Matt LoVecchio and Carlyle Holiday- could take turns running the helm early in the game. “I think we’ll see both of them,” Miller said. “You have to just prepare for everything that they do. You have different strengths with each kid … you better have everyone covered.” LoVecchio is known for being more of a drop-back passer, and Holiday has the reputation of being more of an elusive runner against pressure. Throw in the big-play capability of receiver Javin Hunter, who averaged 19.7 yards per catch in 2000, and the recipe could be deadly. Saturday can’t be the time for MSU’s secondary to get passive. Click here for the full article from The State News (9/20/01)--The Lansing State Journalquoted Bob Davie on the possibility of exchanging quarterbacks, in which Davie emphasized that Matt LoVecchio will be the starter: "That's not even an issue right now with this football team. I don't think about that at all. Let's face it, if Matt LoVecchio goes out there and we go up and down the field, I'm not going to take the rhythm of our football team away just to get Holiday in the game." LoVecchio was 11-of-24 for 78 yards and a TD pass, and ran twice for four yards against the Cornhuskers. Carlyle Holiday was 5-of-8 for 41 yards passing, and ran eight times for 21 yards. MSU senior RB Little John Flowers (6-0, 207 pounds) was rewarded by being named a co-captain before the CMU game. The Lansing State Journalquotes Flowers prior to this weekend's game vs. Notre Dame: "What motivated me was when I saw myself on film and in the mirror, I wasn't looking like a running back. I was looking chubby... TJ brings power and strength, Tyrell brings agility and I bring everything. It's a real good thing between all of us." Morris Watts on Flowers: "What jumps out in Little John is his speed improvement. Before he had a hard time breaking big plays, and he got chased down a lot. He can definitely make plays now that he couldn't a year ago." TJ Duckett of Flowers: "He knows everything about any situation. I will look to him about what routes to run, who to pick up blocking and everything. I think either or us could be the starter here." Bobby Williams on Flowers: "Every year we've tried to bring somebody in to replace him, but Little John won't let us. He's really earned the respsect from his teammates. He's a big-time competitor and a lot of his teammates look up to him." MSU ranked 25th in SN power poll -- Michigan #26 (9/19/01)--The Sporting News has the Big Green ranked #25 in its latest power poll, while State is ranked #31 in the CBSSportsline.com poll. Notre Dame is #24 in SN and #25 in CBS. Notably, Michigan is ranked #26. Here is SN's top 30 : 1. Texas, 2. Florida, 3. Miami, 4. Oklahoma, 5. Nebraska, 6. Oregon, 7. Virginia Tech, 8. Florida State, 9. Tennessee, 10. LSU, 11. Georgia Tech, 12. Kansas State, 13. Northwestern, 14. Fresno State, 15. S. Carolina, 16. Mississippi State, 17. UCLA, 18. Clemson, 19. Washington, 20. Purdue, 21. S. California, 22. Ohio State, 23. Auburn, 24. Notre Dame, 25. Michigan State, 26. Michigan, 27. Louisville, 28. Texas A&M, 29. Arizona State, 30. Oregon State. Quotes from Davie press conference (9/19/01)--Here are quotes from Bob Davie's weekly press conference: "[As to why high grades and a 9-2 regular season don't matter:] I wouldn't expect it and wouldn't want it to be any different. That's what coaching football at this level is. That's what coaching at ND is. So you're darn right. Because of how we played in our last two games, there should be a lot of pressure on me and on our football staff. That's the reality of the situation... We're closing the talent gap on Michigan State." Also, quoted in the Lansing State Journal, was ND linebacker Courtney Watson:"It's a big thing for us because we haven't beaten them the last four years. For a lot of seniors, it's more of a hatred toward those guys because of the way they beat us. It's like Michigan State thinks it's better than us. They come on the field and think they can just dominate us." (9/18/01)--Michigan State continues its preparations for Notre Dame on Saturday, with a 2:30 pm EST scheduled kickoff. The Lansing State Journal quoted coach Williams on the Irish: "ND has a veteran ball club with lots of seniors, and solid experience in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams). It's their opener so I'm sure they'll have some things planned." Senior LB Josh Thornhill was quoted in the same article: "ND is America's team and it's hard to get over all that. But we can't get caught up in all the hype. They are a good football team, but they're just that -- a football team." Notre Dame is expected to platoon quarteracks similar to MSU, with Matt LoVecchio and Carlyle Holiday behind center. Coach W. quoted in the Lansing State Journal on Ivory McCoy: "he is closer to getting back, and he's doing more every day. But he certainly will not play in this game. He's able to do some things movement-wise, able to put some weight on that foot and do some direction things, so he's getting closer." Also, the time for MSU at Northwestern has been moved up to 12:10 pm EST. The game is scheduled to be televised on ABC-TV. The game vs. Missouri has been rescheduled for Dec. 1 at 1 pm -- incidentally, it is the same date as the Big 12 championship game. Spartans ranked 12th in offense, 33rd in defense (9/17/01)--NCAA national rankings are out, and MSU fares well nationally following its first game vs. Central Michigan. Individually, TJ Duckett ranks #14 in rushing with a 120.0 average and Jeff Smoker ranks #24 with a 142.5 pass efficiency rating. As a team, MSU ranks 12th in total offense with 486.0 yards per game, and 33rd in total defense, giving up 287.0 ypg. MSU's passing efficiency offense is seventh nationally with a 173.34 team rating, and its passing efficiency defense is 11th with a 76.52 rating. Also notable, MSU is dead last among 115 Division I-A schools in net punting with a 5.83 yard average. Link here for all notable statistics on the ES statistics page. Irish listed as early 9-point favorites (9/15/01)--Following cancellation of this weekend's Division I-A college football games, early odds have been listed for the coming MSU-Notre Dame football game. Stardust Casino in Las Vegas lists the Irish as an early 9 point favorite, while WWTS has ND as an 8.5-point favorite. (9/13/01, MSU Media Relations, msuspartans.fansonly.com)--After rampant speculation Thursday afternoon, the MSU Athletic Department held a press conference at 5 pm, at which it announced that this Saturday's football game vs. Missouri will be cancelled or postponed. It was reported earlier on the Red Cedar Message Board that members of the Spartan ticket office were informing ticket holders that the game was cancelled, prior to the impending press conference. Although the Big Ten conference debated at length in a conference call yesterday, transportation problems following the terroist attacks on the U.S. have become increasingly difficult for teams at a distance. Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, who initially was quoted he would be willing to bus the 10 hours, now is stating that he is unwilling to bus the distance as charter plane problems cannot be overcome on a timely basis. The MSU-Missouri game plans to be made up as late as early December--an initial date of Dec. 1 conflicts with the Big 12 title game. All other Big 10 games will be postponed. Next up: Notre Dame on September 15. The Irish already cancelled their game this week, scheduled vs. Purdue. You're asking the ES for his take on this right? Well, Missouri, us Spartans feel that if you have a committment, honor it. I just don't buy the "not enough accomodations if we travel by bus" theory. Geez, this isn't New York City, there are plenty of hotel rooms in a 150-mile radius. So, don't feel so spoiled that you need a plane--ask most mid-major schools and stop pouting. You're just afraid of a little ole whippin' by the Big Green now, aren't you? Here's the release from MSU Media Relations, msuspartans.fansonly.com: "Yesterday, we announced that we and the University of Missouri had agreed to play our regularly scheduled football game on Saturday," MSU Vice President for University Relations Terry Denbow said. "Today, however, the University of Missouri informed us that logistical challenges preclude them from assuring us that they could arrive at an appropriate time. "Missouri officials have been unable to verify the availability of a charter plane and confirm arrival and departure times. In addition, appropriate hotel accommodations were unavailable for Missouri's travel party if the team had attempted to travel by bus. Therefore, Missouri asked for - and we granted - a request for a postponement. We have begun the process of identifying a date later this season for the game." "Our intention is to play the game," Missouri Director of Athletics Michael Alden said. "We want to honor our commitment to Michigan State and play a game during the 2001 season." Spartans
to play Saturday (9/13/01)--As first reported on ESPN last night, the Big Ten conference along with several other conferences will allow schools to play their scheduled football contests this weekend in light of the terrorist attacks on the United States on Tuesday. Michigan State will face Missouri on Saturday, with a 1:05 pm kickoff as originally scheduled. The Big Ten conference was joined by the Big 12, SEC, MAC, Mountain West and WAC in its decision. However, Purdue has cancelled its game against Notre Dame -- the only Big 10 team originally scheduled this weekend which will not play. The Big East confernce, ACC, and Pac-10 conference cancelled their games--this includes the cancellation of the Miami-Washington game. Make up dates will be announced sporadically as made available. Interestingly enough, the Enlightened Spartan now notes that this gives Notre Dame an extra few days to prepare for Michigan State on Sept. 22 -- however, the ES also believes that before MSU heads into the difficult part of its schedule and Big Ten play, MSU shouldn't worry about the few extra days ND will have to prepare -- the Big Green needs desperately to play one more "weaker" opponent in Missouri to eliminated as many of the vast mistakes apparent in the CMU game. (9/11/01)--The Lansing State Journal has reported that freshman Eric Knott will be moved to defensive end to move him up the depth chart. Knott (6-3, 258 pounds) was originally in the Spartans' plans for tight end, but strong defensive play in practice by Knott has forced the switch. The LSJ quoted coach Williams on Knott's switch to defense:"it started off in the scout period and we were doing some drill work one day, and he came off... I can't remember who the tight end was, but he knocked him about 15 yards backwards." LSJ quotes from coach Williams on Missouri: "From a personnel standpoint, Missouri has better personnel than CMU, which is expected. They have better team speed on defense, better team speed on offense and their skill players are a little bigger. They have big receivers, and they are very large on the offensive line. They have some guys that are bigger than our guys. We're getting athletes that our similar to ours... Bowling Green [which defeated Missouri 20-13 in the season opener] is a very good team, they have some good athletes and some very good speed on defense. Missouri could have won that game but it came down to whoever had the ball last." LSJ quote from Missouri running back Zack Abron (132 yards on 32 carries, 2 TDs in first two games): "We know it's going to be a hostile environment, but we just have to go up there and execute. Last year's loss stuck with me for a while. I thought about what I could have done extra." (9/10/01, MSU Media Relations, msuspartans.fansonly.com). Here are quotes provided by the MSU Media Relations office following the CMU game: MSU Head Coach Bobby Williams. "It wasn't pretty, but it was a win. It was unfortunate that we had some breakdowns today in our special teams. It was our first game, and we played like it was our first game. As I said, it was really unfortunate that we had breakdowns in the punting because it really took away from the overall performance of the defense." "I have to give a lot of credit to Central Michigan, I thought they really played well. They played hard, competed and really tried hard to keep us off balance with their no-huddle offense. I thought it was a really fast football game. I have to give our defense a lot of credit because we got into some bad situations and they got some plays on us, but overall those guys really held together." "I thought there were some positives on offense and defense, but we definitely have to get this punt situation squared away." On the punting
game breakdown: On the quarterback
situation: "We are going to keep the quarterback situation the same as it was today. We are going to utilize both quarterbacks." On team as
a whole: "The defense came in and played well. Late in the game we had some breakdowns and the defense got a couple of turnovers late, deep in our territory." MSU senior
linebacker Josh Thornhill: On next week's
game: MSU senior
tailback Little John Flowers On the play
of Central Michigan: "We have to go out there and go to practice and put this game aside and go get ready for the Big Ten season. Everybody else coming here is going to be up to our level, we're going to have to step it up a notch." On Potential: "I figured we should have came out there and played Michigan State football and go out soundly. We were up soundly and then mistakes after mistakes and penalties made it look closer than it really was." MSU senior
safety Lorenzo Guess: MSU sophomore
quarterback Jeff Smoker: MSU junior
tailback T.J. Duckett: MSU senior
quarterback Ryan Van Dyke: On special
teams "Everybody's happy that we are 1-0 but we are not satisfied at all with our performance. We need to step it up a notch." MSU junior
wide receiver BJ Lovett: MSU sophomore
wide receiver Charles Rodgers: CMU Head
Coach Mike DeBord: "We're not going to hang our heads. We're going to keep fighting. We've got the opportunity to have a good football team. I really do because of their attitude and fight." On James
