Rushing Attack Key To MSU-Michigan Contest

Nov. 1, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - With more than a century's worth of statistics to dissect, there's no shortage of trends in the Michigan-Michigan State football rivalry.

One of the most pronounced in recent years is the running game. Whichever team rushes the ball best has won 35 of the last 37 games.

And both the No. 15 Wolverines (7-2, 5-0 Big Ten) and Spartans (5-4, 1-4) have productive ground games this season as they prepare for their 100th meeting Saturday in East Lansing.

Michigan senior Mike Hart leads the Big Ten in rushing at 154 yards per game. The Spartans expect him to be back in the lineup for the Wolverines on Saturday after missing two games because of an apparent ankle injury.

Michigan State junior Javon Ringer is third in the Big Ten at 120 yards per game. His teammate, senior Jehuu Caulcrick, ranks 10th at 61 yards per game.

Caulcrick and Hart are both from outstate New York, played against each other in high school and stay in touch regularly.

Hart is a workhorse who averages nearly 29 carries a game this season, by far the most in the conference.

"He's the heart and soul of their team," Caulcrick said of Hart. "They put the workload on him and he accepts it. He thrives off that."

Michigan's offensive line, led by tackle Jake Long, will clear the way for Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor if Hart doesn't play. Either way, Long looks forward to run blocking Saturday.

"You get to go out and try and punish the guy," Long said. "You get to go forward instead of retreating. Just being able to go forward and try to finish someone is enjoyable to me."

Ringer, from Ohio, has rebounded from knee injuries without sacrificing strength or speed. Ringer credits karate and flexibility drills with assisting his rehabilitation.

This season, he became the first Spartan to top the 1,000 yard rushing mark since T.J. Duckett in 2001.

Ringer is not as celebrated nationwide as Hart, but he's caught the attention of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

"He's a legitimate guy," Carr said. "He's had a great career, he's having a great year, and he's established himself without a question as one of the best backs in the country."

Ringer expects the running backs and offensive lines will be a deciding factor Saturday.

"They have a very strong run defense and in order for us to win, we are going to have to establish the run," Ringer said. "If we can run the ball pretty well against their defense, I feel like we will be in great shape."

Caulcrick is a bruiser for Michigan State and leads the Big Ten with 16 touchdowns.

Teammates rave about how unselfish Ringer and Caulcrick have been while splitting carries. It's even caught the attention of basketball coach Tom Izzo, who says his deep team -- which will have several players competing for relatively scarce playing time this season -- could learn something from the Spartan running backs.

"When one is not in there, watch how the other one acts," Izzo said. "Those guys are unbelievable how they pull for one another. I use them as examples for my guys."

The team with the fewest rushing yards in the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has won only twice since 1970.

In 2004, Michigan quarterback Chad Henne threw for 273 yards and four TDs in a 45-37 triple overtime win over the Spartans.

In 1995, Michigan State quarterback Tony Banks threw for 318 yards in a 28-25 win over the Wolverines.

By TIM MARTIN, The Associated Press