No. 15 Spartans Continue Football Homestand, Entertain Rice

Sept. 6, 2002

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DATE: Sept. 7, 2002

SITE: Spartan Stadium (72,027), East Lansing, Mich.

KICKOFF:1:05 p.m. EDT

ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 72,027 (sold out)

LAST WEEK: No. 18 Michigan State defeated Eastern Michigan, 56-7; Rice lost to Houston, 24-10.

BROADCAST COVERAGE:Radio The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Larry Bielat, sideline reporter Bill Burke and broadcast host Will Tieman, will broadcast the game to 34 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard locally on flagship station WJIM (AM 1240, FM 97.5). Television None.

THE COACHES
Michigan State's Bobby Williams (Purdue 1982) is 14-11 (.560) in his third year as a college head coach. With MSU's 44-35 victory over No. 20 Fresno State in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic, Williams became the first head coach in Spartan football history to win his first two bowl games. He made his head coaching debut on Jan. 1, 2000, and led the Spartans to a last-second victory over No. 10 Florida, 37-34, 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 10-year tenure as running backs coach (1990-99), he tutored 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 seasons.

Rice's Ken Hatfield (Arkansas 1965) is 42-47-1 (.472) in his ninth season with the Owls and 155-109-4 (.586) in 24 years as a college head coach. Hatfield compiled a 32-13-1 record (.707) in four seasons at Clemson (1990-93). He produced a 55-17-1 mark (.760) in six seasons at Arkansas (1984-89), including six straight postseason bowl appearances and back-to-back Southwest Conference titles in 1988-89. Hatfield began his head coaching career at Air Force where he posted a 26-32-1 ledger (.449) in five years (1979-83).

MSU/RICE SERIES NOTES
Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Michigan State and Rice.

SPARTANS vs. WAC TEAMS
Michigan State has compiled a 5-0 record (1.000) against current members of the Western Athletic Conference (1-0 vs. Fresno State, 3-0 vs. Hawai'i and 1-0 vs. Southern Methodist), including a 2-0 mark in postseason bowl games. Here's a look at Michigan State's five games vs. WAC teams:

MSU/WAC COACHING CONNECTION
Michigan State defensive secondary coach Troy Douglas spent six years coaching in the Western Athletic Conference. Douglas worked for four seasons under Mike Cavan at SMU (1997-2000) where he coached the running backs his first year before taking over the defensive backs in 1998. He previously spent two years under Charlie Bailey at UTEP where he served as defensive backs coach in 1995 and running backs coach in '96.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME
Saturday's game marks the first visit by an opponent from Texas to Spartan Stadium since Sept. 27, 1969, when Michigan State defeated Southern Methodist, 23-15. Rice becomes the fifth Texas school to travel to East Lansing. Michigan State is 3-1 in home games played against Texas-based opponents.

LONE STAR SPARTANS
Michigan State's 2002 roster features two players from Texas, including second-year walk-on quarterback Amish Patel (Austin/Ranger College) and first-year walk-on offensive lineman Gary Elmore (Fort Worth/W.E. Boswell).

Spartan linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman is an El Paso native.

NATURAL GRASS RETURNS TO SPARTAN STADIUM
For the first time since 1968, Michigan State will play its home football games on natural grass in 2002. The new playing surface, planted in May of 2001 at MSU's Turfgrass Research Center, is comprised of a blend of nine varieties of Kentucky bluegrass.

The field is comprised of 4,800 plastic modules. The installation process took five working days, from June 10-14, 2002. An additional 1,200 spare modules are being held for replacement purposes.

The original switch from natural grass to artificial turf came in time for the 1969 season.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Michigan State's 12-game schedule features a school-record eight games in Spartan Stadium in 2002, including the first five contests. It marks only the second time in school history that the Spartans have 12 games scheduled during the regular season. In 1998, Michigan State played seven of its 12 regular-season games at home, posting a 5-2 record in Spartan Stadium.

SPARTANS OPEN 2002 CAMPAIGN WITH FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND
For the first time since 1918 and only the second time in school history, Michigan State opens the season with a five game homestand. The 1918 Aggies won four of five games out of the gate.

Michigan State played its longest homestand in 1949 six games from Oct. 1-Nov. 5. The Spartans opened the 1949 campaign at Michigan before playing their next six games in Macklin Field. Michigan State opened its six game homestand with five straight wins before losing to top-ranked Notre Dame, 34-21.