King's four punt blocks: CMU Freshman
DB James King: Spartans slip past Chips, 35-21 (9/9/01)--A mistake-prone Michigan State squad held on for a 35-21 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. The Spartans, unveiling a new 4-WR set at times, managed to jump out to a 35-7 lead mid-way through the third quarter before struggling to finish with a victory. In the fourth quarter, CMU blocked two punts and returned them for scores to close the gap... the four blocked punts tied an NCAA record. MSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 9-yard TD pass from Jeff Smoker to Chris Baker. CMU tied the game at 7 with an 18-yard pass from Vickers to Tory Humphrey. MSU exploded for three more scores with under 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter, led by a three-yard TD run by Smoker. Smoker leadped into the air and went ass-over-tea-kettle as he landed awkwardly in the end zone to give MSU a 14-7 lead. Van Dyke hit Little John Flowers for a 28-yard TD pass and redshirt freshman Roderick Maples found himself all alone as a recipient of a 53-yard pass from Van Dyke as he danced into the end zone. At the half, MSU led 28-7. The third quarter found more running room for Duckett, as he exploded through a gaping hole on the right-hand side for a 31-yard run. CMU blocked the two punts in the fourth quarter, with Joe Ballard returning one for 17 yards and Omari Colen returning one for 36 yards to close out the scoring at 35-21. Highlights of the game included the 31-yard run by TJ Duckett, a good passing game from both Smoker (23 att - 15 comp - 1 int - 196 yds ) and Van Dyke (6-3-0-94), and decent statistics (196 yds rushing, 290 yds passing). The lowlights included very poor offensive line play, four blocked punts, far-too-numerous offsides, false starts, substitution timeouts, and not having plays run into the game soon enough to allow the quarterbacks to audible. LSJ's Ebling predicts 8-3 year (9/6/01)--Jack
Elbing, long-time MSU beat writer for the Lansing
State Journal predicts MSU an 8-3 season on the campaign:
ES used 5 kg of english bitter wort as the base and added molasses and dry amber wort to the boil. The beer was finished with about ½ ounce of 14.1 alpha acid Willamette hops, and another sprinkling of hops was added in the second fermenter. You can already taste it… Ah! Go Green!!! (9/5/01)--The Lansing State Journal reports that true freshman Ronald Stanley (6-2, 210 pounds, Saginaw, Mich.) will start at weakside linebacker for Saturday's season-opener vs. Central Michigan. Stanley will line up along side middle backer Joshn Thornhill and strong backer Mike Labinjo. The kicking game is also undecided at this point, according to the LSJ. Senior David Schaefer, who connected on 11-of-17 last season, is in a battle with sophomore Michael Servis. It is likely they will share duties, with one on kickoffs and one for field goals and extra points. (9/4/01)--The Lansing State Journal has reported the following update on MSU in the final days prior to its opener vs. CMU: * Sophomore center DeMarco Monroe (6-4, 310) has been suspended from the team: ""He was involved in an incident," Williams said. "I believe this is the right thing we need to do until we get more information." * Starting safeties Thomas Wright and Duron Bryan have switched positions. Wright, a junior, is now at free safety. And Bryan, a senior, is the strong safety. Freshman Robert Flagg will backup Bryan, and senior Lorenzo Guess is second-string behind Wright. * MSU sophomore cornerback Jeremy Fairrow is academically ineligible for the 2001 season. * MSU will not have the services of German offensive lineman Peter Heyer. The MVP of the German Football League last year did not clear NCAA admissions. (9/3/01)--The Lansing State Journal The Lansing State Journal reported that the torn MCL suffered by TE Chris Baker is healing much faster than expected, and that Baker is expected to play, if not start, in Saturday's opener against CMU. Baker, who suffered the injury in practice two weeks ago, is considered one of the leading TE's in the Big Ten, if not the country. The Enlightened Spartan figures that coach Williams should spot play Baker in certain situations. MSU should roll over the Chips with such a potent offense, and there won't be much need to risk any further injuries after MSU goes up by two or three TDs. But, this is great news for the Big Green for the upcoming contests, as our offense is now back to full strength. (8/30/01, MSU Sports Info)--Michigan State sophomore Jeff Smoker (6-3, 207) has been named the starting quarterback for the Spartans' 2001 season opener Sept. 8 against Central Michigan, head coach Bobby Williams announced Thursday. "This was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make," Williams said. "After evaluating the entire preseason camp, including both scrimmages, I felt Jeff Smoker deserved the opportunity to start the first football game." In two preseason scrimmages, Smoker completed 17-of-26 throws for 223 yards and one score while senior Ryan Van Dyke (6-5, 223) hit 19-of-28 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. "Both Jeff and Ryan (Van Dyke) have thrown the ball well in preseason camp, but Jeff displayed more consistency in his decision making," Williams said. "We also have a plan to get some playing time for Ryan. We'll try to get him involved in the game early. "I was really pleased with the way Ryan responded in practice this afternoon after being informed of the decision. He came out to the practice field and continued to show the leadership that he has displayed throughout preseason camp. Ryan kept the second offense involved in practice. He's the type of leader a coach likes to have in the huddle." "I'm happy to have both of those guys at the quarterback position since it's a long season," Spartan offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Morris Watts said. "I have confidence in both Jeff (Smoker) and Ryan (Van Dyke), and I know this team can win football games with either one of them playing quarterback." In 2000, Smoker became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan State since 1982 and compiled a 3-3 record in six starts. He completed 103-197 passes (.523) for a Spartan freshman-record 1,365 yards and six touchdowns. Smoker played a major role in all five of MSU's wins last season and directed three game-winning fourth-quarter drives, vs. Missouri, Notre Dame and Illinois. He earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after accounting for 241 total yards and two scores in the Spartans' 30-10 upset win over No. 9 Purdue. Smoker set season-high marks for attempts (35), completions (17) and passing yards (223) vs. Northwestern. "I'm excited about starting the season opener," Smoker said. "This is what I've been working for since the end of last season. I had hoped to put myself in a position to play my sophomore year. "After being named the starter, I feel more comfortable