Spartans hope to unite with state on gridiron

Continuing recent trends by MSU to focus on the state of Michigan, the MSU football team has added a silver outline of the state to their helmets.

This decal will be placed at the bottom of the back of the helmet.

“Given the challenging economic conditions that we face in the state of Michigan, we wanted to show support for the residents and businesses in our home state and encourage everyone to unite for our common good,” head coach Mark Dantonio said in a press release.

Following the Spartan basketball team’s run to the Final Four in April, the MSU Athletics Department has been attempting to gain ground in the race for state supremacy.

The football coaches have been emphasizing how important in-state recruiting is, while the Michigan has recruited at a more national level.

Then the MSU Athletics Department signed a deal to play Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan 12 times in 10 seasons, including a return trip to each, beginning in 2011.

It’s clear Mark Hollis and the his staff are trying to bring more Michiganders to the green-and-white side. This push happens to coincide with a struggling U-M football team.

MSU is pushing at the right time and it’s paying off. The green-and-white fans have been coming out of the hibernation that was the John L. Smith era, while the U-M fans are beginning to crawl into holes or even rebel against head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Dantonio said when he was hired that he believes there is more green in this state, and Mark Hollis is trying to prove it true.

Ray’s the man

Running backs coach Dan Enos said Thursday that while the three freshmen running backs will get most of the carries in Saturday’s opener against Montana State, Caulton Ray is ahead of the other two backs.

“Right now he’s a guy that, no matter what is called, our whole staff feels very confident that he’s going to go in and execute it,” Enos said. “The difference between him and the freshmen is a little more knowledge and (he is) a little more comfortable with the total offensive package.”

Enos raved about freshman Larry Caper’s ability to run-block.

“Larry’s pass protection surprised everybody, I think. He came out and the first day we did it, everybody was like ‘whoa, that’s pretty good,’ and we don’t see a lot of high school backs who are able to do that,” Enos said. “Larry is 220 pounds and uses his hands well and he’s very powerful and has done a very good job.”