Michigan State University Athletics
Football Prepares for Season Opener vs. Oregon
8/26/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 26, 1999
QUICK FACTS
DATE: Sept. 2, 1999
SITE: Spartan Stadium (72,027), East Lansing, Mich.
KICKOFF: 8:00 p.m. (EDT)
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 72,027 (sellout anticipated, although tickets remain as of Aug. 25)
LAST WEEK: This is the season opener for both Michigan State and Oregon.
BROADCAST COVERAGE: Radio ? The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Larry Bielat and sideline reporter Harlon Barnett, 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). The Westwood One Radio Network will broadcast the Michigan State-Oregon game nationally with Tony Roberts providing play-by-play and Mark May serving as analyst. Television ? ESPN will televise the Michigan State-Oregon game live with Mike Tirico, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit calling the action. Dr. Jerry Punch is the sideline reporter. In addition, Fox Sports Northwest will televise the game on a tape-delayed basis, with Todd McKim handling play-by-play and Ken Woody providing color commentary.
THE COACHES ? Michigan State?s Nick Saban (Kent State ?73) is 25-22-1 (.531) entering his fifth year with the Spartans and 34-24-1 (.585) 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.
Oregon?s Mike Bellotti (UC Davis ?73) is 30-17-0 (.638) in four seasons with the Ducks (1995-99) and 53-42-2 (.557) in nine years as a college coach. Bellotti had spent five years as head coach at Chico State (1984-88) and six years as the Ducks? offensive coordinator immediately prior to ascending to the head coaching job. Earlier he had held assistant coaching positions at UC-Davis, Cal State-Hayward and Weber State.
THE SERIES
SERIES RECORD: Oregon leads 2-1 IN EAST LANSING: MSU leads, 1-0 LAST MEETING: Oregon 48, MSU 14 (Sept. 5, 1998 in Eugene) LAST MSU WIN: MSU 41, Oregon 17 (Sept. 15, 1979 in East Lansing) FIRST MEETING: MSU 41, Oregon 17 (Sept. 15, 1979 in East Lansing) NICK SABAN vs. OREGON: 0-1 MIKE BELLOTTI vs. MICHIGAN STATE: 1-0 CURRENT SERIES STREAK: 2 by Oregon (1980, 1998) LONGEST MSU STREAK: 1 (1979)
TEAM COMPARISONS ?
Michigan State Oregon Basic Offense Pro Set Multiple Basic Defense 4-3 4-3 Offensive Starters Returning 8 6 Defensive Starters Returning 7 6 Specialists Returning 2 1
AVERAGE HEIGHTS & WEIGHTS (STARTERS) ?
Michigan State Oregon Offensive Line & Tight End 6-5, 286 6-4, 288 Offensive Backs & Wide Receivers 6-2, 213 6-2, 212 Defensive Line 6-3, 281 6-4, 272 Linebackers 6-3, 234 6-3, 236 Defensive Backs 5-11, 193 6-0, 198
CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) ?
Michigan State Offense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 1 sophomore, 1 freshman Michigan State Defense: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores, 0 freshmen Oregon Offense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 2 sophomores, 0 freshmen Oregon Defense: 8 seniors, 3 juniors, 0 sophomore, 0 freshmen
RETURNING STAT LEADERS ?
Michigan State (1998 statistics): Rushing ? Lloyd Clemons (73 carries for 364 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TDs) Passing ? Bill Burke (195 of 358 for 2595 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs) Receiving ? Plaxico Burress (65 catches for 1013 yards, 15.6 avg., 8 TDs) Tackles ? Aric Morris (127 tackles, 76 solos, 51 assists, 8 for losses, 8 PBUs)Oregon (1998 statistics): Rushing ? Reuben Droughns (112 carries for 824 yards, 7.4 avg. 9 TDs) Passing ? Joey Harrington (0 of 1 for 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs) Receiving ? Tony Hartley (48 catches for 1015 yards, 21.1 avg., 10 TDs) Tackles ? Dietrich Moore (81 tackles, 58 solos, 23 assists, 9 for losses, 2 sacks)
STAT COMPARISON (1998 statistics) ?
Michigan State Oregon Scoring 28.0 39.4 First Downs 20.4 23.4 Total Offense 375.5 482.9 Rushing Yards 129.3 161.6 Passing Yards 246.2 321.3 Time of Possession 30:17 30:01 Third Down Conversions .290 .500 Points Allowed 24.5 27.3 Total Yards Allowed 363.3 390.4 Rushing Yards Allowed 171.8 155.8 Passing Yards Allowed 191.5 234.6
THE LAST MEETING ?