QUOTING BOBBY WILLIAMS
Eastern Michigan Recap: We took a lot of positives away from the season opener. Aside from getting the win, we were able to play a lot of guys (74 of 94 dressed). It's important to develop quality depth because the 12-game regular-season schedule is going to take its toll. We'll need many of these young players down the stretch.

I was really encouraged by the play of our entire offensive line. We played 13 offensive linemen and the second unit took a lot of reps. I was impressed because there wasn't a great deal of drop-off between the first and second units. The offense scored several times with the second-team line.

Minus T.J. Duckett, the big question mark heading into the season was our running game. Dawan Moss answered the question with a solid performance against Eastern Michigan. Dawan had never been the featured back in our offense before, but he proved he could carry the work load as the primary ball carrier. He made great decisions, got in and out of the hole, broke tackles and even showed the ability to run away from defenders.

We've gotten the season off to a good start but we still have a long way to go in order for this team to compete for a championship. Our special teams play needs to continue to improve. I was pleased with the production our return game generated but our kick-off coverage needs to improve as does our ball placement on kickoffs.

Defensively, our players adjusted well to all the different formations Eastern Michigan showed. The defense had several three-and-out series. The defense gave great effort and tackled well. The first-team defense didn't allow any big plays and that was a big plus."

Scouting Rice: Rice lost several key starters from last year's 8-4 team and it remains a dangerous ballclub. Rice is a well-coached, disciplined football team.

This is a potent offensive team. Last year, Rice ranked second in the NCAA in rushing offense (281.5 yards per game), behind Nebraska. Rice runs the option out of a three-back set and mixes in the play-action pass. The top five rushers from a year ago return in the Rice backfield. Kyle Herm has started the last 13 games at quarterback and does an excellent job of running the offense. Rice also has big-play potential at split end, in Marcus Battle and Gavin Boothe.

This spread-option offense will present a tremendous challenge for our defense. Rice will give us a lot of different looks, including some non-traditional offensive sets. A key certainly will be how well our defense adjusts to the different sets. We must play disciplined football and follow the assignments.

Defensively, Rice will move a lot to try and create bad plays. Defensive end Brandon Green will pose problems off the edge. Green is a strong, physical lineman, who runs and changes direction well. Justin Engler takes on and sheds blockers well and makes a ton of plays near the line of scrimmage. Antwan Shell is a big hitter and solid tackler in the defensive secondary. Shell also is one of Rice's most productive players on special teams."

Michigan State's 12-game schedule features a school-record eight games in Spartan Stadium.

INJURY REPORT
OUT: QB Aaron Alexander (broke fifth metatarsal in left foot in Aug. 10 practice; out six-to-eight weeks); TB Tyrell Dortch (broke right lower leg vs. Wisconsin in 2001; out indefinitely); LB Steve Kielp (bruised shoulder; out indefinitely); LB Seth Mitchell (knee inflammation; out two-to-three weeks); OG Joe Patrick (lower back; out indefinitely); FL Agim Shabaj (sprained knee vs. Eastern Michigan); SS Eric Smith (sprained MCL vs. Eastern Michigan; out indefinitely); TE Matt Walters (sprained ankle in Aug. 21 scrimmage). PROBABLE: CB Cedric Henry (strained groin).

THE LAST TIME OUT
MSU 56, Eastern Michigan 7: Jeff Smoker threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns while Dawan Moss rushed for a career-high 136 yards and two scores as No. 18 Michigan State opened the 2002 season with a 56-7 victory over Eastern Michigan. The Spartans jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Smoker's 19-yard TD strike to Charles Rogers with 8:27 left in the first quarter. Michigan State's offense came alive in the second quarter, scoring TDs on three straight possessions to build a 28-0 halftime advantage. Moss scored on a career-long 50-yard run down the far sidelines with 8:33 remaining in the second quarter. Smoker's 59-yard completion to Rogers set up his second TD pass, a 4-yard toss to Eric Knott with 5:45 to play in the first half. Smoker finished off a five-play, 76-yard drive with a 30-yard TD pass to Knott with 1:55 left before halftime. The Spartans broke the game open by scoring TDs on four of their first five drives in the second half. A 74-yard kickoff return by Jaren Hayes set up Moss' second TD run, a 5-yarder around right end with 14:17 remaining in the third quarter. Hayes capped a 13-play, 57-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge with 3:54 left in the third quarter. Back-up QB Damon Dowdell directed a six-play, 80-yard drive and his 24-yard TD toss to BJ Lovett early in the fourth quarter gave the Spartans a 49-0 lead. Ziehl Kavanaght's 24-yard punt return set up Michigan State's final score, a 38-yard TD romp by David Richard with 10:56 left in the game. Eastern Michigan put together a nine-play, 51-yard drive to avoid the shutout as Ime Akpan scored on a 1-yard dive with 6:02 to play. Michigan State's offense produced 31 first downs and 625 total yards, including 369 yards on the ground.

