Home > Michigan
We Have Found 4 Products for your search of Michigan.
Displaying Items 1 - 4:
College Football - Michigan State Crushes Montana State, Both Sophomore Quarterbacks Look Good
by Ed Bagley
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio's job became harderSaturday after his Spartans polished off 1-AA MontanaState, 44-3, but it also became sweeter.
It became harder because 1-AA Montana State is a far cryfrom the opponents the Spartans will face as they worktheir way through Big Ten competition in the weeks ahead.Playing a 1-AA team was a big deal for the Spartans becauseit was the first time in school history they had faced suchan unevenly matched team.
Dantonio's job became sweeter because his two sophomorequarterbacks—Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol—bothlooked good in their bid to become the starting QB toreplace Brian Hoyer, now a backup QB for the NFL's NewEngland Patriots. When watching Hoyer play last year, hewas inconsistent, but he was also apparently good enough totry competing at the next level.
Michigan State had a huge question mark in who wouldreplace Hoyer. Both Cousins, who goes 6-3 and 202, andNichol, who goes 6-2 and 215, split time under center andlooked good.
Cousins went 10-for-17 for 183 yards, and had 3 touchdownpasses—a 29-yarder to sophomore B. J. Cunningham, a15-yarder to senior Blair White, and another 24-yarder toWhite.
Nichol went 9-for-18 for 135 yards, and had 2 touchdownpasses—a 26-yarder to freshman tight end Dion Sims,and a 3-yarder to sophomore tight end Brian Linthicum. Simsgoes 6-5 and 268; Linthicum goes 6-5 and 245.
Michigan State's passing game looks both young andeffective at the moment. The question now is: can they doit against much better competition in the heat of Big Tenplay?
Another big question mark is who would replace SpartanAll-American running back Javon Ringer. Ringer, who wasdrafted by the NFL's Tennessee Titans, ran 390 times as asenior, gaining 1,637 yards and scoring 22 rushingtouchdowns. He led the nation in carries, touchdowns andscoring, and was 4th in rushing yards. Ringer accounted for97% of Michigan State's rushing yardage last year.
Against Montana State, redshirt freshman Caulton Ray had 12carries for 71 yards (5.9 yards per carry), freshman LarryCaper added 34 yards on 7 carries (4.8 ypc), and freshmanEdwin Baker added another 27 yards on 8 carries (3.3 ypc).
Senior Blair White had impressive numbers with 9 receptionsfor 162 yards and 2 TDs.
The Spartans led 28-0 at the half, and rolled up 493offensive yards to 160 for Montana State. Michigan State'sstar linebacker, junior Greg Jones, had 14 tackles; he isarguably he best linebacker in the Big Ten.
The game was Michigan State's home opener. Montana Statewill receive at least $650,000 for traveling to EastLansing for an almost certain first-game loss, but thepayday will be enough to pay nearly a third of MontanaState's annual football budget. The Spartans host CentralMichigan at home Saturday.
About the Author
13"edbagleyblog.comedbagleyblog.com / Sports.htmlmlfor Week 4—youget rankings plus humor."College Football Wrap-Up - Week 3 - Dream Season Ends forSouthern Cal, Brigham Young, Utah and Georgia Tech""Dawgs Show Their Fangs, Washington Upsets 3rd-Ranked USCTrojans, 16-13"edbagleyblog.comedbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
Michigan vs Appalachian State 2007
Highlights of one of the biggest upsets in the history of college football, Division AA Appalachian State takes down the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines at Ann Arbor 34-32
|
| 
