2007 Michigan State Spartans Additional Information

[3yardsandacloud]

Additional Information




Coaching Staff

Head Coach:
Official School Bio - Mark Dantonio

Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Don Treadwell - Offensive Coordinator
Pat Narduzzi - Defensive Coordinator
Harlon Barnett - Secondary
Dan Enos - Running Backs
Ted Gill - Defensive Line
Dan Roushar - Offensive Line
Mark Staten - Tight Ends & Recruiting Coordinator
Mike Tressel - Special Teams/Linebackers
Dave Warner - Quarterbacks
Tommy Hoke - Assoc Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Ken Mannie - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Mike Vollmar - Assistant AD/Dir. of Football Operations​

Recruiting

Starters Returning: 13 (Offense 6, Defense 6, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Returning: 54 (Offense 25, Defense 26, Special Teams 3)
Notable Returners:
LT Mike Gyetvai, LG Pete Clifford, RG Roland Martin, RT Jesse Miller, TE Kellen Davis, RB Jehuu Caulcrick, DE Justin Kershaw, DE Ervin Baldwin, LB Kaleb Thornhill, LB SirDarean Adams, SS Nehemiah Warrick, FS Otis Wiley, PK Brett Swenson

Starters Lost: 11 (Offense 5, Defense 5, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Lost: 19 (Offense 9, Defense 8, Special Teams 2)
Notable Losses:
WR Matt Trannon, C Kyle Cook, WR Kerry Reed, WR Jerramy Scott, QB Drew Stanton, DT Clifton Ryan, DT David Stanton, LB David Herron Jr., CB Greg Cooper, CB Demond Williams, P Brandon Fields

Incoming Recruits:

2004 Recruiting Class
OL Roland Martin (Harper HS) Chicago, IL 6-6/345
WR Carl Grimes (St. Martin De Porres HS) Detroit, MI 5-9/175
**WR Miles Williams (Fitch HS) Youngstown, OH 6-3/205
OL Jessie Miller (Somerville HS) Somerville, NJ 6-6/270
**DE Tom Kaczmarek (Catholic Central) Ontario, CN 6-5/264
**LB Tyrone McKenzie (Riverview HS) Sarasota, FL 6-3/220
**LB Hugh D'Imperio (Washington Twp. HS) Sewell, NJ 6-4.5/230
**WR Kenny Jackson (Bakersfield JC) Bakersfield, CA 6-3/230
**DT Domata Peko (College of the Canyons) Santa Clarita, CA 6-4/280
DE Justin Kershaw (Reynoldsburg HS) Reynoldsburg, OH 6-5/230
**DT Daniel Zynn (College of the Canyons) Santa Clarita, CA 6-4/305
TE Kellen Davis (Adrian HS) Adrian, MI 6-6/225
S SirDarean Adams (Bayshore HS) Bradenton, FL 6-1/212
TE Dwayne Holmes (Henry Ford II HS) Sterling Heights, MI 6-3/235
LB Eric Andino (Buffalo Grove HS) Buffalo Grove, IL 6-4/230
**P John Goss (Scottsdale JC) Scottsdale, AZ 6-4/225
**DT Nick Smith (GlenOak HS) Canton, OH 6-6/260
**S Ron Stoops (Cardinal Mooney HS) Youngstown, OH 6-3/195
**RB Leon Pennington (Hallandale HS) Hallandale, FL 6-2/220
**CB Tony Howard (Garfield Heights HS) Garfield Heights, OH 6-0/195
**WR Tom Dance (Cathedral Prep School) Erie, PA 6-2/195
**OL Luis Fonseca (Walled Lake Western) Walled Lake, MI 6-4/270
**S Bryan Brighton (Allen Park HS) Allen Park, MI 5-11/185
**TE Craig McGovern (The Hun School) Princeton, NJ 6-5/240
WR Michael Bell (Shaker Heights HS) Shaker Heights, OH 6-1/180
**CB Eric Hines (St. Martin De Porres HS) Detroit, MI 5-10/180
**WR Richard Abney (Forestville HS) Forestville, MD 6-1.5/180
QB Brian Hoyer (St. Ignatius HS) Cleveland, OH 6-4/195
**TE Dan McGarry (Poland Seminary HS) Poland, OH 6-6/240
WR Deon Curry (Detroit Country Day School) Beverly Hills, MI 6-2/185

**No Longer With Team

Fun Facts:
The Spartan Class of 2004 was ranked 13th in the nation by Scout.com and 16th by Rivals.com. Both services ranked MSU 4th in the Big-10 ...

