Michigan State University Athletics
Football Looks To Bounce Back At Wisconsin
10/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 1999
DATE: Oct. 23, 1999
SITE: Camp Randall Stadium (76,129), Madison, Wis.
KICKOFF: 12:10 p.m. EDT
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 76,129 (sold out)
LAST SATURDAY: Michigan State lost at Purdue, 52-28, Wisconsin defeated Indiana, 59-0
BROADCAST COVERAGE: Radio ? The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Larry Bielat, sideline reporter Harlon Barnett and broadcast host Scott Anderson, will broadcast the game to 31 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard locally on flagship station WJIM (AM 1240, FM 97.5). Television ? ESPN2 will broadcast the MSU-Wisconsin game live nationally. Dave Barnett will call the play-by-play with Bill Curry serving as color commentator and Dave Ryan as sideline reporter.
THE COACHES ?
Michigan State?s Nick Saban (Kent State ?73) is 31-23-1 (.573) in his fifth season with the Spartans and 40-25-1 (.614) in his sixth season as a college head coach. Saban came to Michigan State following four seasons as the Cleveland Browns? defensive coordinator from 1991-94. He previously served as head coach at the University of Toledo where he guided the Rockets to a 9-2 record overall in 1990, including a share of the Mid-American Conference title at 7-1.
Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez (Nebraska ?69) is 65-44-4 (.593) in his 10th year as a college head coach, all with the Badgers. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year has led Wisconsin to two wins in the Rose Bowl. He spent three years at Notre Dame (1987-89) as linebackers coach, defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Prior to joining the Irish staff, Alvarez was an assistant at Iowa from 1979-86.
SERIES RECORD: MSU leads, 24-15
IN MADISON: MSU leads, 12-9
LAST 10 MEETINGS: MSU leads, 7-3
LAST MEETING: MSU 30, UW 13 (Oct. 26, 1996 in East Lansing)
LAST UW WIN: UW 45, MSU 14 (Oct. 28, 1995 in Madison)
FIRST MEETING: MSU 12, UW 7 (Oct. 25, 1913 in Madison)
NICK SABAN vs. WISCONSIN: 1-1
BARRY ALVAREZ vs. MICHIGAN STATE: 3-4
CURRENT SERIES STREAK: 1 by MSU (1996)
LONGEST MSU STREAK: 8 (1985-92)
LONGEST UW STREAK: 5 (1918-54)
TEAM COMPARISONS ?
Michigan State WisconsinBasic Offense Pro Set Offset IBasic Defense 4-3 Multiple FrontOffensive Starters Returning 8 7Defensive Starters Returning 7 8Specialists Returning 2 1
AVERAGE HEIGHTS & WEIGHTS (STARTERS) ?
Michigan State WisconsinOffensive Line & Tight End 6-5, 286 6-5, 297Offensive Backs & Wide Receivers 6-2, 213 6-0, 210Defensive Line 6-3, 281 6-4, 266Linebackers 6-3, 234 6-1, 231Defensive Backs 5-11, 193 6-0, 183CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) ?
Michigan State Offense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 1 sophomore, 1 freshmanMichigan State Defense: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores, 0 freshmenWisconsin Offense: 3 seniors, 5 juniors, 2 sophomores, 1 freshmanWisconsin Defense: 3 seniors, 4 juniors, 4 sophomores, 0 freshmen
STAT LEADERS ?
Michigan State (1999 statistics):Rushing ? Lloyd Clemons (111 carries for 619 yards, 5.6 avg., 0 TD)Passing ? Bill Burke (113 of 194 for 1543 yards, 14 TDs, 9 INTs)Receiving ? Plaxico Burress (36 catches for 654 yards, 18.2 avg., 5 TDs)Tackles ? Aric Morris (78 tackles, 46 solos, 32 assists, 9 for losses, 3 sacks, 6 PBUs, 2 INTs)
Wisconsin (1999 statistics):Rushing ? Ron Dayne (175 carries for 1020 yards, 5.8 avg., 13 TDs)Passing ? Brooks Bollinger (47 of 81 for 664 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT)Receiving ? Chris Chambers (22 catches for 278 yards, 12.6 avg., 1 TD)Tackles ? Chris Ghidorzi (57 tackles, 34 solos, 23 assists, 1 INT, 2 sacks, 8 TFLs)
STAT COMPARISON (1999 statistics) ?
