Michigan State University Athletics
Football Set To Host Eastern Michigan
9/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 1999
Coach Nick Saban Audio:
? Press Conf. Sept. 6
? Q&A Sept. 6
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MICHIGAN STATE (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
vs.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (0-0)
DATE: Sept. 11, 1999
SITE: Spartan Stadium (72,027), East Lansing, Mich.
KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 72,027 (sold out)
LAST WEEK: Michigan State defeated Oregon, 27-20, last Thursday Sept. 2. This is Eastern Michigan?s season opener.
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 ? There is no television coverage for the Michigan State-Eastern Michigan game.
THE COACHES ? Michigan State?s Nick Saban (Kent State ?73) is 26-22-1 (.541) entering his 50th game with the Spartans (five years) and 35-24-1 (.592) 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.
Eastern Michigan?s Rick Rasnick (San Jose State ?82) is 16-28 (.364) as he enters his fifth season as a college head coach, all with the Eagles. Rasnick spent four years (1991-94) as the offensive coordinator at Utah prior to joining Eastern Michigan. He also spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, San Jose State.
THE SERIES -
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads, 4-0
IN EAST LANSING: MSU leads, 3-0
LAST MEETING: MSU 47, EMU 0 (Sept. 28, 1996 in East Lansing)
FIRST MEETING: MSU 11, EMU (then Ypsilanti) 6 (Oct. 8, 1898 in East Lansing)
NICK SABAN vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN: 1-0
RICK RASNICK vs. MICHIGAN STATE: 0-1
CURRENT SERIES STREAK: 4 by MSU (1898-1996)
LONGEST MSU STREAK: 4 (1898-1996)
COMPLETE LIST OF SERIES SCORES:
1898 H W, 11-6 1898 H W, 24-6 1899 A W, 18-0 1996 H W, 47-0
TEAM COMPARISONS ?
Michigan State Eastern MichiganBasic Offense Pro Set MultipleBasic Defense 4-3 MultipleOff. Starters Returning 8 7Def. Starters Returning 7 7Specialists Returning 2 1
AVERAGE HEIGHTS & WEIGHTS (STARTERS) ?
Michigan State Eastern MichiganOff. Line & Tight End 6-5, 286 6-3, 279Off. Backs & WRs 6-2, 213 6-2, 203Def. Line 6-3, 281 6-3, 265Linebackers 6-3, 234 6-2, 221Defensive Backs 5-11, 193 5-11, 188
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
Eastern Michigan Offense: 3 seniors, 4 juniors, 4 sophomores, 0 freshmen
Eastern Michigan Defense: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 3 sophomores, 0 freshmen
STAT LEADERS ?
Michigan State (1999 statistics):
Rushing ? Lloyd Clemons (18 carries for 121 yards, 6.7 avg., 0 TD)
Passing ? Bill Burke (18 of 31 for 205 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving ? Gari Scott (6 catches for 107 yards, 17.8 avg., 2 TDs)
Tackles ? Aric Morris (19 tackles, 12 solos, 7 assists, 4 for losses, 1 PBU)
Eastern Michigan (1998 statistics):
Rushing ? Eric Powell (152 carries for 473 yards, 3.1 avg. 2 TDs)
Passing ? Walt Church (213 of 355 for 2650 yards, 13 TDs, 12 INTs)
Receiving ? Jermaine Sheffield (62 catches for 953 yards, 15.4 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles ? Donald McCall (128 tackles, 91 solos, 37 assists, 8 for losses)
STAT COMPARISON (1999 statistics for MSU, 1998 statistics for EMU) ?
Michigan State Eastern MichiganScoring 27.0 19.6First Downs 19 18.9Total Offense 364 362.3Rushing Yards 159 88.6 Passing Yards 205 273.6Time of Possession 30:11 29:35Third Down Conversions .420 .360Points Allowed 20.0 28.1Total Yards Allowed 371 390.5Rushing Yards Allowed 28 165.6Passing Yards Allowed 343 224.9
THE LAST MEETING ? Sept. 28, 1996 in East Lansing: Bill Burke made his first career start and led the Spartans to an impressive 47-0 victory, as Michigan State dominated the Eagles from the start. The Spartan defense posted the first shutout by a Spartan team since the season opener of 1989 (and still the only shutout since then). MSU piled up 247 offensive yards in the first half and scored on three straight possessions late in the second quarter to post a 34-0 lead at intermission. The Spartan defense gave up just 128 yards (25 on the ground), led by sophomore DE Courtney Ledyard?s seven tackles (6-1), including three sacks (-28 yards) and a forced fumble. Freshman TB Sedrick Irvin accounted for a pair of rushing TDs while posting his first career 100-yard game with 112 on 16 carries. Burke, a red-shirt freshman, connected on eight-of-22 attempts for 166 yards and two TDs. Burke?s first career TD pass was a 49-yarder to senior WR Nigea Carter late in the first quarter to give MSU a 17-0 lead. Another highlight was Derrick Mason?s school-record 137 punt return yards (six returns), including a 69-yard TD return in the second quarter.
