Spartans ready for spotlight vs. Hawkeyes

As senior defensive end Trevor Anderson answered questions from reporters following practice Tuesday, it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Cousins

Mark Dantonio

Finally, one reporter mentioned to Anderson that he already looked excited for Saturday’s game against No. 7 Iowa (7:05 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Anderson grinned ear to ear.

“For real,” he said. “I’m serious, man. It’s going to be a live game.”

At football Media Day in August, head football coach Mark Dantonio and his players emphasized how — in order to continue to progress of the program — the team had to win big games.

After losing to Ohio State and Penn State by a combined score of 94-25 last season, it was clear the inexperienced Spartans couldn’t compete on the big stage.

But this season, the Spartans have clawed back to a 3-1 conference record with Iowa (7-0, 3-0) coming to East Lansing and first place in the Big Ten on the line.

“This is a big game. I really think we’re ready,” Anderson said.

“We’re more poised than we were last year. Last year, we were excited just to be there and everything like that. Now, people were there, such as myself, (junior linebacker Greg Jones and junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker) and we don’t have that feeling like, ‘Oh man, it’s our first time,’ or any jitters like that. We know what to do.”

Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins had the opportunity to play against the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions last season — albeit when the Spartans were losing by a lot — but said those experiences will help him this weekend.

“Any time you’re out there playing against top 10 teams, like I was able to do last year, you learn something and you get an opportunity and you gain confidence and I’m going to carry what I learned into this weekend’s game,” Cousins said.

Saturday’s game will be just the eighth night game in the 86-year history of Spartan Stadium.

The Spartans are 4-3 at home at night with the most recent game being a 52-27 win against Indiana two years ago.

Jones played in that Indiana game and said his advice for young players is to enjoy the moment.

“I told them to soak it in because it’s once-in-a-lifetime chance,” he said.

“You really get to have the opportunity (only) so many times so I told the young guys to suck it in, have fun with it but at the same time, stay focused.”

Dantonio emphasized at his Tuesday press conference that games such as this weekend’s — with a first place spot in the Big Ten standings on the line — are ones that players will remember forever.

“When we’ve come to big games like this … I’ve tried to talk to our football team like my wife talks to me, ‘Just enjoy it,’” he said.

“This is an opportunity to play in a football game that you should remember and be able to tell your children about some point in time, ‘I remember when …’”

Since the Spartans beat Iowa 16-13 last season, Iowa has won 13 of its last 14 games.

Anderson hopes to deliver another loss to the Hawkeyes.

“These types of games you look for, as a player, you come to this type of school to play in those types of games,” he said.

“Having an opportunity to play a very, very good Iowa team, one of the best in the country, it’s exciting. Having them come here, again, and this time under our lights, it’s going to be something to behold on Saturday, man.”