Charlie Weis is one of the most prepared coaches in his profession.

In his weekly press conference, the Notre Dame head coach easily rattles off the name, height, weight and statistics of nearly every MSU starter along with most of the Spartans' averages from not only this year, but from last year when he was the offensive coordinator for the NFL's Patriots.

He can tell you, for instance, that MSU's rush defense is only giving up 68 yards per game. This presents a serious problem to his squad, which is dependent on running the ball.

He can also tell you MSU has scored six touchdowns on special teams in the last two years - two of which came against Notre Dame last season.

"Last year they led the Big Ten in offense with 460 yards a game," Weis said. "They were 10th in the whole country, as a matter of fact. I could see why after taking a look at this quarterback."

Weis, the owner of four Super Bowl rings, has the Fighting Irish sitting pretty at No. 10 in the nation after impressive wins at Pittsburgh and at Michigan.

It's now up to the offensive mastermind to prepare his defense for one of the most explosive offenses in the country when MSU rolls into South Bend, Ind., on Saturday.

But Weis has to be ready if he wants to defeat an MSU team that hasn't lost at Notre Dame Stadium since 1993 when Lou Holtz was coaching. This also was the last time both teams came into the game undefeated.

"You just come off an emotional high like you did in Michigan. If it wasn't a school with a great reputation against Notre Dame like Michigan State, I think it would be a little tougher for me (to motivate the players)," Weis said.

"Michigan State has owned Notre Dame recently, especially here at Notre Dame Stadium."

MSU has beaten Notre Dame 11 times at Notre Dame Stadium, making it one of the most successful teams against the Fighting Irish.

Scary good

Weis knows what the Spartans' bread and butter is - the team's offense, led by junior quarterback Drew Stanton.

"To be honest with you, that kid, the way he throws the ball, I'd do all I could not to get him hurt," Weis said. "(The option) is one of our concerns because he's so athletic, you always have to be concerned with him pulling the ball down, coming down the line of scrimmage and doing that. There's a lot of things I'm worried about with that offense. That's just one of many."

Weis also has expressed concern about MSU's receivers and, to a greater extent, the Spartans' three-headed running back monster of senior Jason Teague, sophomore Jehuu Caulcrick and freshman Javon Ringer.

Teague is on the dress list for the game, but is not listed on the depth chart after being suspended for the Hawaii game.

Rising expectations?

The MSU defense finally is starting to earn respect after a turbulent 2004 season.

"I think we're growing all the time on the defensive side of the ball," MSU head coach John L. Smith said. "I really believe we're getting better over there. That's the place where we have the most growth to make and we're going to have to make the most growth for us to have the success that we want."

In this game, though, Weis might be the biggest believer in the MSU offense. And he said it is the offensive line that makes MSU's offense tick.

"I think there's three facets - they have confidence in all the running backs, the offensive line and tight ends do a nice job," Weis said. "I think they have a nice scheme, to tell you the truth."

Recruiting wars

Both Stanton and senior wide receiver Kyle Brown were two current Spartans recruited by former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie when Davie ran the show in South Bend from 1997-2001.

Stanton said he does not regret for one second his decision to become a Spartan, to come to the team he grew up rooting for.

Even though he got Stanton and Brown, Smith is aware that Notre Dame routinely gets more players than MSU.

"They beat us thoroughly, soundly," he admitted.

Smith, meanwhile, recruited current Irish quarterback Brady Quinn, or "Quinn the Eskimo," which comes from a Bob Dylan song of the same name, but eventually lost out when Quinn chose Notre Dame.

Notre Dame routinely gets commitments from players that are talking with other Big Ten schools.

"They are as talented, if not more, than most of the teams in this league," Smith said.

Game plan

This will be the first real test for the MSU defense. The group will face a team with an experienced quarterback and a balanced attack.

"Just because 'Quinn the Eskimo' is experienced, that doesn't necessarily change our thinking that much," Smith said. "We still have to put together a plan we think will work."

With two big wins under their belt, the Irish are flying high. But Smith still sees the same team that he lost to last season in East Lansing.

"They're playing with some confidence," Smith said. "It's the same group we played last year. I don't see any revival there."

MSU's run defense will be challenged for the first time, as both Kent State and Hawaii ran spread offenses and rarely ran the ball.

"It'll be interesting to see if we can line up and stop the run because we haven't been tested with the run," Smith said.

Stanton is aware of the type of offense Weis can throw at any team at any given time.

"Obviously, Charlie Weis, his offensive mind is as good as anybody's," Stanton said. "He's been able to prove that with the offenses that he's been able to scheme."

Head games

The symbols of Notre Dame football are known all over the country. Touchdown Jesus, the Golden Dome and Rudy are just some of the symbols that are etched into the minds of young football players.

Smith plans on letting his team know about the history and the tradition - but not let them get overwhelmed by it.

"There's some history lessons they should know about," he said. "So focusing on those things and letting them know how historic that place is, is a big deal in my opinion. We're not going to overemphasize it."

Senior center Chris Morris, who was around for MSU's 22-16 win in 2003 in South Bend, never minds playing at Notre Dame Stadium.

"It's a different experience every year," he said. "It's a great tradition over there and a great rivalry and every time everybody's here - everybody's ready to play."

Smith's first trip to Notre Dame came in 2003, and he wasn't all that impressed with what he saw.

"It was OK," he said.

MSU junior defensive end Clifton Ryan made his first trip to Notre Dame in 2003 as well and, like his coach, he wasn't impressed.

"When we went down there in '03, I was looking for Touchdown Jesus," he said. "Once I saw it, I realized it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm 1-0 down there, I'm looking forward to making it 2-0."

Smith has tried to downplay his team's hot start but this game will let him know what his team is made of.

"I think we're OK at this point," he said. "We have to stay healthy and continue to grow from here on out. I keep saying that by midseason I think we can be pretty good."

Weis plans on emphasizing the fact that MSU has come into South Bend the last four times and has walked out of Notre Dame Stadium as winners each time.

This game might eventually mean more for MSU, though, as it enters the tough Big Ten season.

"We'll really get to find out if we're worth a hoot or not," Smith said.