Michigan State University Athletics
Football Media Center: Notre Dame
9/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 18, 2009
As the Michigan State football team (1-1) prepares to take on Notre Dame (1-1) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Notre Dame Stadium, catch up on all the latest information on the Spartans. The game will be televised nationally on NBC.
GAMEDAY COVERAGE:
Gameday Central | | Game Updates - Twitter | Audio
BROADCAST COVERAGE:
TELEVISION: NBC will televise the Michigan State-Notre Dame game live to a national audience, with Tom Hammond handling the play-by-play, Pat Haden providing color commentary and Alex Flanagan serving as the sideline reporter.
RADIO: The Spartan Sports Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Jim Miller, sideline reporter Jason Strayhorn and broadcast host Will Tieman, will broadcast the game to 35 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard on flagship stations WJIM (AM 1240)/WMMQ (FM 94.9) in Lansing and WJR Radio (AM 760) in Detroit. The MSU-Notre Dame game also can be heard live on satellite radio: SIRIUS (Channel 159) and XM (Channel 117).
GAME NOTES:
Michigan State | Notre Dame
STATISTICS:
Michigan State | Notre Dame
DEPTH CHARTS:
Michigan State | Notre Dame
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FIRST-AND-10 (what you need to know about the MSU-Notre Dame matchup) -
• Saturday's game marks the 73rd meeting between Michigan State and Notre Dame. The Irish lead the all-time series 44-27-1, including a 26-13 record in games played in South Bend, Ind., and a 15-13 mark in games played in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Eight of the last 10 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less. The visiting team has won seven of the last eight meetings, with Michigan State posting a 23-7 victory in Spartan Stadium last September. Overall, the Spartans have won nine of the last 12 meetings, including six-straight victories in Notre Dame Stadium. The six-game winning streak marks the longest run by an Irish opponent in the 78-year history of Notre Dame Stadium.
• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories (27) over Notre Dame. Only Southern Cal (33) has posted more wins over the Irish than the Spartans.
• 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 Michigan State-Notre Dame series began 112 years ago in 1897, making it one of the 27 oldest rivalries in college football. It also ranks as one of only three rivalries - joining Army-Navy and Auburn-Georgia Tech - that does not involve either intrastate or current conference rivals.
• Michigan State has compiled a 31-12 record (.721) in games played against non-conference opponents since 1999, including an 8-4 mark under Mark Dantonio. The Spartans have won 14 of their last 19 non-league games.
• Fifth-year senior Blair White leads the Spartans in receptions (16), receiving yards (267) and touchdown catches (2). White ranks second in the Big Ten in both receptions (8.0 per game) and receiving yards (133.5 per game). He also is listed among the NCAA's Top 10 in both receiving yards (No. 6) and receptions (No. 7). White recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 105 yards against Central Michigan. He had a career-high nine receptions for 162 yards and two TDs in the season opener against Montana State.
• Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the NCAA in passing efficiency with his 186.7 rating. In two starts, Cousins has completed 23-of-35 throws (.657) for 347 yards and four touchdowns. He hit 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and a score in MSU's 29-27 loss to Central Michigan. With the score tied at 20, Cousins went 5-for-5 for 59 yards on a 13-play, 80-yard drive as the Spartans took a 27-20 lead on his 35-yard TD strike to B.J. Cunnigham with 7:33 left in the game.
• Junior linebacker Greg Jones leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the NCAA, averaging 14.5 tackles per game. Jones matched his career high with 15 tackles against Central Michigan. He has recorded double-figure tackles in nine consecutive games, averaging 12.8 stops during the streak. Jones also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for first with 1.5 for 11 yards) and tackles for loss (tied for third with 4 for 19 yards).
• Lou Groza Award candidate Brett Swenson leads the Big Ten in kick scoring (10.0 points per game) and ranks third (tied) in field goals (2.0 made per game). He leads the team in scoring with 20 points, converting all four field-goal and all eight extra-point attempts. Swenson ranks first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active leaders in scoring, with 296 career points. His 56 career field goals rank second among all-active NCAA FBS kickers and third in MSU history. Swenson has made 74 consecutive PATs.
SPARTANS RANK SECOND IN ALL-TIME VICTORIES vs. NOTRE DAME -
Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories (27) over Notre Dame. Only Southern Cal (33) has posted more wins over the Irish than the Spartans.
All-Time Wins vs. Notre Dame
Opponent (Games Played; Wins vs. ND)
Southern Cal (80 games; 33 wins)
Michigan State (72 games; 27 wins)
Purdue (80 games; 26 wins)
Michigan (37 games; 21 wins)
Pittsburgh (64 games; 19 wins)
THE LAST MEETING -
Sept. 20, 2008, in East Lansing, Mich.: Javon Ringer rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 39 attempts, carrying Michigan State to a 23-7 win over Notre Dame. Ringer became the first player to run for 200 yards in consecutive games in Michigan State history.
