SIDELINESPROGS CON QUESO BTB co-owner Luke Bostic is this week’s guest progster. Page 8B

FORECAST SunnyHigh: 64° Low: 39°Precipitation: 0 percent

INJURY REPORT out — RB Javon Ringer (knee), questionable — OG Pete Clifford (knee), probable — QB Drew Stanton (ribs)

TWO CENTS Sure, the Wolverines will probably win. But if they try to plant any fl ags, oh boy, will there be hell to pay.

GAME DAY Saturday, Oct. 6, 2006 Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN Radio: WJIM (1240-AM) and WMMQ (94.9-FM)

Friday, October 6, 2006

1B The State Newswww.statenews.com

WAR OF WORDS Football reporter Ethan Conley squares off with U-M columnist. Page 3B

1LASTCHANCE

State News file photoThen-junior tailback T.J. Duckett runs past former U-M cornerback Jeremy LeSueur and other Wolverine defenders in MSU’s 2001 win at Spartan Stadium. That 26-24 victory was the last time the Spartans defeated the Wolverines.

By Ethan Conley | The State News

Perhaps it’s a curse. ! Maybe, just maybe, when shady timekeeping granted MSU a controversial extra sec-ond against Michigan in 2001 and Jeff Smoker used that extra second to loft a game-winning touchdown pass to T.J. Duckett for a 26-24 MSU victory, the football gods decided the Spartans’ days of beating the Wolverines were over, dooming the Green and White to a string of painful, heartbreaking losses. ! How else would one explain

a 49-3 loss to the Wolverines in 2002 (the worst since 1947)? What about a 51-carry, 219-yard performance by Chris Perry in 2003, a 17-point fourth-quarter collapse in 2004 or horrendous place-kicking in 2005? Isn’t a curse the only reasonable explanation for three straight losses by a touchdown or less? ! Whatever the reason, four seasons have passed without an MSU victory over U-M. The Spartans haven’t had a drought that long since 1983, when

please see U-M, page 2B

MSU’s fifth-year seniors have gone their entire careers without beating Michigan. Saturday’s game gives them their ...

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2006 | THE STATE NEWS | SIDELINES www.statenews.com2B

SPARTANS STARTERSHEAD COACH John L. Smith

NO. 6 Matt TrannonWide receiver (6-6, 235, Sr.)

NO. 66 Mike GyetvaiLeft tackle (6-7, 307, Jr.)

NO. 75 Pete CliffordLeft guard (6-7, 300, Jr.)

NO. 74 Kyle CookCenter (6-3, 295, Sr.)

NO. 73 Roland MartinRight guard (6-5, 325, So.)

NO. 79 Jesse MillerRight tackle (6-6, 306, So.)

NO. 80 Kellen DavisTight end (6-6, 253, Jr.)

NO. 15 Kerry ReedWide receiver (6-2, 198, Sr.)

NO. 32 Jerramy ScottWide receiver (5-10, 186, Sr.)

NO. 5 Drew StantonQuarterback (6-3, 230, Sr.)

NO. 30 Jehuu CaulcrickRunning back (6-0, 260, Jr.)

NO. 51 Ervin BaldwinDefensive end (6-2, 252, Jr.)

NO. 99 Ogemdi NwagbuoDefensive tackle (6-3, 257, Jr.)

NO. 92 Clifton RyanDefensive tackle (6-2, 302, Sr.)

NO. 95 Justin KershawDefensive end (6-4, 254, So.)

NO. 43 Kaleb ThornhillLinebacker (6-1, 239, Jr.)

NO. 41 David Herron Jr.Linebacker (6-1, 245, Sr.)

NO. 27 Sir Darean AdamsLinebacker (6-0, 230, Jr.)

NO. 29 Greg CooperCornerback (5-11, 186, Sr.)

NO. 21 Otis WileyFree safety (6-2, 209, So.)

NO. 3 Nehemiah WarrickStrong safety (6-1, 203, Jr.)

NO. 9 Demond WilliamsCornerback (5-9, 174, Sr.)

NO. 15 Brett SwensonPlace-kicker (5-8, 151, Fr.)

NO. 8 Brandon FieldsPunter (6-6, 235 Sr.)

WOLVERINES STARTERS

LINEUP »

6 80 79 73 74 75 66 32 15

5

30

56 67 80 9114 29

9 44 42

21 22

WHEN MSU HAS THE BALLHEAVIER LOAD Jehuu Caulcrick (No. 30) will need all of his 260 pounds to get through U-M’s front four.

MAKES IT COUNT Defensive end LaMarr Woodley (No. 56) only has 13 tackles, but 7.5 of them are for a loss.

THE GAME MSU’s biggest opponent might be itselfMSU’s offensive line against

Michigan’s defensive lineMSU’s offensive line is getting

healthy again, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Senior Daniel Zynn, the third-string left guard, broke his ankle against Illinois, but juniors Pete Clifford and Kenny Shane — the fi rst- and second-string left guards — are healthier and expected to play Saturday. The line will need to gel together quickly to keep Michigan’s strong defensive line off senior quarter-back Drew Stanton. With sopho-more running back Javon Ringer out, look for MSU to run the ball more straight ahead, where Alan Branch, Michigan’s mammoth 6-foot-6, 331-pound defensive tackle, is looming.