Michigan State WisconsinScoring 34.1 35.4First Downs 20.6 23.6Total Offense 411.9 443.6Rushing Yards 151.6 273.3 Passing Yards 260.3 170.3Time of Possession 30:54 34:36Third Down Conversions .380 .490Points Allowed 19.4 13.1Total Offense Allowed 328.0 284.6Rushing Yards Allowed 39.9 108.1Passing Yards Allowed 288.1 176.4
THE LAST MEETING ? Oct. 26, 1996, in East Lansing: A strong second half by the MSU defense, holding the Badgers to just 65 total yards, helped the Spartans to a 30-13 victory over Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium. The MSU ground game, and its ability to control the tempo of the game, was a big factor in the outcome with the Spartans piling up 202 rushing yards. MSU tailback Sedrick Irvin led the way with 125 yards and one touchdown in 17 carries, his fourth 100-plus-yard rushing effort in five games. Quarterback Todd Schultz passed for 269 yards and a pair of TDs. Irvin?s rushing yardage enabled him to become the school?s most prolific freshman rusher, passing Lorenzo White?s previous standard of 616 yards (1984). MSU scored on three straight possessions in the second quarter to take a 20-13 lead at halftime, and then used a Chris Gardner field goal and an 8-yard TD run by Irvin early in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The Spartans held UW freshman sensation running back Ron Dayne to 81 yards on 15 carries and no TDs.
THE LAST TIME OUT: PURDUE 52, MICHIGAN STATE 28 ? A record-setting day from QB Drew Brees and WR Chris Daniels led Purdue to a 52-28 victory over Michigan State last Saturday, spoiling the Spartans? undefeated record and knocking them from their top-five Associated Press ranking. Brees led each of the Boilermakers? first four drives to touchdowns, all through the air, after Michigan State had scored on a 10-play drive of its own to open the game. Michigan State returned two interceptions for touchdowns, with T.J. Turner and Aric Morris each running in for scores, as Morris?s 76-yard return brought the Spartans within a touchdown with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter. Brees responded again, however, finishing off a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run. Michigan State couldn?t manage another score, and Purdue added 10 more points in the fourth quarter for the 52-28 final. Brees (40-of-57 for 509 yards and five TDs) set MSU opponent records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns, while Daniels (21 catches for 301 yards) set MSU opponent and Big Ten records for receptions and yards.
SPARTANS OF THE WEEK ?
Offense: C Casey Jensen (graded out 87 percent overall, including 92 percent in pass-blocking assignments)
Defense: LB T.J. Turner (four solo tackles, two interceptions, including an 88-yard return for a touchdown, three QB pressures, 17 production points)
Special Teams: Duron Bryan (one solo tackle on special teams)
INJURY REPORT ? OUT: OL Brian Ottney (underwent surgery on right shoulder Sept. 3, out for the season), C Josh Smith (underwent surgery Sept. 21 to repair torn tendon on the ring finger of his left hand, out four-to-six weeks), DT Joe Tate (reinjured shoulder/neck in Sept. 21 practice, out indefinitely). QUESTIONABLE: CB Amp Campbell (hip pointer vs. Purdue), WR Gari Scott (strained right knee vs. Purdue). PROBABLE: DE Hubert Thompson (bruised right shoulder vs. Iowa, DNP vs. Purdue).
QUOTING NICK SABAN ?
On the Wisconsin game: ?We are going to find out a lot about ourselves this week. Coming off the loss at Purdue will certainly test our maturity and character.
?Wisconsin is playing as well as any team in the league right now. Everyone knows about Ron Dayne and the problems which he presents defenses. Plus, they are 3-0 since they began starting Brooks Bollinger at quarterback.
?With all of the attention on Ron Dayne, the Wisconsin defense is somewhat underappreciated, but they rank as one of the top defensive units in both the Big Ten and the nation. Chris Ghidorzi is a terrific player, and Jamar Fletcher is a big-play guy in the secondary.?
SPARTAN-BADGER SERIES NOTES ?
? The two teams meet for the first time since 1996.
? MSU has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, dating back to 1985.
? None of the last six meetings have been decided by fewer than 13 points, since a 14-9 MSU win in 1990. That is the only game in the series since 1982 which has been decided by a touchdown or less.
SPARTAN-BADGER CONNECTIONS ?
? Wisconsin secondary coach Phil Elmassian worked with Michigan State tight ends/special teams coach Bob Casullo and assistant athletics director/director of football operations Mike Vollmar at Syracuse from 1991-92.
? Wisconsin associate director of sports information Justin Doherty is a 1989 Michigan State graduate.
GROUNDING GROUND GAMES ? Michigan State leads the NCAA in rushing defense, allowing just 39.9 yards per game on the ground. The best rushing defense all-time at MSU in a full season is 45.6 yards per game in 1965. MSU has given up 100 yards rushing just once this season (108 to Notre Dame).
Michigan State did not allowed a rushing touchdown through the first five games of the season, the first time MSU had gone five games without giving up a rushing touchdown since joining the Big Ten in 1953. After 23 quarters without allowing a rushing TD, Michigan?s Anthony Thomas scored the first rushing TD against MSU this season. Purdue?s Drew Brees added a second rushing TD last Saturday.
A year ago the Spartans finished 10th in the Big Ten in rushing defense (171.8 yards allowed per game) and had allowed 12 rushing TDs through seven games.