The class was headlined by 4* recruits Roland Martin and Carl Grimes. Scout.com rated Martin as the 6th best OL in the nation and Grimes as the 20th best WR ...

Out of 30 signees in the 2004 class, only 11 still remain with the team ...

Kellen Davis's brother, Josh Freeman, lettered for MSU in 1995 ...

Carl Grimes's brother, David, is a starting WR for Notre Dame ...

Roland Martin participated in the 2004 US Army All-American Bowl ...

2005 Recruiting Class
DE Reggie Graham (Homewood HS) Homewood, AL 6-5/205
DE Adam Decker (Brother Rice HS) Bloomfield, MI 6-3/210
**DT David Stanton (College of the Canyons) Santa Clarita, CA 6-5/265
WR Danny Fortener (Alter HS) Kettering, OH 6-2/185
**DT Hayward Howard (GW Carver SHS) New Orleans, LA 6-4/280
DE Jonal Saint-Dic (Hudson Valley JC) Troy, NY 6-1/256
WR Diego Oquendo (Tottenville HS) Staten Island, NY 5-10/178
OL Kenny Shane (Pima JC) Tucson, AZ 6-7/320
**WR Emory Jones (NE Mississippi JC) Booneville, MS 6-4/215
OL Brendon Moss (Fork Union Military) Fork Union, VA 6-7/258
**CB Demond Williams (Pima JC) Tucson, AZ 5-11/180
CB Kendell Davis-Clark (Alliance HS) Alliance, OH 5-11/175
RB Javon Ringer (Chaminade-Julienne HS) Dayton, OH 5-10/200
**DE Bobby Jones (North Dakota St.) Wahpeton, ND 6-5/280
OL Rocco Cironi (Warren G. Harding HS) Warren, OH 6-7/280
RB A.J. Jimmerson (Hazelwood Central HS) Florissant, MO 5-10/206
LB Brandon Long (GlenOak HS) Canton, OH 6-3/230
OL Mike Schmeding (St. Mary HS) Rutherford, NJ 6-8/280
**QB Domenic Natale (The Hun School) Princeton, NJ 6-3/195
S Otis Wiley (Carman-Ainsworth HS) Flint, MI 6-2/180
WR Ryan Allison (Lake Orion Community HS) Lake Orion, MI 6-3/207
RB Ross Weaver (Southfield HS) Southfield, MI 6-1/189
LB Andrew Hawken (Grandville HS) Grandville, MI 6-2/220
OL Joel Nitchman (MSGR Hackett Catholic) Kalamazoo, MI 6-4/276

Fun Facts:
The Michigan St. class of 2005 finished with a ranking of 40th nationally by Scout.com and 35th by Rivals.com. Both tabbed the class as the 7th best group in the Big-10 ...

The class was headlined by 4* recruits Javon Ringer and A.J. Jimmerson. Scout.com rated Ringer as the 15th best RB nationally and Jimmerson as the 25th best RB ...

Ryan Allison's brother, Roger, played FB for Michigan ...

Mike Schmeding's father Michael played offensive line for Arizona St. in the late 60's ...

Brandon Long was a H.S. teammate of current Buckeye WR Brian Hartline at Canton GlenOak ...

Diego Oquendo was originally a Syracuse signee in 2004 ...