SPARTAN SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Michigan State coaching staff selected the following Scout Team Players of the Week for their contributions in practice prior to the Aug. 31 season opener vs. Eastern Michigan:

SMOKER REACHES 4,000-YARD PASSING MILESTONE
With his 38-yard completion to Charles Rogers in the second quarter of Michigan State's 2002 season opener vs. Eastern Michigan, Jeff Smoker became only the seventh quarterback in Spartan history to reach the 4,000-yard career passing milestone. Smoker completed 14-of-24 throws for 232 yards and three scores in MSU's 56-7 victory over the Eagles. It marked Smoker's eighth career 200-yard passing game, including his fifth in a row.

The Davey O'Brien Award candidate already ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in pass attempts (eighth with 483), pass completions (ninth with 283), completion percentage (sixth at .586), passing yards (sixth with 4,176) and touchdown passes (fourth with 30). The 6-foot-3, 219-pound junior from Manheim, Pa., has compiled an 11-7 record in 18 career starts.

In 2000, Smoker completed 166-of-262 throws (.634) for 2,579 yards and a Spartan single-season record 21 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he led the Big Ten in passing efficiency with his 166.4 rating the third-best single-season mark in league history and finished fourth in total offense, averaging 229.2 yards per game. Smoker ranked sixth in the NCAA with his 162.8 QB rating. He produced six 200-yard passing games in 2000, including a school-record three straight 300-yard efforts to close out the season.

ROGERS: A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY
With four catches for 138 yards (34.5 avg.) vs. Eastern Michigan, All-American Charles Rogers became the first receiver in Spartan history to post five straight 100-yard receiving games. Rogers broke the record previously held by Derrick Mason, who had four consecutive 100-yard receiving games in 1996. It also marked Rogers' seventh career 100-yard receiving game.

All four of his receptions against Eastern Michigan produced first downs, including his 19-yard touchdown grab from Jeff Smoker midway through the first quarter. Rogers' 59-yard reception from Smoker to the EMU 4 set up Michigan State's third first-half touchdown and his 22-yard catch preceded the Spartans' fourth first-half TD.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior from Saginaw, Mich., has caught at least one TD pass in each of his last 10 games.

MOSS MAKES HIS MARK AT TAILBACK
Fifth-year senior Dawan Moss, who moved from fullback to tailback following the early departure of T.J. Duckett to the National Football League, rushed for a career-high 136 yards (12 carries) and two touchdowns in Michigan State's 56-7 victory over Eastern Michigan in the 2002 season opener. It marked his first career 100-yard rushing game.

The 5-foot-10, 236-pound Moss scored on a career-long 50-yard run midway through the second quarter to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead. His 5-yard TD run in the opening minute of the third quarter extended the MSU lead to 35-0.

Moss gained more yards in the first half (110) vs. Eastern Michigan than he had in each of his first three seasons. He picked up 93 yards in 2001, 81 in 2000 and 91 in 1999.

FRESHMEN BACKS FUEL SPARTAN RUNNING GAME
Freshmen tailbacks David Richard (6-1, 230) and Jaren Hayes (5-9, 180) rushed for a combined 176 yards and two touchdowns in Michigan State's 56-7 victory over Eastern Michigan in the 2002 season opener.

Richard picked up 93 yards on 11 carries against the Eagles, including a 38-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. Hayes gained 83 yards on 10 rushes, including a 1-yard TD plunge late in the third quarter.

Michigan State's running attack produced 369 yards in the season opener vs. Eastern Michigan its highest single-game rushing total since amassing 452 yards on the ground vs. Penn State in the 1997 regular-season finale. First-year backs accounted for 233 rushing yards vs. EMU.

KNOTT A BAD TARGET
Despite the loss of second-team All-American Chris Baker, Michigan State's career record-holder for receptions by tight end with 133, the position appears to be in good hands.

Sophomore tight end Eric Knott caught a team-high six passes for 69 yards (11.5 avg.) and two touchdowns in MSU's 56-7 triumph over Eastern Michigan in the 2002 season opener. Knott scored on pass plays of 4 and 30 yards from Jeff Smoker in the second quarter as the Spartans put 21 points on the scoreboard en route to a 28-0 halftime lead. Three of his six catches resulted in first downs.

