Michigan State 2009 FOOTBALL Schedule/Results

Michigan State 2009 Schedule/Results

MSU Notes Football Releases click here

___DATE___	__OPPONENT__	RESULT/TIME	RECORD/TICKETS
September 5	Montana State	W 44-3	1-0 (0-0)
September 12	Central Michigan	L 29-27	1-1 (0-0)
September 19	at Notre Dame	L 33-30	1-2 (0-0)
September 26	at Wisconsin	L 38-30	1-3 (0-1)
October 3	No. 22 Michigan	W 26-20	2-3 (1-1)
October 10	at Illinois	W 24-14	3-3 (2-1)
October 17	Northwestern	W 24-14	4-3 (3-1)
October 24	No. 6 Iowa	L 15-13	4-4 (3-2)
October 31	at Minnesota	L 42-34	4-5 (3-3)
November 7	Western Michigan	W 49-14	5-5 (3-3)
November 14	at Purdue	W 40-37	6-5 (4-3)
November 21	No. 18 Penn State	L 42-14	6-6 (4-4)
January 2	vs. Texas Tech* VALERO ALAMO BOWL SAN ANTONIO, TX	L 41-31	6-7 (4-4)

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Michigan State 26, Michigan 20 (OT)
Overtime scamper by MSU's Larry Caper douses U-M rally
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

There was the Wolverines' fourth-quarter comeback, turnovers and even their fake punt on fourth-and-1 at their own 16-yard line before the Spartans prevailed, 26-20, in overtime Saturday.

Larry Caper broke two tackles and escaped safety Troy Woolfolk's pursuit on third down to bolt 23 yards for the deciding score and a notable program milestone.

"We're on top of the hump," said Caper, a true freshman from Battle Creek whose team suffered three straight losses before this emotional win. "We're a team that made history."

Historic, indeed, as it marked MSU's first back-to-back victories in the rivalry in 42 years and its first victory over U-M in East Lansing since a 26-24 last-second thriller eight years ago.

"I think we gained back a little respect, maybe," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. "Whatever it was, we captured it and the guys came back extremely hard."

Watching an arch nemesis celebrate on its own field with the Paul Bunyan Trophy had to be painful for U-M, especially after a dramatic turnaround led by Tate Forcier.

The Wolverines' fleet-footed true freshman quarterback rallied his team from an early fourth-quarter deficit of 14 points with two touchdowns in a nearly four-minute span.

Forcier's first was a 60-yard pass to Darryl Stonum at the 4:03 mark, followed by a 9-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with only two seconds left on the clock.

U-M coach Rich Rodriguez commended his players for climbing out of a sizable hole, but he couldn't excuse his team's minus-4 rushing yards through three quarters and the defensive breakdowns.

"We just didn't execute," Rodriguez said. ""We have to do a better job as coaches, make a few more plays and not put ourselves in that situation."

The first series of overtime had to disturb Rodriguez, whose team must regroup from the high expectations created by somewhat surprising 4-0 start.

MSU won the coin toss and elected to play defense first. The offense got the ball back after Chris L. Rucker intercepted a Forcier pass in the endzone.

"I take complete blame for that," Forcier said. "That's something I told myself I wasn't going to do -- make a freshman mistake."

Forcier attempted a throw to Martavious Odoms, but saw the pass broken up by free safety Danny Fortener. The ball popped into Rucker's hands after the deflection.

Shortly thereafter came Caper's scamper, which sealed the victory.

With a 14-point lead, Spartans linebacker Greg Jones appeared to have the game-sealing play when he recovered Darryl Stonum's fumble at the MSU 27 with 10:26 left in the game.

Defensive players took their lumps during MSU's recent three-game skid, but they've got to feel better about the season now after earning some bragging rights.

"I'm going to brag the rest of my life," defensive end Trevor Anderson said. "As you get older, you get senile, so by the time I'm 50 I'll tell people we beat them 38-7."

Before Saturday, the Spartans' last winning streak over the Wolverines was three straight from 1965-67.

The Spartans (2-3) took a 10-6 halftime lead after several positive plays from quarterback Kirk Cousins, who shook off an interception during MSU's first series.

Cousins completed 13 of his first 16 passes and finished with 152 yards. He started to heat up during a wild second series that totaled 130 yards.

The drive, capped by a 1-yard Caper touchdown run, included four MSU penalties for 50 yards.

Forcier finished 17-of-32 for 223 yards with just the one interception, though it was a big one.

"Tate will learn from (his mistakes)," Rodriguez said. "He's a true freshman, and to have a true freshman out there competing the way he did and throughout the game is pretty remarkable. He'll keep growing and getting better from this game."

Cousins, surprisingly, was the game's leading rusher with 75 yards on seven carries.

MSU's Glenn Winston also a surprise on the ground as he scored his first collegiate touchdown, a run of 15 yards, to give the Spartans a 20-6 lead.

Wolverines senior defensive end Brandon Graham didn't hesitate to express pain after the loss, especially because it came against a team U-M has dominated for decades (it leads 67-30-5).

"It hurts to lose, period, but especially to State," Graham said. "They won the game, that's all I can really say about that."

A lot more will be said about either team in the coming weeks as each faces the bulk of Big Ten play.

The rivalry returns next year, but the drama continues.

elacy@detnews.com

Michigan State Defeats Michigan, 26-20, in Overtime

Larry Caper scores on a 23-yard TD run in overtime to give the Spartans the victory.

Oct. 3, 2009


Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2


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Coach Dantonio | Coach Treadwell | Coach Narduzzi | Greg Jones
Larry Caper | Blair White | Eric Gordon | Keith Nichol

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State owns a two-game winning streak against Michigan for the first time since 1967.

Freshman Larry Caper ran for a 23-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Spartans a 26-20 victory over the No. 22 Wolverines on Saturday. Michigan State hadn't beaten Michigan twice in a row since winning three straight from 1965-67.

"We did something that hasn't been done in 42 years," coach Mark Dantonio said. "That's amazing. But facts are facts. This game has a way of defining you."

The Spartans (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) won at Michigan last season for the first time since 1990. It was a bigger party in East Lansing, as players and coaches swarmed Caper in the north end zone after his game-winning run.

The big play was a third-down rush that still would have left Michigan State within field goal range if it hadn't succeeded. But the zone blocking worked out so well Caper scampered all the way to the end zone.

"Honestly, I don't remember the play," Caper said. "But it was a surreal feeling."

Michigan (4-1, 1-1) did not go down easy. The Wolverines had until recently dominated the last four decades of the century-old series. They hold a 67-30-5 all-time edge.

Tate Forcier had two fourth-quarter touchdown passes for Michigan to come from 14 points down and force OT in the Wolverines' first road game of the season. The freshman hit Roy Roundtree for a 9-yard score with 2 seconds left in regulation.

But Forcier was intercepted by Michigan State's Chris L. Rucker off a deflection in the end zone on the first possession of overtime, keeping the Wolverines from scoring.

