By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
EAST LANSING – Michigan State's football program wrapped up spring practice on Saturday with its annual Green and White game in front of an announced crowd of 25,000 Spartan fans on a beautiful afternoon.
For the record, the Green team posted a 21-8 victory over the White.
But for first-year head coach Mark Dantonio, the important thing was to get through spring drills without injuries and to get his team comfortable with his offense and defense.
"I thought it was a great crowd – I think there were about 25,000, which made for a great day," he said on the field at Spartan Stadium following the game. "We split up our teams, so they were a bit watered down, but every guy got to play. I think we had over 100 guys play today. I thought there was good hitting, but I was disappointed with the personal fouls, there were too many penalties.
"I liked what I saw in terms of Javon Ringer, though we only ran him for one quarter," Dantonio continued. "We had some dropped passes, but I thought we executed well at other times against the run and had some nice individual efforts. There were also some good hits out there on the defensive side of the ball. I think we got accomplished what we wanted in the spring. We got out of the spring game with no injuries and we were able to move forward. We set down concepts we wanted to use and just set down base stuff. We will concentrate on getting better in August, as well as getting ready for UAB."
Neither team was able to do much offensively in the first half.
The Green team scored in the second quarter as Kellen Davis hauled in a five-yard pass from Connor Dixon. Bridgman's Matt Haughey added the extra point to make it 7-0.
That's the way the first half ended.
The Green team added touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter to open up a 21-0 lead on the White squad.
A.J. Jimmerson, who played for both teams in the second half, scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter.
Brett Kahn added a three-yard run in the final quarter to cap the scoring for the Green team. Haughey added both extra points.
The White squad finally broke through late in the fourth quarter with the help of Green quarterback Brian Hoyer. Hoyer connected with Terry Love with a 13-yard scoring strike and then hit Blair White with the two-point conversion.
Hoyer said after the game that he was not pleased with his play, but thought the team was getting settled in.
"I think we've made great strides forward, but we have a long way to go," he told reporters. "This summer's going to be really big for us. It's about working hard, getting in shape, and getting focused."
Dantonio seemed to be pleased with his first spring practice as the Spartans' head coach.
"I think we are where we need to be," he said. "I think we have a good basis of what is going on. I think we have guys that are committed and are working on getting better. I think everyone has been part of the program and been able to show what they've got in the spring. Now we'll add 25 guys, our new freshmen, and give them the opportunity to show what they have. Then, we need to come together as a team for our first game."
The Spartans open up the 2007 season on Sept. 1 by hosting the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Game Notes
Michigan State remembered former Spartan George Webster, who died earlier in the week and Virginia Tech University on its helmets Saturday. Michigan State players wore the Virginia Tech logo on the back of their helmets and wore a black stripe over the Spartan logo on the right side of their helmets in memory of Webster.
Former Spartan head coach George Perles was the honorary coach of the Green team, while former player Hank Bullough coached the White team.
Dowagiac's Mark Staten, the Spartans' tight ends coach, was an assistant for the White team.
Former Bridgman standout Matt Haughey handled all the placekicking duties on Saturday. Regular MSU kicker Brett Swanson did not participate in the game as he was attending his sister's wedding.
Michigan State Spring Game
White 0 0 0 8 – 8
Green 0 7 7 7 – 21
Green – Kellen Davis 5 yd pass from Connor Dixon (Matt Haughey kick)
Green – A.J. Jimmerson 2 yd run (Haughey)
Green – Brett Kahn 3 yd run (Haughey)
White – Terry Love 13 yd pass from Brian Hoyer (Blair White pass from Hoyer)