| Mark Dantonio's Michigan State Spartans logged | | | | safety. Locker has the talent and play-making |
| their first victory of the season Saturday (9-6-08) | | | | ability that Hoyer does not. |
| behind 5-foot-9, 202-pound senior Javon Ringer, | | | | A stout, lockdown defense and a strong running |
| who rushed for 135 yards on 34 carriers (almost | | | | game will take Michigan State farther than Hoyer's |
| 4 yards a carry) and scored 5 times as the | | | | arm and field leadership. A running game eats up |
| Spartans crushed Eastern Michigan 42-10. | | | | the clock and keeps your opponent's offense off |
| Ringer scored twice in MSU's opening 38-31 loss at | | | | the field |
| California, so he now has 7 rushing touchdowns on | | | | I suggested that the Spartans should ride the |
| the year. It is a tall order, but if Ringer can score | | | | Eastern Michigan Eagles like Seabiscuit at Pimlico, |
| twice a game for the next 10 games, the | | | | and they did. Michigan State scored touchdowns in |
| Spartans may be able to improve on their 7-5 | | | | each quarter and scored two TDs in both the 2nd |
| record from last year. | | | | and 4th quarters. Ringer scored on runs of 4, 6, |
| Ringer was either missed or bypassed by the | | | | 2, 1 and 2 yards. He could have had a 6th TD had |
| Ohio State coaching staff when he graduated | | | | he not fumbled 3 yards from pay dirt on Michigan |
| from Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School in | | | | State's opening drive. |
| Dayton (OH). One would think that Ringer might | | | | Last year I watched the Spartans crush the |
| want to stick the ball in some interesting places | | | | University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 55-18 |
| when the Spartans hook up with the Buckeyes | | | | in their opener, and MSU looked unstoppable and |
| on the third Saturday in October. | | | | unbeatable, running over, around and through UAB |
| It appears that MSU's passing attack behind 5th | | | | for 298 yards. |
| year senior Brian Hoyer is going nowhere fast. | | | | Then they played better competition and started |
| Let's just say that teams are not planning their | | | | looking more beatable every week. MSU gave up |
| whole defensive strategy around the play-making | | | | a ton of points last year while losing to more |
| ability of Hoyer. | | | | developed programs at Ohio State, Michigan and |
| There is a reason that Hoyer was 8-for-12 for | | | | Wisconsin. Michigan State's biggest win last year |
| 148 yards (translation = don't screw up) against | | | | came at home against an 8-4 Penn State team, |
| Eastern Michigan, which was 4-8 last year, losing | | | | 35-31. |
| while Bowling Green and Central Michigan were | | | | The Spartans host Florida Atlantic (1-1) next, not |
| winning in the Mid-American Conference. | | | | exactly a powerhouse but a 7-5 team last year |
| Unlike the Spartans, teams who play the | | | | (just like MSU's record last year), co-champions of |
| Washington Huskies do plan their whole defensive | | | | the Sun Belt title with Troy at 6-1, and winners of |
| strategy around containing the play of redshirt | | | | the New Orleans Bowl over Memphis, 44-27. |
| sophomore quarterback Jake Locker. National | | | | The Spartans could and should win this home |
| analysts and commentators are quick to | | | | game by 3 touchdowns, otherwise, tougher |
| recognize that Locker could be outstanding as a | | | | opponents on their schedule might get the idea |
| quarterback, running back, receiver or strong | | | | that Michigan State is not that big of a deal. |