2006 Recruiting Class
DT Abre Leggins (Evans HS) Orlando, FL 6-4/270
S Roderick Jenrette (Chamberlain SHS) Tampa, FL 6-1/195
CB Ashton Henderson (Lincoln HS) Tallahassee, FL 6-0/185
**DT Vaughn Martin (London South SS) London, ON 6-4/300
DE Ervin Baldwin (Reedley JC) Reedley, CA 6-3/255
DT J'Michael Deane (Newtonbrook SS) North York, ON 6-6/290
WR David Williams (Gateway SHS) Monroeville, PA 5-10/170
LB Jonathan Misch (St. Mary Prep) Orchard Lake, MI 6-3/195
CB Marcus Hyde (Fostoria HS) Fostoria, OH 6-0/185
WR T.J. Williams (Fork Union Military) Fork Union, VA 6-2/170
**CB Ken Tinney (Milford Academy) New Berlin, NY 6-1/185
LB Josh Rouse (Valley Forge Military) Wayne, PA 6-3/210
DT Ogembi Nwagbuo (Southwestern JC) Chula Vista, CA 6-4/280
S Nehemiah Warrick (Hutchinson JC) Hutchinson, KS 6-0/205
K Brett Swenson (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 5-9/155
DE John Stipek (Dakota HS) Macomb, MI 6-4/245
WR Devin Thomas (Coffeyville JC) Coffeyville, KS 6-2/215
**OL Jason Diehl (Milford Academy) New Berlin, NY 6-4/290
WR Enrique Shaw (Lafayette HS) Lexington, KY 6-2.5/195
DE Colin Neely (Freedom HS) Bethlehem, PA 6-2/245
QB Connor Dixon (South Park SHS) Library, PA 6-4/185
DE Patrick Rigan (Traverse City West SHS) Traverse City, MI 6-6/235
LB Eric Gordon (Traverse City West SHS) Traverse City, MI 6-0/220
TE Charlie Gantt (Brother Rice HS) Bloomfield, MI 6-5/240

Fun Facts:
The Spartan class of 2006 was ranked as the 43rd best class in the nation by Scout.com and the 33rd best by Rivals.com. Scout tabbed the class as the 7th best in the Big-10 and Rivals had it rated 6th in the conference ...

The class was headlined by 5* JUCO transfer Erwin Baldwin and 3* prospects Eric Gordon and Charlie Gantt. Baldwin was ranked as the #2 JUCO DE by Scout.com. Gordon was tabbed as the 48th ranked LB and Gantt checked in as the #53 TE ...

T.J. Williams's brother is Antonio Cromartie, a former CB for Florida St. and current San Diego Charger ....

Jon Misch was a H.S. teammate of current Buckeyes Aaron Gant and Taurian Washington at St. Mary's Prep in Orchard Lake, MI ...

Nehemiah Warrick is the brother of former Florida St. All-American Peter Warrick ...

2007 Recruiting Class
QB Nick Foles (Westlake HS) Austin, TX 6-5.5/240
RB Andre Anderson (Barrington HS) Barrington, IL 5-8/186
K Aaron Bates (John Glenn HS) New Concord, OH 6-0/185
DE Kevin Pickelman (Marshall HS) Marshall, MI 6-4/240
QB Kirk Cousins (Holland Christian HS) Holland, MI 6-3/175
LB Greg Jones (Moeller HS) Cincinnati, OH 6-2/215
**OL Arthur Ray (Mount Carmel HS) Chicago, IL 6-3/305
**OL Chase Dumphord (Paris HS) Paris, KY 6-5/300
**DE Ishmyl Johnson (Milford Academy) New Berlin, NY 6-5/250
FB Ashton Leggett (Muskegon HS) Muskegon, MI 5-11/225
CB Chris D. Rucker (Detroit Country Day School) Detroit, MI 5-8/165
TE David Duran (Kell HS) Marietta, GA 6-5/245
OL Joel Foreman (Milford HS) Highland, MI 6-3/295
DT Oren Wilson (Harmony Prep) Cincinnati, OH 6-0/275
OL Jared McGaha (Powell HS) Powell, TN 6-6/270
CB Chris L. Rucker (Warren G. Harding HS) Warren, OH 6-1/185
DT Antonio Jeremiah (Hilliard Darby HS) Hilliard, OH 6-5/270
WR B.J. Cunningham (Westerville South HS) Westerville, OH 6-1/185
TE Garrett Celek (LaSalle HS) Cincinnati, OH 6-6/228
DT Ryan Wheat (Carman-Ainsworth HS) Flint, MI 6-4/285
WR Mark Dell (Harrison HS) Farmington Hills, MI 6-1/177

Fun Facts:
Michigan St.'s class of 2007 was rated 51st overall by Scout.com and 42nd overall by Rivals.com. Scout rated the class 7th best in the conference and Rivals rated it 6th ...