taking charge in the huddle. Ryan (Van Dyke) and I were still battling for the starting job heading into the last scrimmage, so I prepared for it like I have all spring and things worked out." Van Dyke, who went 2-3 in five starts in 2000, completed 57 percent of his throws for 796 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He played the best game of his Spartan career against Michigan, setting personal bests for attempts (37), completions (26) and passing yards (292). Henry fails summer class: out for the year (8/29/01)--The Michigan State athletic department has reported that senior CB Cedric Henry, who is considered one of the premier defensive backs in the Big 10, has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2001 season due to failing a class over the summer. Henry was one the fastest Spartans in preseason time trials by running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash, and would have been the leader among MSU's defensive backfield. He still has one year of eligibility left. Probable starters at this point are either: junior Broderick Nelson (6-0, 175) or redshirt freshman Jason Harmon (5-11, 185). Now for the ES commentary on this one: This is not the best way to spread your talent over a few seasons. Losing Henry is a major blow to MSU's pass defense. It would have been a struggle, anyways, but now? I'd say it looks like MSU is going to be involved in quite a bit of shootouts, with the old Yogi Berra theory in action: "the only way we're gonna win is if we outscore our opponent." My only hope is that the coaching staff can teach the new substitutes to turn around and look at the ball when it reaches the receiver--something it seemingly has been difficult to accomplish in recent years. Usually MSU defensive backs don't turn around when the ball nears a receiver, and instead they just following him and either: 1. tackle the receiver after a long gain; or, 2. interfere with the receiver. First of all, I am confident that MSU's athletic academic services informed Henry long ago that he was on the brink - how irresponsible for such a valuable player to let down his teammates (is this someone you really want on a team, anyway?). I'd also hate to learn the summer class he failed - was it Mechanical Engineering 426 or Aerobics 101? For the non-Big 10 slate, MSU's "strong" defense is all of a sudden that much weaker -- without McCoy, Henry, and Mitchell -- two starters and a solid backup. And, a redshirt freshman (Harmon) is contending for the vacant spot. That seems pretty thin especially coming out of high school directly into Big 10 ball. Ouch. Should the ES change his prediction of an 8-3 season to either 7-4 or 6-5? Now, all of a sudden the jury is out on the defense: should they already return a "guilty as charged" plea… we'll have to wait and see. Scrimmage
#2 -- Smoker solidifies QB spot (8/29/01, MSU Sports Info)--Well, well, the real Jeff Smoker came to play in the second scrimmage. Looks like the real Van Dyke came to play, too. ES has a concern that too many players sat out with injuries... minor or not. But, we are so banged up, better to be safe than sorry. Anyhow, looks like a good day for the QB and for the Henry-less defense. Here's the skinny from MSU Sports Info... Michigan State second-year head coach Bobby Williams sent his football team through its second preseason scrimmage Tuesday (Aug. 28), a 90-minute workout on the grass practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Building. Nine starters watched the scrimmage from the sidelines. Tailback T.J. Duckett, center Brian Ottney and linebacker Josh Thornhill were held out of the action while six starters sat out the scrimmage with injuries, including wide receivers Herb Haygood (sore knee) and Charles Rogers (achilles tendonitis), offensive guard Paul Harker (strained neck), defensive tackle Josh Shaw (sprained ankle), tight end Chris Baker (torn meniscus) and linebacker Ivory McCoy (fractured fifth metatarsal). "The team has improved a lot since the first scrimmage," Coach Williams said. "I'm pleased with what I saw from the first-team offense, first-team defense and special teams. "The first-team defense was dominating at times. We had a lot of three and out series and that's exactly what I want to see from the first defense. The second offense made only five first downs all afternoon." Tailback Tyrell Dortch (5-10, 193, So.) provided the first highlight of the 75-play scrimmage, racing 57 yards around left end for a touchdown. As in the Aug. 22 scrimmage, quarterbacks Jeff Smoker (6-3, 207, So.) and Ryan Van Dyke (6-5, 223, Sr.) took turns running the first-team offense. Smoker completed nine-of-11 throws for 152 yards and directed two touchdown drives. He started the scrimmage with a hot hand, hitting his first five pass attempts for 118 yards. His 64-yard completion to tight end Luc Mullinder (6-4, 253, So.) set up a 1-yard TD run by Little John Flowers (6-0, 210, Sr.). Van Dyke hit seven-of-14 passes for 57 yards with two interceptions. "Jeff Smoker threw the ball well today and made some good decisions," Williams said. "Ryan Van Dyke had a tough day, throwing two interceptions. Van Dyke made some good throws too, but overall, he had a rough day. "We're going to go back and grade today's film and take a close look at the quarterback situation. I plan to name a starting quarterback by Saturday so we can finalize a game plan for the season opener against Central Michigan." Red-shirt freshman Damon Dowdell (6-1, 209), who again took all of the snaps with the second team, connected on seven-of-14 throws for 67 yards, including a 28-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Ben Steckler (6-4, 204) late in the scrimmage. Mullinder had three catches for 89 yards while Flowers caught three passes out of the backfield for 42 yards. Steckler (6-4, 204) had two receptions for 40 yards. Junior tailback Tim James (5-8, 164), who got the bulk of the carries with the second unit, scored on a 4-yard run around right end during the "red zone" segment of the "controlled" scrimmage. Junior cornerback Broderick Nelson (6-0, 175) and freshman safety Robert Flagg (6-2, 192) each intercepted passes on the goal line to end scoring threats. Sophomore defensive end Greg Taplin (6-5, 254) had two tackles for losses (17 yards), including a 10-yard sack. Senior cornerback DeMario Suggs (5-11, 194) also recorded two tackles for losses (12 yards) and provided the biggest hit of the scrimmage, dropping Charles Barber (6-0, 165, R-Fr.) for a 5-yard loss on a wide receiver screen. Following the scrimmage, Coach Williams announced that starting cornerback Cedric Henry (5-10, 190, Sr.) has been declared academically ineligible for the 2001 season. A preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection, Henry was considered a top contender for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive back. In 2000, he led the Big Ten in pass break-ups (24) and finished third in interceptions (team-leading five). Henry also registered 45 tackles (27 solos, 18 assists) as