MSU against itselfIf the Spartans want to blame

someone for their last two games, they don’t have to look far. Questionable coaching decisions and unmotivated play took the Spartans from potentially being 5-0 and in the Top 25 to being 3-2 and the topic of discussion on

sports shows across the country. To challenge U-M on Saturday, the Spartans must get over a few hurdles. They must fi rst forget the heartbreaking losses to the Wolverines the last few years. Then, they have to play with all the heart and energy that wasn’t there last week against Illinois. Keep an eye on how MSU responds to adversity — will they pack it in like they did in the 49-3 loss to U-M in 2002? Or will they battle for 60 (and sometimes more) minutes against a favored U-M team, like they have the last three seasons?

Dave Baldwin against his playbook

Baldwin (and John L. Smith) take a lot of heat for conservative play-calling in the fourth quarter. In a strange twist, they might need to

play conservatively for the whole game. He needs to simplify things.

MSU’s secondary can’t handle U-M’s receivers. The Spartans’ front seven can’t stop running back Mike Hart (he’s topped 200 yards on the ground in both career games against MSU). The offensive line can’t pass protect. So the only way MSU wins this game is by control-ling the clock and keeping the game close at the end. That means no fi ve-wide sets, no triple reverses, no halfback passes and abso-lutely NO turnovers. Send Dwayne Holmes in as a second tight end, and pound the ball with Jehuu Caulcrick — at least 25 times.

(For a blueprint, Baldwin might want to check out the tape from U-M’s 2003 27-20 victory over MSU, when Chris Perry carried the ball 51 times for 219 yards.)

BREAKDOWN »MICHIGAN HAS THE TALENT. Michigan has the momentum. Michigan has the bragging rights. So what does MSU have? A real chance to win, if it avoids the mistakes it’s made the last two weeks.

GAME DAYSaturday, Oct. 7, 2006Kickoff: 4:30 p.m.TV: ESPNRadio: WJIM (1240-AM) and WMMQ (94.9-FM)

FORECASTSunnyHigh: 64° Low: 39° Precipitation: 0 percent

FACE OFF

BY THE NUMBERS34 In the last 36 games between MSU and U-M, the number of times the team with the most rushing yards has won.

9-2 MSU’s record against Associated Press Top 10 teams in its last 11 tries. U-M is No. 6.

45-27 The point disparity between U-M and MSU in the fourth quarter and overtimes in their last two meetings.

KEEP AN EYE ON …The MSU offensive lineJohn L. Smith and Co. have been forced to play musical chairs along the offensive line because of injuries. The line is healthier than it has been in the past few weeks, but it could struggle to come together as a unit and mini-mize U-M’s potent pass rush.

MSU U-MOFFENSE Points 34.8 34Total 433.2 389.4Rushing 220.8 192.6Passing 212.4 196.81st downs 20.8 19.8Pos. time 31:48 34:37DEFENSE Scoring 24.6 14.4Total 330.8 238.2Rushing 107 36.4

HEAD COACH Lloyd Carr

NO. 15 Steve BreastonWide receiver (6-1, 180, Sr.)

NO. 77 Jake LongLeft tackle (6-7, 313, Sr.)

NO. 57 Adam KrausLeft guard (6-6, 297, Sr.)

NO. 54 Mark BihlCenter (6-5, 299, Sr.)

NO. 73 Alex MitchellRight guard (6-5, 317, Jr.)

NO. 72 Rueben Riley Jr.Right tackle (6-4, 305, Sr.)

NO. 83 Mike MasseyTight end (6-4, 234, Jr.)

NO. 7 Chad HenneQuarterback (6-2, 224, Jr.)

NO. 40 Obi OluigboFullback (6-0, 229, Sr.)

NO. 20 Mike HartRunning back (5-9, 196, Jr.)

NO. 86 Mario ManninghamWide receiver (6-0, 182, So.)

NO. 56 LaMarr WoodleyDefensive end (6-2, 269, Sr.)

NO. 67 Terrance TaylorNose tackle (6-0, 305, So.)

NO. 80 Alan BranchDefensive tackle (6-6, 331, Jr.)

NO. 91 Rondell BiggsDefensive end (6-3, 278, Sr.)

NO. 2 Shawn CrableSam linebacker (6-6, 241, Sr.)

NO. 45 David HarrisMike linebacker (6-2, 239, Sr.)

NO. 6 Prescott BurgessWill linebacker (6-3, 235, Sr.)

NO. 14 Morgan TrentCornerback (6-1, 184, Jr.)

NO. 29 Leon HallCornerback (5-11, 193, Sr.)

NO. 22 Jamar AdamsStrong safety (6-2, 210, Jr.)