THE LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE 27, OREGON 20 ? Michigan State battled back from a 17-7 third-quarter deficit to record a 27-20 victory over Oregon in both teams? season opener Sept. 2, 1999. The third night game in Spartan Stadium started well for the Ducks, as two A.J. Feeley TD passes and a Nathan Villegas field goal built a 17-7 lead with 9:30 remaining in the third quarter. MSU answered, however, and after the first of Paul Edinger?s two second-half field goals, tied the score on Gari Scott?s second TD catch of the game. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Amp Campbell recovered an Oregon fumble and returned it 85 yards for the game-winning TD. Oregon had four more possessions, but could manage only a field goal.
HEY, STRANGER ? Michigan State and Eastern Michigan meet for the second time in four years after not playing each other since 1899.
RECENT HOME RUNS AGAINST BIG MAC ? Michigan State is 3-0 against teams from the Mid-American Conference under head coach Nick Saban, including the 1996 victory over Eastern Michigan. The Spartans have outscored their opponents by an average of 42.3 to 5.7 in those three games (127 to 17 total). Saban?s teams against MAC foes:
Oct. 3, 1998 Central Michigan W, 38-7 Spartan StadiumSept. 6, 1997 Western Michigan W, 42-10 Spartan StadiumSept. 28, 1996 Eastern Michigan W, 47-0 Spartan Stadium
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE MAC ?
Michigan State is 21-5 (.808) all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference and carries a five-game winning streak against the conference. The last MAC victory over MSU was the 1992 season opener, a 24-20 Central Michigan victory on Sept. 12, 1992.
ON THE HAND ?
Michigan State is 4-3 against teams from the state of Michigan under head coach Nick Saban. The Spartans are 1-3 against Michigan and 1-0 against Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan in that time.
OUT OF THE BLOCKS ?
Michigan State has a chance to start the season 2-0 for the second time under head coach Nick Saban and just the second time in 15 years, since 1983. MSU started the season 5-0 in 1997.
SPARTANS OF THE WEEK ?
Offense: Lloyd Clemons (career-high 121 yards rushing on 18 carries)
Defense: Julian Peterson (career-high 11 tackles, including six tackles for loss, for 27 production points)
Special Teams: Gari Scott (115 returns yards, and set the MSU career record for punt return yards with 652)
AN ?A? FOR ARIC ?
Senior SS Aric Morris, Michigan State?s leading tackler in 1998 with 127 stops, made a career-high 19 tackles in the season opener against Oregon (12 solos, 7 assists, including four stops for losses). He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts, the first time he has ever captured that honor. It was just the 21st time that a Spartan recorded at least 19 tackles in a game and the first time since Ty Hallock recorded 21 against Minnesota in 1992. Morris?s previous best game was 17 tackles against Penn State in last year?s season finale.
INJURY REPORT ?
QUESTIONABLE: CB Cedric Henry (lower back injury in Aug. 23 scrimmage, DNP vs. Oregon). OUT: OL Brian Ottney (underwent surgery on right shoulder Sept. 3, out for the season), WR Josh Lenaburg (underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee Aug. 13, sidelined for four weeks).
MMM, MMM, GOOD ?
Senior CB Amp Campbell, nicknamed ?Soup? by his teammates, completed a storybook return to the field in dramatic fashion against Oregon, returning a fumble 85 yards for the game-winning TD. He also made four tackles and broke up a pair of passes, giving him the Michigan State record for career passes broken up (32), a mark he had previously shared with Ray Hill.
Campbell?s 85-yard fumble return was the fourth-longest turnover return in Spartan history and second-longest fumble return (Earl Morrall, 90 yards, vs. Purdue, 1955). It was his second defensive TD after returning an interception for a score vs. Western Michigan in 1997.
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. 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.
BURKE SHOOTS FOR SIX IN A ROW ?
Senior QB Bill Burke is just the second quarterback in Michigan State history to string together five games in a row with at least 200 yards passing. Against Eastern Michigan he shoots for six in a row, which would tie Ed Smith?s school record set in 1978.
Against Oregon, when Burke threw for 205 yards, MSU improved to 6-2 all-time when he surpasses the 200-yard mark.