MSU?S BEST RUSHING DEFENSES ALL-TIME Rushing Yards Per Game Allowed (National Rank in Parentheses) 1. 1999 39.9 (1) 2. 1965 45.6 (1) 3. 1966 51.4 (3) 4. 1987 61.5 (1) 5. 1963 82.0 (4)
STRENGTH AGAINST STRENGTH ? Wisconsin puts the Big Ten?s leading rushing offense ? ranked fifth in the nation ? up against Michigan State?s NCAA-leading rushing defense.
GROUNDING GROUND GAMES ... AND WINNING ? Michigan State has held 10 opponents to 50 or fewer yards rushing in Coach Nick Saban?s five years at MSU, with five of those efforts coming in 1999. The Spartans have won all 10 of those games.
MSU?S BEST SINGLE-GAME RUSHING DEFENSE PERFORMANCES UNDER SABANDate Opponent Yds. Att. Avg. TDs ResultOct. 31, 1998 Northwestern 6 30 0.20 0 W, 29-5Oct. 9, 1999 Michigan 6 21 0.29 1 W, 34-31Oct. 2, 1999 Iowa 7 26 0.27 0 W, 49-3Sept. 28, 1996 Eastern Michigan 25 39 0.64 0 W, 47-0Sept. 2, 1999 Oregon 28 29 0.97 0 W, 27-20Sept. 11, 1999 Eastern Michigan 29 24 1.21 0 W, 51-7Sept. 6, 1997 Western Michigan 29 21 1.38 0 W, 42-10Sept. 25, 1999 Illinois 42 34 1.24 0 W, 27-10Oct. 12, 1996 Illinois 49 32 1.53 2 W, 42-14Sept. 16, 1995 Louisville 50 37 1.35 0 W, 30-7
POLL CATS ? Michigan State stands 11th and 13th, respectively, in this week?s Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN coaches polls this week. The Spartans were as high as fifth in the Associated Press poll and seventh in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll on Oct. 10. That marked the first time MSU has been in the top 10 since standing eighth in both polls at the end of the 1988 season and was the Spartans? highest ranking in the AP poll since a No. 3 ranking on Sept. 18, 1967.
RANKED TEAMS FACE OFF ? This marks just the second time that Michigan State and Wisconsin have met when both were ranked by the Associated Press and the first time since 1954. Wisconsin, ranked No. 5 entering that Oct. 2 game, won a 6-0 decision from No. 13 Michigan State in East Lansing.
UPSET SPECIALS ? Michigan State is 5-4 in its last nine games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including this year?s wins over 24th-ranked Notre Dame and third-ranked Michigan. All five of those wins have come while MSU was unranked or ranked below its opponent and includes the upset of No. 1 Ohio State last year in Columbus. The Spartans are 11-36 (.234) against Top 25 teams since 1988.
SPARTAN AIR RAID ? Michigan State set or tied five single-game school passing or receiving records in the two games against Iowa (Oct. 2) and Michigan (Oct. 9).
Against Michigan, QB Bill Burke threw for a school-record 400 yards, shattering Ed Smith?s previous record of 369 yards set vs. Indiana in 1978. WR Plaxico Burress caught 10 passes for 255 yards against the Wolverines, breaking Andre Rison?s single-game record of 252 receiving yards set in the 1989 Gator Bowl vs. Georgia.
Michigan State set or tied three school records in its 49-3 victory over Iowa Oct. 2. MSU quarterbacks threw six TD passes (breaking the previous team record of five, set vs. Northwestern in 1981). QB Bill Burke threw four TD passes himself, tying the individual record he and three other Michigan State quarterbacks had set previously. WR Plaxico Burress caught three TD passes, tying the school single-game record for TD receptions previously shared by Andre Rison (vs. Georgia, 1989), Mark Ingram (vs. Iowa, 1986) and Gene Washington (vs. Indiana, 1965).
SPARTAN AIR RAID II ? Michigan State has scored more touchdowns passing than running each of the last three years. That trend is a complete reversal from the previous eight seasons. MSU?s rushing and passing TD ratio for the last 11 seasons:
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989Rush TDs/Pass TDs 7/17 14/21 18/21 27/15 21/11 20/11 25/9 24/4 10/7 35/4 37/9
PLAX IS BACK ? Preseason first-team All-Big Ten WR Plaxico Burress had a single-game school-record 255 receiving yards vs. Michigan and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. In the last three weeks, he has averaged 6.7 catches for 141.7 yards and 1.7 TDs per game. In the first four games of the year, Burress averaged four catches for 57 yards per game with no touchdowns.
Burress, who is ranked first among Biletnikoff award candidates this week by ESPN.com, stands second in the Big Ten with 93.4 receiving yards per game and third with 5.14 receptions per game.
