Spartan Football Team Arrives In Orlando
12/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 25, 2010
MSU All-Access Daily Edition - Sunday, Dec. 26 | Dantonio Podcast | Hollis Podcast
ORLANDO, Fla. - The seventh-ranked Michigan State Spartans (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) arrived in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 25, to resume preparation for the team's Jan. 1, 2011, game against No. 15 Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) in the Capital One Bowl. With light snow and temperatures in the mid-20s, the 299-passenger World Airways charter flight left Lansing's Capital City Airport at 4:45 p.m. The official travel party, including 101 student-athletes, touched down at Orlando International Airport at 6:55 p.m. with temperatures in the mid-60s.
The Spartans will conduct practices for the next five days at Freedom High School in Orlando, beginning Sunday, Dec. 26 at 11:35 a.m. Prior to Sunday's practice in full pads, Michigan State will join Alabama as well as the Champs Sports Bowl participants - N.C. State and West Virginia - in a "Day For Kids" program at DisneyQuest, as student-athletes from all four teams play video games with disadvantaged youth from Central Florida.
Sunday night, Spartan players will have an opportunity to visit Universal Studios.
"As we move through this, we always talk about having a principle for every single practice," said MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. "Tomorrow is going to be about refocusing and getting back to work. We have some time with some kids from the Orlando area, so it will be exciting for our guys to interact with young people. But the front end of this thing has to be about refocusing and working. We talked a little bit about this being a journey for us. This is the beginning of that journey."
Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis is looking forward to an exciting week in Orlando, but said the first night is about getting settled in.
"It's very exciting first of all, but it's also a lot of hectic organization," Hollis said. "It's getting the kids in the right room, the staff in the right room, the meeting rooms all set up so everyone knows where to go. People come in and tell the guys what to do, what not to do throughout the week, where to stay away from. It's kind of one of those evenings where everything comes together pretty quickly, but it's a lot of hectic turmoil in the process."
Hollis also likes the fact that the coaches and administrators have their families along for the trip.
"Part of what the bowl experience is about is to finish the year and bring everyone together," he said. "We know the business at hand is the football game and everybody is focused on that, but it will also be a week for the team and fans to really have a good time in Orlando."
The Spartans are making their fourth-straight postseason bowl appearance for the first time since 1987-90, matching the longest bowl streak in school history. Dantonio becomes the first coach in MSU history to earn a postseason bowl bid in each of his first four seasons.
"Alabama is a great football team and it will be a great challenge for us, but at the same time, it's important for this program to win its last game," Dantonio said. "We continue to try and focus on that because that last game is going to carry you into next year, and it will set a trend for our younger players as we move forward. It should be a great game and experience for our players, and we're looking forward to it."
Michigan State is making its 21st postseason bowl appearance overall, including its third trip to the Capital One Bowl (formerly known as Florida Citrus and Tangerine Bowls). The Spartans are 7-13 (.350) in bowl games, including a 1-1 record in previous Capital One Bowl appearances (defeated No. 10 Florida, 37-34, in 2000; lost to No. 16 Georgia, 24-12, in 2009).
The 2011 Capital One Bowl will be televised nationally by ESPN with kickoff set for 1 p.m. EST.
Internet Programming Note
The "Daily Edition" of "Michigan State All-Access" debuts from Orlando, Fla., on msuspartans.com Sunday, Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. EST. For the next eight days, the daily episodes will be dedicated to in-depth coverage of MSU's appearance in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, including practice updates, interviews with student-athletes and coaches, press conference highlights and behind-the-scenes video from the "Day For Kids" as well as the team's trips to Universal Studios, Disney World and Epcot Center.
Mandy Piechowski will serve as host the "Daily Edition" episodes from Orlando, with David Diffenderffer, Dave Ellis and Jacob Huber sharing responsibilities for video production. MSU Associate Athletics Director for Communications John Lewandowski serves as the executive producer for the daily bowl episodes, while Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Ben Phlegar acts as the coordinating producer.