SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Amid sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s, the Michigan State football team arrived in San Antonio Sunday afternoon as it continues preparation for the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech.

The Spartans received a warm welcome from bowl officials upon entering the team’s hotel, the Marriott Rivercenter.

“The bowl atmosphere anywhere you go is going to be outstanding, and I’ve heard nothing but great things from the people in this profession that have been here at the Alamo Bowl,” said head coach Mark Dantonio. “It’s a tremendous bowl experience, so we’re looking forward to that. We’re going to put our best foot forward both on and off and the field. Texas Tech will be an outstanding opponent, and we’ll be excited to play.”
Following team meetings, MSU held its first official practice in San Antonio with a 70-minute workout at Alamo Heights High School in the evening.

Primarily a practice for conditioning and weight lifting, the Spartans also conducted a walk-through.

“I think we responded very well tonight (after the long layoff),” said Dantonio. “We got a run in, got a lift in, and had a brief walk-through with the offense and defense. Guys held their attention, in terms of what we wanted to do with the walk-thru, and they came back and were pretty detailed about what they learned earlier.”

Michigan State returned to practice Monday morning.

The Spartans (6-6) will meet the Red Raiders (8-4) in the 17th annual Valero Alamo Bowl Saturday, Jan. 2 at 9 p.m. EST in the Alamodome. The game will be televised on ESPN.