a junior. "This is disappointing news," Williams said. "Cedric Henry was one of the top cover corners in the Big Ten and this is a huge loss for our secondary. "Cedric plans to remain in school and hopefully, he'll decide to return next year because he does have another season of eligibility remaining." Top candidates to replace Henry in the starting lineup include Nelson and red-shirt freshman Jason Harmon (5-11, 186). "We have some big shoes to fill at cornerback," Williams said. "(Broderick) Nelson and (Jason) Harmon are getting the bulk of the work there and we'll see how they respond. These guys have been presented with both a challenge and an opportunity." Michigan State has scheduled a day off Wednesday (Aug. 29) before beginning final preparation for the 2001 season opener Saturday, Sept. 8 against Central Michigan at 1 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. Charles Rogers: "its my year"(8/27/01)--Quotes from the Detroit News on Charles Rogers. These are some pretty decent quotes, with input from Mo Watts on how he expects Rogers to perform and take some of the pressure of TJ. MSU QB Jeff Smoker quotes on Charles Rogers: "It was tough [last year]. We were on opposite fields, but I'd be throwing to our guys and I'd look over there and he'd be running circles around our defense. It's just a shame he didn't get eligible. But he's worked hard this year, and we will see him on the field. Rogers quotes: "I'm excited about [the opener vs CMU]. Just to come out of that tunnel with the team will be a special feeling. Last year, I felt like I was a part of the team, but in a way I wasn't. We went 5-6 last year and that really hurt me, too. I mean, I felt like I could contribute. I feel like I could've turned that 5-6 season into something different, maybe a bowl game. I know this, though: We won't be 5-6 again this season. If Saban was still the coach at State, I'd be playing football with (Drew) Henson and (David) Terrell. I like Bobby Williams a lot. He's a hands-on coach. He's laid-back but very personable. He can relate to players. [Last year] was hard, real hard. But you can't let a situation like that pull you down. You just have to make the best of it. The best way I could handle it was to go out and practice hard. I fought through it. And I think the coaches could see that -- they could see the fight on my face." MSU Offensive
coordinator Morris Watts quotes on Rogers: "The expectation levels
for him may be higher than they should be, but they're not higher than
what he thinks they should be. When you take the height, the weight, the
speed, the skill level, there's no reason for Charles Rogers not to be
a really outstanding football player. Usually, guys with the great ability
level that he has, they answer the bell on game day. They want to show
people they're as good as they are. And I'll be really surprised if he
can't be a great football player." Watts' quote after Rogers was
timed at either a 4.32 and a 4.34-40: "He went across the line so
fast, you couldn't be sure. You need an electric timer with those 4.3
guys." Watts' quote on loading up in the box to stop TJ Duckett:
"Now, hopefully, when that happens, when (Rogers) is out there in
one-on-one coverage, he can make them pay a price" Rercruiting
analyst Tom Lemming on Rogers:
"He was the premier receiver in the country, without a doubt. He
was just an explosive player. He was a high school Randy Moss -- explosive
speed, great flexibility and body control. He had all the tools, except
the grades. Michigan was going to take him anyway. Everybody offered him
-- Florida State, Tennessee, Michigan. Great players never have to worry
about grades -- that's why they don't. There's always someone ready to
take them and sit them out. (Rogers) gave validity to Williams' new regime.
It was a big coup for Michigan State. Bobby Williams came in and convinced
him he'd be the focal point of their offense, the main guy, the guy everybody
would have to try to stop. At Florida State, he'd be just one of many.
I think he thought he could be the big fish in the smaller pond."
RB TJ Duckett
on Rogers: " He's a playmaker. He brings a lot of excitement, and
he's capable of making a big play at any time -- that's something we were
missing. He just can't wait to get out there and play. And once he does,
he's got a lot to prove. It's his time to shine now." (8/24/01)--USA Today released Danny Sheridan's odds for the Hiesman trophy and the Big Ten Race. For the Heisman, Sheridan lists as follows: Crouch (Nebraska) 6-1; Anderson (N'western) 6-1; Dorsey (Miami) 8-1; Simonton (Oregon St.)10-1; Dantzler (Clemson) 12-1; Foster (UCLA) 12-1; Duckett (MSU) 15-1; Randle El (Indiana)15-1. For the Big Ten, Sheridan lists as follows: Northwestern 3-1; Michigan 3-1; Purdue 5-1; Wisconsin 7-1; Illinois 7-1; Ohio State 10-1; Michigan St. 10-1; Indiana 25-1 Penn State 25-1; Iowa 50-1; Minnesota 100-1. Spartan scrimmage features passing, kicking success (8/24/01, MSU Sports Info)--Well, looks as if our passing game is clicking. Both VanDyke and Smoker seemed to have done pretty well in the scrimmage, but the Enlightened Spartan is more impressed with the receiving corps pulling down plenty of passes. And, Knott grabbed a TD pass as well. That's good news: we need a big play guy to fill in for Baker, and maybe Knott's the guy. It's a surprise that he'd be in shape that quickly. The positive comments on Labinjo filling in at LB are also nice, but are they just trying to pump up his confidence or did he really impress?... Here's the skinny from MSU Sports Info... With temperatures near 80, Michigan State second-year head coach Bobby Williams sent his football team through a 94-play "controlled" scrimmage Thursday (Aug. 23) to conclude the first week of preseason camp. Seven starters watched the two-hour scrimmage from the sidelines. Tailback T.J. Duckett, center Brian Ottney and linebacker Josh Thornhill were held out of action while four starters sat out the scrimmage with injuries, including tight end Chris Baker (torn meniscus), linebacker Ivory McCoy (fractured fifth metatarsal), defensive tackle Josh Shaw (sprained ankle) and defensive tackle Kyle Rasmussen (mild concussion). "We had a productive first scrimmage," Williams said. "I saw some good things on both sides of the football and in the kicking game, but we still have a way to go before the season opener. "I'm concerned about our depth at some positions. A total of seven starters didn't participate in today's scrimmage, but that could be a positive later since that meant a lot of younger guys got the bulk of the work. "I was disappointed in our execution late in the scrimmage. We had very few penalties in the first half of the scrimmage but as fatigue set in, the penalties quickly added up. The players got tired late and it showed." Sophomore Jeff Smoker (6-3, 207) and senior Ryan Van Dyke (6-5, 223) took turns running the first-team offense. Smoker completed eight-of-15 passes for 71 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown toss to freshman tight end Eric Knott (6-3, 272). Van Dyke, who completed his first eight pass attempts, hit 12-of-14 throws for 128 yards, including a 24-yard TD strike to junior flanker BJ Lovett (6-4, 208). Red-shirt freshman Damon Dowdell (6-1, 209) took all of the snaps with the second unit and completed eight-of-11 throws for 159 yards, including a 10-yard TD pass to red-shirt freshman flanker Charles Barber (6-0, 165). "I was pleased to see the offense make some big plays in the passing game," Williams said. "I thought all three quarterbacks had their moments. "Ryan Van Dyke threw the ball well and made some good decisions. I was disappointed that he took a couple of sacks. "Jeff Smoker wasn't as sharp as he has been throwing the football, but he still moved the team." Senior wide receiver Derrick Lee (6-2, 206) had five receptions for 119 yards. Lee caught two bombs thrown by Dowdell, covering 50 and 53 yards, respectively. "Derrick Lee has had a solid preseason camp," Williams said. "He's becoming another receiver that we can count on. He works hard in practice and continues to develop every day." Sophomore split end Charles Rogers (6-4, 202) also had five catches for 67 yards while freshman split end Ben Steckler (6-4, 204) caught four passes for 56 yards. "Charles Rogers continues to showcase his big-play ability," Williams said. "Charles has shown great consistency and he makes the tough catches. He's a very confident receiver and he isn't afraid to let the quarterbacks know that he wants the ball in his hands." Sophomore Tyrell Dortch (5-10, 193) paced the ground attack, with 51 yards on eight carries. His 28-yard run on the sixth series set up the first touchdown. Junior fullback Dawan Moss (5-10, 258) capped off a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a 12-yard TD run around right end. "The defense had its moments as well today," Williams said. "It played well in stretches but gave up two big plays in the passing game. "After Dowdell's 50-yard pass to Lee, Cedric Henry (5-10, 190, Sr.) intercepted a pass in the red area to end a scoring threat, but the other bomb led to a touchdown. Take away the two big plays and the defense had a solid scrimmage, especially when you consider it had four starters watching from the sidelines. "Mike Labinjo (6-1, 268, So.) is a guy that really stood out today at linebacker. He forced some plays in the running game and pressured the quarterback. Mike seems to have a natural defensive mentality. For a former fullback, he sure enjoys sticking it to the offense." The Spartans' three placekickers - senior David Schaefer (5-10, 192), sophomore Michael Servis (6-1, 198) and freshman Dave Rayner (6-2, 209) - went a combined five-for-five on field-goal attempts. Schaefer connected from 29 and 55 yards while Servis converted from 37 and 42 yards. Rayner hit his only attempt from 27 yards out. "All three kickers hit the ball well today," Williams said. "We have three talented kickers so that's a nice problem to have. We put those guys in situations today with the game on the line and they all delivered in the clutch." Little John weighs in at 205; Position changes (8/23/01)--The Detroit News reported today that Little John Flowers has impressed MSU coaches early in preseason camp, reporting a full 20 pounds lighter than last year for his senior season at reserve tailback. He weighed in at 205. Flowers was quoted by the News: "I had gained too much weight. I ate my way to there with dorm food and late-night pizzas. My body fat was 16 or 17 percent, now it's 10 percent. I was running a 4.7-40, now I'm down to 4.5. I've got a little something to show everyobody on Sept.8. The News also reported the following personnel moves: sophomore Mark Goebel from LB to FB; sophomore Stephen Ratliff from QB to S; and redshirt freshman Roderick Maples from CB to WR. Spartans
aim for consistency Thornhill has ridden this roller coaster for three years, and he's sick of it. "We haven't put together two or three straight really strong years," said Thornhill, a 6-foot-2-inch, 239-pound senior linebacker. "It all gets back to attitude. That's how I feel inside: why can't we? "The talent is there," Thornhill said. "We get up for the big games. But sometimes we tend to overlook the teams that we're supposed to beat. I think people know about our physical style [of play], but they think we're beatable." That discouraging
tendency will end this year if Thornhill has anything to say about it,
and he does. As only the fifth repeat captain in Spartans football history,
Thornhill commands respect in the dressing room. "He's
more of a leader, I would say, in his style of play," head coach
Bobby Williams said. Thornhill is the son of former Spartan Charles Thornhill,
a star linebacker on Michigan State's mighty 1965 and 1966 teams, which
went a combined 19-1-1, claimed back-to-back Big Ten titles and a share
of the 1965 national championship. The elder
Thornhill, the assistant sergeant-at-arms in the Michigan Senate, retains
much of that energy today. As he spoke to a reporter in the Spartans'
football headquarters the other day, he pounded his fist on a table to
underscore his points. But Josh
Thornhill said he may never have the same level of desire as his father
had. Charles Thornhill
seemed driven to prove to himself that he was just as good as the next
player, black or white, tall or short. It's a good thing, too, because Charles Thornhill couldn't picture sitting in the Big House. "If he had gone to the University of Michigan, I would have watched his games from the outside," he said. "I would have rooted for him but I would never have felt comfortable there." Fortunately for Spartans fans, and for the peace of the Thornhill household, Josh signed with Michigan State. Now his career is almost over and his father has reminded him that this is his last chance to leave his mark. "Our purpose here on Earth is to leave something good behind, which makes the world a lot better," Charles Thornhill said. "It's the same with a football team. Seniors have a purpose. Their purpose is to leave a legacy behind." (8/22/01)--Jeff Sagarin has rated MSU as #23 nationally. Sagarin's ratings are used as a portion of the final BCS standings. Florida State was ranked #1, Michigan #7, Ohio State #11, Wisconsin #12, Purdue #17, Penn State #21, Minnesota #46, Northwestern #48, Illinois #54, Iowa #67, Indiana #73. The Big Ten was listed as the toughest conference (rightfully so). Link to the Statistics/Polls for the listing. (8/22/01, MSU Sports Info)--So far, MSU has taken a hit at linebacker, with injuries to Ivory McCoy (broken foot) and Seth Mitchell (sprained knee)... Enlightened Spartan says to look for Labinjo, Cooper, and Bazemore to help fill the middle on defense. At tight end, Baker is out for the non-conference season (knee). ES says look for Ryan Woods and Luc Mullinder to step up there; Eric Knott still has too far to go at this point. Here's the MSU Sports Info report: Michigan State senior tight end Chris Baker will be sidelined for two-to-four weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee and senior linebacker Ivory McCoy will be out of the lineup for four-to-six weeks after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Tuesday (Aug. 21). In addition, freshman linebacker Seth Mitchell will miss four weeks of action with a sprained right knee. "This is a very frustrating situation," Coach Williams said. "We lost two starters and a promising freshman during non-contact drills. That's unbelievable. "I've been pleased with the overall attitude of the team following the rash of injuries. The guys listed behind Chris Baker and Ivory McCoy have stepped into the lineup and have given it their all. Injuries are a part of the game, but I've really been impressed with the way the guys have responded." The 6-foot-3, 263-pound Baker suffered his injury during a non-contact drill Monday (Aug. 20) afternoon. He is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove the torn cartilage Wednesday (Aug. 22). Baker, who has started 35 consecutive games at tight end, ranked third on the team in receptions with 33 for 461 yards and two touchdowns in 2000. He has 93 career receptions for 1,157 yards and nine TDs and needs only 15 more grabs to become MSU's all-time pass-catching tight end (Mark Brammer caught 107 passes). "I'll learn how to deal with the adversity," Baker said. "I'll be back in a few weeks and until I'm back in the lineup, I'll do all I can to help the other tight ends get ready to play." The 6-5, 232-pound McCoy fractured the bone in his foot during a non-contact drill Tuesday (Aug. 21) morning. The former tight end made the move to SAM linebacker last spring. In his first three seasons, McCoy started 14 games at tight end and caught 34 passes for 403 yards and four TDs. "I'll do whatever I can to help the young guys learn the position," McCoy said. "I'll be a tutor for those guys and help them gain knowledge about our defensive schemes. I'll be back in the lineup by the Big Ten opener, but until then, I know what I have to do to help us win football games." The 6-2, 239-pound Mitchell sprained his MCL last Saturday (Aug. 18) when an offensive lineman lost his footing during a drill and rolled into the rookie's right leg. Sophomore tight end Luc Mullinder (6-4, 253), who saw action in five games as a true freshman in 2000 and caught two passes for 20 yards, has been promoted to the first unit. Coach Williams also expects true freshman Ryan Woods (6-4, 245) to push for playing time. "Ryan Woods has really started to emerge at the tight end position," Williams said. "He's quickly catching on to the offense, and he consistently makes plays in practice. I've been impressed with his pass-catching and blocking ability." Sophomore Mike Labinjo (6-1, 268), who moved from fullback to defensive end last spring, will get first look at SAM linebacker. Other candidates for the position include red-shirt freshman James Cooper (6-3, 220) and true freshman Michael Bazemore (6-3, 226). "We've already lost two players at the SAM linebacker position (McCoy and Mitchell) so were going to take a look at several guys there," Williams said. The Spartans will conduct their first preseason scrimmage on Wednesday (Aug. 22). "With the injury situation, this scrimmage takes on a little more significance," Williams said. "We'll hold some of our key guys out of the scrimmage or at least limit the number of snaps they get. We need to get a good look at some of these younger guys who haven't played a lot of college football. We'll put these guys in game-like situations and see how they react without coaches in the huddle or on the field." Duckett
listed by LiveLines
as 20-1 for Heisman (8/22/01)
-- Current odds to win the Heisman trophy, as of Aug. 22, from livelines.esportz.com: (8/21/01)--Jim Feist lists State as his favorite to win the Big 10 this year, while annual prognosticator Phil Steele lists the Big Green second. Chris Stassen (visit his site at: preseason.stassen.com), who has since 1993 compiled a listing of preseason college football magazine predictions, ranks Steele as the best preview magazine of them all, with a 78/80 accuracy rating. Jim Feist received a 48/80 rating. Overall, Stassen averaged all the rankings on a system and put MSU as #39 in the country, with the highest individual preseason ranking as #22 by Blue Ribbon Magazine. Phil Steele lists MSU at #26, and Feist only ranks the top-15, of which MSU did not make. The ES ponders... how can either the #1 or the #2 team in the Big 10 be ranked below 15th nationally, even in a sub-par year? I guess the Big Green Machine must earn the respect. It's up to you, coach W. The Big Ten is nationally ranked by Stassen (again, he averaged many different magazine rankings) as follows: Michigan #13 (#7 highest individual ranking), Northwestern #20 (#12), Purdue #23 (#19), Wisconsin #24 (#13), Ohio State #30 (#16), Penn State #36 (#18), Illinois #37 (#19), Michigan State #39 (#22).
The ES is also awaiting a guest column in the next few days from the infamous Spartan alum, Biggus Bobbus. Big Bob previews the first game with the theme: "Spartans to clobber Chips. Duckett half-way to 1,000 yard season." Stay tuned for this enjoyable piece. State lands two more recruits for '02 (8/20/01)--Already the Spartans' 2002 recruiting class is shaping up to be a beauty. According to the Lansing State Journal, Farmington Hills Harrison wide receiver Agim Shabaj and Saginaw Arthur Hill linebacker Cliff Ryan committed Sunday, bringing the Spartans' class to 10 verbal commitments. Shabaj, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, chose MSU over Georgia, Notre Dame and UCLA. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder caught 30 passes last year for 636 yards and nine touchdowns. He is academically qualified with a 2.6 GPA and a 21 ACT score. Ryan, a 6-3, 255-pound linebacker, runs a 4.7-40 yard dash. He has made more than 100 tackles each of the past two seasons, and is academically qualified with a 2.6 GPA and a 17 on the ACT. Ryan reportedly stated he disliked the way the Wolverines recruited him and instead chose the Spartans. Shabaj and Ryan are both among ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming's top 10 players in Michigan. Duckett touted as "Most Feared Runner" (8/17/01, The Sporting News)--"Rattle, rattle, thunder, clatter, boom, boom, boom. If football were a motorsport, any defense that went up against T.J. Duckett would be calling the Car-X man. Those noises are audible on the field when Duckett plays. Mostly, they're heard when he makes road kill of would-be tacklers, which is plural for a reason..." Link here to The Sporting News for the full text 2003 Class gets TE committment (8/18/01) -- SpartanMag.com has announced Michigan State nabbed its first verbal commitment of the 2003 recruiting campaign when Ionia (Mich.) High School junior tight end Garret Bushong pledged allegiance to MSU on Thursday. Spartans add long snapper to 2002 class(8/17/01)--The Lansing State Journal reports that Brian Bury, a 6-foot-1, 256-pounder from Marion (Ohio) Harding, has chosen Michigan State. MSU was reportedly Bury's only scholarship offer. Bowling Green and Purdue also had interest. Recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic of Bill Kurelic's Midwest Football Report, said long snappers are important. Rob James, offensive line coach for Marion Harding, wasn't surprised that MSU extended a scholarship offer. "He's had tremendous success," James said. "He has got a real rocket in snapping." Bury has qualified academically. Mel Kiper rates TJ Duckett as his #5 Heisman choice (08/17/01, ESPN.COM)--ESPN's Mel Kiper rates T.J. Duckett as his #5 choice in the race for the Heisman. Kiper: "Duckett is a big back who has good quickness and changes direction well for a big guy. Michigan State is a dark horse in the Big Ten. Duckett is one of the best big backs in country, if not the best." Sports Offshore has Duckett 38-1 to win Heisman (8/16/01)--Here's the current line on winning the Heisman: Eric Crouch
