No. 20 Michigan State Spartans

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How great is it to be a Spartan these days? The MSU basketball team played in the Final Four before an adoring throng in Detroit. And State’s football team seems poised to vault past flailing Michigan in the Big Ten hierarchy.

Things are looking up in East Lansing, and all Mark Dantonio must do now is figure out a way to take the next step. That’s the big obstacle at State every time prosperity rolls around. MSU gets to a certain point, but it can’t finish the job. Last year, big losses to Ohio State and Penn State (by a combined 69 points) kept the Spartans from the Big Ten’s upper reaches. In 2009, the losses of several key players from last year’s squad might do it.

All-American Javon Ringer is gone from the backfield, and quarterback Brian Hoyer must be replaced. A pair of offensive line stalwarts are gone, too. But eight starters are back on Pat Narduzzi’s defense, and that’s good news. If quarterback Kirk Cousins can translate his great grasp of the offense to on-field production (if not, it’s Keith Nichol), and a couple reliable tailbacks emerge from a six-way donnybrook, the Spartans have a chance to move forward. And leave Michigan further behind.

This and That

Big Shoes Michigan State lost 96.7 percent of its net rushing yards with the departure of Javon Ringer. He had 390 carries, compared to 43 by all other running backs in the program.

Focus Michigan State has a history of underachieving when faced with high preseason expectations. But things might be changing under Mark Dantonio, who commands good focus every day of the year. "Our players understand what is expected of them," he says. "If you watch a practice, you don’t see a lot of guys loafing. We come to play every practice. There is not a shortage of energy here, of work ethic, or toughness."

Solid Specialists A pair of second-team All-Big Ten selections return to the Spartans in placekicker Brett Swenson and punter Aaron Bates. Swenson was 22-of-28 on field goals last year. Bates averaged 42.0 yards per punt.

Michigan State Superlatives

K Brett Swenson is named Third-Team All-America and First-Team All-Big Ten.

LB Greg Jones is named First-Team All-Big Ten.

C Joel Nitchman, OL Joel Foreman, DL Trevor Anderson, CB Chris L. Rucker and P Aaron Bates are named Second-Team All-Big Ten.

WR Mark Dell (pictured), TE Charlie Gantt and OL Rocco Cironi join the All-Big Ten Third Team.

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