BURKE EYES TD RECORD ?
Senior QB Bill Burke threw two TD passes against Oregon, giving him 28 for his career. That moved him into third on the MSU all-time list, past Todd Schultz. After throwing 19 TDs last year, Burke needs 16 more this season to set the school record, currently shared by Dave Yarema (1982-86) and Ed Smith (1976-78) with 43 career TDs each.
GREAT SCOTT ?
Senior WR Gari Scott broke the Michigan State record for career punt return yards against Oregon on his career-long 49-yard return in the third quarter. He finished the game with 52 punt return yards and now has 652 for his career, 32 more than the former record holder, Derrick Mason (620 from 1993-96).
Scott had a terrific all-purpose game against the Ducks, posting 222 all-purpose yards, good for second in the Big Ten this season. He had his fifth career 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 107 yards. His two TD catches equaled his career high, set Dec. 25, 1997, against Washington in the Aloha Bowl.
Scott also surpassed the 3,000-yard mark for all-purpose yards in his career last Thursday. With 1,719 yards receiving, 722 yards on kickoff returns and 652 yards on punt returns, Scott now has 3,093 all-purpose yards.
COACHING CONNECTIONS ?
Michigan State associate head coach/running backs coach Bobby Williams previously served as offensive backfield coach for five years at Eastern Michigan (1985-89). During that time, the Eagles won the 1987 Mid-American Conference title and defeated San Jose State in the California Raisin Bowl, 30-27. In addition, MSU linebackers coach Bill Sheridan was a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan (1984-85).
CLEMONS: DUCK HUNTER ?
Senior TB Lloyd Clemons made his first start for the Spartans an impressive one, carrying 18 times for 121 yards vs. Oregon. Michigan State had gone the last four games of 1998 without a 100-yard rusher. Clemons?s previous career-high was 95 yards rushing against Oregon in 1998, giving him 216 of his 496 career yards (43.5 percent) against the Ducks.
RAVING ABOUT RECEIVERS ?
Junior WR Plaxico Burress and senior WR Gari Scott combine to form one of the nation?s best receiving duos. In the opener against Oregon, the duo combined for 188 of MSU?s 205 receiving yards (91.7 percent) and 11 of 18 catches (61.1 percent), with Scott catching both of MSU?s TD passes.
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), 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.
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 trend which continued in the Oregon game and 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 0/2 14/21 18/21 27/15 21/11 20/11 25/9 24/4 10/7 35/4 37/9
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 53 career starts between them. That?s more than 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.
That experience showed in the opener, as the Spartan offensive line allowed just one sack. Last year, MSU gave up an average of 3.8 sacks per game. Mason had the best game of his career vs. Oregon, grading out at 89 percent overall (83 percent on running plays and 94 percent in pass-blocking assignments).
RUNNING ON EMPTY ?
A main goal in 1999 for the Spartans was to improve upon their run defense after finishing 10th in the Big Ten in that category a year ago (171.8 rushing yards allowed per game). Put a big checkmark next to that goal for the Oregon game. The Spartans allowed just 28 yards rushing on 29 carries, including -8 yards rushing in the second half. A year ago at Oregon, the Ducks ran for 307 yards against the Spartans.
The 28 yards rushing were the fewest allowed by the MSU defense since holding Northwestern to 6 yards rushing last Oct. 31. The -8 rushing yards allowed in the second half marked the best effort by a Spartan team in one half since holding Illinois to -21 yards rushing in the second half Nov. 21, 1992 (a 14-10 Illini victory, 71 games ago).
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 matched his career high with 11 tackles (five solos, six assists) against Oregon, second on the team. He had six tackles for loss (seven yards), one shy of the school record of seven which he set last year at Ohio State.
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 kick returner Gari Scott.
Edinger made both of his field goal attempts vs. Oregon, outdueling Duck PK Nathan Villegas, a Lou Groza Award finalist last season, who was two for three in field-goal attempts in the game. He 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.
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
NIGHT LIGHTS ?
With the win over Oregon Sept. 2, Michigan State improves to 3-0 in night games at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated Notre Dame a year ago at night and beat Southern Cal in the stadium?s first night game in 1987.
MAGIC NUMBER 24 ?
Since 1990, Michigan State is 46-10-1 (.816) when it scores at least 24 points and 7-41-1 (.153) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that nine-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 53-51-2 (.509).
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 28-19 (.596) in its last 47 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.
BIG TEN STAT LEADERS ?
