The Wolverine Now

OCT. 30, 2013 Game Facts Defense Wins Championships Michigan State's Big Ten Title Hopes Rest On The Old Adage Proving True What: Michigan at Michigan State. When: Nov. 2 • 3:30 p.m. Radio-TV: ABC will televise the game nationally. The game can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area and on SiriusXM Channel 85) with long-time partners Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter, and sideline reporter Doug Karsch. Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (258, third season). Michigan State: Mark Dantonio (58-29, seventh season). History: Michigan leads Michigan State 68-32-5, last beating the Spartans 12-10 in 2012. Michigan State Notes: The Spartans are looking to win their third in a row against Michigan at home for the first time in rivalry history … MSU could also take five of six from U-M for the first time since winning six of seven from 1956-62 … A 2013 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Percy Snow will be added to Spartan Stadium's Ring of Fame prior to the game … The Green and White are 7-1 for the third time since 1967, also getting off to such a hot start in 2003 and 2010 … Michigan State is bowl eligible for a school-record seventh consecutive season. I By Michael Spath ntimidated? The Illini took the opening kickoff of last weekend's game against Michigan State, drove 53 yards on 12 plays, converted a pair of third downs and rushed for 17 yards on four carries against the vaunted MSU defense. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase even completed a 13yard touchdown pass, which was negated by a holding call. Illinois would settle for a field goal, but the Orange and Blue had, in one series, debunked the Spartan defense's mystique. Or so they thought. With its next eight offensive possessions, Illinois accrued 75 total yards on 30 plays (2.5 yards per play). The Illini punted five times, threw a pick, fumbled the football and turned it over on downs once. In 60 minutes, they had become believers, joining seven previous opponents that learned the hard way — State's defense is ferocious. "Numbers can be deceiving but this defense is every bit as good as its stats indicate," The Detroit News beat writer Matt Charboneau said. Michigan State is one of only three schools, along with Louisville and Virginia Tech, that ranks in the top five nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rush defense and pass defense. The Spartans lead the country in permitting only 215.5 yards per game and 54.9 per contest on the ground — not yet allowing 100 yards rushing to a Mark Dantonio is in his seventh season as head coach at Michigan State, and he has compiled a 58-29 record while leading the Spartans. photo courtesy michigan state single foe — while they are third nationally in yielding just 12.3 points per game. "Last year we had an outstanding defense — very tough to score on, had numerous rankings in rush defense, all these different things — but I think we've become even stingier this year," head coach Mark Dantonio said. "Thus far we've gotten more turnovers, we've scored, been very good on third down. We're pressuring the quarterback." Michigan State's defense has established a legacy that is being passed down from one team to the next, providing the Green and White the chance to improve over a unit that a year ago many thought would represent the pinnacle performance for the program. "I think it goes back to their defensive coordinator, Pat Narduzzi. He brought a mentality with him that was first coming all from the coaches, but then as players began to emerge, they sort of took the reins," Charboneau said. "It took them a little while to get things rolling, but now you have established playmakers. They set the tone and the younger guys feed off that relentless attitude. "People close to the program didn't think they'd take a step back because even though they lost some great players in William Gholston and Johnny Adams, there were young guys in the wings that had been brought up understanding the pride of

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