Cotton Bowl Practice Update No. 2

Dec. 27, 2014

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Eighth-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio sent his team through a 2 1/2-hour workout in full pads on Saturday, Dec. 27 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the No. 8 Spartans (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) continued preparation for the Jan. 1, 2015, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against No. 5 Baylor (11-1, 8-1 Big 12).

"It was a good practice," Dantonio said. "It was a long practice, but it's important for the players to get their legs back underneath them after the long layoff. We really needed to go that length to tax our players, working on different situations and dynamics."

Saturday's practice marked the return of Michigan State assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who was introduced as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh Friday afternoon.

"Pat Narduzzi has done a great job here," Dantonio said. "This (coaching) profession is about change and growth. We've always stressed the importance of finishing because that's how we'll all be remembered. It's important for Pat to be here and close things out with the 2014 seniors in the Cotton Bowl."

Baylor leads the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring offense (48.8 points per game) and total offense (581.2 yards per game). To help simulate the Bears' fast-paced offense, Michigan State has utilized familiar names like quarterbacks Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry along with wide receivers AJ Troup and Andre Sims Jr. on the scout team.

"It's a great challenge to prepare for an explosive team like Baylor," Dantonio said. "It starts with getting lineup up properly and playing with great technique because Baylor will create run/pass conflicts. We must be able to tackle well in space and make plays on the ball in the deep part of the field. We've watched cut-up after cut-up, and it's obvious why Baylor was under strong consideration for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

"We can't put ourselves in a position to win this bowl game without a great look from our scout team. That's why we call the scout team `Rocks' because they're the foundation of our program.

"To get the best look in practice, we've forced the issue some by using second-team players and our red-shirt freshmen. We try to create best-versus-best situations in practice. It's really a rite of passage for a lot of these young players. Five years ago, guys like Tony Lippett, Keith Mumphery, Jeremy Langford, Marcus Rush and Kurtis Drummond were paying their dues as members of the scout team."

Two former Michigan State players, linebacker Dixon Edwards (1987-90) and defensive end William Reese (1989-92), attended Saturday's practice at AT&T Stadium. Edwards was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (No. 37 overall) of the 1991 National Football League Draft. He spent eight years in the NFL (Dallas, 1991-95; Minnesota, 1996-98) and started 90 of 120 career games. While in Dallas, Edwards played on three Super Bowl champions (XXVII, XXVIII and XXX).

Saturday night, Michigan State players and coaches visited Main Event Entertainment in Lewisville, Texas, for a buffet dinner, bowling, laser tag, billiards and arcade games.

Michigan State is making its school-record eighth-consecutive bowl appearance, including its first-ever trip to the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Spartans are making their 25th postseason appearance overall, including their second-straight New Year's Day bowl game. MSU also is looking to extend its school-record three-game bowl winning streak after topping No. 18 Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl, 33-30 in triple overtime; edging TCU in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 17-16; and knocking off No. 5 Stanford in the 2014 Rose Bowl, 24-20.

The 79th Cotton Bowl Classic will be televised by ESPN, with kickoff set for 12:45 p.m. ET.