"Our team doesn't give up," Forcier said. "We're going to keep fighting until the game is over. It showed. We can't win all of them, but our guys kept fighting."

Forcier completed 17 of 32 passes for 223 yards.

Kirk Cousins completed 15 of 21 passes for 152 yards and rushed for 75 yards for Michigan State. He also had two interceptions.

But Cousins was hobbled by an ankle injury late in the game. Keith Nichol ran the offense for much of the fourth quarter and the overtime for the Spartans.

Glenn Winston's 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave Michigan State a 20-6 lead.

But Forcier led yet another comeback for Michigan, with rain and wind swirling around Spartan Stadium. He connected with Darryl Stonum for a 60-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-13 with 4:03 remaining. Then he hit Roundtree to cap off a 92-yard drive as time wound down.

But Michigan couldn't overcome mistakes made earlier in the game.

Leading 10-6 midway through the third quarter, Michigan State's defense forced Michigan into a fourth-and-inches at the Wolverines' 16-yard line. Michigan attempted a fake punt, which blew up when punter Zoltan Mesko was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

"He was supposed to kick it," coach Rich Rodriguez said. "It was a read. Zoltan's made that decision very, very well a number of times. That time he probably saw a crease, I guess."

Michigan State capitalized on the good field position with a 24-yard field goal by Brett Swenson, giving the Spartans a 13-6 lead.

The win breaks a three-game losing streak for Michigan State. The Spartans had given up an average of 33 points in losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

Michigan State limited Michigan to 251 yards of offense Saturday. It helped that the Spartans had the ball for 40 minutes compared to 20 minutes for the Wolverines.

Michigan State Tops Illinois, 24-14

In his first start, Keith Nichol threw for 179 yards to help the Spartans defeat Illinois.

Oct. 10, 2009

Final Stats | Notes | AP Photo Gallery

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Coach Dantonio Post-Game Press Conference

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Keith Nichol threw for 179 yards in his first start to lead Michigan State to a 24-14 win over Illinois on Saturday.

Larry Caper rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown for Michigan State (3-3, 2-1). Glenn Winston ran for 64 yards and a score in the first half before leaving with a knee injury.

Nichol, a sophomore, started in place of Drew Cousins, who entered the game late. Nichol was 13-for-25 with an interception.

Illinois (1-4, 0-3) had its own first-time starter at quarterback, junior Eddie McGee. Illinois coach Ron Zook made McGee the starter this week over senior Juice Williams to try to spark the sputtering Illini.

But McGee's run lasted just over 32 minutes. Zook pulled him early in the third quarter after watching him complete two of his eight passes for 31 yards.

Williams was 7-for-17 for 109 yards and a touchdown in relief.

The Spartans turned the ball over twice and killed one of their drives with back-to-back personal foul penalties that wiped out big gains in Illinois territory.

But they were good enough to spoil Illinois' homecoming with a 17-0 lead by halftime that could have been worse.

The Spartans drove 60 yards on their opening possession and were up 7-0 after Winston's 2-yard touchdown run.

They had 14 points on the scoreboard before Illinois had a first down.

They held the ball for 22 of the game's first 30 minutes, a period during which Michigan State piled up 281 yards of offense - 149 on the ground - to the Illini's 60.

Illinois' student section showered the Illini with boos as they left the field at the half.

The Illini struggled to move the ball with McGee at quarterback, though he was saddled with bad field position.

Before starting a drive late in the third quarter at the Michigan State 30 after an interception by Tavon Wilson, the Illini had opened drives from their own 2, 9, 13, 20 (twice) and 24-yard lines.

Blair White, Nichol's favorite target Saturday, had four catches for 50 yards. But Nichol spread the ball around, hitting seven different receivers.

Winston left the game in the second quarter after his right knee buckled as he hurdled a tackler in the Spartans' backfield. He had to be helped off the field and was carted to the locker room at halftime.

Information on his injury wasn't immediately available.

Post-Game Notes: Illinois

MSU wins sixth straight in Memorial Stadium.


Oct. 10, 2009

Recap | Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery

• With the 24-14 win, Michigan State won its sixth straight game in Memorial Stadium...Illinois last home win in the series came on Nov. 21, 1992, 14-10...the Spartans own a 24-17-2 all-time lead in the series and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings.

• In his first career start, freshman running back Larry Caper collected season highs in carries (16) and yards (95)...he scored his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season with a 17-yard run in the second quarter that made it 14-0 in favor of MSU...Caper also caught two passes for 44 yards, including a 30-yarder in the second quarter that placed MSU on the Illinois 1-yard line.

• The Spartan defense recorded a season-high six sacks, marking the second-highest total in the Coach Dantonio era (seven vs. Bowling Green in 2007)...the past two weeks, MSU has tallied 10 sacks...MSU had four sacks last week against Michigan...the Spartans also tallied eight tackles for loss vs. Illinois and have 18 tackles for loss the last two games.

• Danny Fortener returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to extend MSU's lead to 24-0...it marked MSU's first interception return for a TD since Johnny Adams ran a pick back 40 yards for a score last season vs. Purdue...Fortener also collected a season-high 10 tackles.

• Greg Jones collected a team-high 11 tackles, including a 6-yard sack...he also had two quarterback hurries...he has led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles in every game this season...he now has 71 tackles this season, including 6.5 for losses and three sacks...his 29 career tackles for loss now rank tied for ninth in MSU history, along with Mark Nichols and Melvin Land...his 276 career tackles now rank 22nd in MSU history.

• Making his first career start at quarterback, Keith Nichol completed 13-of-25 passes for 179 yards and one interception...he also had six rushes for 27 yards (4.5 avg.).

• Eric Gordon recorded two tackles for loss (8 yards), including a 7-yard sack...Gordon ranks tied for third on the team with five tackles for loss this season.

• Jerel Worthy had a 2-yard sack, improving his team-leading total to 4.5 this season.

• Trevor Anderson collected a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss (8 yards), including 1.5 sacks (3 yards).

• Brett Swenson kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, giving him 61 for his career, which is just one shy of Dave Rayner's school-record mark of 62...Swenson also kicked three extra points, moving him into second place all-time at MSU with 139 career PATs.

• Glenn Winston, who carried the ball 14 times for a career-high 64 yards, left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury...he scored his second career TD with a 2-yard run in the first quarter that gave MSU a 7-0 lead.

• For the second straight game, MSU held the advantage in time of possession (36:07 to 23:53).

• At halftime, MSU compiled 281 yards of offense compared to 60 for Illinois...MSU also held advantages in first downs (15-3) and rushing (149 yards to 29)...however, the Spartans were limited to three first downs and 91 yards of total offense in the second half.

Michigan State Knocks Off Northwestern, 24-14
Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes to Blair White.
Oct. 17, 2009

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Head Coach Mark Dantonio | Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell | Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi | Greg Jones | Kirk Cousins | Blair White | Eric Gordon

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes to Blair White in the third quarter Saturday to spark Michigan State to a 24-14 victory over Northwestern.