The class was headlined by 4* prospect Antonio Jeremiah and 3* prospects Mark Dell, Nick Foles, and Ryan Wheat. Jeremiah was rated as the nation's #14 DT by Scout.com. Scout also tabbed Wheat as the #55 DT, Dell as the #60 WR, and Foles as the #52 QB ...

Andre Anderson's cousin Damien Anderson was an All-American RB for Northwestern from 1998-2001 ...

Oren Wilson's uncle Bernard played WR for Michigan St. in the 1980's ...

Garrett Celek's brother Brent played for Coach Dantonio at Cincinnati and is now with the Philadelphia Eagles ...​

Behind the Numbers

Homecoming - Homestretch

The season thus far has been pretty much what everyone expected. Washington was supposed to be our toughest test, and they were. Some thought Purdue might be the best team we'd face, but they could not match up athletically. Now we have one game between Ohio State and the 8-0 record that nearly everyone thought they would have entering the final four games of the season.

But how many people thought that Mark Dantonio would have the Spartans playing this well already? MSU now leads the conference in Scoring Offense. And unlike Purdue, who led the Big Ten in scoring on the eve of playing the Buckeyes, this Michigan State team has more than one athlete.

So instead of a 4 game homestretch, it appears to be a 5 game stretch of the best teams we will have faced to date. As this is a step up in competition, it is difficult to know what to expect. While stats may not be the best way to know, stats are what this section of the preview is all about. So let's turn again to Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA) to see if it can tell us what to expect.


Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA)

Those of you familiar with how DSA is used to develop a prediction for a game's outcome can skip immediately to the Results.

DSA compares a team's statistical results to the average results posted vs. the teams they've played. Let's look at an example for scoring offense and scoring defense and then dig into the numbers.

Note: As with previous years, games against lower division teams are factored out.

Example:

• Ohio State's points per game (I-A only): 35.33
• MSU allows teams 5% more points than those teams average in I-A competition. We'll call this a Differential Defense of 1.05
• Expectation for OSU's points is 35.33 x 1.05 = 37.11

Alternatively:

• MSU typically allows 24.86 ppg
• Ohio State typically scores 11% more points than their opponents typically give up to other I-A teams. This is a Differential Offense of 1.11
• Expectation for OSU's points is 24.86 x 1.11 = 27.69

The same method was used to predict the scoring production for MSU and the yardage production for both teams.


DSA Results

OHIO STATE: 28-37 points, 314-385 yards

Mich. STATE: 8 points, 244-256 yards


Preliminary Conclusion

Without analyzing the match-up, DSA suggests that this should be just another comfortable win for the Buckeyes. But looking Behind the Numbers suggests that this might be a better game than DSA would have you believe.


Individual Match-ups

As was hinted at earlier, Ohio State has built impressive Differential Statistical numbers by overwhelming teams that could not match-up athletically. The numbers were considerably less impressive against Washington, who have athletes capable of playing with the Buckeyes.

The Spartans too, have some players that can pose problems for the Scarlet and Gray.

• Two of their players are in the top 3 in the conference for All-Purpose Yards
  • Devin Thomas is number 1 by a large margin at 212.4 yards per game, and leads the league in Kick Returns
  • Javon Ringer is number 3 at 164.0 yards per game
• Two of their players are in the top 9 in the conference in Rushing Yards
  • They are the only Big Ten team to make that claim
  • Javon Ringer leads the conference in Yards per Rush
• A third Spartan (not previously mentioned), leads the conference in scoring
  • Jehuu Caulcrick has more than twice as many touchdowns (13) as any Buckeye
• In addition to being the only league team to get > 200 rushing ypg from their tailbacks, the Spartans' Brian Hoyer is 1/10th of a point behind Kellen Lewis for 2nd place in the conference in passing efficiency.

With players like these on the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Buckeyes cannot just line-up and out-athlete the Spartans. OSU has given up 303 of 440 total Rushing Yards to two teams that each had one dangerous ball-carrier in the backfield. The Spartans have two, including by far the best power-back we will have faced to date.


