3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
Additional Information
Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
Official School Bio - John L. Smith
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Dave Baldwin - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Mike Cox - Linebackers
Chuck Driesbach - Secondary
Jim McElwain - Assistant Head Coach/Receivers
Doug Nussmeier - Quarterbacks
Lucious Selmon - Defensive Line
Ben Sirmans - Running Backs
Chris Smeland - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Jeff Stoutland - Offensive Line
Mike Vollmar - Assistant AD/Dir. of Football Operations
Tommy Hoke - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Ken Mannie - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Official School Bio - John L. Smith
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Dave Baldwin - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Mike Cox - Linebackers
Chuck Driesbach - Secondary
Jim McElwain - Assistant Head Coach/Receivers
Doug Nussmeier - Quarterbacks
Lucious Selmon - Defensive Line
Ben Sirmans - Running Backs
Chris Smeland - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Jeff Stoutland - Offensive Line
Mike Vollmar - Assistant AD/Dir. of Football Operations
Tommy Hoke - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Ken Mannie - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Recruiting
Starters Returning: 13 (Offense 6, Defense 6, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Returning: 51 (Offense 24, Defense 23, Special Teams 4)
Notable Returners:
QB Drew Stanton, WR Jerramy Scott, P Brandon Fields
Starters Lost: 10 (Offense 5, Defense 5, Special Teams 0)
Letterman Lost: 13 (Offense 7, Defense 6, Special Teams 0)
Notable Losses:
LB David Herron, Jr.
Incoming Recruits:
Letterman Returning: 51 (Offense 24, Defense 23, Special Teams 4)
Notable Returners:
QB Drew Stanton, WR Jerramy Scott, P Brandon Fields
Starters Lost: 10 (Offense 5, Defense 5, Special Teams 0)
Letterman Lost: 13 (Offense 7, Defense 6, Special Teams 0)
Notable Losses:
LB David Herron, Jr.
Incoming Recruits:
In 2005, the Michigan State Spartans signed the 35th best recruiting class according to Rivals, and the 40th best recruting class according to Scout. Eight of the signees were JUCO transfers, and another signed after a post-grad year at Virginia's Fork Union Academy. 2005 signees DB Kendell Davis, DT Haywood Howard, and WR Emory Jones failed to gain admission to Michigan State.
Michigan State always seems to take several players from the state of Ohio, and 2005 was no exception; in that class, the Spartans signed five Ohioans (OL Rocco Cironi, DB Kendell Davis-Clark, WR Dan Fortener, LB Brandon Long, and RB Javon Ringer), all of whom had at least some interest in Ohio State (Davis, Long, and Ringer really wanted to become Buckeyes, but grades were at least part of the equation in all three cases). Of course, Javon Ringer was arguably the best high school player in Ohio last season, and many Buckeye fans were extremely disappointed that he didn't end up at Ohio State. As a true freshman, Ringer had 817 yards rushing (for a fine 6.7 average) and 5 touchdowns.
In 2004, the Spartans signed eight Ohioans, including former Buckeye verbal Austintown Fitch WR Miles Williams (who has since been booted from Sparty for "off-the-field" issues; he is currently a walk-on at Youngstown State) and highly-rated St. Ignatius QB Brian Hoyer. That same year, MSU also inked ATH SirDarean Adams from Bradenton, Florida, who had the Buckeyes as his leader until (again) academics became an issue (SirD is still having some classroom difficulties at Michigan State - link). The 6-foot, 222-pound Adams became the Spartans' starting "rover" back as a true sophomore (60 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 interceptions, including one for a touchdown against Notre Dame). SirDarean Adams is a kid who would look great in the S&G right now, as would Javon Ringer, but one has to applaud the Buckeye coaching staff for taking a strong stand on academic repsonsibility.
Michigan State's Class of 2005
In 2006, Michigan State signed three of the top four in-state prospects: linebacker Eric Gordon (#2); defensive end Patrick Rigan (#3); and tight end Charlie Gantt (#4). Otherwise, however, the Spartans class was a mixed bag, with an assortment of JUCO and prep school players and several unheralded high school recruits. Interestingly, Michigan State signed only one player from Ohio in their class of 2006, Marcus Hyde from Fostoria.
According to Rivals, Michigan State signed the #33 class in the nation, while Scout ranked their class the #43 overall.
Michigan State's Class of 2006
It is not too difficult to notice a recurring pattern with Michigan State's recruiting - the Spartans actively pursue players who are "at risk" academically. For example, in 2005, the Spartans signed eight JUCO players and one from prep school, while in 2006 they signed four JUCO's and four preppers. While such players are often more physically mature than true high school prospects, they are often simply "quick fixes" who can help a team in the short term but often detract from long term player development and the overall stability of the program.
Michigan State's Class of 2007 (to date)
Michigan State always seems to take several players from the state of Ohio, and 2005 was no exception; in that class, the Spartans signed five Ohioans (OL Rocco Cironi, DB Kendell Davis-Clark, WR Dan Fortener, LB Brandon Long, and RB Javon Ringer), all of whom had at least some interest in Ohio State (Davis, Long, and Ringer really wanted to become Buckeyes, but grades were at least part of the equation in all three cases). Of course, Javon Ringer was arguably the best high school player in Ohio last season, and many Buckeye fans were extremely disappointed that he didn't end up at Ohio State. As a true freshman, Ringer had 817 yards rushing (for a fine 6.7 average) and 5 touchdowns.
In 2004, the Spartans signed eight Ohioans, including former Buckeye verbal Austintown Fitch WR Miles Williams (who has since been booted from Sparty for "off-the-field" issues; he is currently a walk-on at Youngstown State) and highly-rated St. Ignatius QB Brian Hoyer. That same year, MSU also inked ATH SirDarean Adams from Bradenton, Florida, who had the Buckeyes as his leader until (again) academics became an issue (SirD is still having some classroom difficulties at Michigan State - link). The 6-foot, 222-pound Adams became the Spartans' starting "rover" back as a true sophomore (60 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 interceptions, including one for a touchdown against Notre Dame). SirDarean Adams is a kid who would look great in the S&G right now, as would Javon Ringer, but one has to applaud the Buckeye coaching staff for taking a strong stand on academic repsonsibility.
Michigan State's Class of 2005
WR Ryan Allison, Lake Orion, Michigan (6' 3", 199 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#4 in Michigan); Scout 3*
OL Rocco Cironi, Warren Harding (6' 6", 284 lbs, 5.25 forty); Rivals 3* (#31 in Ohio); Scout 2*
DB Kendell Davis-Clark, Alliance, Ohio (5' 11", 181 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Ohio); Scout 2*
LB Adam Decker, Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice (6' 2", 234 lbs, 4.72 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Dan Fortener, Kettering Alter (6' 1", 182 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DE Reggie Graham, Brimingham (Alabama) Homewood (6' 4", 210 lbs,4.6 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 1*
LB Andrew Hawken, Grandville, Michigan (6' 2", 224 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#5 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]DT Haywood Howard, New Orleans Carver (6' 4", 280 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
RB A.J. Jimmerson, Florissant (Missouri) Hazelwood Central (5' 10", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#8 in Missouri); Scout 4*
DE Bobby Jones, North Dakota State College of Science (6' 4", 287 lbs, 4.71 forty): Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout 3*
[strike]WR Emory Jones, Booneville (Mississippi) Northeast CC (6' 3", 204 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*[/strike]
LB Steven Juarez, Los Angeles Harbor College (6' 2", 230 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals NR (JUCO); Scout NR
LB Brandon Long, Canton Glen Oak (6' 2", 219 lbs, 4.56 forty); Rivals 3* (#26 in Ohio); Scout 3*
OL Brendon Moss, Fork Union, Virgina (6' 6", 256 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 3* (Prep School); Scout 2*
[strike]QB Domenic Natale, Princeton (New Jersey) The Hun School (6' 2", 189 lbs, 4.62 forty); Rivals 3* (#13 in New Jersey); Scout 3*[/strike]
OL Joel Nitchman, Kalamazoo Hackett Central Catholic (6' 4", 272 lbs, 5.28 forty); Rivals 3* (#8 in Michigan); Scout 3*
WR Diego Oquendo, Staten Island Tottenville (5' 9", 177 lbs, 4.42 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Kerry Reed, Coffeyville (Kansas) CC (6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout NR
RB Javon Ringer, Dayton Chaminade (5' 9", 186 lbs, 4.44 forty, 3.87 shuttle); Rivals 3* (#13 in Ohio); Scout 4*
DE Jonal Saint-Dic, Elizabeth (New Jersey) Hudson Valley CC (6' 1", 262 lbs); Rivals 2* (JUCO); Scout 3*
OL Mike Schmeding, Rutherford (New Jersey) St. Mary's (6' 8", 299 lbs, 5.3 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Kenny Shane, Tucson (Arizona) Pima JC (6' 5", 283 lbs, 5.05 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*
DT David Stanton, Santa Clarita (California) College of the Canyons (6' 3", 273 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 4*
DB Ross Weaver, Southfield, Michigan (6' 1", 189 lbs, 4.42 forty); Rivals 3* (#13 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Otis Wiley, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#11 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Demond Williams, Tucson (Arizona) Pima JC (5' 9", 174 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 2*
OL Rocco Cironi, Warren Harding (6' 6", 284 lbs, 5.25 forty); Rivals 3* (#31 in Ohio); Scout 2*
DB Kendell Davis-Clark, Alliance, Ohio (5' 11", 181 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Ohio); Scout 2*
LB Adam Decker, Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice (6' 2", 234 lbs, 4.72 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Dan Fortener, Kettering Alter (6' 1", 182 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DE Reggie Graham, Brimingham (Alabama) Homewood (6' 4", 210 lbs,4.6 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 1*
LB Andrew Hawken, Grandville, Michigan (6' 2", 224 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#5 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]DT Haywood Howard, New Orleans Carver (6' 4", 280 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
RB A.J. Jimmerson, Florissant (Missouri) Hazelwood Central (5' 10", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#8 in Missouri); Scout 4*
DE Bobby Jones, North Dakota State College of Science (6' 4", 287 lbs, 4.71 forty): Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout 3*
[strike]WR Emory Jones, Booneville (Mississippi) Northeast CC (6' 3", 204 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*[/strike]
LB Steven Juarez, Los Angeles Harbor College (6' 2", 230 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals NR (JUCO); Scout NR
LB Brandon Long, Canton Glen Oak (6' 2", 219 lbs, 4.56 forty); Rivals 3* (#26 in Ohio); Scout 3*
OL Brendon Moss, Fork Union, Virgina (6' 6", 256 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 3* (Prep School); Scout 2*
[strike]QB Domenic Natale, Princeton (New Jersey) The Hun School (6' 2", 189 lbs, 4.62 forty); Rivals 3* (#13 in New Jersey); Scout 3*[/strike]
OL Joel Nitchman, Kalamazoo Hackett Central Catholic (6' 4", 272 lbs, 5.28 forty); Rivals 3* (#8 in Michigan); Scout 3*
WR Diego Oquendo, Staten Island Tottenville (5' 9", 177 lbs, 4.42 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Kerry Reed, Coffeyville (Kansas) CC (6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout NR
RB Javon Ringer, Dayton Chaminade (5' 9", 186 lbs, 4.44 forty, 3.87 shuttle); Rivals 3* (#13 in Ohio); Scout 4*
DE Jonal Saint-Dic, Elizabeth (New Jersey) Hudson Valley CC (6' 1", 262 lbs); Rivals 2* (JUCO); Scout 3*
OL Mike Schmeding, Rutherford (New Jersey) St. Mary's (6' 8", 299 lbs, 5.3 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Kenny Shane, Tucson (Arizona) Pima JC (6' 5", 283 lbs, 5.05 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*
DT David Stanton, Santa Clarita (California) College of the Canyons (6' 3", 273 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 4*
DB Ross Weaver, Southfield, Michigan (6' 1", 189 lbs, 4.42 forty); Rivals 3* (#13 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Otis Wiley, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#11 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Demond Williams, Tucson (Arizona) Pima JC (5' 9", 174 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 2*
In 2006, Michigan State signed three of the top four in-state prospects: linebacker Eric Gordon (#2); defensive end Patrick Rigan (#3); and tight end Charlie Gantt (#4). Otherwise, however, the Spartans class was a mixed bag, with an assortment of JUCO and prep school players and several unheralded high school recruits. Interestingly, Michigan State signed only one player from Ohio in their class of 2006, Marcus Hyde from Fostoria.