The Spartans (4-3, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 7-0 at halftime but rallied against the Wildcats(4-3, 1-2).

Northwestern had won three consecutive Big Ten road games and two straight in East Lansing. But the Cousins-to-White connection wore down the Wildcats.

Cousins hit a wide-open White for a 47-yard touchdown strike to give the Spartans a 14-7 lead with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

White finished with 12 catches for 186 yards and two TDs. Cousins was 21 of 31 for 281 yards.

Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka completed 34 of 47 passes for 291 yards and two TDs.

Wildcats receiver Zeke Markshausen had 16 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing 7-0 and looking sluggish, Michigan State grabbed the momentum by forcing a turnover early in the second half. Spartans defensive back Chris L. Rucker forced Drake Dunsmore to fumble, and linebacker Adam Decker recovered the loose ball at the Michigan State 36.

The Spartans capitalized with a 64-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 22-yard pass from Cousins to White to tie the score 7-7. Cousins' second TD to White came later in the quarter. Brett Swenson added a field goal as the third quarter expired to put Michigan State ahead 17-7.

Northwestern's Jeravin Matthews fumbled the next kickoff and it was recovered by the Spartans, giving Michigan State good field position to start the fourth quarter. Larry Caper's 22-yard TD run gave the Spartans a 24-7 lead.

Kafka's 1-yard touchdown pass to Markshausen cut the deficit to 24-14 with 10:28 remaining. But Michigan State's defense held the Wildcats scoreless the rest of the way.

Northwestern was at its best early, sapping some of the spirit from Michigan State's homecoming crowd.

Northwestern's defense shone early with a goal-line stand on the game's first possession. The Wildcats stopped Cousins on a fourth-and-inches sneak to keep the contest scoreless.

Wildcats linebacker Quentin Davie ended another Michigan State drive by recovering Edwin Baker's fumble at the NU 20 late in the first half, preserving Northwestern's 7-0 halftime lead.

The Wildcats played without safety Brendan Smith because of a hand injury. The other starting safety, Brad Phillips, suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury in the first half. Defensive end Corey Wootton played but was limited with an ankle injury.

Northwestern used its no-huddle, quick-pass attack to grab a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Kafka capped a methodical 80-yard, nine-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown strike to Andrew Brewer.

Michigan State Falls to No. 7 Iowa

The Spartans now stand at 4-4; 3-2 in the Big 10.

Oct. 24, 2009

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Video Highlights | Photo Gallery

EAST LANSING, Michigan (AP) - Ricky Stanzi connected with Marvin McNutt for a 7-yard touchdown pass as time expired and No. 7 Iowa remained undefeated with a 15-13 victory against Michigan State on Saturday night.

The Hawkeyes are 8-0 for the first time in school history and have sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Iowa (4-0 Big Ten) has won 12 straight dating back to last season, the second-longest streak in the nation.

Michigan State (4-4, 3-2) had grabbed a 13-9 lead with 1:37 remaining when Kirk Cousins hit Blair White on a 30-yard touchdown. But the Hawkeyes stormed back with a sharp, game-winning drive led by Stanzi.

Adam Robinson had 109 yards on 27 carries for Iowa.

Cousins completed 16 of 32 passes for 225 yards for Michigan State.

Posted: 7:45 p.m. Oct. 31, 2009 | Updated: 11:41 p.m. today
Minnesota 42, Michigan State 34
MSU loses to Minnesota

FREE PRESS STAFF REPORTS

Adam Weber was 19-for-31 for 416 yards and five touchdowns as the Gophers beat Michigan State, 42-36, tonight in Minneapolis.

The Spartans (4-5, 3-3 Big Ten) dropped their second straight game and must win two of their final three games to become bowl eligible.

The Spartans had several chances for more points, but came up short in goal-line situations. They settled for a 20-yard field goal with 8:10 to play to close to within one.

Weber found Nick Tow-Arnett for a 2-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter to take the lead. The Gophers added a touchdown on a fluky play that resulted in a 59-yard touchdown pass to Duane Bennett.

MSU seemed to get one more possession with 2:13 to play but were called for a running into the kicker penalty to give the Gophers a fresh set of downs.

Minnesota opened the scoring with a pair of touchdown passes. Weber hit Bennett for a 62-yard score 20 seconds into the game. Michigan State then fumbled the ensuing possession back to the Gophers. Weber then connected with Brandon Green for a 37-yard touchdown.

MSU got another 20-yard field goal from Brett Swenson to end the quarter trailing, 14-3. On its next possession, Cousins found Brian Linthicum for a 26-yard TD to close to within four. But late in the first half, Weber hit Tow-Arnett for a 7-yard score.

To begin the second half, Keyshawn Martin returned a kickoff 93 yards for a Spartans touchdown. Minneosta answered right back with 61-yard drive that ended with a Bennett 1-yard touchdown run.

After the teams traded punts, Martin struck again, this time on an 84-yard touchdown run to make it 28-24. MSU ended the quarter with Cousins pass to Dion Sims for an 11-yard touchdown to take the lead.

The Gophers were called for a Big Ten-record 17 penalties for 157 yards.

Aside from Martin's run, the Spartans ran 18 times for 26 yards. Kirk Cousins was 18-for-28 for 211 yards and two scores. Keith Nichol was 0-for-1.

Spartans Dominate Broncos, 49-14

Kirk Cousins throws for a career-high 353 yards and two scores as Michigan State pulls even at 5-5.

Nov. 7, 2009

Final Stats

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Little-used Ashton Leggett ran for 110 yards and four touchdowns and Kirk Cousins threw for a career-high 353 yards and two scores to lead Michigan State past Western Michigan 49-14 on Saturday in a rare November non-conference matchup for the Spartans.

The win kept Michigan State's bowl hopes alive and introduced yet another potential lead running back in Leggett, a sophomore who had one carry and zero yards coming into the game.

On his first rush Saturday - on a third-and-1 less than 90 seconds into the game - Leggett took one step toward a crowded line, bounced it outside and was gone, sprinting 71 yards down the left sideline for a score.

He added short TD runs in the first and second quarters. Sandwiched in between, Cousins connected with Garrett Celek and Keshawn Martin on 13- and 48-yard scoring strikes.

At the end of the first half, Michigan State led 35-0, had forced seven Western punts and outgained the Broncos 358-36.

The Spartans (5-5) hadn't played a non-conference opponent in November since 1966 against Notre Dame. The win snapped a two-game losing skid and gave Michigan State some potential momentum heading into the season's final two games - at Purdue next week and home against No. 11 Penn State on Nov. 21.

Western (4-6) didn't do itself any favors, getting called three times for roughing the passer in the first quarter and dropping more than a few passes.

One bright spot for the Broncos was Brandon West, who set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career kickoff return yardage, passing SMU's Jessie Henderson. The senior opened the second half with an 80-yard touchdown run through a gaping hole in the middle of the Michigan State defensive line.


Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson also was a record-setter, becoming the school's all-time leader in extra points made.

The Spartans have used a number of running backs this season, using a back-by-committee approach to fill the sizable void left by the departure of Javon Ringer, who moved on to the NFL.

Thanks to injuries and dismissals, Leggett and freshman Edwin Baker started out as the featured backs on Saturday, and Leggett took advantage, hitting the century mark by halftime.

Leggett added a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to make it 42-14.

He was the first Spartan to run for 100 yards in a game since Ringer did it last year.

Fellow sophomore QB Keith Nichol took some snaps, but Cousins got the bulk of the work, completing 22 of 25 passes and no interceptions. Nichol threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Dion Sims with about six minutes to play in the game.

For Western, it was a forgettable performance from a program accustomed to playing tough against the big boys. The Broncos had beaten a team from a Bowl Championship Series conference in each of the previous three seasons.

Senior Tim Hiller, Western's career leader in TD passes and completions, had an off day, going 15 of 37 for a season-low 111 yards. He wasn't intercepted, though, and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Blake Hammond on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Michigan State avoided losing at home to a second in-state Mid-American school this season. Central Michigan beat the Spartans 29-27 on Sept. 12.

MSU Football

Michigan State Comes Back To Beat Purdue, 40-37

Brett Swenson made four field goals, including the game-winning 21-yarder with 1:51 left.

Nov. 14, 2009

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, and Michigan State overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Purdue 40-37 and become bowl eligible on Saturday.

B.J. Cunningham caught three passes for 92 yards and a score for the Spartans (6-5, 4-3 Big Ten).

Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott completed 39 of 55 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Keith Smith caught 15 passes for 152 yards and a TD for the Boilermakers (4-7, 3-4), who were eliminated from bowl contention.

The Boilermakers gained 524 yards and kept the ball for 41 minutes, but Michigan State gained 229 yards on kickoff returns, and the Spartans stopped Purdue on its final possession.

Michigan State's Brett Swenson made four field goals, including the game-winning 21-yarder with 1:51 left.

Alamo Bowl representatives attended the game.

Ralph Bolden fumbled on Purdue's first offensive play, and Michigan State's Chris Rucker returned it 11 yards for a touchdown seven seconds into the game.

Purdue came right back and drove 80 yards to tie the score. Elliott found Smith over the middle, and Smith broke a tackle before finishing a 26-yard touchdown reception.

Purdue's Carson Wiggs made two field goals, but Michigan State bounced back quickly. A 55-yard pass from Cousins to Charlie Gantt set the Spartans up inside the Purdue 10, and Cousins completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Hawken to give the Spartans a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter.

Purdue scored later in the quarter on a 9-yard run by Bolden, and the Boilermakers took a 20-14 lead. Bolden was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for hugging mascot Purdue Pete after the run.

The Boilermakers led 20-17 at halftime. Purdue outgained Michigan State 266-174 before the break.

Swenson made a career-long 52-yard field goal to make it 20-all, but Purdue came back with an 18-play, 80-yard drive. Elliott capped it with a 3-yard TD pass to Cortez Smith to give the Boilermakers a 27-20 lead. It was Purdue's longest scoring drive of the season.

Swenson hit another 52-yarder late in the third quarter to cut Purdue's lead to 27-23.

Purdue's defense held, then the Boilermakers came back with another scoring drive. Bolden scored his second touchdown, a 1-yarder to make it 34-23 early in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State needed just one play to respond. Cousins found Cunningham for a 73-yard touchdown, and the Spartans cut Purdue's lead to 34-30.

A 50-yard field-goal attempt by Wiggs was blocked, and the Spartans gained possession at their 46-yard line. A run by Keshawn Martin on a reverse went for 45 yards and put the Spartans inside the Purdue 10. Cousins found Blair White for a 9-yard score with 6:59 to play, and Michigan State took a 37-34 lead.

Purdue drove into field-goal range again, and this time, Wiggs converted from 49 yards to tie the game at 37 with 2:38 to play.

Martin returned the kickoff 84 yards to the Purdue 11 to set up Swenson's game winner.

Michigan State Falls To Penn State, 42-14

Kirk Cousins threw for 155 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 42-14 loss.

Nov. 21, 2009

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery | Highlights

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Coach Dantonio | Blair White | Kirk Cousins | Danny Fortener | Joel Nitchman



EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Daryll Clark passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns as No. 13 Penn State wrapped up its regular season with a 42-14 victory at Michigan State on Saturday.

Clark moved into first place in the school's record book with 23 TD passes in a season and 42 in a career.

Penn State (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) now must wait to learn of its postseason destination. The Nittany Lions have a shot at getting a BCS berth. The conference's automatic bid goes to Ohio State.

Michigan State (6-6, 4-4) also is bowl-bound.

Evan Royster gained 114 yards on 13 carries for Penn State, which pulled away in the third quarter after the score was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Kirk Cousins completed 16 of 28 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown for the Spartans. He was intercepted twice, setting up short Penn State scoring drives.

Penn State is assured of back-to-back seasons of at least 10 wins for the first time since 1993-94, but the Nittany Lions lost any chance to share the Big Ten championship before kickoff. Ohio State, which had already clinched the BCS berth, claimed the crown outright by beating Michigan earlier in the day.

The Nittany Lions have a shot at an at-large BCS bid, but Iowa - which beat Penn State earlier this season - finished with an identical 10-2 record. Only two teams from any conference can play in the BCS.

Orange Bowl representatives were at Saturday's game. Penn State could be a prime candidate for the Capital One Bowl or the Outback Bowl if it gets left out of the BCS.

Michigan State will be headed to a bowl for the third straight season for the first time since 1995-97. But the Spartans' defense was shredded by Penn State after halftime.

Penn State grabbed a 14-7 lead just over a minute into the half with the help of a trick play. Wide receiver Curtis Drake took a handoff and rolled right, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless in the back of the end zone.

It capped a 55-yard, three-play drive aided by a roughing the passer penalty.

Penn State increased its lead to 21-7 midway through the third quarter. Clark rolled to his right, planted and threw back across the field to the left sideline - finding Joe Suhey all alone for a 30-yard TD pass.

Penn State's Nick Sukay intercepted Cousins' pass on the next series, setting up the Nittany Lions at the Michigan State 32. Clark fired a TD pass to Graham Zug on the very next play, giving Penn State a 28-7 lead with 5:22 left in the third.

The Land Grant Trophy - a 4-foot-tall, 50-pound hunk of wood adorned with a Nittany Lion, Spartan and other images - stays with Penn State after Saturday's victory.

The trophy was created when Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. Penn State and Michigan State are the nation's pioneer land grant universities.

Jones Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

Linebacker Greg Jones joins placekicker Brett Swenson and wide receiver Blair White on the All-Big Ten First Team, as selected by the league's head coaches.

