In the 2007 season, the Spartans opened the season 4–0, but lost five of their next six games to put their record at 5–5. [1] Michigan State ended up finishing the season 7–5 after defeating Purdue and Penn State. This qualified the Spartans into a bowl for the first time since the 2003 season. The Spartans played in the Champs Sports Bowl against ACC opponent Boston College, losing 24–21 to end Dantonio's first season at 7–6.
Schedule
The Spartans will open the 2008 season with a game in Memorial Stadium against Pac-10 team California. This game ends the home and home between Michigan State and California, with the other being played back in the 2002 season in Spartan Stadium. The last meeting between the Spartans and Bears ended up with a win for Cal with a score of 46–22. Michigan State will play their next three games at home against MAC opponent and instate rival Eastern Michigan, Sun Belt opponent Florida Atlantic, and rival Notre Dame.
Following the conclusion of the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Spartans will begin Big Ten play with an away game against Indiana and will open October with their first Big Ten home game against Iowa. The Spartans then travel to Evanston, Illinois to avenge a 2007 overtime loss against Northwestern. The following week, Michigan State returns to East Lansing to play against 2007 BCS runner-up Ohio State. This will mark the last meeting between the Spartans and Buckeyes until the 2011 season per Big Ten rules of having an eight game conference schedule with two conference teams rotating off the schedule every two years. Michigan State ends October when the Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to play in-state rival and arch nemesis Michigan. The two teams will battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Spartans open their final month of the regular season against Wisconsin.The following week, Michigan State finishes its final home game of the season against Purdue. This will mark the last game Purdue head coach, Joe Tiller, has against the Spartans as Danny Hope succeeds Tiller's resignation. The Spartans have a bye week before traveling to University Park, Pennsylvania to play their final game of the season against Penn State. Michigan State will look to keep their hold on the Land Grant Trophy which the Spartans took control of in 2007 after beating the Nittany Lions 35–31.
Both teams were scoreless until a blocked Spartans punt resulted in a Bears touchdown in the first quarter. Cal scored again on a field goal by freshman kicker David Seawright in the second quarter. Michigan State responded when Otis Wiley intercepted a Nate Longshore pass and returning it for a touchdown, while Cal was able to counter with a touchdown run by Jahvid Best prior to the half.
The second half saw both teams score back and forth. The Spartans struck first with a touchdown run by Javon Ringer, followed by Cal QB Kevin Riley connecting with Cameron Morrah for a touchdown. Ringer made his second touchdown run of the game in the fourth quarter, while Riley made his second touchdown pass of the game to Will Ta'ufo'ou. After a Spartans field goal, freshman running back Shane Vereen scored on an 81 yard touchdown run that gave the Bears their final score of the game. The Spartans countered with a touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer to Mark Dell to get within 7 points and had a chance to tie the game with seconds left, but Hoyer threw four straight incompletions from midfield.[18]
Longshore, who lost the starting quarterback job to Riley, threw for 62 yards with 2 interceptions. Riley threw for 202 yards with 2 touchdowns. The game marked the first time that two Cal running backs had completed over 100 yards rushing since the 2006 Holiday Bowl, with Best at 111 yards and Vereen at 101, respectively.[3] Spartans quarterback Hoyer finished with 321 yards passing, including a touchdown and an interception. Ringer, who completed 1,447 yards rushing during the 2007 season, was held to 81 yards, which included 2 touchdowns.
It was a rainy day in East Lansing for this one. On the second play of the game FAU broke a would-be 79 yd TD run, but it was called back on a holding penalty, which proved to be costly for the Owls later on. Because of the horrible weather condition, the teams combined had a total of about 6 fumbles. There wasn't much scoring in this one, but it was all Javon Ringer. Ringer had a career high 282 yds, with 2 TD's as he led the Spartans to a victory over Florida Atlantic.
Once again, the Spartans were in a low scoring affair. They also welcomed one of their most heated rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The series had been going back and forth, with the past 8 years the home team losing every time. The Irish were unable to do anything on the ground, so they relied on Jimmy Clausen and the passing game, which didn't help that much either. Otis Wiley had 2 INT's, one of which was in the endzone. Nothing really happened until the 4th Quarter, when Jimmy Clausen hit wide out Michael Floyd for a TD. But the Spartans were able to hold on and put it away with a Javon Ringer 1 yd TD run on the ensuing drive. Ringer also had a big 63 yd run that put the Spartans in scoring position. Javon Ringer had another impressive game, rushing 201 yds, and 1 TD. The Spartans broke the home "jinx" after years of losses in East Lansing.
The Spartans and the Hoosiers met for the Old Brass Spitoon. This was highly offensive game. Spartans QB Brian Hoyer finally had a break out game. It had all been Javon Ringer up until this point. In one of the most exciting plays of the game, Hoyer hit TE Charlie Gantt on a 83 yd TD pass. But the Hoosiers came back with an 80 yd TD run by Marcus Thigpen, who tore up the defense. It was 27-22 at halftime. The defense stepped up in the second half for the Spartans, allowing only one TD. In one of the crucial plays of the game, a 99 yd TD pass was called back on a holding penalty. The Hoosiers were on their own goal line, and the holding penalty caused a safety. That sucked the momentum out the Hoosiers as the Spartans went on to win 42-29. Brian Hoyer was 14-26, threw for 261 yds, and 2 TD's, while Javon Ringer improved his Heisman resume, rushing for 198 yds, and 2 TD's. The Spartans improved to a 4-1 record.
The Spartans have a chance, for the first time in over 20 years, to make a Rose Bowl appearance. The Spartans are second in the Big Ten, behind Penn State. Penn State's record is 5-0, and MSU's is 5-1. The only other contender is Ohio State with a current record of 4-1. In order for Michigan State to win the Big Ten, They must beat Purdue and Penn State must win all of their games until MSU. Michigan State will need to win at Happy Valley to win the Big ten. It would be a two (possibly three) team tiebreaker. If this happens, Michigan State will win the Big Ten because of Penn State's victory over Ohio State and the Spartans victory over Penn State.
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