According to Rivals, Michigan State signed the #33 class in the nation, while Scout ranked their class the #43 overall.
Michigan State's Class of 2006
DE Ervin Baldwin, Reedley CC (6' 3", 260 lbs, 4.75 forty); Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout 5*
QB Jacob Ball, Rochester Hills (Michigan) Adams (6' 1", 196 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DT J'Michael Deane, Toronto (Ontario) Metro (6' 6", 290 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Jason Diehl, Milford Academy (6' 4", 290 lbs, 4.93 forty); Rivals 4* (Prep School); Scout 3*
QB Connor Dixon, Pittsburgh South Park (6' 4", 174 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 3* (#30 in Pennsylvania); Scout 2*
TE Charlie Gantt, Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice (6' 4", 233 lbs, 4.89 forty); Rivals 4* (#4 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]TE Sam Gardner, Lexington (Kentucky) Henry Clay (6' 5", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2* (#14 in Kentucky); Scout 3*[/strike]
LB Eric Gordon, Traverse City (Michigan) T.C. West (6' 0", 217 lbs, 4.57 forty); Rivals 4* (#2 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Ashton Henderson, Tallahassee Lincoln (6' 0", 180, 4.43 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 3*
ATH Marcus Hyde, Fostoria, Ohio (6' 0", 187 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
ATH Roderick Jenrette, Tampa Chamberlin (6' 2", 178 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Abre Leggins, Orlando Evans (6' 3", 278 lbs); Rivals 3* (#70 in Florida); Scout 2*
[strike]DT Vaughn Martin, London (Ontario) South (6' 4", 300 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
LB Jonathan Misch, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Colin Neely, Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Freedom (6' 2", 250 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in Pennsylvania); Scout 3*
DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Southwestern College (6' 4", 280 lbs); Rivals 2* (JUCO); Scout 3*
RB Mike Parrelly, Detroit Catholic Central (5' 8", 185, 4.57 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DE Patrick Rigan, Traverse City (Michigan) St. Francis (6' 6", 235 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 4* (#3 in Michigan); Scout 3*
LB Josh Rouse, Newton (Connecticut) Valley Forge (6' 3", 210 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout 2*
DB Enrique Shaw, Lexington (Kentucky) Lafayette (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2* (#19 in Kentucky); Scout 2*
DE John Stipek, Macomb (Michigan) Dakota (6' 4", 239 lbs); Rivals 2* (#15 in Michigan); Scout 2*
PK Brett Swenson, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5' 9", 165 lbs); Rivals 3*; Scout 3*
WR Devin Thomas, Coffeyville CC (6' 2", 215 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout 3*
[strike]DB Ken Tinney, Milford Academy (6' 0", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (Prep School); Scout 2*[/strike]
PK Ed Wagner, Hightown (New Jersey) The Peddie School (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.75 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DB Nehemiah Warrick, Hutchinson CC (6' 2", 206 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*
WR David Williams, Pittsburgh Gateway (5' 9", 175 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR T.J. Williams, Fork Union Military Academy (6' 2", 182 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (Prep School); Scout 3*
QB Jacob Ball, Rochester Hills (Michigan) Adams (6' 1", 196 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DT J'Michael Deane, Toronto (Ontario) Metro (6' 6", 290 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Jason Diehl, Milford Academy (6' 4", 290 lbs, 4.93 forty); Rivals 4* (Prep School); Scout 3*
QB Connor Dixon, Pittsburgh South Park (6' 4", 174 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 3* (#30 in Pennsylvania); Scout 2*
TE Charlie Gantt, Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice (6' 4", 233 lbs, 4.89 forty); Rivals 4* (#4 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]TE Sam Gardner, Lexington (Kentucky) Henry Clay (6' 5", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2* (#14 in Kentucky); Scout 3*[/strike]
LB Eric Gordon, Traverse City (Michigan) T.C. West (6' 0", 217 lbs, 4.57 forty); Rivals 4* (#2 in Michigan); Scout 3*
DB Ashton Henderson, Tallahassee Lincoln (6' 0", 180, 4.43 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 3*
ATH Marcus Hyde, Fostoria, Ohio (6' 0", 187 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
ATH Roderick Jenrette, Tampa Chamberlin (6' 2", 178 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Abre Leggins, Orlando Evans (6' 3", 278 lbs); Rivals 3* (#70 in Florida); Scout 2*
[strike]DT Vaughn Martin, London (Ontario) South (6' 4", 300 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
LB Jonathan Misch, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Colin Neely, Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Freedom (6' 2", 250 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in Pennsylvania); Scout 3*
DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Southwestern College (6' 4", 280 lbs); Rivals 2* (JUCO); Scout 3*
RB Mike Parrelly, Detroit Catholic Central (5' 8", 185, 4.57 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DE Patrick Rigan, Traverse City (Michigan) St. Francis (6' 6", 235 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 4* (#3 in Michigan); Scout 3*
LB Josh Rouse, Newton (Connecticut) Valley Forge (6' 3", 210 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout 2*
DB Enrique Shaw, Lexington (Kentucky) Lafayette (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2* (#19 in Kentucky); Scout 2*
DE John Stipek, Macomb (Michigan) Dakota (6' 4", 239 lbs); Rivals 2* (#15 in Michigan); Scout 2*
PK Brett Swenson, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5' 9", 165 lbs); Rivals 3*; Scout 3*
WR Devin Thomas, Coffeyville CC (6' 2", 215 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (JUCO); Scout 3*
[strike]DB Ken Tinney, Milford Academy (6' 0", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 4* (Prep School); Scout 2*[/strike]
PK Ed Wagner, Hightown (New Jersey) The Peddie School (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.75 forty); Rivals NR; Scout NR
DB Nehemiah Warrick, Hutchinson CC (6' 2", 206 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 3* (JUCO); Scout 3*
WR David Williams, Pittsburgh Gateway (5' 9", 175 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR T.J. Williams, Fork Union Military Academy (6' 2", 182 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (Prep School); Scout 3*
It is not too difficult to notice a recurring pattern with Michigan State's recruiting - the Spartans actively pursue players who are "at risk" academically. For example, in 2005, the Spartans signed eight JUCO players and one from prep school, while in 2006 they signed four JUCO's and four preppers. While such players are often more physically mature than true high school prospects, they are often simply "quick fixes" who can help a team in the short term but often detract from long term player development and the overall stability of the program.
Michigan State's Class of 2007 (to date)
OL Jack Cornell, Jr., Quincy(Illinois) Notre Dame (6' 5", 291 lbs); Rivals 3* (#12 in Illinois); Scout
OL Darrell Davis-Budanauro, East Grand Rapids, Michigan (6' 4", 370 lbs); Rivals 3* (#20 in Michigan); Scout
WR Mark Dell, Farmington Hills (Michigan) Harrison (6' 1", 177 lbs, 4.51 forty); Rivals 4* (#9 in Michigan); Scout
DE Ishmyl Johnson, Milford Academy (6' 5", 250 lbs); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout
RB Quincy Landingham, Bloomington Hills (Michigan) Lasher (5' 10", 202 lbs, 4.48 forty); Rivals 4* (#10 in Michigan); Scout
DT Vaughn Martin, Milford Academy (6' 4", 323 lbs); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout
QB Keith Nichol, Lowell, Michigan (6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.68 forty); Rivals 4* (#4 in Michigan); Scout
OL Paul Simkovich, Latrobe, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 298 lbs); Rivals 3* (#24 in Pennsylvania); Scout
OL Mark Wetterer, Cincinnati Anderson (6' 5", 295 lbs); Rivals 3* (#18 in Ohio); Scout
DL Ryan Wheat, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 4", 298 lbs, 5.07 forty); Rivals 3* (#22 in Michigan); Scout
LB George White, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 2", 252 lbs, 4.75 forty); Rivals 3* (#16 in Michigan); Scout
OL Darrell Davis-Budanauro, East Grand Rapids, Michigan (6' 4", 370 lbs); Rivals 3* (#20 in Michigan); Scout
WR Mark Dell, Farmington Hills (Michigan) Harrison (6' 1", 177 lbs, 4.51 forty); Rivals 4* (#9 in Michigan); Scout
DE Ishmyl Johnson, Milford Academy (6' 5", 250 lbs); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout
RB Quincy Landingham, Bloomington Hills (Michigan) Lasher (5' 10", 202 lbs, 4.48 forty); Rivals 4* (#10 in Michigan); Scout
DT Vaughn Martin, Milford Academy (6' 4", 323 lbs); Rivals 2* (Prep School); Scout
QB Keith Nichol, Lowell, Michigan (6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.68 forty); Rivals 4* (#4 in Michigan); Scout
OL Paul Simkovich, Latrobe, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 298 lbs); Rivals 3* (#24 in Pennsylvania); Scout
OL Mark Wetterer, Cincinnati Anderson (6' 5", 295 lbs); Rivals 3* (#18 in Ohio); Scout
DL Ryan Wheat, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 4", 298 lbs, 5.07 forty); Rivals 3* (#22 in Michigan); Scout
LB George White, Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6' 2", 252 lbs, 4.75 forty); Rivals 3* (#16 in Michigan); Scout
Behind the Numbers
Half Way Home
One may be the loneliest number, but it is not the saddest. This week, the most poignant number by far is six. As in: six games played. i.e. The season is half over.