2009 All-Big Ten Teams

Nov. 23, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior linebacker Greg Jones, who leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 141 tackles, has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the league's media panel. His career-best 141 tackles rank as the eighth-best single-season total in MSU history. Jones becomes the first Spartan to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors since the inception of the award in 1982.

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Jones joins two of his Spartan teammates - senior placekicker Brett Swenson and fifth-year senior wide receiver Blair White - on the All-Big Ten First Team, as selected by the conference's head coaches. Jones and Swenson also have been named to the media's All-Big Ten First Team. A total of 10 Spartans received All-Big Ten recognition on the first team, second team or honorable mention.

Jones ranks second in the NCAA FBS in tackles per game (11.8) and tied for 24th in sacks (0.75 per game). He also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (fourth) and tackles for loss (tied for eighth at 1.12 per game). Jones leads the team in tackles (141 total), tackles for loss (13.5 for 68 yards), sacks (9.0 for 53 yards) and production points (247). He became the first Spartan to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since 2003-04 when both linebacker Ronald Stanley and free safety Jason Harmon reached the milestone.

Jones reached double-figure tackles for the eighth time this season in MSU's regular-season and home finale against No. 13 Penn State, matching his career high with 15 tackles. He recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (11 yards) against the Nittany Lions, including 1.5 sacks (6 yards).

He also posted double-digit tackles against Montana State (14), Central Michigan (15), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (11), Northwestern (14), Iowa (12) and Minnesota (12). Jones produced a career-best two sacks (9 yards) in MSU's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern.

"Greg Jones possesses all of the tools, the tangibles and intangibles, that make him a special player," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. "He's an extremely tenacious and instinctive player. Greg plays with great effort and toughness, plus he's strong and quick. He's the clear leader of our defense, and when he's going, we're going as a unit.

"His selection as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year also points the way for other great linebackers to come here to Michigan State and make a statement. With the media attention this program gets and the defensive scheme that we play, great linebackers can come here knowing that they will get plenty of opportunities to make plays."

"I'm very happy to receive this honor, but it's really a team award," Jones said. "The D-line did a great job this year, freeing up the linebackers to make plays. That's the way our system works, and that's why I love it so much. I really do give a lot of credit to the D-line, and I tell them before every game that I need them because everything starts up front. We have to win the job up front, if I'm going to have opportunities to make plays. It's my job to help those guys out as much as I can by making the right calls. So it's all tied together.

"I'm probably proudest of my consistency. I really wanted to remain consistent throughout the season. I know I had a couple of games where I didn't reach double digits (in tackles), but in those games, the team played better and that's most important. I want to play well each and every week, and I want to help those guys around me play better as well."

Jones, who was selected as the 2009 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in July, acknowledged that he never allowed himself to get caught up in the hype.

"I really didn't think about it a whole lot," Jones said. "I thought about it a little bit after it was first announced, but all I wanted to do was go out, execute and play to the best of my ability every game. I'm excited about receiving the award, but I was simply focused on improving my play from last year. It was my goal to improve in every area of my game and become a more disruptive player, and I think my numbers support that, with more tackles and more sacks than a year ago."

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native has posted double-digit tackles in 15 of his last 19 games overall, averaging 11.9 stops (227 total) during that stretch. A model of consistency, Jones has led the team in tackles in 22 of the last 25 games.

Jones has started 32 of 38 career games, including 26 consecutive starting assignments. He has 346 career tackles, including 36.0 for losses (139 yards) and 15.5 sacks (87 yards). Jones ranks among NCAA FBS active leaders in tackles per game (fourth with 9.1 avg.) and total tackles (seventh with 346). He already ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (fifth) and total tackles (tied for ninth). Jones has produced double-figure tackles 17 times in his career.

Jones is one of only two unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selections by the media, joining Wisconsin running back John Clay.

The 5-8, 185-pound Swenson ranks first among NCAA FBS active scoring leaders with 370 career points, eight points ahead of Alabama's Leigh Tiffin (362). His 70 career field goals rank second (tied with UCLA's Kai Forbath) among active NCAA FBS kickers, trailing only Tiffin (78 made).

Swenson already ranks as MSU's all-time leader in scoring (370 career points), field goals (70 made) and extra points (160 made) and stands second in field-goal percentage (.787). He also ranks among the Big Ten's all-time leaders in kick scoring (second), field goals (fourth), total points (fifth) and extra points (seventh).

In 2009, Swenson leads the Big Ten in scoring (7.8 points per game), field goals (tied at 1.5 made per game) and field-goal percentage (.900). He leads the team in scoring with 94 points, converting 18-of-20 field-goal attempts and 40-of-41 extra-point tries. Swenson made nine consecutive field goals during one six-game stretch (Sept. 26 Wisconsin-Oct. 31 Minnesota).

Swenson, who connected on all four of his field-goal attempts at Purdue, including a 21-yard game-winner, was selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. It marked the fourth time in his career that Swenson has earned conference weekly honors. In addition to his selection as Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, he was named National Placekicker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards and one of the Lou Groza Award's Top Three Stars of the Week.

He matched his career highs with 16 points and four field goals against the Boilermakers. Swenson hit a 28-yard field goal late in the second quarter and a pair of career-long 52-yarders in the third quarter. Keshawn Martin's 85-yard kickoff return to the Purdue 11-yard line set up his game-winning field goal with 1:51 left. It marked Swenson's third career game-winning kick (2006 vs. Northwestern and 2008 vs. Wisconsin).

"Brett Swenson has had a remarkable career here at Michigan State, completely rewriting the record book," Dantonio said. "You begin to appreciate what Brett has done here when you look at the great kickers who preceded him: Morten Andersen, Paul Edinger, John Langeloh and the list goes on and on. He was almost a unanimous selection as our team MVP and that speaks volumes.

"He's made so many clutch kicks throughout his career that I trust him explicitly when the game is on the line. Brett just doesn't rush himself in those situations. He gets himself prepared on the sideline, so he's extremely focused and confident when he comes in to kick. In my opinion, Brett is the finest placekicker in the country because of his accuracy and mental toughness."



The 6-2, 200-pound White leads the Spartans in receptions (64), receiving yards (876) and touchdown catches (8). His eight TD receptions (tied for fourth), 64 catches (tied for sixth) and 876 receiving yards (ninth) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Michigan State history. Forty-one of his 64 catches (64 percent) have produced either a first down or a score, including 14 gains of 20 or more yards. He has led the team in receptions in eight of 12 games this season.

White, a second-team all-conference selection by the media, ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD receptions (first), receiving yards (third at 73.0 per game) and receptions (fourth at 5.3 per game). He also is listed among the NCAA leaders in both receiving yards (No. 39) and receptions (No. 40).

He caught three passes for 95 yards in MSU's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa, including a 27-yard gain on a hook-and-lateral play late in the fourth quarter and a 25-yard TD grab from Kirk Cousins with 1:37 left that gave the Spartans' a 13-9 lead.

