2002 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN STATE 31 Where there’s smoke...there’s fire Michigan State set for Smoker-Rogers show EAST LANSING (AP) — One . “We can’t fall look at the south side of into a false sense of security Spartan Stadium shows what with our schedule.” Michigan State’s season is all The Spartans have been their about. own worst enemy in the past. There are larger-than-life When much is expected, they images of Jeff have failed. When they’ve come Smoker and receiver Charles off big wins, they have faltered. Rogers on both sides of the And they know it. Spartans’ home schedule, “One of the keys to our year is which includes consistency,” safety Thomas five home games by Wright said. “We know that we Sept. 28 and can’t get too high off a win, or eight total. let one loss ruin us. We know Next to what’s happened here in the Smoker are past, so we just got to work the words: MSUMICHIGAN hard to not let it happen again.” “Where The Spartans are confident there’s PREVIEW they will be able to overcome smoke,” and next to Rogers are the loss of running back T.J. the words: “There’s fire.” Duckett, who skipped his senior “It’s crazy. It’s wild,” Smoker season and was Atlanta’s first- said. “I think back to when I was round pick. a freshman and coming here not They think Dawan Moss, who knowing what was going to The Associated Press will move from fullback to run- Junior wide receiver Charles Rogers, a Saginaw High product, set several single-season happen, then having a rough ning back, and freshman David year as a freshman. Now things Richard will be a duo similar to records last year for the Spartans and will team with QB Jeff Smoker again in 2002. are going well and I’m on the the one Michigan State had two front of the media guide and on years ago when Lloyd Clemons SPARTANS 2002 MICHIGAN STATE SCHEDULE a huge billboard. and Duckett led the Spartans to “It’s a little overwhelming at AT-A-GLANCE Day Date Opponent Time their only 10-win season since times.” SCHOOL COLORS: Green and Sat Aug. 31 vs. Eastern Michigan 3:30 p.m. 1965. Smoker and Rogers created white. Sat Sept. 7 vs. Rice 1:05 p.m. the hype with their spectacular Michigan State returns seven FOUNDED: 1855 Sat Sept. 14 vs. California 12:10 p.m. sophomore seasons. starters to a defense, which ENROLLMENT: 44,227 Sat Sept. 21 vs. Notre Dame TBA Rogers set school single-sea- struggled to stop the run and LOCATED: East Lansing, Mich. Sat Sept. 28 vs. Northwestern TBA son records for catches (67), teams from keeping up with the COACH: Bobby Williams, 3rd receiving yards (1,470), touch- Spartans’ high-scoring offense. season at Michigan State, 13-11 Sat Oct. 12 at Iowa TBA down receptions (14) and 100- The secondary should be a 2001 RECORD: 7-5 (3-5 Big Sat Oct. 19 vs. Minnesota (homecoming) 12:10 p.m. yard receiving games (six), an strength with cornerbacks Ten, tied for 8th) Sat Oct. 26 vs. Wisconsin TBA impressive feat considering Broderick Nelson, Cedric Henry LAST BOWL: 2001 Silicon Sat Nov. 2 at Michigan TBA Michigan State produced and DeMario Suggs along with Valley Classic, beat Fresno State receivers such as Plaxico Sat Nov. 9 at Indiana TBA safeties Thomas Wright and 44-35 Burress, Andre Rison and Sat Nov. 16 vs. Purdue TBA Jason Harmon. STADIUM: Spartan Stadium Muhsin Muhammad. Sat Nov. 23 at Penn State TBA Middle linebacker Mike (72,027). Smoker led the Big Ten in Labinjo, who led the team in RETURNING STARTERS: passing efficiency and set a 8 sacks and tackles for losses 2001 STATS 2001 RESULTS school record with 21 touch- offense, 7 defense, place kicker. last season, will attempt to fill Michigan St. 35, Central Mich. 21 down passes. KEY PLAYERS: WR Charles RUSHING With their entire offensive line the void left by four-year starter Rogers; QB Jeff Smoker; RB player ATT YDS TD Michigan St. 17, Notre Dame 10 back from last year’s team, Josh Thornhill, a free agent with Dawan Moss; C Brian Ottney; OT T.J. Duckett 263 1420 12 Northwestern 27, Michigan St. 26 the Detroit Lions. Ulish Booker; LB Mike Labinjo; which finished 7-5 with a win Little John Flowers 69 269 1 Michigan St. 31, Iowa 28 over Fresno State in the Silicon Wright said the defense does- CB Cedric Henry; SS Thomas Dawan Moss 25 93 0 Minnesota 28, Michigan St. 19 Valley Bowl, even more is n’t mind that Smoker and Wright; DT Kyle Rasmussen. expected out of Smoker and Rogers are attracting so much KEY DEPARTURES: RB T.J. Tyrell Dortch 9 57 0 Michigan St. 42, Wisconsin 28 Rogers. attention. Duckett; WR-KR Herb Haygood; Michigan St. 26, Michigan 24 “I don’t see any reason why “They deserve everything TE Chris Baker; DT Josh Shaw; RECEIVING Indiana 37, Michigan St. 28 we shouldn’t be better this they’re getting because it does- LB Josh Thornhill; P Craig Jarrett. player REC YDS TD Purdue 24, Michigan St. 14 year,” Rogers said. “Everything n’t get any better than that WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: is lined up for us.” combination in college foot- “We’ve got to show the nation Charles Rogers 67 1470 14 Penn St. 42, Michigan St. 37 The schedule is, that’s for ball,” Wright said. “If we win, what Michigan State is about.” — Herb Haygood 57 808 4 Michigan St. 55, Missouri 7 sure. the team wins.” WR Charles Rogers. Chris Baker 40 548 4 Michigan St. 44, Fresno St. 35* Michigan State, which has Smoker tries not to stare at Little John Flowers 25 299 2 *=Silicon Valley Classic - San Jose, Cal. converted Spartan Stadium’s the billboard-like posters of 2003 SCHEDULE surface from artificial turf to himself and Rogers, but admits date opponent PASSING grass, will play Eastern it’s difficult. Aug. 30 vs. Western Michigan player ATT COMP PCT YDS TD INT Michigan, Rice, California, “You can’t help but look at it Sept. 6 vs. Rutgers Jeff Smoker 262 166 .634 2579 21 8 Notre Dame and Northwestern Sept. 13 vs. Louisiana Tech and pull into the parking lot 67 37 .552 569 4 1 at home before setting foot on a Sept. 20 at Notre Dame once in a while,” Smoker said Damon Dowdell 56 27 .482 362 2 2 bus to play elsewhere. Sept. 27 vs. Iowa with a smile. “When me and The Spartans will play seven Oct. 4 vs. Indiana Chuck are driving down the DEFENSIVE of eight games at home before Oct. 11 at Illinois street, we might take a left in player SOLO AST TOTAL SACK FUM INT their showdown with Michigan Oct. 18 at Minnesota Josh Thornhill 90 38 128 0 1 0 on Nov. 2 in Michigan Stadium. there and say, ‘Hey what do you Nov. 1 vs. Michigan Thomas Wright 65 26 91 1 0 2 “It’s always an advantage to think?’ Nov. 8 at Ohio State Mike Labinjo 39 20 59 5 1 0 play at home, but you still have “These are some of the best Nov. 15 at Wisconsin to compete and execute to times of our lives, so you got to Nov. 22 vs. Penn State Duron Bryan 46 13 59 0 0 5 win,” said Michigan State coach enjoy it while you can.” Kyle Rasmussen 24 30 54 1 1 0