Green-White Spring Game Preview

Coach Dantonio and the Spartans are ready for the Green-White spring game on Saturday in Spartan Stadium.

4/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football

April 23, 2010

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Coach Dantonio | Coach Warner | Coach Tressel

EAST LANSING, Mich. - On Thursday afternoon, the Michigan State football team held its final practice of the spring before the annual Green-White game Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Following practice, the 14th of the spring, Green team head coach Mike Tressel and White team head coach Dave Warner talked their respective teams and the matchup.

"I think the guys did a really good job (at the draft)," said Tressel. "My philosophy was pick Kirk Cousins first, and then after that, do what you can, have some fun and put together a team you think will do a good job, and they did that, so I'm excited."

"We feel real good about our skill positions on offense," said Warner. "We have Keshawn Martin, who had a tremendous spring practice. He's a weapon in a lot of different ways as people know, catching passes, running reverses and throwing off of those reverses. We plan to utilize his talent quite a bit. I feel good about (Andrew) Maxwell and (Larry) Caper in the backfield, and up front with our line we have Charlie Gantt playing tight end.

"On the other side of the ball, with Greg Jones, you look at 14 practices so far through the spring, and he's probably made more tackles than most guys in a whole season. He's going to be surrounded by some good talent there too. We plan to go out and have fun."

Head coach Mark Dantonio is serving as the commissioner this week and will be on the field during the spring game. After last year's 38-37 overtime shootout, Dantonio is looking forward to another entertaining spring game.

"The teams are pretty even," said Dantonio. "I think you'll see a lot of good things out there, there will be some exciting plays. A lot of young guys will be playing that will give us an indication of where we're at. What I look for is great competition, so I like to keep it close and make it fun.

"I think it's been a great spring for us; the chemistry is good, the leadership is good. I think guys feel good about themselves and feel good about their progress, and we've worked them hard."

The winner of the Green-White game will get to eat steak at an upcoming team meal, while the losing team will eat franks and beans. The game begins at 1:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium; admission is free.

2010 GREEN-WHITE TEAMS

GREEN TEAM

Offense
Receivers: B.J. Cunningham, Brad Sonntag, Kyle Nichol, Donald Spencer, Milton Colbert, Mark Dell

Offensive Line: David Barrent, Zach Hueter, Antonio Jeremiah, John Deyo, John Stipek, J'Michael Deane

Running Backs: Le'Veon Bell, Nick Hill, David Spears

Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, Joe Boisture

Fullback: Adam Setterbo, Jeff Bobek

Tight Ends: Dion Sims

Defense
Defensive Line: Dan France, Doug Curtis, Tyler Hoover, Todd Anderson, Corey Freeman, Blake Treadwell, Micajah Reynolds

Linebackers: Steve Gardiner, Jeremy Gainer, Max Bullough, Denicos Allen, Eric Gordon

Secondary: Chris L. Rucker, Dana Dixon, Mitchell White, Trenton Robinson, Marcus Hyde, Jesse Johnson

Specialists
Kicker: Kevin Muma

Punter: Kyle Selden

Injured/Inactive: Jerel Worthy, Joel Foreman, Garrett Celek, Brian Linthicum, Henry Conway, Colin Neely, Thomas Rice

WHITE TEAM
Offense
Receivers: Keshawn Martin, Keith Nichol, Bennie Fowler, Chris D. Rucker, Cam Martin

Offensive Line: Nate Klatt, Jared McGaha, Chris McDonald, Ethan Ruhland, D.J. Young

Running Backs: Larry Caper, Edwin Baker, Andre Buford, Matt Balen

Quarterback: Andrew Maxwell

Fullback: Josh Rouse, Fred Smith

Tight Ends: Charlie Gantt, Derek Hoebing

Defense
Defensive Line: Cameron Jude, Tim MacLean, Johnathan Strayhorn, Denzel Drone, R.J. Kelly, Blake Pacheco, Kenley Choute

Linebackers: Greg Jones, Chris Norman, Kyler Elsworth, Jon Misch, Chad Setterbo

Secondary: Johnny Adams, Chase Parker, Josh Bodell, Danny Folino, Patrick White, Jairus Jones

Specialists
Kicker: Dan Conroy, Colin Murphy

Punter: Aaron Bates

Injured/Inactive: Jordan Benton, Nick Bendzuck, Drew Stevens, TyQuan Hammock, Hugh Stangeland, Arthur Ray Jr., Kevin Pickelman Neutral: Long snappers Alex Shackleton and Steve Moore

SPRING GAME MEDIA COVERAGE:
• Michigan State's spring game will be streamed live on www.bigtennetwork.com and replayed Sunday, April 25 at 5 p.m. on the Big Ten Network, with Jacob Bodnar handling the play-by-play, Otis Wiley providing color commentary and Mandy Piechowski serving as the sideline reporter.

• The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Jason Strayhorn and sideline reporter Will Tieman, will broadcast the Green-White spring game to eight affiliates in the state: WVFN (AM 730) in Lansing, WBBL (FM 107.3) in Grand Rapids, WBCK (AM 930) in Battle Creek, WGHN (FM 92.1) in Grand Haven, WBCH (AM 1220/FM 100.1) in Hastings, WDMJ (AM 1320) in Marquette and WLUN (FM 100.9) in Midland. The spring game also can be heard live on satellite radio: SIRIUS (Channel 91) and XM (Channel 197).

• In addition, msuspartans.com will provide game-day audio, live in-game statistics (GameTracker), game highlights and post-game interviews.