White, who set career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two touchdown receptions in the Spartans' 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, was selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. In addition, he was named National Wide Receiver of the Week (shared honor with Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes) by the College Football Performance Awards.

His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the 22nd-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. It marked White's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career.

White caught six passes for 75 yards and two scores in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. He scored on a 30-yard pass from wide receiver Keshawn Martin in the second quarter and a 17-yard strike from Cousins in the fourth quarter that gave the Spartans a 30-26 lead.

The Saginaw, Mich., native recorded back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Montana State (nine catches for 162 yards and two TDs) and Central Michigan (seven for 105). White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Cousins in the season opener against the Bobcats, and almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch.

A former walk-on, White has 110 career receptions for 1,560 yards (14.2 avg.) and nine TDs. The Saginaw, Mich., native has caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games.

"Blair White has had an outstanding senior season, and he's very deserving of this recognition," Dantonio said. "He has been a go-to receiver for us all year long, and he's had a number of huge touchdown receptions. Blair is a sure-handed receiver, who runs disciplined routes, so he breeds confidence in our quarterbacks. He's been a major contributor on offense the last two years because he plays with such consistency. You can count on Blair to show up on game day.

"I don't know that I've ever coached a player who has grown more than Blair has during his career. We've had other walk-on success stories here before like Travis Key, who became a consistent playmaker at safety and was elected team captain by his peers. By being named First-Team All-Big Ten by the coaches, Blair has taken things one step further. Blair has been able to pursue excellence because he has all of the intangibles along with the raw athletic ability. He has provided great leadership for this team both on and off the field. Despite becoming a major playmaker on offense, Blair has never asked to back off of his responsibilities on special teams. He has done a tremendous job here in all aspects - on the field, off the field and in the classroom."

Fifth-year senior center Joel Nitchman has earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors from the coaches. The 6-4, 296-pound Nitchman has started 10 of 12 games in 2009, including nine starts at center and one at left guard. He was sidelined for two early-season games (vs. Central Michigan and Notre Dame) after suffering a knee injury in the season opener against Montana State.

Nitchman anchors an offensive line that helped the Spartans lead the Big Ten in passing offense during the regular season, averaging 271.2 yards per game, while allowing the league's fewest sacks (13). He has graded out as a winner in seven of 10 games while surrendering only one sack in more than 300 passing plays.

The Kalamazoo, Mich., native has started 31 of 34 career games, including 30 starts at the center position.

In addition to Nitchman (media), six other Spartans have received All-Big Ten honorable mention: fifth-year senior defensive end Trevor Anderson (coaches and media), sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins (media), sophomore offensive guard Joel Foreman (coaches and media), junior tight end Charlie Gantt (media), junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker (coaches and media) and fifth-year senior cornerback Jeremy Ware (coaches).

White also was selected as MSU's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to the student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

The 6-6 Spartans, who finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten standings at 4-4, are bowl eligible for the third consecutive year, a first for the program since 1995-97.

Last Updated: November 24. 2009 6:42PM
Glenn Winston, Roderick Jenrette kicked off MSU team
The Detroit News

Michigan State football players Glenn Winston and Roderick Jenrette have been kicked off the team "for violation of team rules," coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement Tuesday.

It was not immediately known if MSU's decision to dismiss the players from the team was in any way related to the fight that took place at Rather Hall on MSU's campus Sunday.

Witnesses told the State News, MSU's student-run newspaper, that football players were involved in that altercation.

Winston and Jenrette both played significant roles on the MSU team this season before being injured.

Winston, a running back from Detroit Denby, played in six games before tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the sixth game against Illinois. Jenrette, a safety from Tampa, Fla., was injured in the fifth game (broken foot) against Michigan and also missed the remainder of the season.

Winston spent about four months in the Ingham County Jail earlier this year for two misdemeanor assault convictions. He pled guilty to assaulting MSU hockey player A.J. Sturges during an off-campus altercation in the fall of 2008.

He was given a 180-day sentence in April but was released early because of his participation in an inmate worker program.

Winston remained on scholarship while in jail and was reinstated to the team upon his release.

Dantonio was criticized by many observers for allowing Winston to return to the team.

"It's important to recognize that we deeply regret the situation," Dantonio said during MSU's football media day in August. "It should have never happened, but with that being said, we have to support Glenn."

Posted: Nov. 23, 2009
Chances are Spartans bound for Texas or Tempe for postseason

By Shannon Shelton
Free Press Sports Writer

The bowl picture became a lot clearer for Michigan State on Saturday after the Spartans lost to Penn State, 42-14, to finish 6-6.

Actually, the Spartans' outlook didn't change that much from last week, when they became eligible by beating Purdue. The Alamo Bowl, Insight Bowl and Little Caesars Pizza Bowl still are the most likely destinations for the Spartans, and the chances MSU will play in the Alamo or Insight are much greater than the chance of them staying home in Detroit.

The only thing that changed with the Penn State loss was the elimination of the Champs Sports Bowl as an option, and the Orlando bowl was more of an outside possibility. The picture would have been less clear if Michigan had upset Ohio State, but with the Wolverines out, the seven bowl-eligible Big Ten teams are guaranteed a spot in one of the conference's seven tie-ins.

Here's the breakdown for the Spartans, who might have improved their chances of leaving the state for a bowl game by losing Saturday.

Ohio State is going to the Rose Bowl and another Big Ten team -- either Penn State (10-2) or Iowa (10-2) -- could be selected for a Bowl Championship Series game as an at-large pick. If that happens, five Big Ten teams will be left to fill the remaining six tie-in bowls.

All of the other bowl-eligible teams, except for Minnesota, have better records than MSU, meaning the Spartans and Gophers at 6-6 would be the squads left after the Capital One, Outback and Champs Sports Bowls made their selection. The Alamo Bowl picks fifth, and likely would find MSU a better option than Minnesota in terms of its fan base and national interest. Then again, Minnesota was in the Insight Bowl in 2006 and 2008, and that bowl might want a different Big Ten representative this season.

That's where the fun begins, as committees could bargain among themselves and make deals to get the best matchup for their bowls.

As for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl -- formerly the Motor City Bowl -- it would be left to pick an at-large team from outside the conference.

There are more factors to consider if two Big Ten teams don't get into the BCS. By virtue of beating Wisconsin (8-3) on Saturday, Northwestern improved to 8-4, meaning the Wildcats have to be picked over any team with two fewer wins, according to Big Ten rules. Wisconsin has one game left, but if Northwestern or Wisconsin, MSU and Minnesota are left when the Alamo Bowl makes the fifth pick, that bowl has to pick the Badgers or Wildcats, even if the latter team was in San Antonio last year.

The Insight Bowl and Pizza Bowl would then pick between MSU and Minnesota. Again, the idea is that the Insight Bowl would prefer first-time entrant MSU over two-time visitor Minnesota, but would negotiations begin between those bowl committees, especially considering the economic benefits of keeping the Spartans close to home?