The Spartans took a 13-0 lead into the fourth quarter, then sealed the victory by handing off to Ringer on all seven plays of a 77-yard drive he capped with a TD with 2:16 left.
The Irish turned the ball over three times and missed two field goals, hurting their chances of starting 3-0 for the first time since 2002 and the second time in 12 years. Jimmy Clausen was 24-of-41 for 242 yards with a TD and two interceptions in the first half, one of which was in the end zone on a play that was overturned by a video review.
Clausen was sacked three times - after not being sacked in the first two games - and was hurried and hit numerous times. Michigan State shut down the Irish's running game and the sacks led to them finishing with 16 yards rushing and seven points.
Michael Floyd caught a 26-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter, getting Notre Dame within six points, after fumbling at the Michigan State 20 early in the third.
The Spartans got off to a good start, limiting Notre Dame to minus-5 yards on its first two drives and kicking a field goal on their opening possession. Clausen's up-for-grabs pass in the end zone to a double-covered Duval Kamara was ripped away by safety Otis Wiley on Notre Dame's third drive. It was originally ruled incomplete but overturned by replay. Clausen threw another poor pass in the second quarter and it was picked off by Wiley at the Notre Dame 22, setting up Ringer's first TD. His highlight of the day was a 63-yard run that set up his second TD.
THE LAST MEETING IN NOTRE DAME STADIUM -
Sept. 22, 2007, in Notre Dame, Ind.: Brian Hoyer threw four touchdown passes and Javon Ringer rushed for 144 yards to lead Michigan State to a 31-14 victory over Notre Dame. Michigan State (4-0) became the first opponent to win six in a row at Notre Dame Stadium.
The Spartans blew the game open with a pair of third-quarter TDs, a 16-yard catch by Mark Dell and a 30-yard catch by Kellen Davis on a fourth-and-2 play to make it 31-14. Davis also had a 3-yard TD catch and Devin Thomas had a 7-yard scoring catch.
Notre Dame finally scored its first offensive touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run by Travis Thomas to cap a 9-yard drive in the first quarter. The score was setup by a Michigan State fumble.
Hoyer was 11-of-24 passing for 135 yards as the Spartans amassed 354 yards total offense. Jehuu Caulcrick added 83 yards rushing for the Spartans.
Jimmy Clausen was 7-of-13 passing for 53 yards for Notre Dame, while Evan Sharpley, who played the fourth quarter, went 4-of-7 passing for 33 yards. The Irish, who had given up 23 sacks through their first three games, were sacked four times by the Spartans. MSU defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic sacked Clausen for a 17-yard loss and stripped the ball from the quarterback in the second quarter.
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. All previous game scores are listed on the trophy.
Michigan State and Notre Dame played 36 consecutive seasons from 1959-94 until the two-year interruption of the series in 1995-96. After the current contract with Notre Dame expires following the 2011 game, the Spartans and Irish will meet 10 times over the next 14 seasons, with two-year breaks in 2014-15 and 2020-21.
Aric Morris NAMED HONORARY CAPTAIN -
Aric Morris, MVP of the 1999 team, has been selected honorary captain for Saturday's game at Notre Dame. Morris will address the team during the pre-game meal and join the 2009 captains at midfield for the coin toss.
A four-year letterman (1996-99) and three-year starter for head coach Nick Saban and secondary coach Mark Dantonio, Morris ranks eighth on Michigan State's all-time list with 350 career tackles. He recorded double-figure tackles in 17 career games.
A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and second-team All-Big Ten selection, Morris led the Spartans and finished third in the conference with 132 tackles in 1999. He led the team in tackles in seven of 12 games as a senior. Morris reached double digits in tackles eight times, including 10 stops against Florida in the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl. The 5-foot-11, 209-pound strong safety produced a career-high 19 tackles each against Wisconsin and Oregon. He also had two interceptions in 1999, including one that he returned 76 yards for a touchdown at Purdue.
The Oak Park, Mich., native was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round (No. 135 overall) of the 2000 National Football League Draft. Morris spent four years in the NFL, including three seasons in Tennessee (2000-02) and one year in New England (2003). He registered 80 career tackles, two pass break-ups and one interception. In 2001, Morris posted a career-best 51 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
MSU/NOTRE DAME CONNECTIONS -
• Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Polian began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1997, working for former Spartan head coach Nick Saban.
• Michigan State's veteran play-by-play radio announcer George Blaha graduated from Notre Dame in 1966 with a degree in economics. Blaha is in his 31st season as the Spartans' radio voice.