Category Stat Avg. Big Ten Total Offense 364.0 6th Rushing Offense 159.0 6th Passing Offense 205.0 6th Scoring Offense 27.0 6th Total Defense 371.0 6th Rushing Defense 28.0 1st Passing Defense 343.0 11th Pass Efficiency Def 123.3 7th Scoring Defense 20.0 7th Turnover Margin +0 t-5th Net Punting 40.8 4th Punt Returns 26.0 2nd Kickoff Returns 21.0 t-5th
Category ? Individual Stat Avg. Big Ten Rushing Yards ? Clemons 121.0 4thPassing Efficiency ? Burke 128.5 10thPassing Yards ? Burke 205.0 4thTotal Offense ? Burke 200.0 5thReceptions ? Scott 6.00 t-3rdReceptions ? Burress 5.00 t-5thReceiving Yards ? Scott 107.0 4thReceiving Yards ? Burress 81.0 6thAll-Purpose Yards ? Scott 222.0 2ndScoring (Overall) ? Scott 12.0 t-3rdScoring (Kicking) ? Edinger 9.0 5thPunting ? Jarrett 42.3 5thPunt Returns ? Scott 26.0 2ndKickoff Returns ? Scott 21.0 5thField Goal Pct. ? Edinger 100.0 t-1stTackles ? Morris 1 9.0 1stTackles ? Peterson 11.0 5thTackle for Loss ? Peterson 6.0 1stTackle for Loss ? Morris 4.0 t-2ndInterceptions ? Hill 1.0 t-2nd
1999 OPPONENTS UPDATE ?
Date vs.MSU Opponent This Week Last Week Sept. 2 Oregon (0-1) Texas El-Paso L at MSU, 27-20Sept. 11 Eastern Michigan (0-0) at Michigan State ---Sept. 18 at Notre Dame (1-1) at Purdue L at Michigan, 26-22Sept. 25 at Illinois (1-0) San Diego State W vs. Arkansas St., 41-3Oct. 2 Iowa (0-1) at Iowa State L vs. Nebraska, 42-7Oct. 9 Michigan (1-0) Rice W vs. Notre Dame, 26-22Oct. 16 at Purdue (1-0) Notre Dame W at Central Fla., 47-13Oct. 23 at Wisconsin (1-0) Ball State W vs. Murray State, 49-10Nov. 6 Ohio State (0-1) UCLA ---Nov. 13 at Northwestern (0-1) TCU L vs. Miami (Ohio), 28-3Nov. 20 Penn State (2-0) Pittsburgh W vs. Akron, 70-24
SABAN'S RECORD BREAKDOWN (MSU and TOLEDO)?
All Games: 35-24-1 (.583)
Home Games: 23-9 (.719)
Road Games: 12-15-1 (.446)
August Games: 1-1 (.500)
September Games: 12-5-1 (.694)
October Games: 13-7 (.650)
November Games: 9-8 (.529)
December Games: 0-3 (.000)
Games decided by a TD or less: 10-10-1 (.500)
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 SabanGames played in Spartan Stadium: 1-0 18-8Games played on the road/neutral site 0-0 8-14-1
August games 0-0 1-1September games 1-0 8-5-1October games 0-0 10-6November games 0-0 7-7December games 0-0 0-3
Games decided by a TD or less 1-0 7-8Games decided by a FG or less 0-0 2-5
When scoring first: 0-0 20-10-1When opponent scores first: 1-0 6-12
When leading after first quarter: 0-0 19-5-1When trailing after first quarter: 0-0 4-10When tied after first quarter: 1-0 3-7When leading at halftime: 0-0 23-8When trailing at halftime: 1-0 3-13-1When leading after three quarters: 0-0 22-3-1When trailing after three quarters: 0-0 3-16When tied after three quarters: 1-0 1-3
When gaining more first downs than opponent: 0-0 21-6When gaining fewer first downs than opponent: 1-0 5-12-1When gaining same number of first downs as opponent: 0-0 0-4
When gaining 200+ yards rushing: 0-0 17-3-1When opponent gains 200+ yards rushing: 0-0 3-11-1When an MSU player rushes for 100+ yards: 1-0 18-6-1When an opponent rushes for 100+ yards: 0-0 9-12-1When outrushing opponent: 1-0 22-5-1When being outrushed by opponent: 0-0 4-17
When gaining 200+ yards passing: 1-0 16-12-1When opponent gains 200+ yards passing: 1-0 9-12-1
When gaining more total yards than opponent: 0-0 23-6When gaining fewer total yards than opponent: 1-0 3-16-1When leading in time of possession: 1-0 18-12-1When trailing in time of possession: 0-0 8-10
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS 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 MSU record 65 catches for 1,013 yards and record-tying 8 TDs
? had five catches for 81 yards in the opener
? second-team All-Big Ten selection in ?98 (media, honorable mention by the coaches)
? consensus preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick
? ranked No. 5 WR in nation by ESPN.com Sunday
? 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
? made his first career start vs. EMU in 1996 (a 47-0 MSU win in which he threw for 166 yards on eight-of-22 passing with two TDs)
? started all 12 games last year and set MSU record with 2,595 passing yards
? already among MSU career passing leaders in attempts (seventh at 485), completions (eighth at 261), completion percentage (seventh at .538), yards (eighth at 3,454) and TD passes (third at 28)
? needs 16 TD passes to set MSU career record, currently held by Dave Yarema and Ed Smith (43)
? has thrown for 200-plus yards in each of the last five games ? the only other 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 6-2 when he throws for 200-plus yards
? his TD-INT ratio (19-10) last year was the best at MSU since Dave Yarema in 1985 (10-3)
22 ? SHAWN FOSTER ? TB
? Lansing native and All-American at Sexton HS
23 ? LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS ? TB
? saw time at TB behind Lloyd Clemons in opener and ran for 54 yards on eight carries (6.75 avg.)