Burress leads MSU with 36 catches for 654 yards and five TDs. He has had at least three receptions in each game this year. Twenty-eight of his 36 catches have been good for first downs.
BURKE APPROACHES TD RECORD ? Senior QB Bill Burke has at least one TD pass in each game this season, and one in each of the last 11 games dating back to last year. Burke has 14 TD passes on the year, including a share of the school single-game record with four against Iowa three weeks ago. He has 40 TD passes for his career and needs just four more to set the school career record, currently shared by Dave Yarema (1982-86) and Ed Smith (1976-78) with 43 career TDs each.
Burke, who had a school-record 400 yards passing vs. Michigan, has thrown for at least 200 yards in eight of his last 11 games. MSU is 8-3 all-time when Burke throws for 200 yards.
Burke needs 208 yards passing to become just the fourth Spartan QB to throw for 5,000 yards in his career.
TOSSING TO THE TIGHT ENDS ? Sophomore TE Chris Baker is second on the team in receptions with 30 (326 yards and three touchdowns). Baker?s 4.29 catches per game stands tied for sixth in the Big Ten, while he has 46.6 yards receiving per game. Prior to this season, Michigan State?s most prolific pass-catching tight end of the 1980s or ?90s was Al Kimichik (3.55 catches per game, 34.8 yards per game in 1981).
Baker stands in the top 10 in the nation among tight ends in both receptions (third) and receiving yards (fifth) and has a TD catch in three of the last six games.
Junior TE Ivory McCoy also has proven his worth as a pass-catcher, with 11 receptions for 168 yards and two TDs on the year.
O FROM THE D ? Two Spartans ? T.J. Turner (88 yards) and Aric Morris (76) ? returned interceptions for touchdowns against Purdue. It marked the first time Michigan State had two defensive TDs in one game since the first game of 1997 (vs. Western Michigan, Sept. 6, Amp Campbell interception return and Robaire Smith fumble return).
PETERSON FOLLOWS IN SNOW?S FOOTSTEPS ? Senior LB Julian Peterson has been named one of 65 linebackers on the 1999 Butkus Award Watch List. The Butkus Award, given annually to the nation?s top linebacker, will trim that list to 10 semifinalists Oct. 21. Michigan State?s Percy Snow won the first Butkus Award in 1989.
Peterson stands third on the team in tackles with 46. He matched his career high with 11 tackles (five solos, six assists) against Oregon, including six tackles for loss (seven yards). Through seven games he already has 17 tackles for losses, just one shy of the single-season school record for tackles for losses (18), which he shares with Larry Bethea. Peterson forced three fumbles in the first four games, while he climbs the MSU career charts in tackles for losses (third with 35) and sacks (fifth with 17).
HURRICANE LLOYD CONTINUES TO INFLICT DAMAGE ? Senior TB Lloyd Clemons has enjoyed three 100-yard rushing games in the first seven games of the season, and has built upon his single-game career-high in each of those games.
Clemons, who leads MSU and stands fifth in the Big Ten with 88.4 rushing yards per game, carried 20 times for 141 yards against Illinois, a 7.1 yards-per-carry average.
HERE?S THE KICKER ? Senior PK Paul Edinger has been one of the nation?s best in 1999, converting on 12-of-15 field goals and 26-of-27 PATs, including a career-long 54-yard field goal at Illinois. Edinger made three field goals and a PAT (10 points) in the fourth quarter alone at Notre Dame.
Edinger, ranked fourth among candidates for the Lou Groza Award by ESPN.com this week, has made 14-of-19 field-goal attempts from 40-plus yards in his career (five-of-eight this year). Nine of Edinger?s 12 field goals in 1999 have come in the second half.
ARIC?S AWARD ? Senior SS Aric Morris has earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season through seven weeks. He shared the award after the Notre Dame game after earning it to himself after the Oregon game. He made 11 tackles against the Irish (six solo, five assists), after setting a career-high with 19 tackles vs. Oregon. Last week at Purdue, Morris made 14 stops (nine solos, five assists).
Morris, who has 12 career double-figure tackle games, leads the Spartans in tackles with 78 (46 solos, 32 assisted), 29 more tackles than any other Spartan.
WHEN BEARS ATTACK ? Senior DE Robaire Smith had one of his best games of the year vs. Michigan, making nine tackles (five solos, four assists), including two sacks for 22 yards. Against Purdue, Smith added his second interception of the season. He stands tied for fourth on the team and leads all defensive linemen in tackles (26-15-41). He shares the team lead in sacks (seven) and is second on the team behind LB Julian Peterson in tackles for loss (11 for 75 yards).
GREAT SCOTT ? Senior WR Gari Scott broke the Michigan State record for career punt return yards in the opener against Oregon on his career-long 49-yard return in the third quarter. He established a new career long with a 51-yard return against Eastern Michigan and now has 889 career punt return yards, 269 more yards than Derrick Mason, who stands No. 2 on the MSU career list.
