MSU alumni won’t be the only ones returning to Spartan Stadium on Saturday for the Homecoming football game against Iowa.
The game, a 12:10 p.m. start, will also be a homecoming for the MSU football team (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten), which hasn’t played in Spartan Stadium since the season opener against Central Michigan on Sept. 8.
But if MSU scheduled Iowa (3-1, 1-1), which finished 3-9 last season, as a powder puff Homecoming opponent, the plan could backfire on MSU, senior wide receiver Herb Haygood said.
“No one thought they would be as good as they are now,” Haygood said. “They think they can win every game now. They have more talent, more speed on offense and they’re 3-1 now, so why wouldn’t they.”
But it’s a good thing Iowa has proven its true abilities early - this way, MSU won’t overlook the Hawkeyes and repeat last year’s 21-16 loss, Haygood said.
“I’m glad they’ve emerged before we played them,” Haygood said. “Last year we came off a loss and were glad to play Iowa but kind of looked past them to Wisconsin. We can’t take any team lightly at all.”
Even though MSU lost that game, it posted 286 yards rushing, including 248 by junior tailback T.J. Duckett. MSU will have to repeat that performance if it wants to have a chance this year, offensive coordinator Morris Watts said.
“We have to play good sound football, make plays, run the ball better and consistently,” Watts said.” We’ve ran the ball good at times, but we haven’t been consistent.”
Against Northwestern on Sept. 29, MSU posted 164 yards. Duckett had 111 of those, but after the game many critics and Northwestern players questioned his stamina.
Duckett said that hasn’t affected him. He said he’s happy with the amount of carries he has been getting.
“I couldn’t really understand where it came from,” Duckett said. “The second half, I only had six or seven carries, and I’m not gonna be tired off of six or seven carries. It’s fine, everyone talks, there’s nothing we can do about it now. All that’s behind us, and we still have a new mission on hand.”
In remembrance
A presentation involving two members from both the Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department will take place before the game. Four hundred local firefighters and police officers will also accompany the Spartan Marching Band in the ceremony.
“It’s a privilege to have these New York rescue workers on our campus,” MSU head coach Bobby Williams said in a statement. “They are national heroes, and it’s appropriate to honor them along with area firefighters and police officers during Saturday’s special pregame ceremony.”
A collection to assist people who lost family members in the Sept. 11 tragedy will be taken in the stadium between the first and second quarters. The money will be evenly distributed between the FDNY and NYPD after it is presented to the officers at halftime.
Before Saturday, fans can also donate money to the “FDNY and NYPD Relief Fund” at the MSU Federal Credit Union main branch, 600 Crescent Road.
They love the stadium
The MSU hockey team will be honored at halftime for its 2000-2001 season. The team finished on top of the CCHA and made it to the Frozen Four before losing to North Dakota. Junior goaltender Ryan Miller will also be honored. Miller was last season’s Hobey Baker Award winner, as college hockey’s most outstanding player.
