Ann Arbor — After MSU’s 35-21 victory over Michigan on Saturday, Brian Hoyer and Javon Ringer entered the postgame media room, a square cement area under Michigan Stadium. The room was filled with cameras, media members and a table with three chairs set up under the only decoration in the room: a black, vinyl covering with the U-M block “M” and Big Ten Network logos scattered all over it. “Take it down!” said someone in the media.
Hoyer and Ringer quickly looked at two MSU Athletic Communications directors, who lowered their heads and slowly shook them sideways, in a “Don’t even think about it” manner.
The banner stayed up, mainly because everything else that symbolized U-M in the in-state rivalry had come crashing down.
“Eighteen years of coming down here — this is my first time and it’s my last time,” said Hoyer, a senior quarterback who threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns on 17-for-29 passing.
“That’s pretty special. It’s a great accomplishment to do this in my last chance.”
Hoyer and Ringer, a senior running back, helped break numerous U-M streaks with their performance Saturday.
They become the first MSU team to beat U-M in six years, the first to win in Ann Arbor since 1990 and the first group of seniors in three consecutive classes to beat the Wolverines.
“Being able to go out our senior year with a victory over Michigan to, Lord willing, help (start) a tradition of us beating those guys is great,” Ringer said.
Whether or not a string of MSU victories follow Saturday’s win remains to be seen, but something all players hope for is that Saturday’s outcome will affect how MSU is viewed outside of the program.
Senior defensive tackle Justin Kershaw acknowledged this win was for more than just the seniors and the rest of the Spartans; it spread all over the country to former players and MSU alumni.
Hoyer also said he believed his team’s win will affect the way the Spartans are viewed throughout the state of Michigan.
“(MSU offensive coordinator Don Treadwell) talked before the game about making a change,” Hoyer said. “We need to make a change in this rivalry and make a change in this state. I think the state is probably more green today than it was yesterday.”
Wiley left out
Although Hoyer, Ringer and Kershaw got to fully experience their first victory over the Wolverines, fellow senior captain Otis Wiley was stuck on the sidelines during Saturday’s win.
Wiley, MSU’s starting strong safety and arguably its best defensive player, didn’t practice all week because of a knee injury.
Sophomore Marcus Hyde stepped in for Wiley, garnering four tackles, forcing and recovering a fumble and getting an interception.
“I just wanted to go out there,” Hyde said of his first start.
“That’s basically what (head coach Mark Dantonio) said: Just go out there and play. If you know what you’re doing, the game comes easy at times.”
Playing through pain
Ringer and sophomore cornerback Chris L. Rucker also were banged up heading into the game, but still managed to contribute and make plays.
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Ringer, who went down during Thursday’s practice with a hamstring injury, carried the ball 37 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns in his final game against the Wolverines.
Rucker, still reeling from an injury suffered against Iowa on Oct. 4, had three tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception despite wearing a protective sleeve over his left arm.
“It’s good, it’s getting better,” Rucker said. “I’m not 100 percent yet, but I’ll get there real soon. Next week, hopefully I’ll be feeling better than I did this week. We’re just going to take it week by week.”
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