Unit Match-ups

MSU on Offense

While Ohio State gives up a 2nd in the nation 59.17 yards per game rushing to I-A teams, they have given up 116 yards per game to the three teams on the schedule that rush for more yards than their opponents typically surrender. Also a matter of concern is that the Buckeyes have not yet faced a power running team.

MSU's power is undeniable. They have more rushing touchdowns than any other team in the conference as well as the most rushing touchdowns in the red zone.

And its not as if the Spartans are a one-trick pony. Of the teams that rush for at least 40% more yards than their opponents give up on the ground, MSU will be the first that has an average or better passing game.

That passing game gives MSU's balance, and balance is something the Buckeyes have not really faced this season. With two legit ball-carriers and Devin Thomas on the outside, the Spartans present Ohio State with their sternest match-up to this point in the season. They obviously haven't faced a defense the caliber of Ohio State's; but they've faced better defenses that OSU has faced and have put up better numbers in the process. Also worth considering is that the Spartans are improving as the season goes along. They've put up better numbers against the better defenses, which is something OSU cannot claim.

OSU on Offense

The Spartan's Scoring Defense (24.86 ppg vs. I-A competition) may not seem impressive to Ohio State fans who instinctively compare other teams' defenses to the Buckeyes. But that is the best Scoring Defense the Buckeyes will have faced. The Spartans also have the best Total Defense and Differential Total Defense that the Buckeye offense will have faced.

In addition to being the best defense on the schedule to date, the Spartans are also the most balanced. Just as MSU's offensive balance will present a new challenge to the stop troops, the MSU Defense will be the first that OSU has faced all season that holds opponents below their average output in both rushing and passing yards.

As if that weren't enough cause for concern, the Spartans are 2nd in the Big Ten in Sacks; and are tied for first place in Sack Yardage. While Todd Boeckman's poise under pressure has been good thus far, he may be under more pressure on Saturday than he has thus far faced.


Final Analysis

The preceding look Behind the Numbers might lead you to believe that a 1998 style Spartan upset is in the offing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While the numbers we've considered suggest that MSU might be able to move the ball on Ohio State, the Buckeyes become a brick wall as the opponent approaches the red zone. Of all Big Ten teams, only Penn State has allowed their opponents less than 2X the number of trips into the red zone that the Buckeye defense has allowed (16-9). And Iowa is number 2 in Red Zone TD defense having allowed 6. The Buckeyes have given up 3.

On the other side of the ball, MSU gave up 85 combined points to the two teams that held them to under 4 sacks. There is no reason to believe that Northwestern's and Wisconsin's offensive lines are better in pass protection than the Buckeyes. While this may be the best defense the Buckeyes have faced, they are vulnerable when the opposing QB has time.

On the surface, the stats suggest the Buckeyes will win comfortably. Looking a little deeper reveals that there may be some anxious moments, but only for 2 or 3 quarters at most. When we look at the final score of this game when the season is over, those anxious moments will be a distant, hazy memory.

There are more anxious moments coming, and more big wins, just like this one.​

The Lighter Side

So, what can we take from last Saturday's epic tilt with Kent State? Well, for one, Brian Hartline is himself 9 points better than KSU. For another, you do not want to be a punter matched up against Vernon Gholston. At what point during the punter's 45 yard march backwards do you think he was pleading to big Vern, "OK, enough already. I have no designs on making the tackle. Please, just let me live. No ... seriously ... Really .... please ...Hey! Come on .... I promise." Reminded me of when Orlando Pace was throwing some poor Rice DB through the back of the closed end end zone on Mike Wiley's end around touchdown in the first game of 1996. For those of us who were able to see the full 60 minutes on BTN, major crystal ball props have to go to former OSU and KSU coach Glen Mason who observed on KSU's first widereciever screen, "Well, they'd better not try that again, or it's going the other way for six." Not long after, KSU did try it again, and Donald Washington did exactly what Mason knew was coming. At the half, Tressel was seen wandering through the stadium asking everyone from infants to 90 year old men if they'd like to suit up and take a carry or two. Word is BPs own Oh8ch was three nacho chips from getting the chance to throw his hat into the Heisman race. Maybe next time.