While this may be a bittersweet thought for Buckeye fans, it is a clarion call for the Behind-the-Numbers crew. Enough games have been played that statistics are becoming more relevant. It is time to take it to a new level.
For the past three games, we have used what we call Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA) to help illuminate the coming match-up. This week, DSA will be used to break down the game; not just by points and yards, but by rushing and passing production.
Traditional and Differential numbers have been compiled for every Div. I-A program. All games against I-AA opponents have been discarded. This means that Traditional statistics for some teams, and statistical rankings for most teams will be different here than what you see elsewhere. We at BP simply believe that only games within the division should be counted when attempting to draw conclusions from statistics.
(Those of you familiar with DSA, feel free to skip the next section.)
DSA Explained
Say all of your opponents give up 300 ypg and 21 ppg on average to all of the other teams they played. If you average 400 ypg and 28 ppg against them, your DIFFERENTIAL OFFENSE is 133% for yards and 133% for points.
Easy, right? You're gaining 33% more yards and points than your opponents give up, on average. Defense works the same way.
Let's get right into it, starting with the running game.
Rushing
Passing
Overall - Yards/Points
..........................OHIO STATE..rk.................MSU..........rk
Total Offense........386.67 ypg....33.............413.00 ypg....20
Diff. Total Offense..155.9%.........17.............155.5%........19
Total Defense........300.67 ypg....31.............334.17 ypg....55
Diff. Total Defense...95.1%.........11.............117.8%.........41
Scoring Offense.......32.83 ppg....17...............31.17 ppg....23
Diff. score Offense..199.0%.........11.............170.5%........23
Scoring Defense........9.33 ppg......1...............25.67 ppg....79
Diff. score Defense...40.7%...........2.............127.3%.........66
While looking at rushing and passing individually, and not considering the injury issue; this game appeared to be more even. Looking at points scored however, makes this game look a long way from close. How do we reconcile this?
It's not so hard really, when each teams' season is examined on a game-by-game basis.
OSU's best performances, in terms of Differential Scoring, came in their two biggest games. Against Texas, OSU scored 252% more points than Texas gives up on average. OSU's differential point total vs. the Hawkeyes was even better at 281%. The game-by-game analysis for OSU shows that this team can score well over twice as many points as a team gives up on average if they are so inclined. Usually, they just don't need to.
MSU's game-by-game analysis tells a different story. Before their annual melt-down game, which as you know occurred at Notre Dame this year; MSU was averaging well over 200% in differential scoring. Since then, they are eeking out just over 75% of the points that their opponents usually give up.
To be fair, this is still a talented team. Our prediction will take their overall numbers into account. If OSU can score early and make the crowd turn on the Spartan's, the prediction that follows won't begin to describe what might happen.
MATCH-UP
By Multiplying one team's average offense by the other team's Differential Defense provides one prediction for the outcome of the game. Multiplying the average defense by the other's Differential Offense provides another prediction.
OSU OFFENSE * MSU Differential Defense (osu output)
MSU OFFENSE * OSU Differential Defense (msu output)
MSU DEFENSE * OSU Differential Offense (osu output)
OSU DEFENSE * MSU Differential Offense (msu output)
So DSA provides the following prediction for Saturday's Game:
tOSU: 456-521 yards and 42-51 points
MSU: 393-468 yards and 13-16 points
As has been stated, these numbers take Michigan State's entire season into account. If this team shows up ready to play, they can produce better than that offensively against this OSU defense irrespective of their #1 ranking in scoring defense. But if this team follows the trend of recent Spartan teams, this could get very ugly.
The bad news for the Spartans is that, whichever Spartan team shows up; OSU's offense has proven that they can score however many points they need to win. This season, that is the only context that really matters.
One may be the loneliest number, but it is not the saddest. This week, the most poignant number by far is six. As in: six games played. i.e. The season is half over.
While this may be a bittersweet thought for Buckeye fans, it is a clarion call for the Behind-the-Numbers crew. Enough games have been played that statistics are becoming more relevant. It is time to take it to a new level.
For the past three games, we have used what we call Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA) to help illuminate the coming match-up. This week, DSA will be used to break down the game; not just by points and yards, but by rushing and passing production.
Traditional and Differential numbers have been compiled for every Div. I-A program. All games against I-AA opponents have been discarded. This means that Traditional statistics for some teams, and statistical rankings for most teams will be different here than what you see elsewhere. We at BP simply believe that only games within the division should be counted when attempting to draw conclusions from statistics.
(Those of you familiar with DSA, feel free to skip the next section.)
DSA Explained
Say all of your opponents give up 300 ypg and 21 ppg on average to all of the other teams they played. If you average 400 ypg and 28 ppg against them, your DIFFERENTIAL OFFENSE is 133% for yards and 133% for points.
Easy, right? You're gaining 33% more yards and points than your opponents give up, on average. Defense works the same way.
Let's get right into it, starting with the running game.
Rushing
When the Buckeyes are on offense:
SO:
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Remember, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
SO:
Those numbers look great for Buckeye fans; but before we get too excited, let's give those numbers some context. Since DSA compares you to your opponents' opponents, let's look at how good those teams are:
SO:
Conclusion: Expect OSU to be able to run the ball. This analysis does not account for the fact that MSU's leading tackler is out with an injury.
When the Buckeyes are on defense:
Better than average for the Bucks, pretty good for Sparty. Again, let's look at SoS before we draw conclusions.
SO:
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Again, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
SO:
That OSU rush defense doesn't look so bad now, does it? But let's look at who DSA is comparing us to before we finish this analysis.
SO:
The situation here is actually more dire than it these numbers imply. Since OSU has played with a lead much of the year, 4 of their 6 opponents had their fewest rushing attempts of the year vs. OSU. The upshot here is that our best rushing defense is getting an early lead.
Conclusion: If J. Ringer were healthy, MSU would probably have been able to run the ball. Without him, they may not.
OSU Rushing Offense: 151.50 ypg 46th in Div. IA
MSU Rushing Defense: 124.33 ypg 45th in Div. IA
Pretty mediocre on both sides, right? That's what your average blowhard statistician might tell you. But let's look examine each teams' opponents.MSU Rushing Defense: 124.33 ypg 45th in Div. IA
OSU opponents' average Rush Defense rank: 41.167
MSU opponents' average Rush Offense rank: 59.000
MSU opponents' average Rush Offense rank: 59.000
SO:
- OSU produced slightly above average numbers against above average competition.
- MSU produced slightly above average numbers against EXACTLY average competition.
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Remember, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
OSU Differential Rushing Offense: 188.0% 15th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Rushing Defense: 108.2% 46th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Rushing Defense: 108.2% 46th in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU gains 88.0% more yards than their opponents yielded to everyone else, on average.
- MSU gave up 8.2% more yards than their opponents gained vs. everyone else, on average.
Those numbers look great for Buckeye fans; but before we get too excited, let's give those numbers some context. Since DSA compares you to your opponents' opponents, let's look at how good those teams are:
OSU's Opponents' Opponents Rush Offense
- Average Traditional Rank: 72.333 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 72.625 in Div. IA
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Rush Defense
- Average Traditional Rank: 62.154 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 64.808 in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU is 88% better at running the ball than teams whose average ranking is 72+.
- MSU is 8% worse at defending the run than teams whose average ranking is 62+.
Conclusion: Expect OSU to be able to run the ball. This analysis does not account for the fact that MSU's leading tackler is out with an injury.
When the Buckeyes are on defense:
OSU Rushing Defense: 118.00 ypg 38th in Div. IA
MSU Rushing Offense: 194.00 ypg 17th in Div. IA
MSU Rushing Offense: 194.00 ypg 17th in Div. IA
Better than average for the Bucks, pretty good for Sparty. Again, let's look at SoS before we draw conclusions.
OSU opponents' average Rush Offense rank: 29.500
MSU opponents' average Rush Defense rank: 64.667
MSU opponents' average Rush Defense rank: 64.667
SO:
- OSU produced slightly above average numbers against very good competition. (Few teams EVER have a schedule with an AVERAGE rank that is that high.)
- MSU produced very good numbers against below average competition.
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Again, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
OSU Differential Rushing Defense: 74.6% 10th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Rushing Offense: 203.2% 11th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Rushing Offense: 203.2% 11th in Div. IA
SO:
- MSU gains more than twice as many yards than their opponents yield to everyone else, on average.
- OSU gives up less than 3/4 as many yards as their opponents gained vs. everyone else, on average.
That OSU rush defense doesn't look so bad now, does it? But let's look at who DSA is comparing us to before we finish this analysis.
OSU's Opponents' Opponents Rush Defense
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Rush Offense
- Average Traditional Rank: 78.042 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 70.708 in Div. IA
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Rush Offense
- Average Traditional Rank: 58.692 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 65.115 in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU is 25% better at defending the run than teams whose average ranking is 70+. *not great*
- MSU is more than twice as good at rushing the ball than teams with an average ranking of 58+.
The situation here is actually more dire than it these numbers imply. Since OSU has played with a lead much of the year, 4 of their 6 opponents had their fewest rushing attempts of the year vs. OSU. The upshot here is that our best rushing defense is getting an early lead.
Conclusion: If J. Ringer were healthy, MSU would probably have been able to run the ball. Without him, they may not.
Passing
When the Buckeyes are on offense:
A quick glance suggests that OSU should be able to move the ball through the air. This is especially so when you consider how many more yards OSU could have gained had they been inclined to build numbers rather than manage a championship season. In keeping with our established methods, look examine each teams' opponents.
SO:
Not much information there. Let's use DSA to look deeper. Remember, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
SO:
Again, those numbers look great for Buckeye fans. Again, we need to know what kind of teams we are being compared to in this analysis.
SO:
Conclusion: Recall that OSU can be expected to run the ball effectively vs. MSU. The above suggests that they will also be able to effectively throw the ball. At the nexus of these two exigencies is the ability to...Oh to heck with it. Paint the endzones, it's woodshed time.
When the Buckeyes are on defense:
Better than pretty good for the Bucks, better than average for Sparty. Again, let's look at SoS before we draw conclusions.
SO:
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Again, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
SO:
Interestingly, DSA taken out of context made OSU's rushing defense look better than we intuitively think it is and now we see it makes OSU's passing defense look worse than we've been thinking. Let's apply some context:
SO:
The fact that OSU plays with a lead much of the time skewed our rushing defense numbers down. Similarly, our passing defense numbers are skewed upward as other teams throw the ball to try to come back.
Since the offensive analysis suggests that we'll be able to move the ball; it seems fair to assume a better than even chance that we'll build a lead in this game. As this has been the case all year, DSA's implications for this part of the game would probably hold true, if not for one important fact.
Conclusion: The injury bug is likely to have as big an effect on MSU's passing game as on their running game. This is unfortunate for the Spartans; as the numbers suggested that this might have been an offensive shootout had they been healthy.
