Road Trip To Hawaii Ends Spartan Football Season

Nov. 29, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State is practicing past midnight and cranking up the heat in its indoor workout facility to get ready for a road trip to Hawaii.

The Spartans (5-6) finish their season against the Warriors (6-5) at 11:30 p.m. EST Saturday in Honolulu.

Hawaii, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, needs a win to be bowl-eligible. Michigan State, of the Big Ten Conference, already is eliminated from bowl consideration. But the Spartans can avoid a losing season with a win.

"We like the chance to finish the season with a better taste in our mouth," Spartan coach John L. Smith said Monday. "This is a chance to send our seniors out as winners, and to get our young guys excited about next season."

Smith is not happy about the Hawaii trip. It comes at an awkward time of year and cuts into valuable recruiting time.

But he's trying to stress the positive as the Spartans prepare for the 12-hour plane ride on Wednesday. Michigan State's indoor practice facility has been heated to nearly 80 degrees with high humidity. Workouts this week are from 11 p.m. to about 1 a.m.

"We're trying to get used to the time change, and that means staying up as late as possible," Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton said. "It's starting to affect me a little bit already."

Stanton and the Spartans have been searching for motivation ever since being eliminated from bowl contention with a 37-13 loss at Penn State on Nov. 20.

Hawaii has plenty of motivation with its bowl hopes on the line. The Warriors stayed in contention for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl with a 49-41 home victory over Northwestern last Saturday.

Hawaii has been inconsistent this season, but is much stronger at home than on the road.

The Warriors are 6-1 at Aloha Stadium, scoring an average of 43 points per game. Michigan State's suspect pass defense will be tested by Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang, the NCAA's career leader in yards passing and total offense.

Chad Owens scored five touchdowns last week for Hawaii, including one on a 76-yard punt return.

But Hawaii has been vulnerable on defense, allowing 38.27 points a game -- 112th out of 117 Division I-A teams. The Warriors rank last in the nation in rushing defense, giving up 258.45 yards per game.

That should work in Michigan State's favor. The Spartan rushing attack is rated 14th in the nation at 235.82 yards per game.

Four Michigan State players average more than 50 yards a game on the ground, led by Stanton.

Running backs Jason Teague, Jehuu Caulrick and DeAndra Cobb each have had 100-yard rushing days this season.

By TIM MARTIN, The Associated Press