Nationally, both LSU and Cal lost, paving the way for Ohio State's 9th consecutive week atop the BCS standings. Be prepared for a couple things from the talking heads this week. First, expect very little respect for Ohio State, as people will continually bring up last year's waxing in the desert. While there is, of course, no relevant correlation to last year's results to this year's potential, dipstick analysists need something to go on, and that'll be it. Oh, and chances are we'll hear about how OSU mostly backed their way in to the top spot owing to losses from more talented teams while playing an easy schedule. Deep breaths, Buckeye faithful. Deep breaths. If it's the media lining up to give the Buckeyes a sloppy hummer that you desire, you're rooting for the wrong team. Remember, Illinois - who lost to Bottom feeding Iowa - is "the best" team in the Big Ten this year. Just ask Matt Hayes. No ... if you want to root for a team that is the media darling, try the South Florida Bulls. Knee pads are flying off the shelves as the media prepare for a week long slob-knobber with the newest greatest story of the year in college football. This, of course, ensures that the Bulls are doomed this week against Rutgers. Once that happens, it will be time for the way too early "who's getting screwed by the BCS controversy." Ah, college football media ... you can set your watch by them.

Well, here we are again, once again claiming the throne of number one college football team. Seems pretty much the same as when we vacated the chair last January. Still smells a little bit like cajun cooking, but the view is familiar. And, what is that we see marching towards us? Oh dear ... it's the Michigan State Spartans. You remember the Spartans, right? The one's that ruined 1974 (well, maybe that was more the Big Ten Commissioner than the Spartans, truth be told) and the ones that ruined 1998. While the #1 ranked Buckeyes dispatched the Spartans easily in 2006, it's much easier to think about the heartbreaks of 98 and 74. That being so, one might immediately recall that current Sparty Coach Mark Dantonio was the defensive coordinator on the 98 team. True, but let's also remember, Jim Tressel was busy over in Youngstown then. Then, some might observe that Dantonio has been on Tressel's staff before and thus "knows how Tressel thinks." Yeah, I suppose there's some truth to that, but lost in it is that Tressel also knows how Dantonio thinks. In 2006, Cowboy John L Smith was in charge, now they have a legitimate coach in Dantonio. Well, that's true. But, even while they are better coached players, Tressel still owns an undefeated 2-0 record over Dantonio teams. And, before you mitigate that with the notion that Michigan State is better than Cincinnati, realize that the Bearcats record under Dantonio was better than Michigan State's record in that same period and Dantonio teams played in 2 more bowls than did Michigan State during the same period.

No, if it's unconnected mojo you're looking for to explain what might happen this coming Saturday, you might just want to consider This Interesting Coincidence. As you can read for yourself, the theory is only those teams whom run away from the Spartan 300 have any hope of beating them. 5 posts into that thread, there's a picture of what the first post is talking about. Check out who's running down in the right hand corner, unscathed. Yep, good ol Beanie Wells. If their theory holds, the Buckeyes should be just fine. Actually, the 300 is pretty much the perfect thing to describe this Spartan team. Much like the 300, proud defenders of Sparta on attack from one million Persians, Dantonio is pointing the club towards something former leader Johnelle could never see - discipline and pride. And, much like the Spartan 300 at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. ultimately failed, so too should the 2007 football be defeated by the superior force that is the Ohio State Buckeyes.​

Traditions & Opponent Perspective

• 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 MySpace.com - Lou The Deer - 31 - Male - East Lansing, Michigan - www.myspace.com/louthedeer.

Historical Data

Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan) Founded in 1855

Football 1st Season: 1885
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 2005)
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 Total 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
​

Records

All Time: 596-412-44 (.587)
Bowl Games: 7-10-0 (.412) Most recently a 17-3 lost to Nebraska in the 2003 Alamo Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 240-232-15 (.508)
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-25-0 (.324), last meeting a 38-7 loss in East Lansing
Coach's Reord: Mark Dantonio, 2007-current, 5-2-0 (.714), 2004-2006 at Cincinnati 18-17-0 (.514)