- QB, Nebraska (4-1) Bobby Williams' hip on spread offense (8/16/01)--WJIM-AM Radio intereviewed MSU head coach Bobby Williams this morning, and discussed the role of TJ Duckett in the Spartan's new "spread" offense. Williams was very high on Charles Rogers and BJ Lovett, "and a good tight end in Chris Baker. We've got to find a way to get the ball to all of them." He mentioned that "we need to have a good year, and for Duckett to not only do well, but to do well in the big games," for him to have a shot at the Heisman. The Sporting News has some insight on the spread offense: "Don't be surprised if workhorse tailback T.J. Duckett doesn't get his usual 25 carries a game in the Spartans' first several contests. Spartans' coach Bobby Williams believes the team overworked Duckett in the early part of last season, contributing to the injuries that slowed him in October and November. Emphasizing the passing game during the non-conference portion of the schedule could give the Spartans the time they need to sort out their situation at quarterback. Sophomore Jeff Smoker figures to be the starter, but senior Ryan Van Dyke took a lot of snaps with the first unit in the spring and looked good. Says Williams, "If the race is still close going into the season, we'll have to play them both." Spartan Football Veterans Report (8/15/01, MSU Sports Info) -- Seventy-one veteran football players reported to the Michigan State campus Tuesday (Aug. 14) for physicals as the Spartans prepare to begin two-a-day workouts later this week. The veterans will join 32 first-year players for the team's first combined workouts Thursday, Aug. 16 at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thirteen players ran 4.55 or better 40s during Tuesday's physical testing. Sophomore wide receiver Charles Rogers (4.32) and senior cornerback Cedric Henry (4.34) turned in the fastest 40s. Three other Spartans produced sub-4.5 times, including senior wide receiver Herb Haygood (4.40), junior tailback T.J. Duckett (4.42) and senior cornerback DeMario Suggs (4.42). "The veterans reported back in excellent shape," second-year head coach Bobby Williams said. "We've really upgraded our speed at the skill positions. Five guys turned in incredible times during the physical testing and a number of the big guys ran well too." Seventy-plus players remained in East Lansing, Mich., this summer to attend classes and participate in voluntary workouts. "Some 70 players stayed in town this summer and that's so important for a lot of reasons," Williams said. "Most importantly, it builds team chemistry. Not only did the guys work out together but they did a lot of things away from the weight room and practice field. The older guys did a great job organizing picnics, trips to the swimming pool and bowling alley. All of these things have helped bring the players closer together. "Our tri-captains (linebacker Josh Thornhill, wide receiver Herb Haygood and linebacker Ivory McCoy) continue to provide great leadership but I'm also proud of the entire senior class because they have all taken ownership in this team. This is one of the best senior classes I've ever been around. These guys have provided great leadership on and off the field and they have performed well academically. That says a lot about the character of these seniors. These guys are hungry and they're eager to put last season behind them." Michigan State compiled a 5-6 record in 2000, losing two games by a combined total of 12 points. Thornhill is one senior who doesn't want to spend another holiday season at home watching the bowl games. "Nobody likes the way last season ended," he said. "Not going to a bowl game last year gives us plenty of motivation. We've got a lot of key players returning and we're all hungry. We're looking forward to getting back to work. "I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about this being my senior season but it's definitely in the back of my mind." Senior Ryan Van Dyke (five starts in 2000) will resume his battle with sophomore Jeff Smoker (six starts) for the starting nod at quarterback. "I've approached this season with a great sense of urgency," Van Dyke said. "I know this is my last go around and I want to make the most of it. I love the game of football so much and that's why I can't wait to get back on the field. I'm not holding anything back. I'm approaching every drill like it's my last. "Last year, we had to learn how to win and we had to learn the hard way. We lost a lot of close games and we've learned from those experiences. We gained a lot of confidence last spring and now it's 'showtime.'" Duckett, the marquee name on offense, ranked fourth in the Big Ten and No. 11 nationally in rushing, averaging 123.0 yards per game. His 1,353 rushing yards marked the sixth-best single-season total in Spartan history. "This team had a productive summer based upon today's testing results," Duckett said. "Everybody put in a lot of hard work. "We had a disappointing season in 2000 and we're ready to put it behind us. We've established some lofty goals for the upcoming season. We want to compete for the Big Ten title and the only way to go about it is by getting prepared each and every week. We'll approach the games one at a time and at the end of the season, we'll add up the wins and hopefully, we'll be in position to win the championship. "We have a number of guys on this team who played key roles on the 2000 Citrus Bowl champions and they know what it takes to put together a successful | |
The
Enlightened Spartan just bottled his special "Be A Spartan!
Drink Like A Spartan!" ale, a gorgeously aromatic, and strong,
6.5% india pale ale. It should be ready for drinking for the first tailgate,
Sept. 8 vs. Central Michigan.
(8/21/01)--With
18 days
to kickoff, the Enlightened Spartan received his tickets in the mail,
and he nearly creamed his pants. These tickets are unbelievably gorgeous,
shiny and new... kudos to the MSU sports info staff. In all honesty, every
picture should be of big 'ole #8, TJ Duckett, "The Diesel."
But, the ES still loves 'em. Take a look at Game #1 vs. CMU --> Yours
are on their way shortly.