Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Football Battles No. 13 Iowa In Big Ten Opener
9/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2003
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DATE: Sept. 27, 2003
SITE: Spartan Stadium (72,027/natural grass)
KICKOFF: 12:10 p.m. EDT
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 72,027 (sellout expected)
LAST WEEK: Michigan State won at No. 23 Notre Dame, 22-16; No. 18 Iowa defeated No. 16 Arizona State, 21-2.
BROADCAST COVERAGE:Radio - The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Bill Burke, sideline reporter Will Tieman and broadcast host Mike Kamin, 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 - ESPN Plus will televise the Michigan State-Iowa game live on a regional basis, with Craig Coshun handling the play-by-play and Kelly Stouffer providing color commentary.
2003 SCHEDULES & SCOREBOARDS -
MICHIGAN STATE (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date Opponent Time/ResultAug. 30 WESTERN MICHIGAN (ESPN Plus) W, 26-21Sept. 6 RUTGERS (ESPN Plus) W, 44-28Sept. 13 LOUISIANA TECH (ESPN Plus) L, 19-20Sept. 20 at Notre Dame (NBC) W, 22-16Sept. 27 IOWA (ESPN Plus) 12:10 p.m. EDTOct. 4 INDIANA (ESPN Plus) 12:00 p.m. EDTOct. 11 at Illinois TBAOct. 18 at Minnesota TBANov. 1 MICHIGAN TBANov. 8 at Ohio State TBANov. 15 at Wisconsin TBANov. 22 PENN STATE TBA
IOWA (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date Opponent Time/ResultAug. 30 MIAMI (OHIO) W, 21-3Sept. 6 BUFFALO W, 56-7Sept. 13 at Iowa State W, 40-21Sept. 20 ARIZONA STATE W, 21-2Sept. 27 at Michigan State 11:10 a.m. CDTOct. 4 MICHIGAN 2:35 p.m. CDTOct. 18 at Ohio State 2:35 p.m. CDTOct. 25 PENN STATE 1:05 p.m. CDTNov. 1 ILLINOIS 1:05 p.m. CSTNov. 8 at Purdue 1:05 p.m. CSTNov. 15 MINNESOTA 1:05 p.m. CSTNov. 22 at Wisconsin 1:05 p.m. CST
THE COACHES -
Michigan State's John L. Smith (Weber State 1971) is 3-1 (.750) in his first year with the Spartans and 113-61 (.649) in 15 seasons as a college head coach. He ranks No. 13 among active NCAA I-A football coaches with 113 career wins. Smith came to Michigan State following five seasons at Louisville (1998-2002) where he put together a 41-21 worksheet (.661), including five-straight bowl appearances and back-to-back C-USA titles in 2000-01. He posted a 16-18 ledger (.471) in three seasons at Utah State (1995-97) while leading the Aggies to consecutive Big West Conference crowns in 1996-97. His six-year mark of 53-21 (.716) at Idaho (1989-94) included five NCAA I-AA playoff appearances and five Top 20 finishes.
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (Connecticut 1978) is 26-26 (.500) in his fifth year with the Hawkeyes and 38-47 (.447) in eight seasons as a college head coach. Ferentz came to Iowa following six seasons as offensive line coach for the National Football League's Cleveland 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 coach under Hayden Fry (1981-89).