OSU Passing Offense: 235.167 ypg 31st in Div. IA
MSU Passing Defense: 209.833 ypg 70th in Div. IA
MSU Passing Defense: 209.833 ypg 70th in Div. IA
A quick glance suggests that OSU should be able to move the ball through the air. This is especially so when you consider how many more yards OSU could have gained had they been inclined to build numbers rather than manage a championship season. In keeping with our established methods, look examine each teams' opponents.
OSU opponents' average Pass Defense rank: 71.833
MSU opponents' average Pass Offense rank: 58.333
MSU opponents' average Pass Offense rank: 58.333
SO:
- OSU produced good numbers against above below average competition.
- MSU produced below average numbers against average competition.
Not much information there. Let's use DSA to look deeper. Remember, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
OSU Differential Passing Offense: 140.4% 36th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Passing Defense: 124.4% 66th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Passing Defense: 124.4% 66th in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU gains 40.4% more yards than their opponents yielded to everyone else, on average.
- MSU gave up 24.4% more yards than their opponents gained vs. everyone else, on average.
Again, those numbers look great for Buckeye fans. Again, we need to know what kind of teams we are being compared to in this analysis.
OSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Offense
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Defense
- Average Traditional Rank: 52.333 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 53.542 in Div. IA
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Defense
- Average Traditional Rank: 74.154 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 62.885 in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU produces 40% more yards through the air than teams who are slightly above average.
- MSU is 24% worse at defending the pass than teams whose average ranking is 62+.
Conclusion: Recall that OSU can be expected to run the ball effectively vs. MSU. The above suggests that they will also be able to effectively throw the ball. At the nexus of these two exigencies is the ability to...Oh to heck with it. Paint the endzones, it's woodshed time.
When the Buckeyes are on defense:
OSU Passing Defense: 182.667 ypg 36th in Div. IA
MSU Passing Offense: 219.00 ypg 45th in Div. IA
MSU Passing Offense: 219.00 ypg 45th in Div. IA
Better than pretty good for the Bucks, better than average for Sparty. Again, let's look at SoS before we draw conclusions.
OSU opponents' average Pass Offense rank: 63.000
MSU opponents' average Pass Defense rank: 69.667
MSU opponents' average Pass Defense rank: 69.667
SO:
- OSU produced good numbers against below average competition.
- MSU produced above average numbers against below average competition.
Now let's use DSA to look deeper. Again, DSA determines how well you did against your opponents compared to how well other teams did against them:
OSU Differential Passing Defense: 115.8% 46th in Div. IA
MSU Differential Passing Offense: 128.7% 51st in Div. IA
MSU Differential Passing Offense: 128.7% 51st in Div. IA
SO:
- MSU gains 28.7% more yards than their opponents yield to everyone else, on average.
- OSU gives up 15.8% more than yards than their opponents gain vs. everyone else, on average.
Interestingly, DSA taken out of context made OSU's rushing defense look better than we intuitively think it is and now we see it makes OSU's passing defense look worse than we've been thinking. Let's apply some context:
OSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Defense
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Offense
- Average Traditional Rank: 53.542 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 61.750 in Div. IA
MSU's Opponents' Opponents Pass Offense
- Average Traditional Rank: 58.885 in Div. IA
- Average Differential Rank: 59.577 in Div. IA
SO:
- OSU is 16% worse at defending the pass than average pass defenses
- MSU is 28-29% betterat throwing the ball than average pass offenses
The fact that OSU plays with a lead much of the time skewed our rushing defense numbers down. Similarly, our passing defense numbers are skewed upward as other teams throw the ball to try to come back.
Since the offensive analysis suggests that we'll be able to move the ball; it seems fair to assume a better than even chance that we'll build a lead in this game. As this has been the case all year, DSA's implications for this part of the game would probably hold true, if not for one important fact.
Conclusion: The injury bug is likely to have as big an effect on MSU's passing game as on their running game. This is unfortunate for the Spartans; as the numbers suggested that this might have been an offensive shootout had they been healthy.
Overall - Yards/Points
..........................OHIO STATE..rk.................MSU..........rk
Total Offense........386.67 ypg....33.............413.00 ypg....20
Diff. Total Offense..155.9%.........17.............155.5%........19
Total Defense........300.67 ypg....31.............334.17 ypg....55
Diff. Total Defense...95.1%.........11.............117.8%.........41
Scoring Offense.......32.83 ppg....17...............31.17 ppg....23
Diff. score Offense..199.0%.........11.............170.5%........23
Scoring Defense........9.33 ppg......1...............25.67 ppg....79
Diff. score Defense...40.7%...........2.............127.3%.........66
While looking at rushing and passing individually, and not considering the injury issue; this game appeared to be more even. Looking at points scored however, makes this game look a long way from close. How do we reconcile this?
It's not so hard really, when each teams' season is examined on a game-by-game basis.
OSU's best performances, in terms of Differential Scoring, came in their two biggest games. Against Texas, OSU scored 252% more points than Texas gives up on average. OSU's differential point total vs. the Hawkeyes was even better at 281%. The game-by-game analysis for OSU shows that this team can score well over twice as many points as a team gives up on average if they are so inclined. Usually, they just don't need to.
MSU's game-by-game analysis tells a different story. Before their annual melt-down game, which as you know occurred at Notre Dame this year; MSU was averaging well over 200% in differential scoring. Since then, they are eeking out just over 75% of the points that their opponents usually give up.
To be fair, this is still a talented team. Our prediction will take their overall numbers into account. If OSU can score early and make the crowd turn on the Spartan's, the prediction that follows won't begin to describe what might happen.
MATCH-UP
By Multiplying one team's average offense by the other team's Differential Defense provides one prediction for the outcome of the game. Multiplying the average defense by the other's Differential Offense provides another prediction.
OSU OFFENSE * MSU Differential Defense (osu output)
456 yards * 42 points
MSU OFFENSE * OSU Differential Defense (msu output)
393 yards * 13 points
MSU DEFENSE * OSU Differential Offense (osu output)
521 yards * 51 points
OSU DEFENSE * MSU Differential Offense (msu output)
468 yards * 16 points
So DSA provides the following prediction for Saturday's Game:
tOSU: 456-521 yards and 42-51 points
MSU: 393-468 yards and 13-16 points
As has been stated, these numbers take Michigan State's entire season into account. If this team shows up ready to play, they can produce better than that offensively against this OSU defense irrespective of their #1 ranking in scoring defense. But if this team follows the trend of recent Spartan teams, this could get very ugly.
The bad news for the Spartans is that, whichever Spartan team shows up; OSU's offense has proven that they can score however many points they need to win. This season, that is the only context that really matters.
MSU Traditions
It's no secret that Michigan State fans are hanging their heads. When asking them about their traditions, we received answers such as "we love to blow a two-to three-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter" and "we have a tradition of letting the coaches screw it up." In all of their mid-season doom and gloom, however, the Spartans have a rich history and tradition, one of which is beating ranked teams on their turf. Let's hope this doesn't happen on Saturday!
- Starting as a club sport in 1884, football gained varsity status in 1896. In the 1950s, MSU led the nation in desegregation, allowing black athletes in all sports.
- The team competes in Spartan Stadium, a 75,005 person football stadium in the center of campus.
- Michigan State has won or shared a total of 6 national championships (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965 and 1966) and nine Big Ten championships. The team is known for placing some of the most talented players in the NFL, where currently 20 former Spartans are playing.
- MSU's traditional archrival is the University of Michigan, against whom they compete for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. MSU is traditionally the underdog, with a 28-66-5 record in the annual game. The last Michigan State victory was in 2001 in Spartan Stadium, a game that has since been called Clockgate. (The game ended on a controversial last-second play where Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a touchdown pass to T. J. Duckett to win the game. The Wolverines had contended that the clock had run out of time before the last play of the game took place; video evidence of this is disputed. This led to a Big Ten rule change that control of the game clock would be held by a game official instead of a school representative.)
- MSU's other trophy games include:
- Land Grant Trophy - Penn State (Started in 1993, this game is played during last week of Big Ten Conference play. The trophy was designed by former Michigan State coach, George Perles. Penn State and Michigan State University are the nation's oldest land-grant universities, hence the name for the trophy.)
- Megaphone Trophy - Notre Dame (Michigan State is one of three Big Ten teams to have an annual non-conference football game against Notre Dame. MSU's record against the Fighting Irish is 25-43-1.)
- Old Brass Spittoon - Indiana Hoosiers (Started in 1950)
- Sparty is MSU's mascot, albeit a fairly recent addition to MSU sports history. (He was introduced for the first time in 1989.) In the fall of 1995, Sparty leaped into national celebrity in the same dramatic fashion that gymnast Kerri Strug vaulted into Olympian history at the Atlanta games. It happened when ESPN showed Sparty holding Strug "Beauty and the Beast" style in its national advertising campaign for "SportsCenter." That same year Sparty won the "leadership" award from his peers at the nation's largest mascot camp Milwaukee, WI.
- Standing at the entrance way to Michigan State's athletic establishment is "The Spartan," a huge statue which symbolizes the university's athletic teams. Popularly known as "Sparty," the statue was dedicated in June of 1945. It stands ten feet-six inches, and is mounted on a brick-and-concrete base five feet-four inches high. "The Spartan" weighs three tons and is one of the largest free standing ceramic figures in the world.
- Every home game against Michigan the band participates in "Sparty Watch" where the statue of Sparty is guarded 24 hours a day for the week before the game by band members.
- The MSU Marching Band holds a pregame warm-up concert on the Abbot Field about 1.5 to 2 hours before the game, then marches past the Spartan statue to the stadium.
- MSU's band is very similar to TBDBITL in instrumentation all brass, percussion, and saxophones. No squeaky-squawky flutes, etc.
- The Spartan Marching Band coming onto the field is a big tradition. They run onto the field doing a "kickstep" with the percussion playing, and the drum majors lean way back and touch their heads to the ground (much like TBDBITL).
- Entering the stadium, the MSU band is flanked on both sides by 11 members who bear flags, one representing each team in the Big 10. Some fans contend that on the day of the MSU/Michigan game, the band member who bears the Michigan flag flies it upside-down, as a jab to their in-state rivals. (Others contend that the flag is turned upside-down for the entire week of practice, up through the morning practice on Saturday, but that it is fixed prior to the march to the stadium.)
- Before the game, the football team always walks from the Kellogg Center to the stadium. They run out onto the field to "Thunderstruck."
- The visiting Director of Bands directs the home band in the "National Anthem."
- When the Spartans get a first down, the fans yell "1-2-3 FIRST DOWN BIOTCH!" (a relatively new tradition)
- One of the fraternities rings a bell after every point they score.