DAILY DELIVERS DEEP PUNTS IN DEBUT
In his debut as Michigan State's punter, Jason Daily averaged a modest 33.0 yards on four punts but had three of those kicks downed inside Eastern Michigan's 15-yard line. Daily's first career punt, a 38-yarder, pinned EMU back on its 2-yard line. His first three punts all dropped inside the Eagles 15 and his fourth attempt traveled 42 yards.

SPARTANS PICKED THIRD IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Michigan State has been picked to finish third in the 2002 Big Ten football race, behind Michigan and Ohio State, according to the conference's preseason poll released July 25. Spartan third-year head coach Bobby Williams welcomes back 16 returning starters from last year's 7-5 team, including eight on offense, seven on defense and one specialist.

Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers has been named preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by league media. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior rewrote the Spartan record book in 2001, setting school single-season records for receptions (67), receiving yards (1,470), touchdown receptions (14) and 100-yard receiving games (6). He became the first Spartan receiver to average at least 20.0 yards per catch (21.9 avg.) since Andre Rison in 1988. His 14 TD catches led the Big Ten and his 1,470 receiving yards marked the second-best single-season total in league history. A second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media last year, Rogers ranked among the conference leaders in receiving yards (second at 122.5 yards per game), receptions (fourth at 5.6 per game), scoring (tied for second at 8.0 points per game) and all-purpose yards (third at 138.7 ypg.).

Rogers, the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic Offensive MVP, caught 10 passes for a school-record 270 yards and two TDs in MSU's 44-35 victory over No. 20 Fresno State. He scored on pass plays of 72 and 69 yards from Jeff Smoker vs. Fresno State.

The Saginaw, Mich., native will attempt to become only the third player in Spartan history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors, joining running backs Lorenzo White (1985 and '87) and Tico Duckett (1990).

Charles Rogers had a fantastic sophomore year a real coming out season," Williams said. We have to continue to find ways to get the football in his hands and put him in a position to make plays. Charles is one of the few players around that can break open any given game because he can score from anywhere on the field.

Charles is excited about the upcoming season and he has great expectations for himself and this football team. He knows the bottom line is winning football games and he wants to help us take this program to the next level."

RED ZONE UPDATE
Michigan State has scored on all four of its possessions (1.000) that have penetrated the opponent's 20-yard line in 2002. The Spartans' scoring drives have produced four touchdowns (two rushing TDs and two passing TDs). Here's a look at MSU's and its opponents' trips inside the red zone" in 2002:

WALK-ONS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS
Michigan State head football coach Bobby Williams has awarded scholarships to three walk-ons for the 2002 season, including linebacker Richard Bryce (6-2, 218, Sr., East Lansing, Mich.), tight end Brian Dieckman (6-3, 240, Sr., Macomb, Mich.) and wide receiver Tim James (5-8, 171, Sr., Milan, Mich.).

PLAYING IN FRONT OF A FULL HOUSE
Michigan State has played before a sellout crowd in 27 of its last 32 home games, including the last 19 in a row. The Spartans have ranked among the NCAA's top 20 in attendance each of the last 46 years, including 19th in 2001, averaging 73,715 fans per game.

SPARTANS IN THE NFL
Michigan State has 18 former players listed on opening-day rosters for National Football League teams in 2002. Here's a complete list of Spartans currently playing in the NFL (opening-day rosters as of Sept. 5):

Michigan State's 2002 opponents have a combined record of 10-2 (.833). Note: Record doesn't include games played against MSU.

SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF
Spartan Stadium is in its 79th season as home to Michigan State football. Michigan State has compiled a 289-119-13 (.702) since taking up residency in Spartan Stadium in 1923. The Spartans have gone undefeated at home 16 times since the stadium opened, including a perfect 6-0 mark in 1999. It marked Michigan State's first undefeated home record since 1966 (5-0-1) and its first unbeaten and untied home slate since 1965 (5-0-0).

MAGIC NUMBER 24
Since 1990, Michigan State is 63-14-1 (.814) when it scores at least 24 points and 11-50-1 (.185) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that 13-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 74-64-2 (.536).

SPARTANS SET SEASON-TICKET SALES RECORD
Michigan State fans purchased an all-time record 61,990 football season tickets for 2001, according to totals released by the MSU Athletics Department. It marked the third-straight year Michigan State had established a football season-ticket sales record.

The previous record for season tickets sold was 61,479 in 2000. Michigan State football season-ticket sales have topped the 60,000 mark four of the last five years.