Sept. 5, 1998: Akili Smith completed 15-of-25 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns to lead Oregon to a 48-14 victory over Michigan State in Autzen Stadium. Oregon scored on its first six possessions en route to a 48-0 lead. Smith threw TD passes of 8 yards to Reuben Droughns, 12 to Chris Young, 11 to Bobby Nero and 53 to Tony Hartley. Nathan Villegas added field goals of 28 and 44 yards as Oregon built a 34-0 halftime lead. Droughns picked up 121 of his 202 yards rushing in the second half and scored on runs of 2 and 75 yards. The Spartans avoided a shutout by scoring twice in the fourth quarter, with Plaxico Burress hauling in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bill Burke and Lloyd Clemons breaking a 28-yard TD run. Michigan State?s defense surrendered a season-high 590 total yards. (Note: For a complete summary of last year?s game please refer to page 116 in the 1999 MSU Football Media Guide.)
FOR STARTERS ? Michigan State opens its 103rd season of football against Oregon. The Spartans are 65-35-2 all-time (.647) in season openers. It also marks the home opener for Michigan State, the fifth consecutive season that the Spartans have started at home. MSU is 81-21-0 all-time (.794) in home openers. The Spartans are 2-2 in season openers (and home openers) under head coach Nick Saban and 3-5-1 in season openers in the 1990s (3-6-0 in home openers).
Michigan State has never opened its season or its home schedule against Oregon, but MSU has had great success opening against Pac-10 teams. The Spartans are 8-3 all-time in season openers against current Pac-10 teams, and 11-1 in home openers vs. the Pac-10. MSU?s last loss to a Pac-10 team in a season opener was Sept. 13, 1986 (20-17 at Arizona State). Its only loss to a Pac-10 team in a home opener was Sept. 29, 1973 (34-21 vs. UCLA). Michigan State?s last season opener or home opener against a Pac-10 opponent was in the Rose Bowl season of 1987, when Southern California came to East Lansing for a Labor Day night game. The Spartans won that game, 27-13, on Sept. 7, 1987.
JUST ANOTHER DAY ? The Michigan State-Oregon game marks the first time a Big Ten team is being featured on ESPN?s Thursday night game.
It marks the fifth time since 1950 that the Spartans have played a regular-season game on a day other than Saturday. It is the third non-Saturday game in that time to be played at Spartan Stadium. The previous four non-Saturday regular-season games since 1950 have produced a 1-3 Spartan record:
? Miami (Fla.) hosted MSU in a Friday night game on Nov. 20, 1959, with the Hurricanes posting an 18-13 win.
? In 1963, Michigan State?s game with Illinois, originally scheduled for Nov. 23, was postponed following the assasination of John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22. The two teams met the following Thursday (Nov. 28), Thanksgiving Day, for a 13-0 Illinois victory.
? Michigan State played at Southern California on a Friday night, Sept. 29, 1978. The Trojans posted a 30-9 win as MSU started the season 1-3, but finished up 8-3 with a share of the Big Ten title.
? Southern Cal was again involved in 1987, as MSU kicked off its Big Ten championship season with a Labor Day night game against the Trojans Sept. 7. The Spartans recorded their lone win on a non-Saturday game since 1950 in Spartan Stadium, 27-13.
READY FOR PRIME TIME ?
The Michigan State-Oregon game marks the third night game in Spartan Stadium history and the second prime time appearance for the Spartans under Nick Saban. The previous two night games at Spartan Stadium have produced MSU wins over ranked opponents.
Last year, Michigan State shocked No. 10 Notre Dame, 45-23, in an 8 p.m. game on Sept. 12. Bill Burke completed 12-of-19 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns in that game, which also featured a blocked punt returned for a TD by Richard Newsome and an interception return for a TD by Julian Peterson. In the first night game played at Spartan Stadium, Sept. 7, 1987, the Spartans defeated No. 16 Southern California, 27-13, behind 111 rushing yards and two TDs from Lorenzo White.
AGAINST THE PAC-10 ?
Michigan State has a 29-18-1 record (.615) all-time against Pac-10 opponents. MSU is 1-3 against the Pac-10 in the 1990s and 0-3 under head coach Nick Saban. The last MSU win over a Pac-10 team was Dec. 31, 1990, 17-16 over Southern Cal in the John Hancock Bowl.