? gained 66 yards on eight carries last year
36 ? LLOYD CLEMONS ? TB
? gained 121 yards in his first game as MSU?s starting TB
? has gained 216 of his 496 career rushing yards vs. Oregon
? 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
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
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
? had a career-best 89 percent grade vs. Oregon, including 83 percent on running plays and 94 percent on passing plays
? 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 of ?98 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
? made his first career start vs. Oregon in a two-TE set with Chris Baker
? had five catches for 38 yards in 1998
86 ? GARI SCOTT ? FL
? set the MSU record for career punt return yardage (652 yards) vs. Oregon
? had six catches for 107 yards and two TDs in the opener and 222 all-purpose 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 25 games
? leads all MSU players with 27 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 PLAYER 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 last week on an 85-yard fumble return
? 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 27 games (and 26 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
? had career-high four tackles vs. Oregon after making five stops last year in all 12 games
? plays guard for MSU?s Final Four basketball team
8 ? T.J. DUCKETT ? LB/TB
? 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)
? made two solo tackles vs. Oregon and carried three times for 7 yards and two first downs
9 ? ARIC MORRIS ? SS
? this week?s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after making 19 tackles (12 solo) vs. Oregon, including four for losses
? MSU?s leading tackler last season (76-51-127)
? in 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
? hon. mention All-Big Ten pick (media) in ?98
? had three INTs last year, has four for his career
? MSU?s co-captain, along with Gari Scott
15 ? RENALDO HILL ? CB
? leads active Spartans with six career INTs, including one which clinched the win vs. Oregon
? 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
? 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 (26)
? 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
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 ? FS
? made second career start vs. Oregon and had career-high 10 tackles (six solos, four assists)
35 ? T.J. TURNER ? LB
? in his second year as starter at MIKE LB
? had double-figures in tackles in four of the last five games of 1998 and eight tackles vs. Oregon
37 ? CEDRIC HENRY ? CB
? missed the Oregon game and is questionable vs. EMU with a lower back injury
? second on the team in ?98 with 13 PBUs
50 ? JOSH THORNHILL ? LB
? leads Big Ten with three pass breakups
? second-team freshman All-America pick by The Sporting News in 1998
? started the last six games of ?98
66 ? DESMOND THOMAS ? DT
? started vs. Oregon and had his fifth career sack and 13th TFL
75 ? NICK MYERS ? DE
? called by defensive coordinator Bill Miller the biggest pleasant surprise of preseason camp
80 ? JACE SAYLER ? DT
? moved to DT 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 mono
89 ? HUBERT THOMPSON ? DE
? made his debut last week after red-shirting last year and sitting out freshman season due to academics
? had 2-3-5 tackles vs. Oregon and a sack
? Green team?s defensive MVP in 1999 spring game (3 TFLs, 2 sacks)
91 ? ROBAIRE SMITH ? DE
? 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 15) and TFLs (10th at 26)
? a Playboy All-America pick
? preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick by Street & Smith?s, Lindy?s and Athlon
? 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
? perfect 2-for-2 in FGs vs. Oregon
? ranked fourth among nation?s PKs Sunday by ESPN.com
? 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
? two of six KOs have been touchbacks in ?99
12 ? CRAIG JARRETT ? P
? second-team All-Big Ten (media) in 1998
? ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 42.3 punting average
? hit 20 punts 50-plus yards and had 17 downed inside the 20-yard line in 1998 (0 and 1 in ?99)
