Grinz on Green Blog

Sept. 10, 2011

By Steve Grinczel, Online Columnist

In addition to establishing himself as the most prolific receiver in Michigan State history, B.J. Cunningham showed he is coachable to a fault.

The senior split end entered Saturday's game against Florida Atlantic needing one catch to break the record of 148 receptions, which he shared with Matt Trannon, who played in a pass-first spread formation from 2003-06.

"I told him he needed one catch, before the game, and I said, `Make it a good one,'" head coach Mark Dantonio said.

Cunningham made it so good, in fact, he did it three times.

Michigan State's first series was in danger of stalling on third-and-4 at the Owls 45-yard line when quarterback Kirk Cousins dropped back to pass. As Cunningham ran his route, he tripped on a defender's foot, but Cousins threw the ball to him anyway.

"It was a two-man route with me and the running back," Cunningham said. "I go in there, sit and post up and get ready for the ball while the running back runs a little out. He kind of slid out and I slid in behind him. Kirk threw a pass and I was slipping."

Cunningham was just about flat on his back when he made his first attempt to grab the ball.

"I caught it on the third bobble," Cunningham said. "It was a fun catch."

No. 149 set up MSU's first touchdown, on a 9-run by Edwin Baker, in the 44-0 win.

"(Tight end) Brian Linthicum was right there and he could have snatched it from me, but he didn't want to do that," Cunningham said. "That was nice of him. It was a good pass. Coach D told me to make it special."

Said Dantonio, "I thought he did. We were punting if he did not make that catch. It was very difficult. It was a circus catch and I think that was one finer plays of the day. It sort of set the tone for the game."

Cunningham received a standing ovation from the crowd of 70,249, his teammates mobbed him and someone put the milestone ball in a safe place for him.

"I felt the roar of the crowd," Cunningham said. "It felt great just to know people were rooting for me and our team, and all my teammates came up and hugged me. It felt good.

"I'm happy it's out of the way. Now I can focus and just keep moving forward."

Cunningham finished with five catches for a game-high 73 yards and has 153, and counting, on his career total. If he merely maintains the 46 catches per season he averaged in his first three years, he could put the record out of reach for years to come.

"I just try to go out there and catch the ball," Cunningham said. "I wasn't worrying about it. It's a blessing to even be here doing that. I feel like it's the right place at the right time. We have a great quarterback and great coaches putting me in position to get the ball.

"I feel like I've played here for 20 years. I just try to stay consistent, catch the ball and make plays."

Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said Florida Atlantic actually had the play defended.

"B.J. just made an outstanding catch," Roushar said. "He's played four years for us and has had a lot of opportunities and has done good things. One thing about him, he comes to work every day. You never see him change. One of the NFL scouts walked through this week and made a comment about what a phenomenal blocker he is.

"That speaks volumes about who he is. He tries to be a complete player. He's very physical in the run game, runs very good routes and has exceptional hands. He can go get the football and wants the football."

Cousins wouldn't have expected anything else from Cunningham on the record-setting catch.

"I thought it was somewhat fitting with the way his career is going and his talents, too," Cousins said. "He has always made those acrobatic catches and that's what separated him and made him a very special receiver.

"He is one of the few guys who can make a catch like that and I think it was fate that it was that one that broke the record."