Last year?s game at Oregon (a 48-14 Duck win) was MSU?s first regular-season game against a Pac-10 opponent since the Spartans beat Southern Cal, 27-13, Sept. 7, 1987, on Labor Day night at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State?s last six meetings with Pac-10 teams:
Sept. 5, 1998 at Oregon L, 48-14 Dec. 25, 1997 Washington L, 51-23 Jeep Aloha Bowl Dec. 31, 1996 Stanford L, 38-0 Norwest Sun Bowl Dec. 31, 1990 Southern Cal W, 17-16 John Hancock Bowl Jan. 1, 1988 Southern Cal W, 20-17 Rose Bowl Sept. 7, 1987 Southern Cal W, 27-13
INJURY REPORT ?
OUT: WR Josh Lenaburg (underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee Aug. 13, sidelined for four weeks).
SOUP IS GOOD FOOD ?
Senior CB Amp Campbell, nicknamed ?Soup? by his teammates, will complete a remarkable comeback when he takes the field against Oregon. Campbell was an All-America candidate entering the 1998 season but suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury in the first quarter against Oregon Sept. 5. He fractured his sixth and seventh vertebrae as he attempted to make a tackle on Oregon?s second touchdown.
The injury required spinal-fusion surgery that night and five days later he said in an emotional press conference, ?I had a good career at Michigan State.? His rehabilitation picked up speed around the midpoint of last season, however. 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 requirements, which he did this summer and earned a telecommunication degree.
Campbell currently shares the Michigan State record with 30 career pass breakups. A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 1997, he has five career interceptions and 104 tackles in 26 games.
LLOYD?S OF EAST LANSING ?
Senior TB Lloyd Clemons is slated as the Spartans? starting tailback following the departure of Sedrick Irvin to the NFL?s Detroit Lions. Clemons will be making his first start against a comfortable opponent ? he had a career-high 95 yards in a 48-14 loss to Oregon last Sept. 5. Clemons, a Detroit native, spent 1995 at the University of Rhode Island before transferring to Michigan State. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and completed his undergraduate degree requirements in general business administration this summer to fulfill Big Ten requirements.
BURKE IS BACK ?
Senior Bill Burke returns for his second season as the Spartans? starting quarterback after setting the school record for passing yards in a season last year (2,595). Burke finished the season strong, posting four-straight games with more than 200 yards passing to close out the year. Ed Smith is the only MSU quarterback to put together five-straight 200-yard passing games ? he had six in a row from Oct. 7 to Nov. 11, 1978.
For the year in 1998, Burke finished with seven 200-yard passing games, equalling the school record. Michigan State was 5-2 in those seven games. His touchdown-to-interception ratio of 19-to-10 was the best at MSU since Dave Yarema in 1985 (10-to-3).
RAVING ABOUT RECEIVERS ?
Junior WR Plaxico Burress and senior WR Gari Scott combine to form one of the nation?s best receiving duos. They 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. 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. Oregon WR Tony Hartley is also on the Biletnikoff watch list, as are Big Ten receivers Chafie Fields (Penn State), Kahill Hill (Iowa), Luke Leverson (Minnesota) and Dee Miller (Ohio State).
Lindy?s ranks both Burress and Scott among the top 14 wide receivers in the nation, with Burress at No. 5 and Scott at No. 14.
They rank among the top four returning players in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (Burress first at 84.4, Scott fourth at 70.3) and receptions per game (Burress second at 5.42, Scott fourth at 4.83). The two combined for 1,856 receiving yards last season ? the next-best returning pair on one team in the Big Ten, Purdue?s Randall Lane and Chris Daniels, combined for 1,413 yards.
SPARTAN AIR RAID ?
Michigan State has scored more touchdowns passing than running each of the last two years, a complete reversal from the previous eight seasons. MSU?s rushing and passing TD ratio for the last 10 seasons:
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 Rushing TDs/Passing TDs 14/21 18/21 27/15 21/11 20/11 25/9 24/4 10/7 35/4 37/9
COMEBACK KIDS ?
Amp Campbell isn?t the only Spartan starter making a return from injury this week against the same team he was facing when he suffered the injury. Junior OG Shaun Mason started the first two games of 1998 before suffering a season-ending injury (ACL/MCL right knee) in the second quarter at Oregon.
Also injured at Oregon was sophomore QB Ryan Van Dyke, who suffered a sprained left shoulder in that game. He enters Thursday?s game as backup to senior QB Bill Burke.
MSU?S EXPERIENCE IS ON THE LINE ?
Michigan State?s starting offensive linemen ? C Casey Jensen, RG Shaun Mason, LT Tupe Peko, RT Greg Robinson-Randall and LG Dave Sucura ? have combined for 48 career starts between them. That?s double the total number of career starts (24) that MSU?s offensive line had made prior to last year?s season-opener vs. Colorado State. In addition, junior college-transfer Peko is the lone first-time starter among this year?s group, while last year three offensive linemen made their first career starts in the opener.