Offensively, Scott leads MSU with six touchdown catches and has at least one TD catch in five of the seven games. He needs just three more TD receptions to set the school single-season record (currently shared by three players with eight each) and six more TD catches to set the MSU career record (currently held by Kirk Gibson with 24 from 1975-78).
FAST START ? Michigan State?s 6-1 start is its best since 1966, when the Spartans started 9-0 and tied Notre Dame in the season finale.
RECEIVING VOTES ? Junior WR Plaxico Burress and senior WR Gari Scott combine to form one of the nation?s best receiving duos. They have combined for 57 catches for 1022 yards in seven games. They have accounted for 44 percent of Michigan State?s receptions and 56 percent of its receiving yards.
Burress and Scott are both among the 35 players listed on the 1999 Biletnikoff Award watch list, making Michigan State one of only three teams in the nation and the only team in the Big Ten with multiple honorees. Florida State (Ron Dugans and Peter Warrick) and Louisville (Ibn Green and Arnold Jackson) also have two candidates for the Biletnikoff, which is awarded annually to the top wide receiver in college football. Other Big Ten receivers included are Chafie Fields (Penn State), Luke Leverson (Minnesota) and Dee Miller (Ohio State).
SOUP IS GOOD FOOD ? Senior CB Amp Campbell, nicknamed ?Soup? by his teammates, completed a storybook return to the field against Oregon, returning a fumble 85 yards for the game-winning TD. He has one interception this season, coming in the end zone at Notre Dame. Against Michigan, Campbell broke up four passes and held David Terrell to 8.6 yards per catch. Campbell holds the MSU career record for passes broken up (45) and leads the 1999 team with 15.
Campbell suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury last year against Oregon. He fractured his sixth and seventh vertebrae as he attempted to make a tackle on Oregon?s second touchdown, an injury which required spinal-fusion surgery that night. His rehabilitation picked up speed around the midpoint of last season. This summer he was cleared to play and the NCAA granted a sixth-year waiver request. To fulfill Big Ten regulations he still needed to complete his undergraduate degree, which he did this summer and earned a telecommunication degree.
MAGIC NUMBER 24 ? Since 1990, Michigan State is 50-11-1 (.815) when it scores at least 24 points and 8-41-1 (.170) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that nine-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 57-52-2 (.518).
SPARTANS PREFER ARTIFICIAL TURF ? Michigan State?s 23-13 victory at Notre Dame Sept. 18, 1999, marked the Spartans? third win on natural grass since 1993 (the others coming at Notre Dame Stadium in 1997 and Ohio Stadium in 1998). The Spartans are just 3-13-1 (.206)in their last 17 games played on natural grass. By contrast, Michigan State is 32-19 (.627) in its last 51 games on artificial turf.
FULL HOUSE ? All six Michigan State home games for 1999 have already been sold out. Michigan State fans purchased a record 60,857 season tickets for 1999, breaking the previous record of 60,145 set in 1997.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG ? USA Today named Nick Saban its Coach of the Half-Year in its mid-season report and called Amp Campbell?s fumble return for a touchdown against Oregon the season?s Best Moment ... CNNSI.com called MSU the nation?s #1 surprise team and named Aric Morris and Greg Robinson-Randall first-half All-Americans ... Michigan State?s football team (AP No. 11), hockey team (No. 3) and men?s basketball team (preseason No. 1 in many publications) are all in the top 20 nationally.
BIG TEN STAT LEADERS ?
Category Stat Avg. Big Ten NCAA Total Offense 411.9 5th 26thRushing Offense 151.6 6th 53rdPassing Offense 260.3 3rd 25thScoring Offense 34.1 5th 22ndTotal Defense 328.0 4th 32ndRushing Defense 39.9 1st 1stPassing Defense 288.1 11th ?Pass Efficiency Defense 122.9 9th 64thScoring Defense 19.4 5th t-25thTurnover Margin -0.14 t-7th t-65thNet Punting 39.6 3rd 14thPunt Returns 12.7 4th 15thKickoff Returns 17.5 8th t-99th
Category ? Individual Stat Avg. Big Ten NCAARushing Yards ? Clemons 88.4 5th 41stPassing Efficiency ? Burke 139.6 4th 17thPassing Yards ? Burke 220.4 3rd ?Total Offense ? Burke 207.6 5th 40thReceptions ? Burress 5.14 3rd t-46thReceptions ? Baker 4.29 t-6th ?Receiving Yards ? Burress 93.4 2nd 22ndAll-Purpose Yards ? Scott 112.3 8th ?Scoring (Overall) ? Edinger 8.9 6th 27thPunting ? Jarrett 44.1 3rd 9thPunt Returns ? Scott 12.6 4th 18thKickoff Returns ? Haygood 20.2 7th ?Field Goal Pct. ? Edinger 80.0 3rd ?Field Goals Per Game ? Edinger 1.71 3rd t-12thTackles ? Morris 11.0 3rd ?Tackles for Losses ? Peterson 17 (total) 1st ?Pass Breakups ? Campbell 15 (total) 1st ?
