The Wolverine Now

OCT. 17, 2012 DESPERATE TIMES Michigan State Needs A Win Over Michigan To Remain In Legends Division Race of three favorites to play for the Big Ten title out of the Legends, along with Mich- igan and Nebraska. The reigning division champion, with an intimidating defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense (sixth), rush defense (ninth) and scoring defense (10th) in 2011, State began the year with the moxie, swag- ger and belief to capture that conference crown. Instead, a struggling offense and a Head coach Mark Dantonio has led the Spartans to four straight wins over U-M, but MSU stands just 4-3 this season. ery team, even those with losses mount- ing, to believe tomorrow will be a better day, and a big win, potentially even a championship, is still within reach. Down the road in East Lansing, Michi- P gan State is banking on a lackluster clus- ter of conference competitors to re-enter the Legends Division race after dropping two of its first three league contests. But to stake a claim, the Spartans first have to re-establish a winning identity that has not been easy to access this season. MSU entered the 2012 campaign one BY MICHAEL SPATH arity across college football, and es- pecially in the Big Ten, provides ev- PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS good, but not great, defense have left the Green and White reeling seven games into the season. With a 1-2 league record, the Spartans are currently positioned fifth in the Legends. Saturday's game against U-M, thus, becomes a must-win for MSU. "It's total desperation time," Detroit 23-7 victory over a 0-6 Eastern Michi- gan squad Sept. 22. Dantonio has al- ways been snarky, but the local media has loved him. This year, they too are growing weary. Some diehard fans have even begun turning on their general, with empty seats at Michigan State's 19-16 home loss to Iowa last week — officially there were close to 5,000 unsold tickets, but televi- sion cameras showed massive vacancy across sections — an indicator. "The last two seasons have been so Free Press beat writer Joe Rexrode said. "If they lose, their chances are com- pletely gone. Even if they win out, they need Iowa to lose three games, but right now, no one is even thinking about that because the immediacy of the situation is Michigan State needs a win badly or this could go downhill fast." Now in his sixth season, Mark Dan- tonio is already 4-1 against the Spar- tans' in-state, and biggest, rival, but he's felt the pressure this season, snapping at the media in a postgame press confer- ence following a too-close-for-comfort good that expectations started getting out of control, and when you don't win at that consistently high rate, people get nasty," Rexrode said. "There is a fringe that is ready to throw in the towel on the year, but even the more moderate fans are very, very upset with the play of the Spartans this season." When he met with the media this week, Dantonio embraced the pressure that is now encircling his team, believ- ing the criticism will only bring his team tougher, spurring the Spartans to play their best. "Pressure is good. It helps prepare you, keeps you on edge, keeps you mentally sharp," he said. "I think this game can be a defining moment for us. I think it could be a rallying point or a moment where we can start going in the other direction. We broadcast the game live. The contest can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area, SiriusXM and Armed Services Radio channel 85). Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (15-4, What: Michigan vs. Michigan State. When: Oct. 20 • 3:30 p.m. Radio-TV: The Big Ten Network will GAME FACTS second season). Mark Dantonio: (66-42, sixth season). History: Michigan leads the series with winning streak over Michigan represents the sixth-longest stretch of success against U-M in the Wolverines' 133-year history, be- hind only Minnesota (nine straight), Ohio State (seven), Cornell (seven), Purdue (five) and Army (five) … The Spartans are seek- ing their third straight win in Ann Arbor for the first time since winning four in a row in 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1961 … Mark Dantonio is one of only two State coaches in program history to win four of his first five matchups with Michigan, joining Char- lie Bachman (1933-37) … The Green and White's remaining five opponents have a combined 19-9 record against Football Bowl Subdivision teams, ranking MSU's fu- ture strength of schedule 11th nationally. Michigan State 67-32-5, last beating the Spartans 28-24 in 2007. Michigan State Notes: MSU's four-game

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