SPARTAN SENIORITY ?
Michigan State has 10 seniors in its projected starting lineup (five on offense, five on defense). A year ago in its opener against Colorado State, MSU started just six seniors.
SECONDARY IS FIRST RATE ?
Three starters ? CB Amp Campbell, CB Renaldo Hill and S Aric Morris ? return from a secondary which helped Michigan State to the No. 10 pass defense in the nation last year. The Spartans finished with a 101.6 rating last year after finishing 16th in the nation in pass defense in ?97 (106.3). Michigan State allowed only 11 passing touchdowns in ?98, its lowest total since surrendering seven in ?94.
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 made a name for himself with some tremendous efforts in big games last season ? witness his 11 tackles vs. Ohio State (including an MSU single-game record seven for losses) and his interception return for a touchdown against Notre Dame. He finished the season with an MSU single-season-record 18 tackles for losses (tying Larry Bethea?s mark set in 1977). His 10 sacks in 1998 tied him for fifth on the MSU single-season chart.
GREAT SCOTT: THE RETURN MAN ?
With 600 career punt return yards, senior Gari Scott needs 21 more punt return yards to break the MSU career record, currently held by Derrick Mason (620 yards, 1993-96). He already owns the school single-season record for punt return yards (440), as he broke that 48-year-old record in just eight games last season.
In addition to being a top receiving threat, Scott ranked third in the Big Ten and No. 9 nationally in punt returns with his 13.8-yard average in 1998. His 13.8-yard return average ranked as the third-best single-season mark in Spartan history.
Scott also stands just 129 all-purpose yards shy of the 3,000-yard mark for his career. Scott enters the Oregon game with 2,871 career all-purpose yards (1,612 receiving, 659 kickoff return and 600 punt return).
THESE GUYS COULD BE SPECIAL ?
Michigan State?s kicking game is bolstered by the return of senior PK Paul Edinger and sophomore P Craig Jarrett. Both were second-team All-Big Ten selections in 1998.
Michigan State?s special teams as a unit are ranked sixth in the nation by Lindy?s on the strength of Edinger, Jarrett and kickoff/punt returner Gari Scott.
Edinger finished ?98 tied for first in the Big Ten and third nationally with 2.00 field goals per game while making an MSU record 84.6 percent of his attempts (22 of 26), good for second in the conference. His 94 points marked the most ever scored in a season by a Spartan kicker, and his 13 consecutive field goals late in the season established a new school record.
Jarrett stood second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally in punting average with 43.8 yards per kick ? just three one-hundredths of a yard behind the overall Big Ten leader. His average was the highest for an MSU punter since Greg Montgomery averaged 45.0 yards in 1987.
HERE?S THE KICKER ?
The Michigan State-Oregon game features two players who figure to contend for the Lou Groza Award as the nation?s top placekicker. Oregon?s Nathan Villegas is a returning finalist for the award, while MSU senior Paul Edinger had more field goals per game (2.00 to 1.82) than Villegas a year ago. Lindy?s ranks both among the nation?s top five kickers, with Villegas at No. 2 and Edinger at No. 5. The Sporting News has Villegas second and Edinger at No. 7.
COACHING CONNECTION ?
Michigan State assistant head coach and offensive line coach Golden Pat Ruel and Oregon tight ends/special teams coach Tom Osborne were on the same staff at Washington State for one year (1981). It was Ruel?s final season as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Cougars, while Osborne was beginning his coaching career as a student coach.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS ?
Most preseason publications have Michigan State picked for sixth in the Big Ten, including Athlon, Lindy?s, The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. Street & Smith?s gives MSU the nod over Purdue in the Big Ten and tabs the Spartans for fifth. National speculation has the Spartans ranging from 27th (The Sporting News) to 44th (Lindy?s).