2006 Season: 4-8-0 (.333)
Sep 2 - W vs. Idaho, 27-17
Sep 9 - W vs. Eastern Mich, 52-20
Sep 16 - W at Pittsburgh, 38-23
Sep 23 - L vs. Notre Dame, 37-40
Sep 30 - L vs. Illinois, 20-23
Oct 7 - L at Michigan, 13-31
Oct 14 - L vs. Ohio State, 7-38
Oct 21 - W at Northwestern, 41-38
Oct 28 - L at Indiana, 21-46
Nov 4 - L vs. Purdue, 15-17
Nov 11 - L vs. Minnesota, 18-31
Nov 18 - L at Penn State, 13-17

2007 Schedule
Sep 1 - W vs. U-A-B, 55-18
Sep 8 - W vs. Bowling Green, 28-17
Sep 15 - W vs. Pittsburgh, 17-13
Sep 22 - W at Notre Dame, 31-14
Sep 29 - L at Wisconsin, 34-37
Oct 6 - L vs. Northwestern, 41-48 OT
Oct 13 - W vs. Indiana, 52-27
Oct 20 - at Ohio State, 3:30 PM
Oct 27 - at Iowa, 12:00 PM
Nov 3 - vs. Michigan, TBA
Nov 10 - at Purdue, TBA
Nov 17 - vs. Penn State, TBA​

Links

Official Sites:
Official School Site - Michigan State University
Official Alumni Site - MSU Alumni Association
Student Newspaper - The State News
Official Athletic Site - MSU Spartans
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)

Blog - Grinz on Green (MLive)
Blog - Bleeding Green (LSJ)
Blog - Spartan Blog
Blog - A Spartan for All Seasons
Blog - Michigan State Fanhouse (AOL)
Blog - Sparty MSU Blog
Blog - Smash Mouth Football (Spartan Bob)

Team Page - NCAA
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
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - AOL
Team Page - CSTV
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers

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
Macomb Daily - Local News

Team Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 Team Breakdown (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2007 Schedule/Results - MSU Spartans
2007 Spring Roster - MSU Spartans
2007 Spring Prospectus (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2007 Spring Game Results - MSU Spartans
2006 Overall Stats (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2006 Conference Stats (PDF) - MSU Spartans
2007 Gameday Guide - MSU Spartans
2007 Media Guide (links to PDF files) - MSU Spartans
2007 Roster - MSU Spartans
News Releases - MSU Spartans
MSU vs OSU Depth Chart (PDF) - MSU Spartans

2007 Michigan State vs Ohio State Game Preview - ESPN
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - CFN
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Offense - CFN
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Defense - CFN
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - CFN
MICHIGAN STATE Team Report - CSTV/Sports Xchange (Links to previous reports)
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Sports Network
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - The Ozone
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - College Football Poll
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Dispatch/Buckeye Extra
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Maddux Sports
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - BigTen Fans.com
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Fantasy College Blitz
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Associated Content
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - My Sports Book
2007 Michigan State Spartans Football Preview - Monsters and Critics

B10 Conference Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 BigTen Prospectus (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Team Breakdowns (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Media Info(PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Composite Schedule (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Season in Review (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Overall Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Conference Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2007 CFN Big Ten Preview - CFN
2007 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Preseason Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Schedules & Predictions - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team Capsules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Unit Rankings - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Ultimate Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Recruiting - What It All Means - CFN
2007 CFN Spring Preview - Analyzing the Big Ten - CFN
2007 CFN Big Ten Spring Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Composite Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team-by-Team Schedules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Spring Games Wrapup - CFN
ASK CFN (6/22) ... The Big Ten Network - CFN
2007 Big Ten - CSTV
2007 All-Big Ten Teams - Athlon
2007 BigTen Inside Slant - USA Today
2007 Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll

Travel:
Home Game
​

Preseason Rankings

#46 - Rivals
#60 - CFN
#69 - Chicago Tribune (Teddy Greenstein)
#74 - Athlon
#88 - CCR​

Preseason Watch Lists

Lou Groza Award - Brett Swenson​

Big Ten Conference Players of the Week

Sept. 1, 2007 (Week 1)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan State & QB - Tyler Donovan, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Sean Lee, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR - Dorien Bryant, Purdue

Sept. 8, 2007 (Week 2)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Adam Weber, Minnesota & QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: DE - Kenny Iwebema, Iowa

Sept. 15, 2007 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State & LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR/KR - David Gilreath, Wisconsin

Sept. 22, 2007 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: RB - Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Will Davis, Illinois & S - Jamar Adams, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin

Sept. 29, 2007 (Week 5)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana & RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Shawn Crable, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR - Arrelious Benn, Illinois

Oct. 6, 2007 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: DB - Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Austin Starr, Indiana

Oct. 13, 2007 (Week 7)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Javon Ringer, Michigan State & QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Humpal, Iowa
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR - Brian Hartline, Ohio State

Oct. 20, 2007 (Week 8)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Oct. 27, 2007 (Week 9)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Nov. 3, 2007 (Week 10)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Nov. 10, 2007 (Week 11)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Nov. 17, 2007 (Week 12)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
​

Preseason Accolades

BigTen Preseason Media Poll
1. Michigan
2. Wisconsin
3. Ohio State

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Mike Hart - Michigan

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - James Laurinaitis - Ohio State​

Link to 2007 Michigan State Spartans Game Preview​

Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Great stuff in here! :cheers:

2007 Recruiting Class
QB Nick Foles (Westlake HS) Austin, TX 6-5.5/240
RB Andre Anderson (Barrington HS) Barrington, IL 5-8/186
K Aaron Bates (John Glenn HS) New Concord, OH 6-0/185
DE Kevin Pickelman (Marshall HS) Marshall, MI 6-4/240
QB Kirk Cousins (Holland Christian HS) Holland, MI 6-3/175
LB Greg Jones (Moeller HS) Cincinnati, OH 6-2/215
**OL Arthur Ray (Mount Carmel HS) Chicago, IL 6-3/305
**OL Chase Dumphord (Paris HS) Paris, KY 6-5/300
**DE Ishmyl Johnson (Milford Academy) New Berlin, NY 6-5/250
FB Ashton Leggett (Muskegon HS) Muskegon, MI 5-11/225
CB Chris D. Rucker (Detroit Country Day School) Detroit, MI 5-8/165
TE David Duran (Kell HS) Marietta, GA 6-5/245
OL Joel Foreman (Milford HS) Highland, MI 6-3/295
DT Oren Wilson (Harmony Prep) Cincinnati, OH 6-0/275
OL Jared McGaha (Powell HS) Powell, TN 6-6/270
CB Chris L. Rucker (Warren G. Harding HS) Warren, OH 6-1/185
DT Antonio Jeremiah (Hilliard Darby HS) Hilliard, OH 6-5/270
WR B.J. Cunningham (Westerville South HS) Westerville, OH 6-1/185
TE Garrett Celek (LaSalle HS) Cincinnati, OH 6-6/228
DT Ryan Wheat (Carman-Ainsworth HS) Flint, MI 6-4/285
WR Mark Dell (Harrison HS) Farmington Hills, MI 6-1/177

Fun Facts:
Michigan St.'s class of 2007 was rated 51st overall by Scout.com and 42nd overall by Rivals.com. Scout rated the class 7th best in the conference and Rivals rated it 6th ...

The class was headlined by 4* prospect Antonio Jeremiah and 3* prospects Mark Dell, Nick Foles, and Ryan Wheat. Jeremiah was rated as the nation's #14 DT by Scout.com. Scout also tabbed Wheat as the #55 DT, Dell as the #60 WR, and Foles as the #52 QB ...

Andre Anderson's cousin Damien Anderson was an All-American RB for Northwestern from 1998-2001 ...

Oren Wilson's uncle Bernard played WR for Michigan St. in the 1980's ...

Garrett Celek's brother Brent played for Coach Dantonio at Cincinnati and is now with the Philadelphia Eagles ...

Another bit of info on the '07 class. MSU freshman receiver B.J. Cunningham was the main receiver at Westerville South for now OSU freshman safety (then quarterback) Rocco Pentello. They were quite the impressive duo for the Wildcats.

 

[VprHis]

When the Spartans get a first down, the fans yell "1-2-3 FIRST DOWN BIOTCH!" (a relatively new tradition)

I'd like to add, just for the record, that there's no "o" in BIOTCH, as the students yell it.

The students all think it's uproariously funny, and the crusty old alumni find it terribly crude and embarrassing.

I confess that I'm somewhere in the middle.... but then I'm somewhere in limbo between being a student and a crusty old fart, so that's not unexpected.