Most observers of the Spartans’ 46-22 loss to California found it hard to find a bright spot - head coach Bobby Williams is no exception.
“It’s really hard to find anything positive from that football game,” he said at a weekly press conference Tuesday.
“It gives us an opportunity to go out and correct those mistakes.”
He said the Spartans must take care of the ball against No. 12 Notre Dame if they are to have a chance to win.
The Spartans committed five turnovers and struggled in all three phases of the game, especially special teams.
The special teams unit fumbled two kick-off returns, allowed a 90-yard punt return by California cornerback Jemeel Powell, and a kick-off return of 56 yards, in which there were several missed tackles.
Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said he’s never been involved in a special teams performance where so many things went wrong.
“It was just a nightmare,” Crossman said. “It was just a little bit of everything.”
Crossman said he doesn’t think freshman tailback Jaren Hayes and sophomore fullback Jason Bradley - the culprits on the fumbles - will continue to have problems holding on to the ball.
“That’s something that those two guys haven’t done and they can’t,” he said.
“And if they do that again, whether it be in practice or the game, they can’t be out there.”
All he does is catch touchdowns
Junior wide receiver Charles Rogers, who leads the Big Ten in receptions (22) and receiving yards (459), has caught a touchdown in each of his last 12 games - one shy of the Big Ten record.
He also has caught at least one touchdown in his last 11 regular-season games, which is one shy of the NCAA record held by Desmond Howard.
The Wildcats
The Big Ten opener against Northwestern (1-2) at 1:05 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Spartan Stadium has not been picked up by television.
The Spartans have lost their last two meetings to the Wildcats.
Injury Update
Out: Freshman quarterback Aaron Alexander (broken fifth metatarsal in left foot); junior tailback Tyrell Dortch (broke leg); freshman linebacker Steve Kielp (bruised shoulder), junior guard Joe Patrick (lower back); freshman strong safety Eric Smith (sprained MCL).
Questionable: Freshman linebacker Seth Mitchell; freshman flanker Agim Shabaj (sprained knee); junior tight end Matt Walters (sprained ankle).