A number of individual Spartans received preseason accolades as well:
Plaxico Burress (Jr., WR) Aric Morris (Sr., S) No. 4 WR nationally (The Sporting News) First-team All-Big Ten (Street & Smith?s) No. 5 WR nationally (Lindy?s) Second-team All-Big Ten (Sporting News) First-team All-Big Ten (The Sporting News, Football News, Lindy?s, Athlon) Julian Peterson (Sr., LB) Second-team All-Big Ten (Sporting News) Paul Edinger (Sr., PK) No. 5 PK nationally (Lindy?s) Gari Scott (Sr., WR) No. 7 PK nationally (The Sporting News) No. 4 KR nationally (Lindy?s) First-team All-Big Ten (Football News, Lindy?s, No. 14 WR nationally (Lindy?s) Athlon, Street & Smith?s) First-team All-Big Ten (Street & Smith?s) Second-team All-Big Ten (Lindy?s) Craig Jarrett (So., P) Third-team All-America (Athlon) Robaire Smith (Sr., DE) Second-team All-Big Ten (Lindy?s) Playboy All-American No. 11 DE nationally (Lindy?s) No. 16 DE nationally (The Sporting News) First-team All-Big Ten (Street & Smith?s, Lindy?s, Athlon)
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ?
Although Michigan State posted a .500 record in 1998 at 6-6, there were signs of improvement as the season progressed. Consider these stats:
? Over its last eight games, Michigan State averaged 30.5 points. The Spartans averaged only 23 points in their first four games while getting off to a 1-3 start.
? Michigan State?s defense allowed 21 points per game over the last eight contests. In the first four games of 1998, opponents put nearly 31 points per game on the scoreboard.
? Thanks largely to the rapid development of QB Bill Burke, Michigan State?s passing game kicked into high gear, with the Spartans averaging 288 yards through the air in the last eight games. By comparison, the Spartans averaged only 162 yards passing in the first four games. Burke closed out the season with four-straight games throwing for 200 or more yards.
? In the last eight games, Michigan State averaged 404 yards total offense. A youthful offensive unit struggled out of the gate, producing less than 320 total yards per game in the first four outings.
? Michigan State?s defense had an impressive late-season run, permitting an average of 335 total yards in its last eight games. That?s an improvement of 85 yards per game. Opponents averaged better than 420 yards per game in the first four contests.
Here?s a quick stat comparison between Michigan State?s first four games and its last eight contests in 1998:
Michigan State Opponents First 4 Games Last 8 Games First 4 Games Last 8 Games Total/Avg. Total/Avg. Total/Avg. Total/Avg. Scoring Offense 92/23.0 244/30.5 123/30.8 171/21.4 Rushing Offense 629/157.3 923/115.4 782/195.5 1280/160.0 Passing Offense 649/162.3 2305/288.1 901/225.3 1397/174.6 Total Offense 1278/319.5 3228/403.5 1683/420.8 2677/334.6
ALOHA MEANS HELLO ?
Michigan State (1997) and Oregon (1998) have each played in the Jeep Aloha Bowl once in the last two years.
A BIG LUG COMES BACK TO LANSING ?
Oregon starting MLB Matt Smith spent two years with the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team, which plays at Oldsmobile Park in downtown Lansing. Drafted 16th overall by the Kansas City Royals in 1994, Smith spent 1997 as an infielder with the Lugnuts, batting .278 in 62 games with four home runs and 33 RBI. He had 63 hits, including four doubles and three triples and scored 33 runs. He switched to pitcher in 1998 and compiled an 0-3 record and a 3.81 earned-run average in 26 innings with the Lugnuts. Smith struck out 19 while walking 14. He joined the Oregon football team just one week prior to the season opener and, while he did not play in that game against the Spartans last year, made his collegiate football debut three weeks into the season.
GROUND GAME PRODUCES WINS ?
During Nick Saban?s tenure, Michigan State has rushed the ball 50 times or more on 12 occasions with the Spartans sporting an 10-2 record in those games. Here?s a look at Michigan State?s 12 games with 50-plus rushes since 1995:
Date Opponent Att.-Yds. Result Sept. 16, 1995 @Louisville 56-216 W 30-7 Oct. 14, 1995 @Illinois 55-239 W 27-21 Sept. 28, 1996 Eastern Michigan 57-249 W 47-0 Oct. 5, 1996 @Iowa 52-236 L 30-37 Oct. 12, 1996 Illinois 52-205 W 42-14 Oct. 19, 1996 @Minnesota 56-243 W 27-9 Nov. 9, 1996 Indiana 64-257 W 38-15 Sept. 6, 1997 Western Michigan 52-150 W 42-10 Sept. 20, 1997 @Notre Dame 53-222 W 23-7 Nov. 8, 1997 @Purdue 50-200 L 21-22 Nov. 29, 1997 Penn State 58-452 W 49-14 Sept. 12, 1998 Notre Dame 53-242 W 45-23
MAGIC NUMBER 24 ?
Since 1990, Michigan State is 45-10-1 (.813) when it scores at least 24 points and 7-41-1 (.153) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that eight-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 52-51-2 (.505).
