Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State Spartans recorded their first win of the season on Saturday (6-9-08) behind 5-foot-9, 202-pound senior Javon Ringer, who rushed for 135 yards on 34 carries (nearly 4 yards per carry) and scored 5 times as the Spartans crushed Eastern Michigan 42-10.

Ringer scored twice in MSU’s opening 38-31 loss at California, so he now has 7 rushing touchdowns on the year. It’s a tall order, but if Ringer can score twice a game over the next 10 games, the Spartans can improve on their 7-5 record from last year.

Ringer was missed or overlooked by the Ohio State coaching staff when he graduated from Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, OH. You’d think Ringer might want to put the ball in some interesting places when the Spartans take on the Buckeyes on the third Saturday in October.

It looks like the MSU passing attack behind fifth-grader Brian Hoyer isn’t going anywhere fast. Let’s just say teams aren’t planning their entire defensive strategy around Hoyer’s playmaking ability.

There’s a reason Hoyer went 8-for-12 for 148 yards (translation = don’t screw it up) against Eastern Michigan, which went 4-8 last year, losing as Bowling Green and Central Michigan won in the Mid-American. Conference.

Unlike the Spartans, teams playing the Washington Huskies plan their entire defensive strategy around containing the play of redshirt second-year quarterback Jake Locker. National analysts and commentators are quick to acknowledge that Locker could be outstanding at quarterback, running back, receiver or strong safety. Locker has the talent and playmaking ability that Hoyer doesn’t.

Solid, tight defense and a strong running game will carry Michigan State beyond Hoyer’s arm and field leadership. A running game eats up the clock and keeps your opponent’s offense off the field.

I suggested that the Spartans put together the Eastern Michigan Eagles as Seabiscuit in Pimlico, and they did. Michigan State scored touchdowns in every quarter, and scored two touchdowns in both the second and fourth quarters. Ringer scored on runs of 4, 6, 2, 1, and 2 yards. He could have had a sixth TD if he hadn’t fumbled 3 yards from pay ground on Michigan State’s first drive.

Last year I watched the Spartans crush the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 55-18 in their opener, and MSU seemed unstoppable and unbeatable, rushing over, around and through UAB for 298 yards.

Then they played better competition and started looking more beatable each week. MSU gave up a ton of points last year and lost to more developed programs in Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. Michigan State’s biggest win last year came at home against an 8-4, 35-31 Penn State team.

The Spartans host Florida Atlantic (1-1) next, not exactly a powerhouse but a 7-5 team last year (same as MSU’s record last year), Sun Belt title co-champions with Troy in 6-1, and New Orleans Bowl winners over Memphis, 44-27.

The Spartans could and should win this home game by 3 touchdowns, otherwise the tougher opponents on their schedule might get the idea that Michigan State isn’t that important.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *