MSU Game

[IAA Fan]

I hope that I am absolutely wrong and that Paladin and our rude new friend are correct.  I am just not seeing it.  True, MSU struggled on offense for two weeks.  That just makes them more dangerous against their third opponent with inferior talent.  Do you really believe that our inexperienced d-line can "handle" their offensive front?  Do you think that our much-maligned defensive backs can shut down their wide receivers?  Most importantly, do you feel that our also inexperienced o-line can block their front seven?  Again, I would be absolutely delighted if I am dead wrong.

I'm with Wick...although I also hope the ghost of paladin is right. We can win if all the breaks go our way but it still boils down to Big10 recruits vs. FCS recruits.

If their O struggles and the fans get on them maybe we have a shot. Hess must be accurate and get rid of the ball quickly if he can do that we have a punchers chance.

I like your thinking. Quick passes will work. Just remember that will shoot our running game, as it brings in the secondary and LB's. Live by the pass ...die by the pass.

[ysuindy]

From the Lansing State Journal


http://db.lsj.com/blogswp/spartanshadows/football-championship-subdivision-schools-making-noise/


EAST LANSING — Schools from the Football Championship Subdivision are on the rise.

Through the first two weeks of the college football season, those lower-tier schools have had success knocking off teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision. A total of 11 upsets have taken place this year, most notably North Dakota State’s win over Kansas State.

This week, Michigan State (2-0) will try to not be the latest FBS school to fall victim to an FCS team when it hosts Youngstown State (2-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday (Big Ten Network).

“Those teams come to play,” MSU captain and senior linebacker Max Bullough said. “(No matter) what level they are, those guys are all football players and they’re all practicing and they all want to win too. They guys come to play and you can play with anyone when you have that attitude.”

Youngstown State pulled off one of those FCS-FBS upsets last season when it knocked off Pittsburgh on the road. That was the first victory for the Penguins over a school from a BCS conference. And in 2011, they stayed competitive with MSU for a good portion of the contest before the Spartans pulled away.

Youngstown State coach Eric Wolford believes one of the main reasons the gap is closing between the top tiers of college football is because of the accelerated pace of recruiting in the FBS. Wolford, who has spent time on coaching staff sat Illinois, South Carolina and Arizona, knows the pressure and challenges of making quick recruiting decisions on prospects based off sophomore and junior film at FBS schools.

“At our (FCS) level we’re kind of taking guys that have good senior years and are maybe more developed,” Wolford said during the Missouri Valley weekly teleconference Tuesday. “I think a lot of recruiting mistakes are being made. You see kids committing all the time as sophomores and juniors, and they really haven’t fulfilled their potential yet and you really don’t even know what the finished product is. There’s a lot of pressure in the recruiting market to sign a bunch of guys with a lot of ratings and that type of thing.

“Maybe some of those guys are guys that developed early and they didn’t continue to develop when they were 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. I think that’s the advantage we have (in the FCS).”

MSU quarterbacks coach Brad Salem agrees with Wolford’s assessment about early commitments at the FBS level allowing FCS schools to land the late bloomers.

“There’s a lot of seniors out there that are 6-3, 240 (pounds) as a junior and not big enough, and then all of the sudden they go (and get bigger),” Salem said. “I think that’s a factor and obviously they’re getting kids that they see visually and see proof as seniors. But there’s a lot of very good teams out there at the FCS.”

Coaching is also helping FCS teams gain ground and Wolford’s staff at Youngstown State includes many that have been at FBS schools. Wolford, who is in his fourth season at YSU, said FCS teams have to do things schematically to hang against FBS schools and pull off upsets.

“I know they have more scholarships than we do but you’re still only allowed to play with 11,” Wolford said. “You’ve got to trust the fact that you’re doing a better job developing your players and you’ve got to do things schematically where you’re not wearing your players out. You have to do things schematically so that way you’re not having to tap into that depth. It’s pretty fair to say that their No. 2s and 3s are probably better than ours for the most part across the board.”

That coaching has been especially strong in Youngstown State’s conference – the Missouri Valley. Schools from that conference have made noise this season with North Dakota State’s upset of Kansas State, Northern Iowa knocking off Iowa State and Southern Illinois giving Illinois a major scare. Several teams from the Missouri Valley are in the top 25 of the FCS polls, led by two-time defending national champion and top-ranked North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Youngstown State.

North Dakota State coach Craig Bohl believes the FCS increasing success against the FBS should be a reason for more cross-divisional games being scheduled, even though Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has urged schools from his conference to no longer schedule non-FBS teams.

“(The FCS success is) a case in point that college football needs to be more inclusive instead of exclusive,” Bohl said. “The men who are really coaching the game understand how important it is and to continue cross-divisional games like this. I think the proof is in the pudding. Certainly you’re going to see some lopsided scores occasionally, but you’re seeing more and more upsets.”

But those upsets are making it more difficult for FBS schools to want to schedule teams from the lower tier. The FBS schools are more apprehensive about paying a lot of money for a game against an FCS team that no longer is a guaranteed victory.

“I know several years ago we beat Central Michigan and now we can’t even get a MAC school to return a call,” Bohl said. “There’s certainly other FBS schools that are more open. It’s important that we have more inclusion. The games between FCS and FBS are real important for our game.”

[ysuindy]

mlive.com preview and prediction

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2013/09/matchup_youngstown_state_a_mor.html


EAST LANSING — The red flags are abundant, and the alarm bells should be sounding.

After two Saturdays of storms posing the largest threat in Spartan Stadium, a well-coached FCS school from Ohio poses the biggest threat of ruining the day for Michigan State fans this Saturday.

It's Youngstown State -- a four-time FCS national champion that's on its way back up, with an arguably more accomplished coaching staff than Michigan State boasts and hungry, talented players with something to prove.

The Spartans have a championship defense, but the Penguins will be more equipped to handle that at quarterback than any previous opponent, bringing a three-year starter and the school's first-ever three year team captain to battle.

Michigan State, meanwhile, still has four different quarterbacks scrambling for the starting job -- including a true freshman in Damion Terry who may or may not see his first playing time.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown:

QUARTERBACK

Youngstown State: Kurt Hess -- a 6-3, 230 three-year starter and captain -- might be the best QB in the game. Hess operates out of the pocket, but he has some mobility, having only been sacked 30 times in 35 career starts.

Michigan State: Connor Cook has the arm strength and mobility Michigan State coaches love, but freshman Damion Terry might steal the show as he's reputed to have a more accurate arm and even better running skills. Andrew Maxwell is a steady hand who may be called upon.

EDGE: Youngstown State

RUNNING BACK

Youngstown State: The Penguins go by committee. Senior Torrian Pace is a power back while freshmen Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb are freshmen burners who both went over 100 yards last week. Adaris Bellamy missed last week with an ankle and might be the best of the bunch.

Michigan State: The Spartans are content with the three-headed monster of Jeremy Langford, Riley Bullough and Nick Hill. It's mildly surprising Delton Williams couldn't crack the rotation, because none of the three has exhibited elevated play to this point.

EDGE: Even

WIDE RECEIVER

Youngstown State: Christian Bryan is a 3-year starter, whose first game was against Michigan State two years ago. Michael Wheary has also emerged. Andre Stubbs is a small but very quick target. Marcel Caver (6-3) and Andrew Williams (6-4) were prep basketball stars who can go up and get the ball. Tight ends are solid but have not factored heavily into pass game.

Michigan State: Macgarrett Kings Jr. looks to be a reliable target, but Aaron Burbridge has lacked focus and is off to a disappointing start. True freshman R.J. Shelton has earned more time. Bennie Fowler is still in the mix, and Tony Lippett is supposedly going to get another chance. Keith Mumphery appears injured. DeAnthony Arnett was once again left off the depth chart. Tight ends have disappointed.

EDGE: Youngstown State

OFFENSIVE LINE

Youngstown State: Senior center Chris Elkins (6-4, 300) is a preseason All-American. RT Andrew Sinko (6-4, 295) is a senior first-year starter, RG Brock Eisenhuth (6-5, 315) is a redshirt freshman, LG Fred Herdman (6-4, 290) is a senior first-year starter and LT Kyle Bryant (6-7, 320) is a Detroit high school product who transferred from Bowling Green.