SPARTANS PREFER ARTIFICIAL TURF ?
Michigan State?s 28-24 victory at Ohio State Nov. 7, 1998, marked the Spartans? second win on natural grass since 1993. The Spartans are just 2-12-1 in their last 15 games played on natural grass. By contrast, Michigan State is 27-19 (.587) in its last 46 games on artificial turf.
FULL HOUSE ?
Michigan State fans purchased a record 60,857 season tickets for 1999, breaking the previous record of 60,145 set in 1997. The Spartans? last five home games of the season are already sold out, and a sellout is expected for the Oregon game.
LATE ADDITIONS ?
At the start of preseason camp, head coach Nick Saban announced that scholarships had been awarded to incoming freshmen Ziehl Kavanaght, Monquiz Wedlow and Travis Wilson. Some details on the trio:
? Kavanaght, a 5-11, 160-pound wide receiver, caught 50 passes for 1,250 yards and seven TDs in 1997 at Cegep du Vieux Montreal in Quebec.
? Wedlow, a 5-11, 185-pound defensive back, was a 1997 PrepStar All-American at Saginaw HS. He was a three-year starter at defensive back and quarterback and had 52 tackles and two interceptions as a senior.
? Wilson, a 6-2, 218-pound fullback, earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior at Howell HS. MSU?s backup fullback entering the Oregon game, he rushed for 490 yards (7.3 avg.) and recorded 53 tackles in 1998.
1998 OPPONENTS UPDATE ?
Date vs. MSU Opponent This Week Sept. 2 Oregon (0-0) Michigan State Sept. 11 Eastern Michigan (0-0) -- Sept. 18 at Notre Dame (0-0) Kansas (Aug. 28)/at Michigan (Sept. 4) Sept. 25 at Illinois (0-0) Arkansas State (Sept. 4) Oct. 2 Iowa (0-0) Nebraska (Sept. 4) Oct. 9 Michigan (0-0) Notre Dame (Sept. 4) Oct. 16 at Purdue (0-0) at Central Florida (Sept. 4) Oct. 23 at Wisconsin (0-0) Murray State (Sept. 4) Nov. 6 Ohio State (0-0) Miami (Fla.) (Aug. 29) Nov. 13 at Northwestern (0-0) Miami (Ohio) (Sept. 4) Nov. 20 Penn State (0-0) Arizona (Aug. 28)/Akron (Sept. 4)
SABAN'S RECORD BREAKDOWN (MSU and TOLEDO)?
All Games: 34-24-1 (.585) Home Games: 22-9 (.710) Road Games: 12-15-1 (.446) August Games: 1-1 (.500) September Games: 11-5-1 (.670) October Games: 13-7 (.650) November Games: 9-8 (.529) December Games: 0-3 (.000) Games decided by a TD or less: 9-10-1 (.475) Games decided by a FG or less: 2-6-1 (.278)
SPARTAN TRENDS ?
Here?s how Michigan State has fared this year and during Nick Saban?s tenure (1995-99):
1999 Under Saban Games played in Spartan Stadium: 0-0 17-8 Games played on the road/neutral site: 0-0 8-14-1August games: 0-0 1-1 September games: 0-0 7-5-1 October games: 0-0 10-6 November games: 0-0 7-7 December games: 0-0 0-3
Games decided by a TD or less: 0-0 6-8 Games decided by a FG or less: 0-0 2-5
When scoring first: 0-0 20-10-1 When opponent scores first: 0-0 5-12
When leading after first quarter: 0-0 19-5-1 When trailing after first quarter: 0-0 4-10 When tied after first quarter: 0-0 2-7 When leading at halftime: 0-0 23-8 When trailing at halftime: 0-0 2-13-1 When leading after three quarters: 0-0 22-3-1 When trailing after three quarters: 0-0 3-16 When tied after three quarters: 0-0 0-3
When gaining more first downs than opponent: 0-0 21-6 When gaining fewer first downs than opponent: 0-0 4-12-1 When gaining same first downs as opponent: 0-0 0-4
When gaining 200+ yards rushing: 0-0 17-3-1 When opponent gains 200+ yards rushing: 0-0 3-11-1 When an MSU player rushes for 100+ yards: 0-0 17-6-1 When an opponent rushes for 100+ yards: 0-0 9-12-1 When outrushing opponent: 0-0 21-5-1 When being outrushed by opponent: 0-0 4-17
When gaining 200+ yards passing: 0-0 15-12-1 When opponent gains 200+ yards passing: 0-0 8-12-1
When gaining more total yards than opponent: 0-0 23-6 When gaining fewer total yards than opponent: 0-0 2-16-1 When leading in time of possession: 0-0 17-12-1 When trailing in time of possession: 0-0 8-10
OFFENSIVE QUICK BIOS
2 ? HERB HAYGOOD ? FL ? third among Michigan State WRs in receiving yards (148) and fourth in receptions (12) in 1998 ? Green team?s offensive MVP in the spring game (eight catches, 83 yards, 1 TD)