- "Zeke the Wonder Dog," a black lab, catches Frisbees at halftime, and sometimes during TV timeouts and at the end of quarters. He has been around MSU since the 1970s (obviously in different incarnations).
- When they win games, the team is encouraged to sing the fight song with the fans. This is a John L.Smith thing, though, so they don't know how long it will last.
- According to our own VprHis, "Lou the Deer" is a favorite topic/pseudomascot for the Red Cedar Message Board (SpartanTailgate.com) crowd. It's a plastic deer that someone mounted on a pole for the College Gameday show. He wears an MSU helmet and MSU flag as a cape. For a photo and more information, visit www.louthedeer.com.
The Lighter Side
You feel it don't you? You're worried about the Michigan State game. Don't lie. I can tell. Truth is, I felt it too when I woke up Sunday morning after the Buckeyes sent the Green Bowlers packing. I think we all feel it. OSU is on a crash course with a National Championship, right? And ... there's Sparty. Admit it ... right now you're more worried about Sparty than you will be about Michigan when November 18 comes around. The reason you feel this way: 1998, of course (for those old enough, 1974 probably comes to mind as well.) Rest easy, fellow Buckeyes. This isn't 1998. This isn't 1974. Here are 10 reasons why Sparty won't pull off the impossible this Saturday up in East Lansing.
10. The most obvious reason. Ohio State is far and away the better team. There are superior players at every position. Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez, Quinn Pitcock, Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, the list goes on. Michigan State has, at best, a couple of better than average players. In line with this, of course, Ohio State has beaten the #2 team in the nation, on the road, at night. Ohio State avenged its loss to Penn State. Ohio State silenced the gold clad Hawkeyes. They've taken care of business against the possible MAC champion. Their worst win was by 17 over one of the better teams in the nation. I don't need to tell you, because everyone here knows what they've done. All I need to say about Michigan State is this - they lost to Illinois.
9. Michigan State has played Michigan and Ohio State back to back nine times in its history. Michigan State has managed to beat Ohio State exactly 3 times in games the followed the Michigan game. Those three times? 1951, 1965, 1966. As well as having last occurred 40 years ago, those Sparty squads had a combined record of 28-1-1. (1951 Sparty was 9 - 0, 1965 they went 10 - 1, and 1966 saw them end at 9 - 0 - 1.) Conversely, in 1951 Ohio State was 4 - 3 - 2, in 1965 they were 7 - 2 and 1966 OSU finished 4 - 5 (that's a combined 15 - 10 - 2) Michigan's record in those years: 4 - 5, 4 - 6, 6 - 4 (Combined 14 - 15) As you can see, what it takes is a superior Sparty club taking on weak Michigan and Ohio State teams. Well, neither Michigan nor Ohio State is weak in 2006. Likewise, Sparty is closer to Lake Superior than they are to fielding a superior football team.
8. Believe in mojo? How about this one. In 1974 and in 1998 Ohio State entered the Sparty game at 8 - 0, ranked #1 in the land. Both games were played in November (November 9, 1974 and November 7, 1998.) Well, while it's true that Ohio State is again ranked #1 in the nation, a quick look at the calendar reveals it's only October. Ohio State has not yet won it's 8th game. Any blowhard statistician can see that the stars are simply not aligned for Sparty in 2006.
7. Perhaps more importantly, Ohio State won't lose in 2006 because of what happened in 1998. What do I mean? In 1998, the pain of 1974 had long since departed the program. In fact, the players on the 1998 roster had for the most part had not yet even been born in 1974. There was, in short, no memory of what happened "way back when." The fact that Ohio State's coach at the time was not a "born and bred" Buckeye only intensified the same. Indeed, in 1998 Ohio State wasn't the least bit concerned about Sparty. But, in 2006, the pain of 1998 is still felt. While the current Buckeye players were in grade school in 1998, it was not so long ago that they'd call it "ancient history." What I'm getting at is this, because 1998 is in our recent memory, Sparty is not overlooked these days.
6. While we all think of Michigan State as something of a "giant killer" owing to the two times they've beaten Ohio State when Ohio State was number 1, the fact is, they've really only beaten Ohio State one time when the Buckeyes were the best team in the land. While the record books show Michigan State winning the 1974 contest, the plain fact is they didn't win. Here's what happened. OSU is at the Sparty 5, but out of timeouts.. Champ Henson plunges within inches of the goal line. When the play ended, there were 29 seconds remaining. Sparty, being Sparty, was very slow to get up following Henson's run. Then, when Ohio State was finally able to snap the football, it squirted between Corny Greene's legs. But, Brian Baschnagel picked up the fumble and carried it in for the winning touchdown. One ref signaled TD, and another said time had expired. 46 minutes later, Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke announced that Michigan State had won the game 16-13. My point in reliving this particular atrocity is this: Michigan State doesn't have a legitimate history of beating great Ohio State teams. Yes, they did win in 1998. The reality is, that was a fluke.
5. Michigan State is ... well ... Michigan State. As I alluded to in the Iowa week, every team has a personality. Michigan State is known for two things. 1) Every year, they have one knockout punch in them. 2) If the punch succeeds and they beat a superior team, they lose the next week, regardless of opponent and if the punch fails, the heartbreak causes them to absolutely fall apart. This year's heartbreaker came against Notre Dame. Michigan State used their KO punch on September 23. Up 16 with less than 9:00 to play, Michigan State was poised to knock off the Domers, then ranked #2. Of course, we all know how that one turned out. Michigan State, believing the Domers were down for the count, had nothing left when Quinn and Company got up off the mat. True to form, the heartbreak lead to their losing to a vastly inferior Illinois squad. After that, it became clear.... Michigan State will be mailing it in the rest of the year.
4. Compounding the problem(s) for Michigan State is injuries. They've lost RB Javon Ringer for the year. This in and of itself is huge. First, Ringer provided Sparty with a run threat that had to be respected. Second, Ringer sports a bit of a chip on his shoulder about Ohio State. The kind of chip that makes him desire to perform at an exceptional level. The kind of chip that a team might rally around, once they see the desire in his eyes and performance on the field. QB Drew Stanton is nursing sore ribs and won't be at 100% Several defensive players are banged up. Finally, perhaps sealing the deal, six foot six WR Matt Trannon was carted off the field late in the game against Michigan. He's listed as out this weekend. What Sparty needs is as many weapons as they can get, and they'll be missing two of their most potent.
3. Teams resemble their coaches. Michigan State's coach has his mind on the wrong things. Of course it was already a forgone conclusion that Michigan State would lose to Illinois owing to the "knockout punch/heartbreak" syndrome, but complicating matters for Sparty is the fact that it's obvious John L. Smith is far more interested in taking jabs at Charlie Weis than coaching his team. Now, I admit, I'm in favor of jabs at Chuckie. But, the reality is, any coach that simply can't "let it go" and instead takes to slapping himself in the face in post game interviews where his team just lost to the worst team they'll face all year cannot be expected to have his men ready to go. John L, so Weis lied about being punch in a melee. Fine. Move on. Worse, in successive weeks, Sparty was far more interested in "Defending their logo" after the game than they were in actually winning the game. Charlie Weis may be a lot of things, but he's not looking to make his men in to thugs. Likewise, he's apparently responsible enough to teach his players to act with class, even if he himself is more arrogant and abrasive than many like. Hate Notre Dame if you want, but I think we can agree that they're not classless. Not so with Michigan State. Sparty... you showed your classless nature by starting this whole flag planting business, apparently with the blessing of your nitwit coach who was seemingly more worried about whether ND showed up with the Megaphone Trophy or not. Flag planting. This is the kind of thing I'd expect from the camo-clad Miami of Florida teams. Of course, those Miami teams actually had the skill to back up their arrogance and lack of class. In short, they were real thugs. Why you'd want to be thugs, I don't understand. But the fact that you can't even begin to back it up makes you look worse than ridiculous.
2. John L. Smith Part II. Here's a guy who's teams are best known for being highly penalized, undisciplined, wannabe thugs. This should come as little surprise, as Smith trained under Dennis Erickson. I think Smith teaches thuggery to make up for his lack of knowledge with Xs and Os. He makes poor football decisions. Some illustrations. Last year against Ohio State, with a lead and momentum, he scrambles to get his FG unit on the field rather than just instructing his players to take a knee - result: Blocked kick returned for TD. Against Notre Dame this year, rather than pounding the ball at Notre Dame, running the clock, he has Stanton throw - result: Interception returned for the game winning TD. The list goes on and on. Unlike former Sparty coach Nick Saban, Smith doesn't put his players in winning position on the field. He relies on his players being "feared" not for their skill, but for their willingness to take the cheap shot. Such a philosophy might work 60% of the time in Conference USA. But, in the Big 10, where hard hitting big boy football is the tradition, its a recipe for mediocrity.
And finally, the number one reason why Ohio State will beat Michigan State ...
In stark contrast to John L. Smith is Jim Tressel. Jim Tressel doesn't care about any of this stuff I've written. He is never going to slap himself in a presser, no matter how "slighted" he might ever feel by an opposing coach. Jim Tressel isn't going to instruct his team to plant a flag in the Sparty S, nor would doing so even occur to his players. As I said, teams are a reflection of their coach. Jim Tressel doesn't care about showmanship and one-ups-manship. Jim Tressel cares about putting his teams in the position for greatness. Jim Tressel knows that to do that, you need to bring your best game every single week, no matter how "down" an opponent might appear. Jim Tressel doesn't just manage individual games, he manages entire seasons and his players trust his judgment. Moreover, Jim Tressel is well aware of the 1998 game (and 1974 for that matter) and how to use that as a motivational tool to get his point home about precisely why Ohio State had better not play flat up in East Lansing. Yes, all things being equal, Jim Tressel is the difference maker. What I mean is, this game, on paper is 1998 all over again. Ohio State is the better skilled unit. But, the difference between John Cooper's staff and Nick Saban's staff was not nearly as vast as the difference between Jim Tressel and staff and Cowboy John L. Smith and staff.
10. The most obvious reason. Ohio State is far and away the better team. There are superior players at every position. Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez, Quinn Pitcock, Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, the list goes on. Michigan State has, at best, a couple of better than average players. In line with this, of course, Ohio State has beaten the #2 team in the nation, on the road, at night. Ohio State avenged its loss to Penn State. Ohio State silenced the gold clad Hawkeyes. They've taken care of business against the possible MAC champion. Their worst win was by 17 over one of the better teams in the nation. I don't need to tell you, because everyone here knows what they've done. All I need to say about Michigan State is this - they lost to Illinois.
9. Michigan State has played Michigan and Ohio State back to back nine times in its history. Michigan State has managed to beat Ohio State exactly 3 times in games the followed the Michigan game. Those three times? 1951, 1965, 1966. As well as having last occurred 40 years ago, those Sparty squads had a combined record of 28-1-1. (1951 Sparty was 9 - 0, 1965 they went 10 - 1, and 1966 saw them end at 9 - 0 - 1.) Conversely, in 1951 Ohio State was 4 - 3 - 2, in 1965 they were 7 - 2 and 1966 OSU finished 4 - 5 (that's a combined 15 - 10 - 2) Michigan's record in those years: 4 - 5, 4 - 6, 6 - 4 (Combined 14 - 15) As you can see, what it takes is a superior Sparty club taking on weak Michigan and Ohio State teams. Well, neither Michigan nor Ohio State is weak in 2006. Likewise, Sparty is closer to Lake Superior than they are to fielding a superior football team.
8. Believe in mojo? How about this one. In 1974 and in 1998 Ohio State entered the Sparty game at 8 - 0, ranked #1 in the land. Both games were played in November (November 9, 1974 and November 7, 1998.) Well, while it's true that Ohio State is again ranked #1 in the nation, a quick look at the calendar reveals it's only October. Ohio State has not yet won it's 8th game. Any blowhard statistician can see that the stars are simply not aligned for Sparty in 2006.
7. Perhaps more importantly, Ohio State won't lose in 2006 because of what happened in 1998. What do I mean? In 1998, the pain of 1974 had long since departed the program. In fact, the players on the 1998 roster had for the most part had not yet even been born in 1974. There was, in short, no memory of what happened "way back when." The fact that Ohio State's coach at the time was not a "born and bred" Buckeye only intensified the same. Indeed, in 1998 Ohio State wasn't the least bit concerned about Sparty. But, in 2006, the pain of 1998 is still felt. While the current Buckeye players were in grade school in 1998, it was not so long ago that they'd call it "ancient history." What I'm getting at is this, because 1998 is in our recent memory, Sparty is not overlooked these days.
6. While we all think of Michigan State as something of a "giant killer" owing to the two times they've beaten Ohio State when Ohio State was number 1, the fact is, they've really only beaten Ohio State one time when the Buckeyes were the best team in the land. While the record books show Michigan State winning the 1974 contest, the plain fact is they didn't win. Here's what happened. OSU is at the Sparty 5, but out of timeouts.. Champ Henson plunges within inches of the goal line. When the play ended, there were 29 seconds remaining. Sparty, being Sparty, was very slow to get up following Henson's run. Then, when Ohio State was finally able to snap the football, it squirted between Corny Greene's legs. But, Brian Baschnagel picked up the fumble and carried it in for the winning touchdown. One ref signaled TD, and another said time had expired. 46 minutes later, Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke announced that Michigan State had won the game 16-13. My point in reliving this particular atrocity is this: Michigan State doesn't have a legitimate history of beating great Ohio State teams. Yes, they did win in 1998. The reality is, that was a fluke.
5. Michigan State is ... well ... Michigan State. As I alluded to in the Iowa week, every team has a personality. Michigan State is known for two things. 1) Every year, they have one knockout punch in them. 2) If the punch succeeds and they beat a superior team, they lose the next week, regardless of opponent and if the punch fails, the heartbreak causes them to absolutely fall apart. This year's heartbreaker came against Notre Dame. Michigan State used their KO punch on September 23. Up 16 with less than 9:00 to play, Michigan State was poised to knock off the Domers, then ranked #2. Of course, we all know how that one turned out. Michigan State, believing the Domers were down for the count, had nothing left when Quinn and Company got up off the mat. True to form, the heartbreak lead to their losing to a vastly inferior Illinois squad. After that, it became clear.... Michigan State will be mailing it in the rest of the year.
4. Compounding the problem(s) for Michigan State is injuries. They've lost RB Javon Ringer for the year. This in and of itself is huge. First, Ringer provided Sparty with a run threat that had to be respected. Second, Ringer sports a bit of a chip on his shoulder about Ohio State. The kind of chip that makes him desire to perform at an exceptional level. The kind of chip that a team might rally around, once they see the desire in his eyes and performance on the field. QB Drew Stanton is nursing sore ribs and won't be at 100% Several defensive players are banged up. Finally, perhaps sealing the deal, six foot six WR Matt Trannon was carted off the field late in the game against Michigan. He's listed as out this weekend. What Sparty needs is as many weapons as they can get, and they'll be missing two of their most potent.
3. Teams resemble their coaches. Michigan State's coach has his mind on the wrong things. Of course it was already a forgone conclusion that Michigan State would lose to Illinois owing to the "knockout punch/heartbreak" syndrome, but complicating matters for Sparty is the fact that it's obvious John L. Smith is far more interested in taking jabs at Charlie Weis than coaching his team. Now, I admit, I'm in favor of jabs at Chuckie. But, the reality is, any coach that simply can't "let it go" and instead takes to slapping himself in the face in post game interviews where his team just lost to the worst team they'll face all year cannot be expected to have his men ready to go. John L, so Weis lied about being punch in a melee. Fine. Move on. Worse, in successive weeks, Sparty was far more interested in "Defending their logo" after the game than they were in actually winning the game. Charlie Weis may be a lot of things, but he's not looking to make his men in to thugs. Likewise, he's apparently responsible enough to teach his players to act with class, even if he himself is more arrogant and abrasive than many like. Hate Notre Dame if you want, but I think we can agree that they're not classless. Not so with Michigan State. Sparty... you showed your classless nature by starting this whole flag planting business, apparently with the blessing of your nitwit coach who was seemingly more worried about whether ND showed up with the Megaphone Trophy or not. Flag planting. This is the kind of thing I'd expect from the camo-clad Miami of Florida teams. Of course, those Miami teams actually had the skill to back up their arrogance and lack of class. In short, they were real thugs. Why you'd want to be thugs, I don't understand. But the fact that you can't even begin to back it up makes you look worse than ridiculous.
2. John L. Smith Part II. Here's a guy who's teams are best known for being highly penalized, undisciplined, wannabe thugs. This should come as little surprise, as Smith trained under Dennis Erickson. I think Smith teaches thuggery to make up for his lack of knowledge with Xs and Os. He makes poor football decisions. Some illustrations. Last year against Ohio State, with a lead and momentum, he scrambles to get his FG unit on the field rather than just instructing his players to take a knee - result: Blocked kick returned for TD. Against Notre Dame this year, rather than pounding the ball at Notre Dame, running the clock, he has Stanton throw - result: Interception returned for the game winning TD. The list goes on and on. Unlike former Sparty coach Nick Saban, Smith doesn't put his players in winning position on the field. He relies on his players being "feared" not for their skill, but for their willingness to take the cheap shot. Such a philosophy might work 60% of the time in Conference USA. But, in the Big 10, where hard hitting big boy football is the tradition, its a recipe for mediocrity.
And finally, the number one reason why Ohio State will beat Michigan State ...
In stark contrast to John L. Smith is Jim Tressel. Jim Tressel doesn't care about any of this stuff I've written. He is never going to slap himself in a presser, no matter how "slighted" he might ever feel by an opposing coach. Jim Tressel isn't going to instruct his team to plant a flag in the Sparty S, nor would doing so even occur to his players. As I said, teams are a reflection of their coach. Jim Tressel doesn't care about showmanship and one-ups-manship. Jim Tressel cares about putting his teams in the position for greatness. Jim Tressel knows that to do that, you need to bring your best game every single week, no matter how "down" an opponent might appear. Jim Tressel doesn't just manage individual games, he manages entire seasons and his players trust his judgment. Moreover, Jim Tressel is well aware of the 1998 game (and 1974 for that matter) and how to use that as a motivational tool to get his point home about precisely why Ohio State had better not play flat up in East Lansing. Yes, all things being equal, Jim Tressel is the difference maker. What I mean is, this game, on paper is 1998 all over again. Ohio State is the better skilled unit. But, the difference between John Cooper's staff and Nick Saban's staff was not nearly as vast as the difference between Jim Tressel and staff and Cowboy John L. Smith and staff.
Historical Data
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) Founded in 1855
Football 1st Season: 1896
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Constructed: 1923
Seating Capacity: 75,005
Playing Surface: Astroturf
Conference: Big Ten Conference since 1953 (1896-1906 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, 1907-1952 Independent)
Colors: Green & White
Mascot: Spartan (Sparty)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 6 Big Ten Titles: 1953*, 1965, 1966, 1978*, 1987, 1990* (*=Co-Champions), in addition to 2 MIAA titles in 1903 & 1905
Consensus All-Americans: 26 (23 different players as of 2004)
College Hall-of-Famers: 9
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 2 (Herb Adderley, Joe DeLamielleure)
Award Winners: 2 AFCA COY, 1 Robinson COY, 1 Bryant COY, 1 Outland, 1 Maxwell, 1 Butkus, 1 Lombardi, 1 Biletnikoff
National Championships: 8 Non-Recognized Championships, 3 Recognized Championships (1952 both AP & UPI/Coaches, 1965 UPI/Coaches, 1966 NFF)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-20 years, Coaches-19 years
All-Time Records
Michigan State's overall record through last week is 593-403-44, for a winning percentage of .591. The Spartans overall record in Big Ten play is 226-213-13 (.514). Michigan State has played in 17 bowl games, with 7 wins and 10 losses; the Spartans have played in four Rose Bowls, beating USC in 1987 (20-17) and UCLA in 1953 (28-20) and 1955 (17-14), but losing to the Bruins in 1965 (12-14).
Clearly, Michigan State's glory years were during the regime of head coach Clarence "Biggie" Munn, who guided the program from 1947 to 1953, compiling a record of 54-9-2 (.846 winning percentage) and winning one Big Ten and three national championships during that time. Munn's successor, Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty, continued the success, winning two more Big Ten and four more national championships between 1954 and 1966, before finally retiring after the 1972 season. However, during the late 1960's, Ohio State and Michigan once again began to assert their dominance over the Big Ten, and Michigan State has been a "second tier" program for much of the past four decades.
Championships
Michigan State was an independent program from 1907 until 1952, after which time the Spartans joined the Big Ten Conference. Since then, MSU has won three outright conference championships (1965, 1966, 1987), and three co-championships (1953, 1978, 1990). In the early days (1896-1906), Michigan State competed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where the Spartans played such powerhouse programs as the Michigan School for the Deaf; MSU won the MIAA league championship in 1903 (co-champ) and 1905.
Michigan State has three recognized national championships to its credit: 1952 (9-0; AP & UPI); 1965 (10-1; UPI); and 1966 (9-0-1; NFF); the Spartans also lay claim to championships in 1951 (9-0); 1953 (9-1); 1955 (9-1); and 1957 (8-1). During the "glory days" of Michigan State football (1950-1966), the Spartans amassed a record of 117-37-4 (a .753 winning percentage), with a total of seven national championships (three recognized). Michigan State has never even come close to that level of greatness, either before or since their incredible 17-year run during the 1950's and 60's. In fact, from 1967 to date, Michigan State has posted an overall record of just 217-218-9 (a .499 winning pct), with only sixteen winning seasons during that forty-year span.
