Failing to Fly

Before the game, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio expressed a modest concern about Florida Atlantic’s lethal passing attack. However, that concern was eliminated by a heavy dose of rain that crippled the Owls’ ability to move the ball vertically.

Junior quarterback Rusty Smith, considered an NFL prospect by many pro scouts, completed 8-of-34 passes for 143 yards. At one point, Smith threw 13 consecutive incomplete passes. He didn’t complete a single pass the entire second quarter.

Smith complemented MSU’s defense, but said the rain was mostly responsible for his poor performance.

“I wasn’t able to grip the ball and throw it on time as hard and accurate as I possibly could,” said Smith, the preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. “It wasn’t coming out as a spiral or anything resembling a catchable ball.

“I felt that our receivers, tight ends and running backs were able to get open enough that we could have given them a better game. But Michigan State beat us 17-0.”

Slippery Business

It’s hard enough stopping MSU running back Javon Ringer in normal conditions, but the slick, slippery field made the task even more difficult, Florida Atlantic linebacker Jervonte Jackson said after the game.

“It was so slippery out there,” he said. “One play I almost hurt my knee. I slipped and was out for a play or two. It was really muddy and mucky.”

Ringer, who rushed for 282 yards and two touchdowns, controlled the game from the very beginning. In a game in which both passers struggled immensely, Florida Atlantic stacked the line to stop Ringer.

But even with eight men in the box, the Owls couldn’t neutralize him.

“He is an outstanding individual,” Jackson said. “He made a lot of good moves and he found his holes when they came. He was very patient, and when he saw the outside, he just took it. He is talented, we had to wrap him up a little bit, but he made some plays for them and he gave them a whole lot of yards and carries.”

Not such a loss

Despite a less than encouraging performance by Smith and the rest of Florida Atlantic’s offense, Owls head coach Howard Schnellenberger said he’ll leave East Lansing encouraged about the state of his team heading into conference play.

Schnellenberger said he was especially pleased with how his defense played against a Big Ten team that led the conference in points last season.

“This was by far the best defensive outing we’ve had, which is swell because we think we’ve got an offense that is obviously way ahead of where we’ve ever been,” he said.

Despite being held scoreless, Schnellenberger said his team entered the game extremely prepared. He added that the weather hurt his team’s ability to move the ball offensively and stop Ringer at the point of attack.

“If there was ever a time to be thrilled about losing to Michigan State 17-0, this might be the time to do it,” he said. “Every one of our kids came to play, including our quarterback. They were well-prepared. The offense had a great week of practice and was right on the money with everything they were doing.”