From The Press Box
9/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Quotes
Michigan State vs. Notre Dame
Spartan Stadium - Sept. 21, 2002
ATTENDANCE - 75,182, which is a season high. MSU has played before a sellout crowd in 30 of its last 35 home games, including the last 22 in a row.
SERIES - Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 42-23-1 after today's 21-17 Irish win. The winner of today's game received the Megaphone Trophy.
Since 1949, the winner of the Michigan State-Notre Dame game has been presented the Megaphone Trophy, sponsored jointly by the Detroit alumni clubs of both schools. The megaphone is printed half blue, with a gold ND monogram, and half white, with a green MSC.
With the win, the Fighting Irish snapped a five-game losing streak to the Spartans. The five-game winning streak was the longest in the series since the Spartans took eight-straight games from 1955-63.
ROGERS' WORLD - Junior split end Charles Rogers has caught at least one pass in 16 consecutive games. Rogers finished the day with seven catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns. It was his eighth straight 100-yard receiving game, adding to his MSU record.
The Saginaw, Mich., native moved into fifth place on MSU's career receiving yards chart with 2104 yards. Rogers entered the day in eighth place and passed Mark Ingram (1,944 yards; 1983-86), Eugene Byrd (2,082 yds; 1975-79) and Gari Scott (2,095 yds; 1996-99).
With his 38-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, Rogers tied the Big Ten Conference record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception. The Big Ten Conference record is 13 consecutive games with a touchdown reception, shared with Michigan's Desmond Howard (1990-91).
He also tied the NCAA record with at least one touchdown reception in his last 12 regular-season games. The NCAA record is also shared by Marshall's Randy Moss (1997), Pacific's Aaron Turner (1990-91) and Howard.
With his two touchdown receptions, Rogers moved into a tie for second place in the Michigan State record books for career touchdown receptions (20). Plaxico Burress (1998-99) and Andre Rison (1985-88) also have 20 career receiving touchdowns, while Kirk Gibson (1975-78) is the all-time leader with 24.
Rogers' 175 yards also marked the most ever by a Spartan receiver against the Irish. The previous high was 150 yards, established by Gene Washington in 1964.
SMOKER RALLIES FOR SOLID PERFORMANCE - Junior quarterback Jeff Smoker had a strong second half for the Spartans. After completing just 4-of-12 passes in the first half for 53 yards, Smoker completed 15 of his 22 second half attempts for 228 yards to finish the day 19-of-34 for 281 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Today's game marked the 12th-straight game in which Smoker has thrown at least two touchdown passes.
With 252 yards of total offense, Smoker moved into fifth place on the MSU career total offense chart with 4,750 yards, overtaking Jim Miller's (1990-93) 4,748 yards.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK -
* Today's loss ended a seven-game winning streak against AP Top 25 teams at Spartan Stadium.
* MSU finished with 53 yards on the ground. It marked MSU's third-straight game under 100 yards rushing.
* Clifford Dukes had his team-leading third sack of the season in the first quarter.
* Safety Thomas Wright started his team-leading 26th consecutive game today.