SPARTANS OF THE WEEK ?
Opponent Offense Defense Special TeamsOregon Lloyd Clemons Julian Peterson Gari ScottE. Michigan Shaun Mason Josh Shaw Paul EdingerNotre Dame Bill Burke Renaldo Hill Shawn WrightIllinois Chris Baker Robaire Smith Duron BryanIowa Plaxico Burress Mike Austin Duron Bryan/Shawn WrightMichigan P. Burress/B. Burke Renaldo Hill Herb HaygoodPurdue Casey Jensen T.J. Turner Duron Bryan
1999 OPPONENTS UPDATE ?
Date vs.MSU Opponent This Week Last Week Sept. 2 Oregon (3-3) at Arizona ?Sept. 11 E. Michigan (1-4) at Toledo W vs. Ohio, 27-26Sept. 18 at Notre Dame (3-3) ? W vs. USC, 25-24Sept. 25 at Illinois (3-2) at Michigan L vs. Minnesota, 37-7Oct. 2 Iowa (1-4) vs. Indiana L at Northwestern, 23-21Oct. 9 Michigan (5-1) vs. Illinois ?Oct. 16 at Purdue (4-2) vs. Penn State W vs. Michigan St., 52-28Oct. 23 at Wisconsin (4-2) vs. Michigan State W vs. Indiana, 59-0Nov. 6 Ohio State (4-2) at Minnesota L at Penn State, 23-10Nov. 13 at Northwestern (2-4) ? W vs. Iowa, 23-21Nov. 20 Penn State (6-0) at Purdue W vs. Ohio State, 23-10*MSU opponents have a cumulative record of 41-24 (.631), not including games vs. the Spartans
SPARTAN TRENDS ?
Here?s how Michigan State has fared this year and during Nick Saban?s tenure (1995-99):
1999 Under SabanGames played in Spartan Stadium: 4-0 21-8Games played on the road/neutral site: 2-1 10-15-1
August games: 0-0 1-1September games: 3-0 10-5-1October games: 2-1 12-7November games: 0-0 7-7December games: 0-0 0-3
Games decided by a TD or less: 2-0 8-8Games decided by a FG or less: 1-0 3-5
When scoring first: 5-1 25-11-1When opponent scores first: 1-0 6-12
When leading after first quarter: 3-0 22-5-1When trailing after first quarter: 0-1 4-11When tied after first quarter: 3-0 5-7When leading at halftime: 4-0 27-8When trailing at halftime: 1-1 3-14-1When tied at halftime 1-0 1-1When leading after three quarters: 4-0 26-3-1When trailing after three quarters: 0-1 3-17When tied after three quarters: 2-0 2-3
When gaining more first downs than opponent: 4-0 25-6When gaining fewer first downs than opponent: 2-1 6-13-1When gaining same number of first downs as opp: 0-0 0-4
When gaining 200+ yards rushing: 2-0 19-3-1When opponent gains 200+ yards rushing: 0-0 3-11-1When an MSU player rushes for 100+ yards: 3-0 20-6-1When an opponent rushes for 100+ yards: 0-0 9-12-1When outrushing opponent: 6-0 27-5-1When being outrushed by opponent: 0-1 4-18
When gaining 200+ yards passing: 5-1 20-13-1When opponent gains 200+ yards passing: 4-1 12-13-1
When gaining more total yards than opp: 4-0 27-6When gaining fewer total yards than opp: 2-1 4-17-1When leading in time of possession: 5-0 22-12-1When trailing in time of possession: 1-1 9-11
SABAN?S RECORD BREAKDOWN (MSU and TOLEDO)?