4 ? PLAXICO BURRESS ? SE ? MSU?s leading receiver in 1998 with 65 catches for 1,013 yards and 8 TDs ? set MSU single-season record for receptions and shares the record for TD catches ? second-team All-Big Ten selection in ?98 (media, honorable mention by the coaches) ? a consensus preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection ? ranked among the nation?s top five WRs by The Sporting News (No. 4) and Lindy?s (No. 5)
7 ? LAVAILE RICHARDSON ? SE ? third among Michigan State WRs in receptions (13) and fourth in receiving yards (145) in 1998 ? caught at least one pass in nine games in ?98, including four grabs vs. Purdue and a TD catch vs. Ohio State to spark MSU?s comeback
16 ? BILL BURKE ? QB ? started all 12 games last year and set MSU record with 2,595 passing yards ? already among MSU career passing leaders in attempts (eighth at 454), completions (eighth at 243), completion percentage (seventh at .535), yards (eighth at 3,249) and TD passes (fourth at 26) ? threw for 200-plus yards in each of the last four games of ?98 ? the only MSU QB to string together more than four 200-yard passing games is Ed Smith, who had six in a row in 1978 ? MSU is 5-2 when he throws for 200-plus yards ? two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week ? his TD-INT ratio (19-10) last year was the best at MSU since Dave Yarema in 1985 (10-3)
22 ? SHAWN FOSTER ? TB ? should see some time at TB, along with Lloyd Clemons and Little John Flowers ? Lansing native and All-American at Sexton HS
23 ? LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS ? TB ? should see some time at TB, along with Lloyd Clemons and Shawn Foster ? gained 66 yards on eight carries last year
36 ? LLOYD CLEMONS ? TB ? slated as MSU?s starting TB ? was granted a sixth-year waiver by the NCAA and earned his undergraduate degree this summer ? was MSU?s second-leading rusher last year behind Sedrick Irvin with 364 yards on 73 carries (5.0 avg.) ? best game of the year came at Oregon, with 95 yards on 12 carries and a 28-yard TD
49 ? DAWAN MOSS ? FB ? a red-shirt freshman who figures to start at FB ? rushed for 780 yards (9.3 avg.) and 11 TDs as a senior at Cass Tech in Detroit
64 ? CASEY JENSEN ? C ? moved to center this year after playing both right and left guard in 1998 ? started every game in ?98 ? named Spartan Offensive Player of the Week at Oregon last year after grading out at 82 percent and playing right guard, left guard and center
70 ? DAVE SUCURA ? LG ? moves to left guard this year after starting every game at left tackle in 1998 ? shared MSU?s Danziger Award in ?98 with Aric Morris as the team?s top Detroit-area players
71 ? SHAUN MASON ? RG ? returns at right guard with 14 career starts ? started the first two games of ?98 before suffering a season-ending injury (ACL/MCL right knee) in the second quarter vs. Oregon
74 ? TUPE PEKO ? LT ? a JUCO All-American at Cerritos College, he has won the starting job at left tackle
76 ? GREG ROBINSON-RANDALL ? RT ? started the last 10 games of ?98 at right tackle
83 ? CHRIS BAKER ? TE ? returns after starting all 12 games last year at TE ? finished fourth on the ?98 team in receptions with 22 for 305 yards (13.9 avg.) and three TDs ? caught 20 passes (289 yards) over the last seven games after making only two catches (16) in the first five contests
84 ? BRAD RAINKO ? TE ? one-third of his career catches have been for TDs (three of 12)
85 ? IVORY McCOY ? TE ? had five catches for 38 yards in 1998 and figures to see time at TE this fall
86 ? GARI SCOTT ? FL ? needs 21 yards to set the MSU record for career punt return yardage currently held by Derrick Mason (620 yards) ? MSU?s second-leading receiver last year with 58 catches for 843 yards (14.5 avg.) and four TDs ? has at least one catch in each of last 24 games ? leads all MSU players with 26 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) ? co-captain along with Aric Morris
88 ? KYLE RANCE ? TE ? has eight career receptions for 100 yards ? played in 10 games last year and started the Aloha Bowl in 1997
DEFENSIVE QUICK BIOS
