Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers, Spartans Square Off On Homecoming
10/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2006
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- The Indiana football team returns home for Homecoming and a showdown against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 28. IU (4-4, 2-2 Big Ten) and MSU (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) face off at noon EDT. ESPN Plus will televise the ballgame with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Kelly Stouffer (analyst) calling the action.
The Hoosiers and Spartans play for the Old Brass Spittoon, which has been awarded to the winner annually since 1950. IU last held the Spittoon in 2001, when Levron Williams rushed for 251 yards and three scores in Indiana's 37-28 victory in East Lansing on Nov. 10.
IU has won its last two meetings on Homecoming, knocking off Illinois, 36-13, on Oct. 8, 2005, and dropping No. 23 Minnesota, 30-21, on Oct. 30, 2004.
While Terry Hoeppner has always asked fans to "Defend The Rock," the second-year Hoosier head coach has issued another challenge.
"I'm challenging the Hoosier Nation to pack 'The Rock' with 50,000 screaming fans when we play Michigan State," Hoeppner said. "We want you to celebrate Homecoming and help us earn another victory. Our fans have played a huge role in our progress this season. We have come a long way, but we have a ways to go. It's always a lot more fun to have the fans with us on our journey to Play 13."
Scouting Michigan State
Michigan State recorded the greatest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history, storming back from a 35-point third-quarter deficit to shock Northwestern, 41-38, on Oct. 21. NU led 38-3 with 9:54 remaining in the third before MSU rallied for the game's final 38 points and the stunning victory.
Senior quarterback Drew Stanton, the reigning co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, leads Spartan spread offense that averages 29.4 points per game and 389.0 yards per contest. Stanton has thrown 10 touchdown passes this season and is averaging 191.9 yards per game. Also a threat on the ground, Stanton owns 333 rushing yards and five rushing scores. Senior wide receiver Kerry Reed is Stanton's favorite target, hauling in 38 catches this season. Reed owns four TD grabs and has compiled 456 yards.
Safety Otis Wiley anchors the Michigan State defense. The sophomore leads the team with 65 tackles (40 solo) and 5.5 tackles for loss. Wiley also has one sack, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. Defensive linemen Ervin Baldwin and Clifton Ryan each share the team lead with three sacks with Baldwin adding 5.5 tackles for loss and Ryan contributing 13 quarterback hurries.
Michigan Ties
Six Hoosiers hail from the state of Michigan, including wide receiver James Bailey (Detroit/Denby Technical Prep), defensive lineman Emile Bass (Detroit/Sterling Heights), linebacker Isaac Price (Southfield/Southfield), running back Marcus Thigpen (Detroit/Mumford), wide receiver Terrence Turner (Auburn Hills/West Bloomfield) and tight end Brian Zematis (Bloomfield/Andover).
Additionally, linebackers coach George Ricumstrict spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at Michigan State.
Streaking Along
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis has not thrown an interception in his last 121 attempts and is the only quarterback in the Big Ten without an interception in four league games. Lewis, who ranks fifth in the league in total offense with 203.9 yards per game, holds the third-longest current streak without a pick in the nation behind Notre Dame's Brady Quinn (144) and East Carolina's James Pinkney (129).
Something Special
Averaging 15.3 yards per punt return and 25.7 yards per kick return, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in both categories and rank 11th and 12th nationally in each respective category. Indiana is one of only two teams (Oklahoma State) to rank in the top 12 in both categories.
IU has posted five touchdowns thanks to its special teams play - the most in school history. Along with sophomore Marcus Thigpen's three kick returns, junior Tracy Porter has a punt return and senior Troy Grosfield returned a fumbled kickoff return.
Gros Profit
Senior safety Troy Grosfield tallied 12 tackles at Ohio State, four solo, and added 1.5 tackles for loss in the contest. It is the second game of more than 10 tackles Grosfield has posted this year after posting a 15-tackle game against Wisconsin on Sept. 30. This season, Grosfield has 35 tackles.
A Fresh Look
True freshmen linebackers Matt Mayberry and Mandela Roberts and redshirt freshman defensive end Jammie Kirlew posted career days on defense at Ohio State. Mayberry posted a career-high eight tackles and netted 1.5 tackles for loss in the game. Roberts netted five tackles, while Kirlew forced a third-quarter Troy Smith fumble and recovered it himself, his first-career tallies in each category.
Seeing Red
Indiana has enjoyed great success in the red zone this season. The Hoosiers rank fourth in the Big Ten with an 87.5 percent rate (21-of-24) when entering the red zone. IU has crossed the goal line 14 times (9 rush, 5 pass) and kicked seven field goals. Indiana is a perfect 5-for-5 (3 touchdowns, 2 field goals) in its last five trips inside its opponents' 20-yard line.
Divvying Up The Duties
Twenty-six different Hoosiers registered tackles at Ohio State, the most since 26 players secured stops against Cincinnati on Sept. 23, 2000. Additionally, eight different Hoosiers caught passes and five picked up carries on the ground in the contest.