All Games: 40-25-1 (.614)Home Games: 26-9 (.743)Road Games: 14-16-1 (.468)August Games: 1-1 (.500)September Games: 15-5-1 (.738)October Games: 15-8 (.652)November Games: 9-8 (.529)December Games: 0-3 (.000)Games decided by a TD or less: 11-10-1 (.523)Games decided by a FG or less: 3-6-1 (.350)
OFFENSIVE QUICK BIOS
2 ? HERB HAYGOOD ? FL
? has four catches for 75 yards on the year with a TD (vs. Iowa)
4 ? PLAXICO BURRESS ? SE
? leads the team with 36 catches and 654 yards through seven games
? tied MSU single-game record with three TD catches vs. Iowa and set single-game record with 255 yards receiving vs. Michigan
? 28 of his 36 catches have been for first downs
? has five TDs, all in the last three games
? top-rated WR in nation by ESPN.com this week
? second-team All-Big Ten selection in ?98 (media, honorable mention by the coaches)
? ranked among the nation?s top five WRs by The Sporting News (No. 4) and Lindy?s (No. 5)
7 ? LAVAILE RICHARDSON ? SE
? has three catches for 67 yards this year
? caught at least one pass in nine games in ?98
8 ? T.J. DUCKETT ? TB/LB
? MSU?s second-leading rusher overall (45 carries, 214 yards, five TDs)
? leads MSU with five rushing TDs
? older brother, Tico, ranks as MSU?s second-leading all-time rusher (4,212 yards, 1989-92)
? wears #8 as the sum of the digits in Tico?s #35
16 ? BILL BURKE ? QB
? has a TD pass in each of his last 11 games, including an MSU-record-tying four vs. Iowa
? has thrown for 200 yards in eight of his last 11 games, including MSU single-game record 400 vs. UM
? one of four MSU QBs with over 4,500 yards passing and approaching 5,000, now has 4,792
? already among MSU career passing leaders in attempts (fifth at 648), completions (fifth at 356), completion percentage (seventh at .549), yards (fourth at 4,792) and TD passes (third at 40)
? needs four TD passes to set MSU career record, held by Dave Yarema and Ed Smith (43)
? MSU is 8-3 when he throws for 200-plus yards
? has started 18 straight games
22 ? SHAWN FOSTER ? TB
? led MSU vs. Iowa with 67 rushing yards
23 ? LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS ? TB
? fourth on team in rushing (21 carries for 99 yards)
36 ? LLOYD CLEMONS ? TB
? owns three 100-yard rushing games this year, including a career-best 141 yards at Illinois
? in 111 carries has only been stopped for a loss five times (all -1 or -2 yards)
? has 619 yards on 111 carries (5.5 avg.) in 1999 and nears 1,000 yards for his career (994)
? was MSU?s second-leading rusher last year behind Sedrick Irvin with 364 yards on 73 carries
49 ? DAWAN MOSS ? FB
? made first start of career at Illinois
? scored on his first career carry vs. EMU with a 42-yard TD run
? ran 14 yards for the eventual game-winning TD vs. Michigan on his only carry of the day
? first MSU FB to score a rushing TD since 1996 (Travis Reece vs. Michigan)
64 ? CASEY JENSEN ? C
? C this year after playing both RG and LG in 1998
? Offensive Spartan of the Week vs. Purdue
? had a season-high 14 production points vs. U-M
? has produced his top grades vs. Iowa (career-high 89 percent), Purdue (87) and Notre Dame (87)
70 ? DAVE SUCURA ? LG
? moved to left guard this year after starting every game at left tackle in 1998
? top performances of 1999 have come vs. Michigan (graded out 82 percent with 14 production points) and Notre Dame (80/20)
71 ? SHAUN MASON ? RG
? offensive Spartan of the Week vs. EMU (graded out at 82 percent)
? graded out with a career-best 89 percent vs. Oregon (83 percent run-blocking, 94 pass-blocking) and 84 percent at Notre Dame (14 production points)
74 ? TUPE PEKO ? LT
? a JUCO All-American at Cerritos College, he has won the starting job at left tackle
? turned in his best performance of the season vs. Michigan (graded out 81 percent with 15 production points)
76 ? GREG ROBINSON-RANDALL ? RT
? has started 16 straight games at right tackle
? graded out 82 percent vs. Michigan with 12 production points
83 ? CHRIS BAKER ? TE
? second on team with 30 receptions and third in receiving yards with 326
? top five in nation among TEs in catches (third) and yards (fifth)
? best catches and yards per game of any MSU TE in the 1980s or ?90s
? had career-best eight catches vs. Notre Dame and career-best 72 yards vs. Purdue
85 ? IVORY McCOY ? TE
? has 11 catches and 168 receiving yards
? nine of 11 catches have been for first down
? caught third career TD pass vs. Illinois
86 ? GARI SCOTT ? FL
? six of his 21 catches this year have gone for TDs and nine of 21 have come on third down
? second on team with 368 receiving yards and has at least one TD catch in five of seven games
? with six TDs in ?99, just three shy of setting MSU single-season record (currently eight)
? owns the MSU record for career punt return yardage (889 yards)
? has at least one catch in each of last 31 games
? leads all MSU players with 33 career starts
? rated among the nation?s top kick returners (No. 4) and wide receivers (No. 14) by Lindy?s
? preseason all-conference pick by Street & Smith?s (first team) and Lindy?s (second team)