3 ? AMP CAMPBELL ? CB ? is making a courageous comeback from a cervic-spinal injury suffered last year at Oregon ? granted a sixth-year waiver by the NCAA and earned his undergraduate degree this summer ? presented the Biggie Munn Award last year as the team?s most inspirational player ? has 26 games (and 25 starts) under his belt ? has five career INTs, all as a junior in 1997 when he was a second-team All-Big Ten selection
5 ? LORENZO GUESS ? S ? should see some playing time at free safety after appearing in all 12 games last year ? plays guard for MSU?s Final Four basketball team
8 ? T.J. DUCKETT ? LB ? one of the nation?s most highly touted freshmen ? older brother, Tico, ranks as MSU?s second-leading all-time rusher (4,212 yards, 1989-92) ? could see action as a TB as well as LB
9 ? ARIC MORRIS ? S ? MSU?s leading tackler last season (76-51-127) and tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 10.6 per game ? enters his third year as MSU?s starting SS ? had seven double-figure-tackle games last year, including 17 each vs. Penn State and Ohio State ? honorable mention All-Big Ten pick (media) in ?98 ? had three INTs last year and has four for his career ? MSU?s co-captain, along with Gari Scott
15 ? RENALDO HILL ? CB ? 1998 ABC/BCS Online second-team All-American as selected by the announcers and crew ? WR Plaxico Burress calls him the best CB in the Big Ten ? led MSU with five INTs last year in his first season as a starter ? brother, Ray, is a former Spartan and current Miami Dolphin
25 ? MIKE AUSTIN ? LB ? an experienced senior with 23 career starts, second on the defense behind Amp Campbell (25) ? posted 49 tackles last year despite missing six games with a chip fracture in his left ankle ? started the first five games of 1998 and returned for the season finale ? ranked fourth on the team in tackles (76) as a sophomore in ?97
31 ? SHAWN WRIGHT ? LB ? back at LB after spending part of preseason camp at FB ? has played in every game of his career
32 ? RICHARD NEWSOME ? S ? heir apparent at free safety ? returned a blocked punt for a TD vs. Notre Dame last season
35 ? T.J. TURNER ? LB ? enters 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 ? second on the team in ?98 with 13 PBUs ? broke up a pass intended for David Boston in the end zone in the last 1:30 of the upset at Ohio State last year, one of Sports Illustrated?s ?Top 10 Plays of the Year?
50 ? JOSH THORNHILL ? LB ? second-team freshman All-America pick by The Sporting News in 1998 ? started the last six games of ?98
66 ? DESMOND THOMAS ? DT ? has 13 career starts, four career sacks and 12 career TFLs to his credit
75 ? NICK MYERS ? DE ? called by defensive coordinator Bill Miller the biggest pleasant surprise of preseason camp
80 ? JACE SAYLER ? DT ? moved to defensive tackle after starting every game at end in ?98 ? tied Robert Newkirk for team lead in tackles among defensive linemen in 1998 (26-35-61) ? missed start of preseason camp with mononucleosis
89 ? HUBERT THOMPSON ? DE ? makes his debut after red-shirting last year and sitting out freshman season due to academics ? Green team?s defensive MVP in 1999 spring game (3 TFLs, 2 sacks)
91 ? ROBAIRE SMITH ? DE ? a Playboy All-America pick ? preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick by Street & Smith?s, Lindy?s and Athlon ? already among MSU career leaders in sacks (sixth at 14) and TFLs (15th at 24) ? started first nine games in 1998 before breaking his right fibula vs. Ohio State ? second-team All-Big Ten in 1997
95 ? JOSH SHAW ? DT ? starts at left defensive tackle ? played all 12 games in ?98 as a true freshman
SPECIALISTS
1 ? PAUL EDINGER ? PK ? ranked among nation?s top 10 kickers by Lindy?s (No. 5) and The Sporting News (No. 7) ? second-team All-Big Ten selection in 1998, when he set an MSU record for field goal percentage (.846, 22 of 26) ? hit 8-of-9 attempts from 40-plus yards in ?98 ? twice had MSU-record five FGs in a game ? 14 of his 61 kickoffs were touchbacks in ?98 ? was MSU?s No. 1 punter in 1996 and ?97
12 ? CRAIG JARRETT ? P ? second-team All-Big Ten (media) in 1998 ? ranked second in Big Ten and 12th nationally in punting with his 43.8 average, the best MSU average since 1987 (Greg Montgomery) ? hit 20 punts 50-plus yards and had 17 downed inside the 20-yard line
