While sports fans everywhere are gearing up for Super Sunday, three Spartan football players will represent MSU in college football's North vs. South rivalry game, The Villages Gridiron Classic.
Defensive end Greg Taplin (6-foot-5, 259 pounds) and offensive guards Paul Harker (6-foot-3, 302) and Joe Tate (6-foot-5, 295) will play in the sixth annual game, played at noon on Saturday at The Villages Polo Stadium in The Villages, Fla.
"It's great just to be down here, in the atmosphere, getting another chance to play against guys who are the cream of the crop," Tate said.
"And it's fun getting away from the snow."
The three seniors will play alongside players from 30 teams representing the North; five of them Big Ten, including Michigan.
"On my flight, I was sitting next to (U-M defensive tackle) Norman Heuer," said Harker.
"When they're not wearing that ugly helmet of theirs, they're pretty nice guys."
Although the Spartans combine forces with the Wolverines during the game, Harker said it won't change their disposition toward the maize and blue.
"We'll all go back to hating Michigan after the game," he joked.
The teams will go head-to-head against players from 32 teams representing the South, including Ohio State, so the game is sure to be very competitive.
But the guys seem to agree it's more about having fun.
"Everybody wants to win, but it's a little more relaxing," Harker said.
"Once we get to the game, after all the hard work, it's all about going out and having fun."
Taplin said he is excited about having one last opportunity to play college football.
"I'm just happy to get a chance to play again," he said.
"I'm having a ball getting to play with the other guys."
But when he found out the U-M players were around, Taplin said he was compelled give them a hard time.
"I come and give them a little crap," he said. "I put three or four Spartan heads inside their locker."
The Spartans arrived in Florida on Sunday and began practicing on Monday.
They will finish practicing today and have a day to rest before Saturday's game.
A three-year letterman, Harker had 30 career starts, 17 consecutive at right guard.
Due to injuries incurred, Harker missed 23 games from 1999-2002.
He was allowed a sixth year of eligibility for 2003, and came back to lead the Green and White in pancake blocks with 87.
Taplin and Tate both were four-year letterwinners, and both had 29 career starts.
Taplin had 132 career tackles, including 18 for loss and 13 sacks.
In 2003, he led the team for tackles for loss, with 14, and sacks, with 10.
In the same season, he also matched his one-game, career-high of three sacks when the Spartans played Penn State, and had a career-best nine tackles against Ohio State.
In his senior season, Tate graded out 90 percent or better in all 12 regular-season games, and allowed just 1.5 sacks in more than 450 passing plays.
The lineman was third on the team in pancake blocks with 37.
Tate and Taplin both plan on entering the 2004 NFL draft. Football.com currently ranks Taplin the No. 29 defensive end, and Tate the No. 28 offensive guard.
The NFL Insiders Web site ranks Taplin No. 79 in the Top 100 draft picks.
The three will return to Michigan on Sunday.
"Hopefully, we can get back in time for the Super Bowl," Taplin said.