DEFENSIVE QUICK BIOS
3 ? AMP CAMPBELL ? CB
? has made a courageous comeback from a cervic-spinal injury suffered last year at Oregon and capped it off with the game-winning TD vs. the Ducks this year on an 85-yard fumble return
? owns MSU career record for pass breakups (45), including team-leading 15 this year
? presented the Biggie Munn Award last year as the team?s most inspirational player
? has 33 games (and 32 starts) under his belt
? has six career INTs (five as a junior in 1997 when he was a second-team All-Big Ten selection)
5 ? LORENZO GUESS ? S
? returned first career INT for TD vs. EMU
? had career-high five tackles vs. Michigan
? plays guard for MSU?s Final Four basketball team
8 ? T.J. DUCKETT ? LB/TB
? has made 10 tackles (seven solo, three assists) at LB and on special teams
? one of the nation?s most highly touted freshmen
9 ? ARIC MORRIS ? SS
? two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
? made career-best 19 tackles (12 solo) vs. Oregon, including four for losses
? MSU?s leading tackler (46-32-78)
? in his third year as MSU?s starting SS
? has 12 career double-figure tackle games
? made 14 stops vs. Purdue and returned an INT for a touchdown
? hon. mention All-Big Ten pick (media) in ?98
? MSU?s co-captain, along with Gari Scott
15 ? RENALDO HILL ? CB
? tied career high with 10 tackles vs. Michigan
? tied for lead among active Spartans with six career INTs, including one which clinched the win vs. Oregon
? brother, Ray, is a former Spartan and current Miami Dolphin
25 ? MIKE AUSTIN ? LB
? an experienced senior with 23 career starts
? started the first five games of 1998 and returned for the season finale
32 ? RICHARD NEWSOME ? FS
? second on team in tackles with 31-18-49
? made career-high 11 tackles at Purdue
? made second career start vs. Oregon and had 10 tackles (six solos, four assists)
35 ? T.J. TURNER ? LB
? Defensive Spartan of the Week vs. Purdue with two INTs, including one returned for a TD
? made 10 stops (4-6-10) at Illinois
? in his second year as starter at MIKE LB
? had double-figures in tackles in four of the last five games of 1998
37 ? CEDRIC HENRY ? CB
? missed the first three games but returned against Illinois with 2-2-4 tackles and one pass breakup
? ran his first career punt return back 70 yards for a TD vs. Iowa
? second on the team in ?98 with 13 PBUs
50 ? JOSH THORNHILL ? LB
? career-best 18 tackles (eight solo, 10 assists) at Illinois
? sixth on team with 16-24-40 tackles
? second-team freshman All-America pick by The Sporting News in 1998
66 ? DESMOND THOMAS ? DT
? has already surpassed last year?s sack total with three through seven games
75 ? NICK MYERS ? DE
? called by defensive coordinator Bill Miller the biggest pleasant surprise of preseason camp, he has produced 24 tackles and two sacks
80 ? JACE SAYLER ? DT
? playing DT after starting 12 games at DE in ?98
? missed start of preseason camp with mono
89 ? HUBERT THOMPSON ? DE
? made his debut vs. Oregon after red-shirting last year and sitting out freshman season due to academics
? has 8-12-20 tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups through seven games
91 ? ROBAIRE SMITH ? DE
? shares team lead in sacks (7) and second on team in TFLs (11)
? tied for fourth on team and first among DLs with 26-15-41 tackles
? had his third career INT at Purdue
? equaled his career-high with 10 tackles vs. Oregon (five solo), including two TFLs and one sack
? already among MSU career leaders in sacks (fourth at 21) and TFLs (third at 35)
? a Playboy All-America pick
? preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick by Street & Smith?s, Lindy?s and Athlon
95 ? JOSH SHAW ? DT
? tied for fourth on team with 18-23-41 tackles
? starting LT led MSU in tackles vs. EMU with 4-5-9, including one for loss and one pass breakup
? played all 12 games in ?98 as a true freshman
98 ? JULIAN PETERSON ? LB
? third on the team with 27-19-46 tackles
? 17 of his tackles have been for losses, just one shy of the MSU single-season record he set last year (18)
? has forced three fumbles this year
? owns the top two TFL games in MSU history (seven vs. Ohio State, 1998, six vs. Oregon, 1999)
? posted career-best 5-6-11 tackles vs. Oregon and forced the fumble which Amp Campbell returned for the game-winning TD
SPECIALISTS
1 ? PAUL EDINGER ? PK
? 12-for-15 in FGs and 26-for-27 in PATs in ?99
? ranked No. 4 among nation?s PKs this week by ESPN.com
? ranked among nation?s top 10 kickers by Lindy?s (No. 5) and The Sporting News (No. 7)
? has hit 14-of-19 attempts from 40-plus yards in his career (5-of-8 in 1999)
EDINGER, cont.
? second-team All-Big Ten selection in 1998, when he set an MSU record for field goal percentage (.846, 22 of 26)
? 11 of 46 KOs have been touchbacks in ?99
12 ? CRAIG JARRETT ? P
? ranks third in the Big Ten and ninth nationally with 44.1 punting average
? has hit 10 punts 50-plus yards and had seven downed inside the 20-yard line in 1999
? second-team All-Big Ten (media) in ?98