STAT LEADERS -
Michigan State (after four games):
Rushing - Jaren Hayes (68 carries for 338 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TDs)
Passing - Jeff Smoker (67 of 112 for 932 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs)
Receiving - Agim Shabaj (20 catches for 314 yards, 15.7 avg., 3 TDs)
Tackles - Ronald Stanley (35 tackles, 21 solos, 14 assists, 4 for losses)
Iowa (after four games):
Rushing - Fred Russell (87 carries for 494 yards, 5.7 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing - Nathan Chandler (42 of 67 for 468 yards, 8 TD2, 1 INT)
Receiving - Maurice Brown (14 catches for 212 yards, 15.1 avg., 3 TDs)
Tackles - Chad Greenway (51 tackles, 31 solos, 20 assists)
STAT COMPARISON -
Michigan State IowaScoring 27.8 34.5 First Downs 18.8 18.5 Total Offense 391.8 338.2 Rushing Yards 145.2 212.0 Passing Yards 246.5 126.2 Time of Possession 29:51 28:18 Third Down Conversions .313 .396 Points Allowed 21.2 8.2 Total Offense Allowed 350.5 290.8 Rushing Yards Allowed 41.2 94.0 Passing Yards Allowed 309.2 196.8
THE LAST MEETING -
Oct. 12, 2002, in Iowa City, Iowa: Brad Banks threw for 154 yards, including two scoring strikes to C.J. Jones, to lead No. 17 Iowa to a 44-16 victory over Michigan State in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa parlayed five Spartan turnovers into 20 points. Michigan State scored a touchdown on its first series for the first time in 2002 as Dawan Moss capped the 12-play, 54-yard drive with a 2-yard run up the middle with 7:38 left in the first quarter. The Spartans' lead lasted only 17 seconds as Jermelle Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to tie the game at 7. Bob Sanders intercepted a pass at the Iowa 46 to set up the Hawkeyes' go-ahead score, a 36-yard field goal from Nate Kaeding with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter. Two minutes later, Iowa extended its lead to 17-7 as Derek Pagel returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. The Hawkeyes built a 24-7 lead thanks to Banks' 62-yard bomb to Jones with 6:22 left in the second quarter. Kaeding's 43-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the first half sent Iowa to the locker room with a 27-7 lead. Michigan State's first possession of the third quarter ended in a fumble as Iowa's Jonathan Babineaux stripped the ball from Jeff Smoker and Fred Barr recovered at the Spartan 21. Four plays later, Fred Russell scored on a 9-yard run off left tackle as Iowa moved out to a 34-7 advantage with 11:54 left in the third quarter. Damon Dowdell fumbled on MSU's next series and Iowa's Colin Cole recovered at the Spartan 24. The Spartan defense held and the Hawkeyes settled for a 28-yard field goal from Kaeding with 8:50 to play in the third quarter. Iowa pushed its lead to 44-7 as Banks again hooked up with Jones, this time for a 25-yard scoring play, with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter. Michigan State's scoring drought ended midway through the fourth quarter as a nine-play, 52-yard drive resulted in Smoker's 20-yard TD strike to BJ Lovett. The Spartans' final points came with 2:11 on the clock when Iowa punter David Bradley deliberately took a safety by running out of the end zone. Michigan State's defense held Iowa to 284 total yards - 184 yards below the Hawkeyes' season average. Iowa's defense halted Charles Rogers' streak of consecutive games with at least one TD reception at 13 regular-season games and 14 overall.
BIG TEN/NCAA STAT LEADERS -
Here's a glance at how Michigan State ranks among the Big Ten and NCAA stat leaders in 2003:
Category Stat Avg. Big Ten NCAARushing Offense 145.2 8th 70thPassing Offense 246.5 4th t-44thTotal Offense 391.8 7th 56thScoring Offense 27.8 7th 55thRushing Defense 41.2 2nd 3rdPassing Defense 309.2 11th 113thPass Efficiency Defense 112.0 8th 50thTotal Defense 350.5 9th 57thScoring Defense 21.2 8th 54thTurnover Margin +1.0 2nd t-24thNet Punting 41.5 1st 12thPunt Returns 7.7 7th 79thKickoff Returns 25.8 3rd 23rd
NCAA Stat Leaders -
Here's a glance at how Michigan State ranks among the NCAA stat leaders in 2003:
Team Statistics
Rushing Offense: 70th at 145.2 yards per game
Passing Offense: t-44th at 246.5 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: 51st at 131.7 rating
Total Offense: 56th at 391.8 yards per game
Scoring Offense: 55th at 27.8 points per game
Rushing Defense: 3rd at 41.2 yards per game
Passing Defense: 113th at 309.2 yards per game
Pass Efficiency Defense: 50th at 112.0 rating
Total Defense: 57th at 350.5 yards per game
Scoring Defense: 54th at 21.2 points per game
Turnover Margin: t-24th at +1.0 turnovers per game
Net Punting: 12th at 41.5 yards per punt
Punt Returns: 79th at 7.7 yards per return
Kickoff Returns: 23rd at 25.8 yards per return
Individual Statistics (Top 50)
Rushing: Jaren Hayes (41st at 84.5 yards per game)
Passing Efficiency: Jeff Smoker (40th at 138.5 rating)
Total Offense: Jeff Smoker (t-38th at 232.2 yards per game)
Receiving Yards: Agim Shabaj (t-48th at 78.5 yards per game)
Interceptions: Darren Barnett and Mike Labinjo (t-37th at 0.5 interceptions per game)
Punting: Brandon Fields (6th at 46.8 yards per punt)
Kickoff Returns: DeAndra Cobb (11th at 30.3 yards per return)
Field Goals: Dave Rayner (2nd at 3.0 made per game)
Scoring: Dave Rayner (11th at 11.3 points per game)
All-Purpose Yards: Jaren Hayes (41st at 127.5 yards per game)
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES -
After four games in 2003, Michigan State ranks among the Big Ten (second) and NCAA (third) leaders in rushing defense, allowing only 41.2 yards per game. Opposing ball carriers are averaging only 1.4 yards per rush.
