Wednesday, September 28, 2005

MSU: Notebook

Spartans have new perspective

Coach Smith admits program is in a new position as favorites, but players say they're ready.

By Dave Dye / The Detroit News

Todd McInturf / The Detroit News MSU center Chris Morris said the Spartans are prepared: "We don't know about the pressure. We've never had to deal with it." Related links Big Ten Talk Big Ten Weblog MSU schedule MSU roster MSU stats Big Ten schedule Big Ten standings Big Ten stats AP Top-25 poll USA Today / ESPN Top-25 poll Game photo galleries MSU 49, Kent State 14 MSU 42, Hawaii 14 MSU 44, Notre Dame 41 Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

EAST LANSING -- Expectations are soaring at Michigan State, which begs the question: Are the Spartans ready to handle it?

They've suddenly emerged the surprise story in college football, standing No. 11 nationally after starting the season unranked. They're favored to beat Michigan Saturday, a position they haven't been in since probably 1968. Their standout quarterback, Drew Stanton, is in the spotlight as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate.

So is this perennial underdog program ready to take on the increased pressure?

"I don't know," coach John L. Smith said. "We'll have to wait and see.

"... It is a different position for our program. But that doesn't change anything. We still have to prepare ourselves and go to the field.

"They're (Michigan) going to come in here ready to go, I guarantee you. They will be like a wounded animal. They're going to be fighting mad."

Center Chris Morris, a fifth-year senior, said he believes the MSU players can handle the burden.

"Yeah, we're ready," Morris said. "We're doing some good things. We deserve it (the attention) right now. We're ready to keep moving with it.

"Maybe that's a good thing that we've never been in it. We don't know about the pressure. We've never had to deal with it. So now all we've got to do is play football."

Last year's memories

The memory of last year's overtime loss at Michigan motivated the Spartans throughout the off-season.

"It was heartbreaking," Morris said of MSU blowing a 17-point fourth-quarter lead. "I still think about it to this day. It does stick with you. The opportunity (to make up for it) is finally going to arrive.

"We were saying the same thing against Hawaii, how we wanted to get some revenge. That's definitely going to be the case this week."

One player who will be particularly motivated as a result of last year's collapse is cornerback Jaren Hayes, who got beat for several big plays at the end by former U-M receiver Braylon Edwards, a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns.

Listed at 5-foot-9, Hayes didn't have the height to handle Edwards, who is 6-3.

"A lot of it was that guy (Edwards)," Smith said. "I'm sure Jaren still feels the pain. Maybe that's our fault. That was a little bit of a mismatch. Now he gets a chance to make up for it."

Briefly

A Spartan Stadium open house to view the new press box, suites and club-seating area has been rescheduled for today from 4-6 p.m. Fans can enter the stadium through the main lobby on the west side of the stadium. Parking is available in the lot off of Shaw Lane.

... Smith said he plans to use John Goss on kickoffs Saturday instead of Brandon Fields. That's provided Goss kicks well in practice this week. Smith said Goss has been more consistent than Fields lately.

Quotable

Stanton, on U-M: "They're probably the best 2-2 football team in the nation."

... Smith, on whether he had any reaction to Illinois assistant head coach Reggie Mitchell, a former MSU assistant, being upset about the Spartans throwing a pass late in Saturday's 61-14 rout: "No. That doesn't matter. Who cares?"

You can reach Dave Dye at dave.dye@detnews.com.