For what seemed like the first time all season, head coach Mark Dantonio’s press conference was not dominated by questions about MSU’s offense.
Senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Let’s pump the brakes a little, Mark. Knocking off a team that was weaker than advertised and a program that hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 2004 is a landmark win?
IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was a brief moment in time. But for Darqueze Dennard, it has been on his mind for weeks. During the first quarter of September’s 21-6 victory against South Florida, the senior cornerback dropped an easy interception for a touchdown, forced to watch helplessly as a ball well within his grasp fell incomplete to the finely manicured grass.
Facing a punting situation to open the fourth quarter with the MSU football team clinging to a six-point lead, junior punter Mike Sadler entered the game to send the ball back to the opposing team as he had 24 previous times this season. It’s something he’s able to do as consistent as nearly anyone in the country since taking over the position in 2011.
Mike Sadler was MSU’s most valuable player through its first three games as the Spartans were frustratingly ineffective on offense, leaning on Sadler time and time again to get them out of a jam. Even as MSU had its best offensive showing of the season in a 26-14 win at Iowa to begin Big Ten play, the junior punter again played the hero role.
Iowa City, Iowa – It appeared MSU would walk into the locker room with a 10-point lead it could feel good about. Then the Hawkeyes exploded for a quick pair of long touchdown drives on their final possessions of the half to take a 14-10 advantage. MSU’s defense dominated much of the first half and found life on a big play from sophomore wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. The Spartans (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) forced three-and-outs on four of Iowa’s (4-1, 1-0) first five possessions, and the other ended with an interception from senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard. MSU opened up with a three-and-out on its first possession, too, before squandering a pair of prime scoring chances on the next two drives. Junior running back Jeremy Langford was stuffed on 4th-and-1 from the Iowa 24-yard line, and on the next possession following Dennard’s interception, freshman kicker Michael Geiger missed a 36-yard field goal. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook hooked up with Kings for a 46-yard touchdown, by far MSU’s longest play of the season, for a 10-0 lead. It took Iowa six possessions to earn a first down, and once it did the Hawkeyes were rolling.
When Mark Dantonio returned to East Lansing seven years ago as MSU’s 24th head football coach, he looked to Iowa as a model. In the Hawkeyes, he saw a template for how he wanted to shape his program, one built with modest recruits on a foundation of toughness, discipline and player development.
Only two games in the past six seasons have been decided by more than seven points when Iowa and MSU face off. With both teams matching up comparatively this season, another close one wouldn’t be out of the picture.
With the hours until Saturday’s kickoff between MSU and Iowa dwindling, both Spartan and Hawkeye fans are trying to get a feel for their opponent. Both teams boast a stout defense, and both possess an offense with a few question marks.
Two of the most provocative voices in sports media belong to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless.
Offensive line coach Mark Staten was more than pleased with how his group fared in the Spartans’ loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago. The Spartans rotated in eight offensive linemen, and the various combinations pushed around a talented Fighting Irish defense for much of the afternoon, resulting in a 119-82 advantage in rushing yards.
The biggest beneficiary of MSU football’s bye week might have been junior wide receiver Tony Lippett. Lippett used the week off to reevaluate himself and refocus after talking with coaches, and it paid off with his ascension into the starting line at the X receiver spot with sophomore Aaron Burbridge.
“A game of inches.” It’s popular sports cliché, and for good reason — MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is never shy to break out the ruler when determining the margin in a close victory or a narrow defeat. And when it comes to playing Iowa, the margins for Dantonio are about as close as they come.
During MSU’s bye week, quarterbacks coach Brad Salem told his players to focus on improving one aspect of their game following the loss to Notre Dame. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook chose two: footwork and accuracy.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is using some of his extra time this week to help fill the void left by senior linebacker Jairus Jones, who is sidelined at least six weeks with a medial collateral ligament injury.
With the first of two bye weeks underway, the MSU football team is hoping the extra rest will prove beneficial for players on the mend. For senior linebacker Jairus Jones, it will be at least six weeks before he returns to action after suffering a medial collateral ligament, or MCL, injury against Notre Dame, head coach Mark Dantonio announced.
Two seasons, two identical records. That’s the situation facing the MSU football team (3-1) following a weekend loss to No. 22 Notre Dame after opening victories against Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State.
The total donations toward the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance is nearing $40,000 in response to the “Go Blue” skywriting prior to the MSU v. Youngstown State football game. Pam Dahlmann, president of MiOCA, said $39,684 has been received from more than 1,000 donors worldwide, as of Monday afternoon.
It was difficult to tell what was more troubling for the Spartans early Saturday evening.