Last week, Notre Dame became the first team to reach the century mark, gaining 100 yards on 37 rushes.
The Spartans held each of their first three opponents under 100 yards rushing. It marked the first time Michigan State's defense put together that kind of streak since 1999, when the Spartans yielded less than 100 yards rushing in four-straight games (Illinois 42 yards, Iowa 7, Michigan 6 and Purdue 59). The Spartans surrendered 61 yards on 19 carries vs. Louisiana Tech. Michigan State held Rutgers to minus 2 yards rushing (36 attempts). It marked the Spartans' best defensive effort since limiting Purdue to minus 18 yards on 14 rushes on Nov. 7, 1987. In the second half, Rutgers lost 23 yards on 15 carries. In the 2003 season opener vs. Western Michigan, the Spartans permitted only 6 yards rushing on 24 carries.
By contrast, Michigan State ranked ninth in the Big Ten and No. 110 nationally (out of 117) in rushing defense in 2002, permitting 213.8 yards per game. Last year, opponents gained 2,566 yards on the ground against the Spartans, the fourth-highest total allowed in school history.
SURPRISE: SPARTANS LEAD BIG TEN IN SACKS -
Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten and third in the nation in rushing defense (41.2 yards allowed per game), thanks largely to its relentless pass rush. Through four games in 2003, the Spartans have produced a Big Ten-best 17 sacks for 120 yards. By comparison, Michigan State finished ninth in the league in sacks in 2002, compiling only 19 (113 yards).
The Spartans recorded three sacks each vs. Notre Dame (18 yards) and Louisiana Tech (18). Michigan State produced five sacks for 39 yards vs. Rutgers, including two (18 yards) by senior defensive end Greg Taplin. The Spartans sacked Western Michigan's Chad Munson six times for 45 yards in the 2003 season opener, including four (28 yards) by junior defensive tackle Matthias Askew. He equaled the second-best single-game sack total in Spartan history, falling just one short of the record held by Travis Davis (five for 37 yards vs. Ohio State, 1987). In 22 previous games, the 6-foot-6, 294-pound Askew had produced only one sack (4 yards).
SMOKER REWRITING SPARTAN RECORD BOOK -
Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker ranks among the Big Ten leaders in total offense (third at 232.2 yards per game), passing (fourth at 233.0 yards) and passing efficiency (fourth with 138.5 rating).
Last week, Smoker recorded his third win in four career starts vs. Notre Dame, hitting 13-of-27 passes for 119 yards in a 22-16 victory.
He completed 12-of-19 throws for 138 yards vs. Louisiana Tech before leaving the game midway through the second quarter with a toe injury.
He hit 21-of-32 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 44-28 win over Rutgers. It marked Smoker's second straight 300-yard passing game and the sixth of his career. He equaled his career high with three TD passes vs. Rutgers, including scoring strikes of 51 and 27 yards to Jaren Hayes and 62 yards to Agim Shabaj - all in the first half. His three TD tosses brought his career total to 46, tying the school record held by Bill Burke (1996-99).
Smoker completed 21-of-34 throws for 324 yards and three scores to lead Michigan State to a 26-21 victory over Western Michigan in the 2003 season opener. His three touchdown passes matched his career best, throwing scoring tosses of 50 and 21 yards to Shabaj and 59 yards to Kyle Brown in the first half. It marked Smoker's first start in a Spartan uniform since being suspended for the final five games of the 2002 season after admitting a substance abuse problem.