MSU and its fans have two weeks to think about the scenarios, but if San Antonio or Tempe, Ariz., are the Spartans' most likely destinations, MSU better get prepared to face a high-powered Big 12 offense that lives and dies by the pass.

Contact SHANNON SHELTON: 313-223-3215 or slshelton@freepress.com. Check out her Spartans blog at freep.com/section/blog05.

Last Updated: December 01. 2009 6:02PM
B.J. Cunningham, Mark Dell among suspended Spartans
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News

East Lansing -- Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio suspended eight of his players Tuesday, after they were identified as suspects in an ongoing investigation into alleged assaults in a campus dormitory within hours of the annual football banquet.

As a police investigation continues into a fight at Rather Hall on Nov. 22, MSU police have identified a total of 10 current and former players as "suspects" who were involved in the alleged altercation.

Running back Glenn Winston of Detroit and defensive back Roderick Jenrette of Tampa, Fla., were kicked off the team by Dantonio on Nov. 24. The university announced Thursday that Winston and Jenrette are suspects in the continuing investigation.

An additional eight players were suspended, and identified as suspects, on Tuesday. They are receiver B.J. Cunningham, receiver Mark Dell, running back Ashton Leggett, defensive back Chris L. Rucker, receiver Fred Smith, linebacker Brynden Trawick, nose tackle Ishmyl Johnson and defensive end Jamiihr Williams.

In a news release, the university said Dantonio suspended them for violating team rules.

Terry Denbow, MSU vice president for university affairs, said campus police are attempting to identify an additional five suspects who were present at the incident. Vanessa Moss Wilson of Southfield, a lawyer representing an alleged victim of an assault during the Rather Hall incident, told The Detroit News Saturday that 15 to 20 MSU football players were involved in the alleged assaults.

The 10 suspects now named were identified following interviews with victims, witnesses and a review of on-site video, Denbow said.

"The evidence regarding the actions of all suspects is still being collected," Denbow said. "The investigation, slowed by the Thankgiving break, is expected to continue this week."

The MSU Police Department is working with the Ingham County prosecutor's office on the case. Campus police investigate all crime on campus.

Denbow said police expect to forward findings to the prosecutor, Stuart Dunnings III, early next week. Dunning will then make a determination about issuing any warrants.

According to Denbow, MSU athletics director Mark Hollis emphasized that he and Dantonio share high expectations and standards for conduct and behavior of student-athletes.

Hollis has declined comment since the alleged assaults occurred. Dantonio has been unavailable.

Cunningham and Dell were major contributors to the MSU offense this season.

Cunningham played in all 12 games, and was second on the team in receptions (48) and receiving yards (641). He also scored four touchdowns.

In 10 games, Dell caught 26 passes for 449 yards and one TD.

Leggett was a reserve running back but had one huge game, against Western Michigan, rushing for 110 yards and four TDs on 14 carries. On the season he totaled 125 yards on 20 carries in six games.

Rucker, a starting cornerback, was fourth on the team with 58 tackles. He had one interception and led the Spartans with seven pass break-ups.

Posted: 4:11 p.m. Dec. 9, 2009 | Updated: 5:51 p.m. today
9 MSU players charged with assault in fracas; 3 more suspended

By BEN SCHMITT and SHANNON SHELTON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

Seven members of the Michigan State football team and two former members were charged today with assault and conspiracy in last month's altercation at an MSU dormitory.

According to the MSU police and Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, all nine players were charged with the one-year misdemeanor of conspiracy to commit an assault and battery during a Nov. 22 fight at Rather Hall.

• Exclusive inside account:How the MSU fight happened.

Here's the breakdown of further charges:

• Former safety Roderick Jenrette, 3 counts of assault or assault and battery

• Former running back Glenn Winston, 2 counts of assault or assault and battery

• Running back Ashton Leggett, 2 counts of assault or assault and battery

• Wide receiver Fred Smith, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

• Wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

• Defensive end Jamiihr Williams, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

• Wide receiver Mark Dell, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

• Offensive lineman J'Michael Deane, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

• Cornerback Chris L. Rucker, 1 count of assault or assault and battery

Those misdemeanors carry a maximum of 93 days in jail.

“I am confident that everybody charged with assault allegedly committed an assault, whether it involved a battery or not,” said Dunnings. He explained, "You can assault someone by putting them in immediate fear of a battery without touching them.”

Jenrette and Winston were kicked off the team by coach Mark Dantonio last month. Smith, Cunningham, Williams, Dell, Leggett and Rucker have been suspended for the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2. Deane, a new name in the case, is a backup offensive lineman. He was suspended for the Alamo Bowl today, as were backup receivers Chris D. Rucker and Donald Spencer. It's the first time any of the three has been connected to the case.

Backup defensive tackle and Ishmyl Johnson and linebacker Brynden Trawick, who were previously suspended by Dantonio in relation to the altercation, were not charged today. However, they will remain suspended for the bowl game, the university said.

MSU spokesman Terry Denbow issued a release that said, “We reiterate our full support for the police investigation as it continues, and fully support the standards, cooperation, and decisions of coach Mark Dantonio and the athletics department.”

MSU Police Chief James Dunlap told the Free Press that 15 people were on the scene in Rather Hall who were not a part of the potluck dinner held by Iota Phi Theta. Thirteen have been identified, nine have been charged and two more have not been identified.

"Those nine are charged with assault and battery,” he said. “In order to charge assault and battery, you have to have a battery, which is intentional touching."

As for reports of assailants wearing ski masks, Dunlap said one person was wearing a knit cap that covered his head and chin, but the face was visible. It wasn't a mask that only revealed eyes and a nose.

Dunlap said police would not release their report nor a video from Rather Hall because their investigation is ongoing.

Dell’s father, Mark Dell Sr. of Southfield, said he was bracing for the charges because the incident has garnered such a large amount of publicity.

But Dell Sr. maintained that his son, a wide receiver, did not strike anyone.

“I have to get a lawyer and I really want to see the police report,” Dell Sr. told the Free Press. “I still don’t understand how nine players get charged in this. Mark was just there. He didn’t hit anyone.”

Dell Sr. said he was also confident his son would not be permanently removed from the football team.

“I just don’t think Mark played much of a role in this,” he said. “I’m going to have to get a lawyer.”

On the night of Nov. 22, about 90 minutes after MSU’s season-ending banquet at the Kellogg Center, witnesses said 15 to 20 men stormed into an Iota Phi Theta potluck, held across the street at Rather Hall. Witnesses told police that some of the men assaulted and injured some of the attendees, including some women.

An attendee, junior Brent Mitchell, said some wore ski masks. He also said he went to the hospital after being punched in the face. According to Mitchell and Dell Sr., the altercation lasted about a minute.

Iota Phi Theta is one of nine historically black fraternities and sororities at MSU. It does not have its own house, so it often holds events in dorms.