More important to Ohio State fans are the two national championships that Michigan State "cost" the Buckeyes. In 1974, the Buckeyes, coming off an undefeated season and an impressive Rose Bowl victory over Southern Cal, were the clear number one team in the land. That season, the Buckeyes took a perfect 8-0-0 record into East Lansing to play a mediocre Sparty team (4-3-1); the game was supposed to be a romp in Ohio State's favor, as the seemingly invincible Buckeyes had outscored their opposition 360-75 through that point in the season. Surprisingly, the Spartans played a tough game throughout, and the Buckeyes led only 13 to 9 in the fourth quarter. With about three minutes left on the clock, Michigan State was backed up to their own 12-yard line. With the Spartans down to their last gasp, tailback Levi Jackson ripped off an 88-yard touchdown run, the second-longest rushing play against Ohio State in the history of Buckeye football. Now trailing 16-13, the stunned Buckeye squad mounted their own desperation drive. With just 29 seconds left, fullback Champ Henson was stopped inches short of the goal line (although photographic evidence indicates that Henson did in fact cross the line). Having no time outs left, the Buckeyes could not stop the clock, and the Spartan defenders took an inordinate amount of time removing themselves from the pile. With the clock about to strike zero, Ohio State quarterback Cornelius Greene called for the snap but fumbled the football between his legs. Amidst the confusion, Buckeye wingback Brian Baschnagel scooped up the ball and ran it into the endzone, and the Buckeyes had narrowly escaped disaster. Or had they? While one official signaled "Touchdown!" another indicated that time had expired prior to the final snap. Without coming to a meeting of the minds, the officials ran off of the field and holed up in their hotel rooms, waiting for someone else to decide the final outcome. Meanwhile, the Spartan fans, believing that their team had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in school history, stormed the field and tore down both goal posts. Confusion reigned for nearly an hour, until Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke made the final decision on the matter: given the indisputable facts - that the field was now unplayable due to the postgame mayhem, which would undoubtedly become a full-fledged riot if the Spartans were denied the victory - the Machievellian Duke weighed his options and decided that the most politically correct result was to award the game to the jubilant hometown fans (not exactly the kind of justice that John "Duke" Wayne would have meted out). Thus, the Buckeyes' season, and potential national championship, was ruined by a career bureaucrat.
Fast forward to 1998. The Buckeyes are once again the consensus number one team in the country. The Buckeyes are once again rolling through their schedule with ease, having outscored their opponents 306 to 72 in compiling a perfect 8-0 record. The Buckeyes are once again playing a mediocre Michigan State team late in the season. And, once again, the Buckeyes manage to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. Approximately half way through the third quarter, OSU is pummeling MSU, 24 to 9, and the Spartans are punting in the shadow of their own goal post. The Sparty punter (some guy named Craig Jarrett) shanks one, meaning that the Bucks will get the ball in Michigan State territory with an excellent chance to pad the already lopsided score. Or will they? Freshman defensive back Nate Clements isn't paying attention, and the ball hits him in the foot - FUMBLE! An alert Spartan player falls on the ball, and Michigan State is back in business. Sparty quarterback Bill Burke now goes unconscious and channels the spirit of Bobby Layne, who takes over his body and makes throws that Burke could only dream of. Michigan State promptly drives down the field and scores, closing the gap to 24-15, OSU. An Ohio State fumble leads to an MSU field goal: 24-18, OSU. An Ohio State punt down to the MSU seven, and Bobby Layne Burke leads the Spartans on a 93-yard touchdown drive, completing four straight passes for 78 yards in the process: 25-24, MSU. Another Ohio State fumble (one of four on the day) leads to another Michigan State field goal: 28-24, MSU. With 5:45 left to play, the Buckeyes are stuffed on 4th-and-1, and the Spartans begin to run some clock. The OSU defense forces a punt, and the offense now has the ball at midfield with less than two minutes to find paydirt and reclaim the victory. Buckeye quarterback Joe Germaine hits two straight passes, getting the ball down to the MSU 15-yard line, but then somehow misfires on four straight - game over, season over, career over. Although head coach John Cooper managed to hang on for a couple of more years, his Buckeye career officially ended on November 7, 1998, the day that 28-point underdog Michigan State invaded The Shoe and beat the unbeatable Buckeyes.
Notable Players and Coaches
Throughout their history, the Spartans have had 26 Consensus All-Americans, nine members of the College Football Hall-of-Famers (including players LB George Webster, DL Bubba Smith, and LB Brad Van Pelt, along with coaches Biggie Munn, Duffy Daugherty, and Charlie Bachman), and two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Herb Adderley and Joe DeLamielleure). Although no Michigan State player has ever won the Heisman Trophy, several Spartans have won major award: linebacker Percy Snow won both the Lombardi (best lineman) and the Butkus (best linebacker) in 1989; linebacker Brad van Pelt won the Maxwell (best player) in 1972; wide receiver Charles Rogers won the Biletnikoff (best receiver) in 2002; and Ed Bagdon won the Outland (best interior lineman) in 1949; Biggie Munn won Coach of the Year honors in 1952, and Duffy Daugherty earned the same recognition in 1955.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Constructed: 1923
Seating Capacity: 75,005
Playing Surface: Astroturf
Conference: Big Ten Conference since 1953 (1896-1906 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, 1907-1952 Independent)
Colors: Green & White
Mascot: Spartan (Sparty)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 6 Big Ten Titles: 1953*, 1965, 1966, 1978*, 1987, 1990* (*=Co-Champions), in addition to 2 MIAA titles in 1903 & 1905
Consensus All-Americans: 26 (23 different players as of 2004)
College Hall-of-Famers: 9
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 2 (Herb Adderley, Joe DeLamielleure)
Award Winners: 2 AFCA COY, 1 Robinson COY, 1 Bryant COY, 1 Outland, 1 Maxwell, 1 Butkus, 1 Lombardi, 1 Biletnikoff
National Championships: 8 Non-Recognized Championships, 3 Recognized Championships (1952 both AP & UPI/Coaches, 1965 UPI/Coaches, 1966 NFF)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-20 years, Coaches-19 years
All-Time Records
Michigan State's overall record through last week is 593-403-44, for a winning percentage of .591. The Spartans overall record in Big Ten play is 226-213-13 (.514). Michigan State has played in 17 bowl games, with 7 wins and 10 losses; the Spartans have played in four Rose Bowls, beating USC in 1987 (20-17) and UCLA in 1953 (28-20) and 1955 (17-14), but losing to the Bruins in 1965 (12-14).
Clearly, Michigan State's glory years were during the regime of head coach Clarence "Biggie" Munn, who guided the program from 1947 to 1953, compiling a record of 54-9-2 (.846 winning percentage) and winning one Big Ten and three national championships during that time. Munn's successor, Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty, continued the success, winning two more Big Ten and four more national championships between 1954 and 1966, before finally retiring after the 1972 season. However, during the late 1960's, Ohio State and Michigan once again began to assert their dominance over the Big Ten, and Michigan State has been a "second tier" program for much of the past four decades.
Championships
Michigan State was an independent program from 1907 until 1952, after which time the Spartans joined the Big Ten Conference. Since then, MSU has won three outright conference championships (1965, 1966, 1987), and three co-championships (1953, 1978, 1990). In the early days (1896-1906), Michigan State competed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where the Spartans played such powerhouse programs as the Michigan School for the Deaf; MSU won the MIAA league championship in 1903 (co-champ) and 1905.
Michigan State has three recognized national championships to its credit: 1952 (9-0; AP & UPI); 1965 (10-1; UPI); and 1966 (9-0-1; NFF); the Spartans also lay claim to championships in 1951 (9-0); 1953 (9-1); 1955 (9-1); and 1957 (8-1). During the "glory days" of Michigan State football (1950-1966), the Spartans amassed a record of 117-37-4 (a .753 winning percentage), with a total of seven national championships (three recognized). Michigan State has never even come close to that level of greatness, either before or since their incredible 17-year run during the 1950's and 60's. In fact, from 1967 to date, Michigan State has posted an overall record of just 217-218-9 (a .499 winning pct), with only sixteen winning seasons during that forty-year span.
More important to Ohio State fans are the two national championships that Michigan State "cost" the Buckeyes. In 1974, the Buckeyes, coming off an undefeated season and an impressive Rose Bowl victory over Southern Cal, were the clear number one team in the land. That season, the Buckeyes took a perfect 8-0-0 record into East Lansing to play a mediocre Sparty team (4-3-1); the game was supposed to be a romp in Ohio State's favor, as the seemingly invincible Buckeyes had outscored their opposition 360-75 through that point in the season. Surprisingly, the Spartans played a tough game throughout, and the Buckeyes led only 13 to 9 in the fourth quarter. With about three minutes left on the clock, Michigan State was backed up to their own 12-yard line. With the Spartans down to their last gasp, tailback Levi Jackson ripped off an 88-yard touchdown run, the second-longest rushing play against Ohio State in the history of Buckeye football. Now trailing 16-13, the stunned Buckeye squad mounted their own desperation drive. With just 29 seconds left, fullback Champ Henson was stopped inches short of the goal line (although photographic evidence indicates that Henson did in fact cross the line). Having no time outs left, the Buckeyes could not stop the clock, and the Spartan defenders took an inordinate amount of time removing themselves from the pile. With the clock about to strike zero, Ohio State quarterback Cornelius Greene called for the snap but fumbled the football between his legs. Amidst the confusion, Buckeye wingback Brian Baschnagel scooped up the ball and ran it into the endzone, and the Buckeyes had narrowly escaped disaster. Or had they? While one official signaled "Touchdown!" another indicated that time had expired prior to the final snap. Without coming to a meeting of the minds, the officials ran off of the field and holed up in their hotel rooms, waiting for someone else to decide the final outcome. Meanwhile, the Spartan fans, believing that their team had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in school history, stormed the field and tore down both goal posts. Confusion reigned for nearly an hour, until Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke made the final decision on the matter: given the indisputable facts - that the field was now unplayable due to the postgame mayhem, which would undoubtedly become a full-fledged riot if the Spartans were denied the victory - the Machievellian Duke weighed his options and decided that the most politically correct result was to award the game to the jubilant hometown fans (not exactly the kind of justice that John "Duke" Wayne would have meted out). Thus, the Buckeyes' season, and potential national championship, was ruined by a career bureaucrat.