NO. 21 Ryan MundyFree safety (6-1, 208, Sr.)

NO. 3 Ross RyanPunter (6-1, 203, Sr.)

NO. 38 Garrett RivasKicker (5-9, 211, Sr.)

Jolie Myers/The State NewsSenior quarterback Drew Stanton loses the ball while getting tackled by Illinois’ defense Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The Fighting Illini beat the Spartans, 23-20, in their first Big Ten victory since 2004. MSU’s patchwork offensive line will have to come up big against the Wolverines to protect Stanton and the bruised ribs he suffered last week.

they lost fi ve consecutive games to their rivals from Ann Arbor.

More importantly, the current four-game losing streak means a senior class is in danger of passing through the MSU program with-out beating the Maize and Blue. If it were any other opponent, it might not seem so bad — it’s doubtful former Spartans bounce their grandchildren on their laps and boast of a memorable fall afternoon when they waged a gridiron war against the Indiana Hoosiers. But a win against U-M is one players are sure to remem-ber because it means they exacted revenge on the school that deems many Spartans unworthy.

“That’s why they come here — to play Michigan,” said MSU head coach John L. Smith, who has yet to beat U-M in three tries. “And let’s be honest, those guys down the road didn’t care about them, didn’t recruit them. So let’s go play ’em.”

Junior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill sat by the tunnel at the north end of Spartan Stadium during MSU’s 2001 victory against U-M. He endured some heckling from nearby Wolverines fans throughout the con-test, but Thornhill got the last laugh when he watched MSU players pile

on top of Duckett in the end zone while fans rushed the fi eld from the student section.

“I was on the opposite side of where they scored,” Thornhill said. “But man, some Michigan fans were sitting behind us at that game, run-ning off at the mouth. That motivat-ed me more than anything, to hear the things they were saying and how disrespectful they are, and most of them — I feel — are like that. I take that personally.”

Senior center Kyle Cook was there, too. He was visiting MSU as a recruit and received extra tickets for the game. He invited a friend who played point guard at his high school and the friend’s brother. Both were die-hard Maize and Blue fans.

“I believed we were gonna beat ’em,” Cook said. “It was great being up there and just watching them sit next to me and knowing that we’d beat them and just rubbing it in. It was an awesome feeling, knowing that I was going to come here.”

Like Thornhill, Drew Stanton grew up bleeding green and white. He’s come close to beating U-M twice. He helped MSU build a 17-7 lead over the Wolverines in 2004, but a clean hit by U-M linebacker LaMarr Woodley slammed him to the turf near the end of the second quarter, knocking Stanton out of the game with a separated shoulder. The following year, Stanton drove the Spartan Stadium student section into

a frenzy before the opening kick-off, but two poor passes in overtime led to a botched fi eld-goal attempt and a 34-31 loss. Saturday is his last opportunity to silence the Wolverines fans he has grown to loathe.

“It’s the thousands of bandwag-on people that jump on there, went all over, went to community col-leges, and all of the sudden they’re Michigan fans because Michigan is No. 1 in the nation,” Stanton said.

Thornhill may have even more at stake against U-M than the other players, including some of the seniors. His father, Charlie “Mad Dog” Thornhill, and his brother, Josh, each beat U-M twice while lin-ing up on defense for MSU.

Now, he is staring down the pos-sibility of either failing to match his father and brother’s record against the Wolverines or never beating them at all. Family bragging rights are at stake.

“I remember when I used to go watch the games when my brother played and how much hatred I had toward Michigan,” Thornhill said. “Just to see the fans and what they said after the game and how arro-gant they are — it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes you want to go out there and stick it to them.”

For the Spartans, all signs suggest the outcome of Saturday’s game will be more of the same.

Unlike 2005, when the Spartans entered the game 4-0 and were favored, MSU is limping into this year’s matchup. The Spartans col-lapsed in the fourth quarter against

Notre Dame two weeks ago, giving up a 16-point lead and losing, 40-37. They failed to recover from the loss the following week and were beaten by Illinois — which had only one Big Ten win in three years — 23-20.

MSU is without Javon Ringer, who is lost for the season with a knee injury. Stanton is nursing bruised ribs, but is listed as prob-able. Several offensive linemen are also out of commission.

To make matters even worse, Smith is feeling the heat from fans, especially after admitting in the press conference following the Illinois loss that he couldn’t get the players to practice hard.

But the Spartans are adamant that the previous two games aren’t a barometer of what will happen Saturday at the Big House.

“I mean, we’re better than we’re playing, man,” junior bandit Sir Darean Adams said. “But believe me — come Saturday, you’ll see the real Michigan State. You will see the real Michigan State.”

If nothing else, the seniors can draw motivation from knowing the odds are stacked against them. Stanton took it upon himself to stress the importance of the game to his teammates this week. He rallied the squad together during practice Tuesday and asked a rhetorical ques-tion:

“How many people here have beat Michigan?”

No one raised a hand.

Ethan Conley can be reached at conleyet@msu.edu.

U-M continued from page 1B

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