JONES: A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY -
Junior linebacker Greg Jones leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the NCAA in tackles, averaging 14.5 stops per game. He also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for first with 1.5 for 11 yards) and tackles for loss (tied for third with 4 for 19 yards).
The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Jones has recorded double-figure tackles in nine consecutive games, averaging 12.8 stops during the stretch. It marks the longest streak by a Spartan since Chuck Bullough produced double-digit tackles in 15 straight games in 1990-91 (Oct. 20, 1990, game vs. Illinois through Nov. 2, 1991, game vs. Northwestern). Bullough averaged 15.7 tackles during his 15-game streak.
Jones matched his career high with 15 tackles against Central Michigan, including 1.5 for losses (3 yards).
The 2009 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year registered 14 tackles in the season opener against Montana State, with three resulting in losses (16 yards) including 1.5 sacks (11).
WHITE KEYS EXPLOSIVE PASSING GAME -
Fifth-year senior Blair White leads the Spartans in receptions (16), receiving yards (267) and touchdown catches (2). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound White also leads the team with 82 yards after the catch (YAC). He ranks second in the Big Ten in receptions (8.0 per game) and receiving yards (133.5 per game). White also is listed among the NCAA's Top 10 in both receiving yards (No. 6) and receptions (No. 7). Thirteen of his 16 catches (81 percent) have produced either a first down or a score, including five gains of 20 or more yards.
 Blair White is ranked among the NCAA's top 10 leaders in both receiving yards (No. 6) and receptions (No. 7).  | |
White recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 105 yards against Central Michigan.
He had a career-high nine receptions for 162 yards and two TDs in the 2009 season opener against Montana State. White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Kirk Cousins against the Bobcats. His 162 receiving yards were just 2 yards shy of his career best (164 vs. Wisconsin in 2008). Almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch against Montana State.
A former walk-on, White has 62 career receptions for 951 yards (15.3 avg.) and three TDs. The Saginaw, Mich., native has four career 100-yard receiving games.
COUSINS OFF TO A SOLID START -
Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the NCAA in passing efficiency with his 186.7 rating. In two starts, he has completed 23-of-35 throws (.657) for 347 yards and four touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Cousins hit 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and a score in MSU's 29-27 loss to Central Michigan. With the score tied at 20, he went 5-for-5 for 59 yards on a 13-play, 80-yard drive as the Spartans took a 27-20 lead on his 35-yard TD strike to B.J. Cunningham with 7:33 left in the game.
In his first career start, Cousins completed 10-of-17 throws for 183 yards and three scores against Montana State in the 2009 season and home opener. He set career highs in both passing yards (183) and TD passes (3). Cousins completed TD strikes of 29 yards to Cunningham, 15 and 24 yards to Blair White. He connected on 7-of-11 passes for 118 yards and two TDs in the first half against the Bobcats.
SWENSON EMERGES AS A TOP CONTENDER FOR THE GROZA AWARD -
Lou Groza Award candidate Brett Swenson leads the Big Ten in kick scoring (10.0 points per game) and ranks third (tied) in field goals (2.0 made per game). He leads the team in scoring with 20 points, converting all four field-goal and all eight extra-point attempts.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior placekicker accounted for 11 points in Michigan State's season-opening 44-3 victory over Montana State, hitting 2-of-2 field-goal attempts and all five extra-point tries.
Swenson ranks first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active leaders in scoring, with 296 career points. His 56 career field goals rank second among all-active NCAA FBS kickers.
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native needs to score just six more points to crack the Big Ten's all-time Top 10 in kick scoring. Swenson also needs just three more field goals to join the conference's all-time Top 10 in that statistical category.
Swenson ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in field goals (third), scoring (third) and extra points (third with 128 made). He has made 74 consecutive PATs (school-record: 76 by Dave Rayner, 2003-04).
BATES IMPACTS FIELD POSITION -
Ray Guy Award candidate Aaron Bates leads the Big Ten in punting with his 48.9-yard average. His punting average would rank second in the NCAA; however, Bates has not punted enough times to meet the minimum requirement (3.6 punts per game). Five of his seven punts (71 percent) this season have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Bates also has hit four punts 50 or more yards, including three 57-yarders (two vs. Montana State and one vs. Central Michigan).
The 6-foot, 192-pound junior averaged 45.6 yards on five punts against Central Michigan, including four kicks downed inside the Chippewa 20.
His 41.2-yard career average ranks 14th among active NCAA FBS punters. Bates has placed 50 of his 147 career punts (34 percent) inside the opponent's 20.
TAKING CARE OF THE PIGSKIN -
After two games, Michigan State is one of only three NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams that has not committed a turnover, joining California and Oregon State. It marks the first time since the 2003 season that MSU has played back-to-back games without turning the ball over. In fact, the 2003 Spartans played four straight games (vs. Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota) without committing a turnover.