Last week, the national president of Iota Phi Theta, Karl Price, said he had been told by MSU members that the football team had an ongoing feud with the fraternity.

The incident at Rather Hall followed an incident the previous night involving Winston at Small Planet, a nightclub in nearby Bath Township where the Iotas were having a party. Police said last week that between 700 and 800 people had crammed into the club. Police arrived at the club after receiving tips of fights breaking out inside and overcrowding. Departments from surrounding jurisdictions were called in to help.

Price said a fight broke out at Small Planet after someone knocked Winston to the floor.

“Mr. Winston was embarrassed by it, sort of like his manhood was attacked,” said Price, who lives in Louisville, Ky. “That prompted him to leave the event and go to the community service event the next night. That’s when they rushed in, and wanted to hit, targeting the Iotas that were there.”

Winston, 20, served four months in jail last summer for a misdemeanor aggravated assault on MSU hockey player AJ Sturges in a 2008 incident. Dantonio allowed him back on the team at the start of preseason drills.

Dantonio addressed the altercation in a news conference Saturday.

“I am very, very disappointed,” Dantonio said. “I am extremely disappointed. We talk all of time about our choices as people and about making the right choice. I think it’s a very traumatic experience for this program. We’ve got to be able to get past this situation. I also think it’s extremely devastating for the families that were involved in this. ... A lot of people are reeling. My heart goes to those people for what they are going through as well.”

Contact BEN SCHMITT: 313-223-4296 or bcschmitt@freepress.com

Last Updated: January 03. 2010 3:52AM
Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech 41, Michigan State 31
MSU puts up fight, but suffers fourth straight bowl loss
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

San Antonio, Texas -- Michigan State once again competed, but still couldn't deliver a bowl victory in a 41-31 loss to Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

Three plays helped seal the Spartans fate late in the fourth quarter: Quarterback Kirk Cousins' second interception of the game and two Red Raiders' fourth-down conversions.

As his team trailed, 34-31, with about 4:20 left, Cousins' pass intended for Keshawn Martin was taken away by strong safety Franklin Mitchem and returned to MSU's 35.

With Texas Tech starting quarterback Taylor Potts sidelined with injury, backup quarterback Steven Sheffield secured the victory with consecutive scoring drives, including one last surge with 2:08 remaining. Sheffield led a nine-play, 35-yard scoring drive that included two fourth-down conversions -- fourth-and-4 and fourth-and-5 -- and a 13-yard touchdown run from Baron Batch.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Sheffield capped his first drive with an 11-yard pass to Detron Lewis for a 34-31 lead that ignited a primarily red-clad crowd of nearly 65,000 at the Alamodome.

MSU, a considerable underdog, led for much of the second half, despite being down 14 players for the bowl -- two dismissed and 12 suspended -- for a violation of team rules.

"When you play hard and play aggressively, that's earning back respect," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. "I think we did that."

The loss gives Spartans coach Mark Dantonio his third postseason loss in three seasons as MSU's head coach -- after setbacks in the 2009 Capital One Bowl and 2007 Champs Sports Bowl. It's Michigan State's fourth consecutive bowl loss overall.

Dantonio hinted Friday he had to get creative to give his team a chance in this bowl, and he delivered with his promise earlier in the fourth quarter.

Before a 44-yard Brett Swenson field goal gave MSU a 31-27 cushion, there was a scoring drive several minutes earlier that turned plenty of heads. Martin, a quarterback in high school, threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Blair White -- who began the drive by hauling in a 49-yard pass from Cousins -- to give the Spartans a 28-27 advantage.

The TD catch ended a wild sequence of events that including a fake field goal, which resulted in a 19-yard pass from punter Aaron Bates to Charlie Gantt on fourth down, and some compelling role reversals.

Cousins lined up as a receiver during the scoring play and on another down earlier in the series. Keith Nichol, the backup quarterback, also lined up at receiver and ran for a 7-yard touchdown to give MSU its first lead, 21-20, early in the second half. Nichol also caught two passes for 11 yards.

"You want to give your team a chance to win. You got to do what you got to do," Dantonio said. "We tried to do what we could do."

But the Spartans (6-7) couldn't silence the Red Raiders' offense. Texas Tech (9-4) had 580 total yards, including 472 passing, had three scoring drives of 70 yards or better (92, 77, 70) and punted just twice.

Before Potts got injured, he looked practically unstoppable against a secondary that had trouble defending the spread all season long. Potts completed 10 of his first 13 passes and threw a 14-yarder to Jacoby Franks at the 6:32 mark of the third quarter for a 27-21 lead. For the game, Potts was 29-of-43 for 372 yards and two touchdowns, but left the game after getting intercepted by Ross Weaver early in the fourth quarter with the Spartans leading 28-27.

Potts was taken into the locker room, came back and seemed visibly upset when Texas Tech coaches decided to go with Sheffield, but the decision paid off immediately. On his first drive, Sheffield completed all six of his passes in leading the Red Raiders on an eight-play, 77-yard scoring drive -- a drive that ended Potts wildly celebrating the touchdown on the sideline.

"He was a little bit more athletic," MSU's All-America linebacker Greg Jones said of Sheffield. "He gave (Potts a breather) and really got them going."

On his next drive, Sheffield helped seal the game, driving 35 yards on nine plays, including the 13-yard TD run by Batch. Twice on the drive, interim coach Ruffin McNeill decided to go for it on fourth down, rather than pooch punt or attempt a field goal, and twice Sheffield found an open receiver and converted.

The drive essentially ended hopes of an upset for MSU, which threw for 248 yards (Cousins 13-of-27, 220 yards; White 114 yards on six catches) and rushed for 148 (Baker 97 on 12 carries)

After MSU's opening drive ended with a Cousins interception, Texas Tech took a quick 7-0 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Batch, who finished with 100 yards on 22 carries. But MSU wasted little time in making it clear this was no pushover -- freshman Edwin Baker raced 46 yards to tie the game.

Martin caught a 48-yard touchdown pass to pull MSU within three points midway through the second quarter, but two field goals by Texas Tech's Matt Williams (21 and 38) and a 2-yard pass from Potts to Lyel Long gave the Red Raiders a 20-14 halftime lead.

Nichol raced 7 yards for his score less than three minutes into the second half, giving MSU a 21-20 lead after kicker Brett Swenson recovered a fumble by Eric Stephens on the opening kickoff of the half.

Six minutes later, Potts found Jacoby Franks for a 14-yard TD pass and a 27-21 lead, but more trickery -- Martin's TD pass to White -- put MSU back up by one.

"We were playing to win the game," Cousins said of the trick plays, "and they were working."

Swenson, who had a field goal blocked in the second quarter, was good from 44 yards to give MSU a four-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter, but then Sheffield got the call and won the game.

The loss gave MSU its first sub-.500 season under Dantonio.

"2010 has started," he said. "We move forward."

elacy@detnews.com