In the 2003 season opener, Smoker became MSU's career leader in total offense and passing yards. With his 59-yard TD strike to Brown in the second quarter vs. Western Michigan, he broke the record previously held by Ed Smith, who produced 5,556 total yards from 1976-78. With his 53-yard completion to Aaron Alexander on the first play of the fourth quarter against the Broncos, Smoker shattered the passing mark previously held by Dave Yarema, who threw for 5,809 yards from 1982-86.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Smoker already ranks as MSU's all-time leader in total offense (6,364 yards) and passing yards (6,475). The Manheim, Pa., native also is listed among MSU's career leaders in pass completions (third with 450), pass attempts (second with 774) and completion percentage (seventh at .581). Smoker, who has 15 career 200-yard passing games, has compiled a 16-12 record (.571) in 28 career starts.
SHABAJ BECOMES KEY WEAPON IN SPARTAN OFFENSIVE PLAYBOOK -
Sophomore wide receiver Agim Shabaj leads the team in receptions with 20 for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Shabaj ranks fifth in the Big Ten in catches (5.0 per game) and receiving yards (78.5 per game).
He has paced the Spartans in receptions in three of the first four games, including six grabs for 69 yards vs. Louisiana Tech.
The 5-foot-10, 194-pound Shabaj posted the first 100-yard receiving game of his career vs. Rutgers, setting career bests with seven catches for 145 yards (20.7 avg.). Against the Scarlet Knights, he scored his third TD of the season on a 62-yard strike from Jeff Smoker in the first quarter.
Shabaj had six receptions for 89 yards in the 2003 season opener vs. Western Michigan, including TD grabs of 50 and 21 yards from Smoker.
The Farmington Hills, Mich., native appeared in only six games as a true freshman in 2002 and managed six catches for 45 yards.
HAYES SHOWCASES ALL-PURPOSE SKILLS -
Sophomore Jaren Hayes leads the Spartans in rushing (338 yards on 68 carries) and all-purpose yards (510; sixth in the Big Ten at 127.5 yards per game). The 5-foot-9, 184-pound running back also has emerged as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, with 13 receptions for 172 yards (13.2 avg.) and two scores.
Hayes recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing game vs. Notre Dame, picking up 109 yards on 19 carries. His 71-yard touchdown run with 5:25 left in the third quarter against the Irish gave the Spartans the lead for good at 13-6.
He accounted for a career-high 198 all-purpose yards vs. Louisiana Tech. Hayes posted personal bests against the Bulldogs, with 140 yards on 30 attempts. Hayes scored Michigan State's first rushing touchdown of the 2003 season in the first quarter vs. Louisiana Tech, a 2-yard run off left tackle. He also had five catches for 58 yards.
He set career highs with six receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns in Michigan State's 44-28 victory over Rutgers. It marked the most productive receiving game by a Spartan back since Scott Greene had eight catches for 93 yards vs. Penn State in 1994.
Hayes caught his first career TD pass in the first quarter vs. Rutgers, scoring on a 51-yard completion from Jeff Smoker on a wheel route. He also turned a screen pass from Smoker into a 27-yard scoring play in the second quarter as the Spartans took the lead for good at 28-21 over the Scarlet Knights.
In 12 games as a true freshman in 2002, Hayes had only four catches for 16 yards.
FIELDS AGAIN EARNS BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS -
Red-shirt freshman Brandon Fields ranks second in the Big Ten and No. 6 nationally in punting with his 46.8-yard average. Fields has hit seven punts 50 or more yards and had nine kicks downed inside the opponent's 20.
The 6-foot-5, 219-pound Fields has earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in 2003 (vs. Notre Dame and Rutgers). He averaged 53.8 yards on five punts vs. Notre Dame, including three kicks downed inside the Irish 20. Fields produced the fifth longest punt in Spartan history vs. Notre Dame, a 79-yarder in the second quarter.
He averaged 52.3 yards on six punts vs. Rutgers, including a 74-yarder in the second quarter. The Toledo, Ohio, native also pinned the Scarlet Knights back inside their 20-yard line three times.
PLAYING IN FRONT OF A FULL HOUSE -
Michigan State has played before a sellout crowd in 37 of its last 42 home games, including the last 29 in a row. The Spartans have ranked among the NCAA's top 20 in attendance each of the last 47 years, including 19th in 2002, averaging 73,942 fans per game.
SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF -
Spartan Stadium is in its 80th season as home to Michigan State football. Michigan State has compiled a 293-125-13 (.695) 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 68-16-1 (.806) when it scores at least 24 points and 12-57-1 (.179) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that 14-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 80-73-2 (.523).
