Pittsburgh — MSU's performance in the second half of Saturday's 38-23 win against Pittsburgh might have been a surprise to some, but the players and coaches were expecting it.
That's because the team practiced indoors with the heat on all week so it would be able to survive the projected 80-degree weather for four quarters in Pittsburgh.
"We practiced all week long with a theme of trying to tell these guys we have to be more physical," MSU head coach John L. Smith said. "I think we wore them down."
Saturday's game didn't turn out to be as hot as expected, but it was clear MSU improved as the game went on, while Pittsburgh faltered. After earning just 28 yards of offense in the first quarter, the Spartans racked up 505 total yards in the last three quarters.
"First it was a cool breeze, but it really got hot," said sophomore safety Otis Wiley of the game-time weather. "We were used to it because our bodies were immune to the heat."
Smith joked that it was the players' idea to practice inside with the heat, but it most likely originated during the 2004 season when MSU lost its opening game at Rutgers in oppressive conditions.
Senior quarterback Drew Stanton said many players were cramping during that game because they weren't used to the heat. This time around, practicing in artificial conditions prepared Stanton and his teammates for what they'd face.
"It makes you focus more. It conserves your energy and it does a lot of things you can't really simulate if you're outside in normal weather," Stanton said.
Share the wealth
Against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 9 senior Matt Trannon caught a school-record 14 catches and had a career-best 151 yards receiving.
This week, Pittsburgh eliminated Trannon from MSU's offense by using All-Big East cornerback Darrelle Revis on him. Trannon had just one catch for six yards.
"All my job was (Saturday) was to block," Trannon said. "That's what I did to help my team win, and I'll do anything to help my team win."
But the Spartans were prepared for that scenario and had a game plan to target other receivers in MSU's spread offense.
Senior Kerry Reed was the main beneficiary, with seven catches for 103 yards, his first career 100-yard game, and one touchdown. Senior Jerramy Scott had six catches for 74 yards.
"There's going to be some weeks when Trannon might catch 10 balls, there's going to be some weeks where Scott might catch 10 balls and there's going to be some weeks when the tight end might catch 10 balls," Smith said.
Under pressure
For the second straight week, MSU's defensive line was able to establish itself early and control the line of scrimmage.
Junior defensive end Ervin Baldwin set the tone by sacking Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko on the Panthers' first offensive play of the game. That was MSU's only sack, but the defense continued putting pressure on Palko all game.
"We knew they'd come in and pass it," Baldwin said. "It was big to set the tempo up front."
For senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, that was good, but not good enough.
"If we're really trying to do the things that we're talking about doing, we can't pat ourselves on their back every time we do something good," Ryan said. "We have to expect things like this out of ourselves."