Fast forward to 1998. The Buckeyes are once again the consensus number one team in the country. The Buckeyes are once again rolling through their schedule with ease, having outscored their opponents 306 to 72 in compiling a perfect 8-0 record. The Buckeyes are once again playing a mediocre Michigan State team late in the season. And, once again, the Buckeyes manage to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. Approximately half way through the third quarter, OSU is pummeling MSU, 24 to 9, and the Spartans are punting in the shadow of their own goal post. The Sparty punter (some guy named Craig Jarrett) shanks one, meaning that the Bucks will get the ball in Michigan State territory with an excellent chance to pad the already lopsided score. Or will they? Freshman defensive back Nate Clements isn't paying attention, and the ball hits him in the foot - FUMBLE! An alert Spartan player falls on the ball, and Michigan State is back in business. Sparty quarterback Bill Burke now goes unconscious and channels the spirit of Bobby Layne, who takes over his body and makes throws that Burke could only dream of. Michigan State promptly drives down the field and scores, closing the gap to 24-15, OSU. An Ohio State fumble leads to an MSU field goal: 24-18, OSU. An Ohio State punt down to the MSU seven, and Bobby Layne Burke leads the Spartans on a 93-yard touchdown drive, completing four straight passes for 78 yards in the process: 25-24, MSU. Another Ohio State fumble (one of four on the day) leads to another Michigan State field goal: 28-24, MSU. With 5:45 left to play, the Buckeyes are stuffed on 4th-and-1, and the Spartans begin to run some clock. The OSU defense forces a punt, and the offense now has the ball at midfield with less than two minutes to find paydirt and reclaim the victory. Buckeye quarterback Joe Germaine hits two straight passes, getting the ball down to the MSU 15-yard line, but then somehow misfires on four straight - game over, season over, career over. Although head coach John Cooper managed to hang on for a couple of more years, his Buckeye career officially ended on November 7, 1998, the day that 28-point underdog Michigan State invaded The Shoe and beat the unbeatable Buckeyes.
Notable Players and Coaches
Throughout their history, the Spartans have had 26 Consensus All-Americans, nine members of the College Football Hall-of-Famers (including players LB George Webster, DL Bubba Smith, and LB Brad Van Pelt, along with coaches Biggie Munn, Duffy Daugherty, and Charlie Bachman), and two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Herb Adderley and Joe DeLamielleure). Although no Michigan State player has ever won the Heisman Trophy, several Spartans have won major award: linebacker Percy Snow won both the Lombardi (best lineman) and the Butkus (best linebacker) in 1989; linebacker Brad van Pelt won the Maxwell (best player) in 1972; wide receiver Charles Rogers won the Biletnikoff (best receiver) in 2002; and Ed Bagdon won the Outland (best interior lineman) in 1949; Biggie Munn won Coach of the Year honors in 1952, and Duffy Daugherty earned the same recognition in 1955.
Records
All Time: 590-400-44 (.592)
Bowl Games: 7-10-0 (.412) Most recently a 17-3 lost to Nebraska in the 2003 Alamo Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 228-219-13 (.510) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-24-0 (.333) The last meeting was a 24-35 loss in Columbus (2005).
Coach?s Reord: John L. Smith, 2003-2005, 18-18-0 (.500), 17 year career mark of 128-78-0 (.621)
Last Season: 5-6-0 (.455)
W - Kent St. (49-14)
W - Hawaii (42-14)
W - Notre Dame (44-41)
W - Illinois (61-14)
L - Michigan (31-34)
L - Ohio St. (24-35)
L - Northwestern (14-49)
W - Indiana (46-15)
L - Purdue (21-28)
L - Minnesota (18-41)
L - Penn St. (22-31)
Last 5 Years: 29-31-0 (.483)
Last 10 Years: 63-80-0 (.441)
Bowl Games: 7-10-0 (.412) Most recently a 17-3 lost to Nebraska in the 2003 Alamo Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 228-219-13 (.510) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-24-0 (.333) The last meeting was a 24-35 loss in Columbus (2005).
Coach?s Reord: John L. Smith, 2003-2005, 18-18-0 (.500), 17 year career mark of 128-78-0 (.621)
Last Season: 5-6-0 (.455)
W - Kent St. (49-14)
W - Hawaii (42-14)
W - Notre Dame (44-41)
W - Illinois (61-14)
L - Michigan (31-34)
L - Ohio St. (24-35)
L - Northwestern (14-49)
W - Indiana (46-15)
L - Purdue (21-28)
L - Minnesota (18-41)
L - Penn St. (22-31)
Last 5 Years: 29-31-0 (.483)
Last 10 Years: 63-80-0 (.441)
Links
Official Sites:
Official School Site - Michigan State University
Student Newspaper - The State News
Official Athletic Site - MSU Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Go Spartans (Scout)
Message Boards - Spartan Mag (Rivals)
Message Boards - Spartan Tailgate (Independent)
Message Boards - The Enlightened Spartan (Independent)
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Local News Sources:
Detroit Free Press - Local News
Detroit News - Local News
MLive - Local News
Lansing State Journal (Green & White) - Local News
The State News - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (01/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (02/03/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (03/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (04/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (04/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/27/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (07/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (07/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/06/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/14/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/26/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
Prospectus, Rosters & Other Info.:
2006 Roster - MSU Spartans
2006 Spring Roster (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2006 Personnel Breakdown (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2006 Spring Football Preview - MSU Spartans
2006 News Releases - MSU Spartans
2006 Big Ten Spring Looks - CFN
2006 Big Ten Spring Storylines - CFN
2006 Preview - CFN
2006 Preview - Offense - CFN
2006 Preview - Defense - CFN
2006 Preview - Further Analysis - CFN
2006 Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Preview - Football.com
2006 Preview - Athlon
2006 Preview - CNN/SI
2006 Preview - The Ozone
Travel:
Game Day Information - MSU Spartans.com
Big Ten:
2006 Big Ten Spring Prospectus (PDF) - Big Ten
2006 Big Ten Composite Schedule (PDF) - Big Ten
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Rivals
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Terry Bowden
Big Ten Preview - CFN
Big Ten Preview - CFN All-Big Ten Team
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Unit Rankings
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Five Best
Big Ten Preview - CSTV
Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Big Ten Preview - Football.com
Big Ten Preview - The Sports Network
Big Ten Preview - Just College Football
Big Ten Preview - The Sporting News
Big Ten Preview - The Ozone
Official School Site - Michigan State University
Student Newspaper - The State News
Official Athletic Site - MSU Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Go Spartans (Scout)
Message Boards - Spartan Mag (Rivals)
Message Boards - Spartan Tailgate (Independent)
Message Boards - The Enlightened Spartan (Independent)
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Local News Sources:
Detroit Free Press - Local News
Detroit News - Local News
MLive - Local News
Lansing State Journal (Green & White) - Local News
The State News - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (01/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (02/03/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (03/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (04/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (04/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (05/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/27/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (06/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (07/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (07/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (08/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/06/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/14/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (09/26/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report (10/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
Prospectus, Rosters & Other Info.:
2006 Roster - MSU Spartans
2006 Spring Roster (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2006 Personnel Breakdown (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2006 Spring Football Preview - MSU Spartans
2006 News Releases - MSU Spartans
2006 Big Ten Spring Looks - CFN
2006 Big Ten Spring Storylines - CFN
2006 Preview - CFN
2006 Preview - Offense - CFN
2006 Preview - Defense - CFN
2006 Preview - Further Analysis - CFN
2006 Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Preview - Football.com
2006 Preview - Athlon
2006 Preview - CNN/SI
2006 Preview - The Ozone
Travel:
Game Day Information - MSU Spartans.com
Big Ten:
2006 Big Ten Spring Prospectus (PDF) - Big Ten
2006 Big Ten Composite Schedule (PDF) - Big Ten
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Rivals
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Terry Bowden
Big Ten Preview - CFN
Big Ten Preview - CFN All-Big Ten Team
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Unit Rankings
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Five Best
Big Ten Preview - CSTV
Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Big Ten Preview - Football.com
Big Ten Preview - The Sports Network
Big Ten Preview - Just College Football
Big Ten Preview - The Sporting News
Big Ten Preview - The Ozone
Preseason Rankings
none
Preseason Watch Lists
2006 Rimington Award - Watch List (Boomer Esiason Foundation/Cystic Fibrosis Foundation/Canon)
John Masters - Michigan State Junior 6?4" 299 lbs
2006 Maxwell Award - Watch List (Maxwell Football Club)
Stanton, Drew - Michigan State University
2006 Ray Guy Award - Watch List (Greater Augusta Sports Council)
Brandon Fields
2006 Heisman Trophy Award - Watch List (Downtown Athletic Club of New York)
No Official List is Published by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York ... using CFN
12. QB Drew Stanton, Michigan State
John Masters - Michigan State Junior 6?4" 299 lbs
2006 Maxwell Award - Watch List (Maxwell Football Club)
Stanton, Drew - Michigan State University
2006 Ray Guy Award - Watch List (Greater Augusta Sports Council)
Brandon Fields
2006 Heisman Trophy Award - Watch List (Downtown Athletic Club of New York)
No Official List is Published by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York ... using CFN
12. QB Drew Stanton, Michigan State
Preseason Conference Accolades
2006 BigTen Football Media Day
2006 BigTen Preseason Media Poll - only the top 3 were listed
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Iowa
2006 BigTen Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Troy Smith - Ohio State
2006 BigTen Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Paul Posluszny - Penn State
2006 BigTen Preseason Media Poll - only the top 3 were listed
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Iowa
2006 BigTen Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Troy Smith - Ohio State
2006 BigTen Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Paul Posluszny - Penn State
Big Ten Conference Players of the Week
Sept. 2, 2006 (Week 1)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Alex Daniels, Minnesota, and QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: TE/FB - Erryn Cobb, Northwestern, and LB - Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
Sept. 9, 2006 (Week 2)
OFFENSE: WR - Matt Trannon, Michigan State
DEFENSE: LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Sept. 16, 2006 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: LB - Prescott Burgess, Michigan
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
Sept. 23, 2006 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State & P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 30, 2006 (Week 5)
OFFENSE: QB - John Stocco, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Jason Reda, Illinois
Oct. 7, 2006 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State and RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Sherels, Minnesota
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB - Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
Oct. 14, 2006 (Week 7)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Oct. 21, 2006 (Week 8)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Oct. 28, 2006 (Week 9)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 4, 2006 (Week 10)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 11, 2006 (Week 11)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 18, 2006 (Week 12)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 25, 2006 (Week 13)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Alex Daniels, Minnesota, and QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: TE/FB - Erryn Cobb, Northwestern, and LB - Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
Sept. 9, 2006 (Week 2)
OFFENSE: WR - Matt Trannon, Michigan State
DEFENSE: LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Sept. 16, 2006 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: LB - Prescott Burgess, Michigan
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
Sept. 23, 2006 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State & P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 30, 2006 (Week 5)
OFFENSE: QB - John Stocco, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Jason Reda, Illinois
Oct. 7, 2006 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State and RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Sherels, Minnesota
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB - Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
Oct. 14, 2006 (Week 7)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Oct. 21, 2006 (Week 8)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Oct. 28, 2006 (Week 9)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 4, 2006 (Week 10)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 11, 2006 (Week 11)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 18, 2006 (Week 12)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 25, 2006 (Week 13)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
Two Cousins College Football Emporium - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data
