Michigan State University Athletics
No. 25 Spartans Face Road Test At Iowa
10/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2000
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DATE: Oct. 7, 2000
SITE: Kinnick Stadium (70,397), Iowa City, Iowa
KICKOFF: 12:10 p.m. EDT
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 62,000
LAST WEEK: No. 18 Michigan State lost to Northwestern, 37-17, in Spartan Stadium, Iowa lost at Indiana, 45-33.
BROADCAST COVERAGE: Radio - The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Larry Bielat, sideline reporter Will Tieman and broadcast host Matt Dery, will broadcast the game to 39 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard locally on flagship station WJIM (AM 1240, FM 97.5). Television - ESPN Regional will televise the Michigan State-Iowa game live with Wayne Larrivee, Randy Wright and Jim Barbar calling the action.
THE COACHES - Michigan State's Bobby Williams (Purdue 1982) is 4-1 (.800) in his first full season as a college head coach. Williams, who served as the Spartans' running backs coach for 10 years (1990-99), made his head coaching debut on Jan. 1, 2000, as he led Michigan State to a 37-34 victory over No. 10 Florida in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Spartans finished the 1999 season with a 10-2 overall record and ranked No. 7 in the final polls. During his tenure at Michigan State, Williams coached seven 1,000-yard rushers including Sedrick Irvin, who in 1998 became the first Spartan in school history to reach the rushing milestone in each of his first three sea-sons.
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (Connecticut 1978) is 1-15 (.063) in his second year with the Hawkeyes and 13-36 (.265) in five sea-sons as a college head coach. Ferentz came to Iowa follow-ing six seasons as offensive line coach for the NFL's Cleve-land Browns/Baltimore Ravens (1993-98). He compiled a 12-21 record (.364) in three seasons as head coach at Maine (1990-92). Ferentz previously spent nine years at Iowa as offensive line under Hayden Fry (1981-89).
MICHIGAN STATE-IOWA
SERIES BREAKDOWN
SERIES RECORD: Iowa leads 16-15-2
IN IOWA CITY: Series tied 8-8-1
FIRST MEETING: MSU 21, Iowa 7 (Sept. 26, 1953)
LAST MEETING: MSU 49, Iowa 3 (Oct. 2, 1999)
LAST IOWA WIN: Iowa 37, MSU 30 (Oct. 5, 1996)
BOBBY WILLIAMS vs. IOWA: First Meeting
KIRK FERENTZ vs. MSU: 0-1
CURRENT SERIES STREAK: 1 by MSU (1999)
LONGEST MSU STREAK: 3 (1973-75)
LONGEST IOWA STREAK: 5 (1979-83)
MSU/IOWA SERIES NOTES -
Iowa leads it 16-15-2, including an 8-8-1 record in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won three of the last four and four of the last six meetings. Michigan State's last win in Kinnick Stadium came on Oct. 7, 1989, 17-14.
THE LAST MEETING -
Michigan State scored on its first possession for the first time in 1999 and dominated from the outset, defeating Iowa, 49-3, in Spartan Stadium on Oct. 2. Each of Michigan State's first five drives resulted in touchdowns, including three scores by Plaxico Burress, as he tied the school record for TD catches in a game. Bill Burke tied the school record for TD passes in a game with four before he left the game in the second quarter with a 28-0 lead. Back-up QB Ryan Van Dyke built on the lead with two TD passes of his own, as the Spartans set a school record with six TD throws total.
An 86-yard kickoff return to start the second half marked the only time that Iowa penetrated the MSU 40-yard line, and it set up a field goal to spoil the shutout bid. The Spartan defense was brilliant, allowing only 107 total yards, including only 7 yards on the ground, and giving up only one first down in the first half (on Iowa's first play from scrimmage). Cedric Henry finished the scoring with a 70-yard punt return on his first career runback.
MSU/IOWA COACHING CONNECTIONS -
* Iowa defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Norm Parker spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Michigan State under George Perles (1983-94). During his tenure at Michigan State, Parker coached outside linebackers and served as defensive coordinator for six years (1988-93).
* Iowa defensive backs coach Phil Parker, a 1986 Michigan State graduate, was a four-year letterman and three-time first-team All-Big Ten defensive back for the Spartans from 1982-85. Parker was named MVP of the 1984 Cherry Bowl and also helped lead the Spartans to a trip to the 1985 All-American Bowl. He later served as a graduate assistant under George Perles for the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team. Parker still ranks third among MSU's career leaders in interceptions with 16.