Michigan State: Jack Allen, a freshman All-American, might be back at RG. If so, Jack Conklin will be back at LT, where he is more effective. Senior Fou Fonoti is still getting in shape and hasn't been able to handle a full game at RT. Center Travis Jackson and LG Blake Treadwell have been adequate.

EDGE: Even

DEFENSIVE LINE

Youngstown State: DE Terrell Williams is an agile 255-pounder, while senior Kyle Sirl (6-3, 260) has been solid. Sophomore DT Emmanuel Kromah (6-2, 280) might be the soft spot. NTs Octavius Brown (6-0, 305) and D.J. Moss (5-11, 290) might be hard to move.

Michigan State: DE Shilique Calhoun has scored three TDs but been run on. Marcus Rush is fighting to keep the starting job over Denzel Drone at the other end. Tyler Hoover is off to a strong start at DT, while Micajah Reynolds has been adequate at NT.

EDGE: Michigan State

LINEBACKERS

Youngstown State: A Penguins strength. Teven Williams is a three-year starter at MLB, while Travis Williams is a three-year starter at WLB. Dom Rich is a senior captain at SLB who is a second-year starter. A very active, aggressive group.

Michigan State: The heart of the Spartans football team, led by senior MLB Max Bullough. Senior SLB Denicos Allen has been a catalyst for turnovers. The WLB is split between Taiwan Jones and pass defense specialist Jairus Jones.

EDGE: Michigan State

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Youngstown State: Solid cornerbacks with Julius Childs and DeVon McKoy, and a hard-hitting team captain at strong safety with Donald D'Alesio. The weak link could be redshirt freshman Jameel Smith at free safety.

Michigan State: Trae Waynes has stolen the show at cornerback, as preseason All-American Darqueze Dennard is off to a slow start by his high standards. Kurtis Drummond has been a highlight reel at free safety, while Isaiah Lewis has provided steady play at strong safety.

EDGE: Michigan State

SPECIAL TEAMS

Youngstown State: Punter Nick Liste is off to a great starter, booming 64- and 62-yard punts in the opener and a 59-yarder last week. Kicker Joey Cejudo is a JC transfer who connected on a 37-yarder last week and has 50-yard range. Stubbs has been an efficient return man.

Michigan State: Punter Mike Sadler is the big star, with 10 punts inside opponents' 20. Kevin Muma missed a 25-yard field goal. Neither kick nor punt return has made a positive impact play, though Andre Sims did have a costly fumble last week.

EDGE: Youngstown State

COACHING

Youngstown State: Penguins HC Eric Wolford and two of his YSU assistants were on Illinois' 2008 Rose Bowl staff, and assistant head coach Mark Mangino was national head coach of the year in 2007 and was Oklahoma's offensive coordinator when the Sooners won the 2000 national title.

Michigan State: Mark Dantonio is off to the best six-year start for a head coach in Michigan State's history, and DC Pat Narduzzi has become one of the more coveted assistant coaches in the nation. Co-OCs Dave Warner and Jim Bollman have been strapped by the great QB debate, and it has kept the offensive staff from operating with any rhythm.

EDGE: Even



PREDICTION

Michigan State 20, Youngstown State 10

[ValleyTalk]

Spartan Nation is picking an extremely close game much less than the spread:
http://www.freep.com/article/20130913/SPORTS07/309130076/michigan-state-football-akron-youngstown-state-predictions

[ysuindy]

$650,000   Second largest Big 10 payday this year - only the OSU - FAMU game pays more.

http://www.foxsportswest.com/mobile/story/big-ten-to-pay-just-under-5-million-to-f?blockID=918507&tagID=12114

Darren Rovell tweeting that Akron gets $900k at the Big House from Michigan this week and Western Illinois getting $375k from Minnesota.

So I guess the earlier Fox Story about only payout larger than the YSU-MSU payout was incorrect.

Also Toledo paying $325k to Eastern Washington.  I am thinking that is kind of high for a MAC team to pay out - wonder if this was a late add?  And is it a chance for a FCS win?

[ysufan0505]

Game day!!! Let's go baby