Trenton Robinson News

First, 14 Michigan State players were suspended for their misdeeds on the night of Nov.

San Antonio -- Former Texas A&M and Mississippi State coach Emory Bellard describes Mike Leach's offensive philosophy as one based on 'outer space theories.' 'It's option football in the passing game,' said Bellard, 82, considered the godfather of the Wishbone formation.

Sophomore free safety Trenton Robinson might have been the most excited player on Michigan State's roster when he learned the team had accepted a bid to play in the Alamo Bowl.

When Michigan State starting free safety Trenton Robinson was wondering where the Spartans would be for a bowl game, the sophomore never figured it would involve a homecoming of sorts.

Statistically, Michigan State's defense played its worst game of the season. Yet the only truly important numbers ended up on the Spartans' side: MSU 40, Purdue 37 Just looking at the stat sheet, though, that final score would seem impossible: * Purdue racked up 524 total yards and held the ball for an astonishing 40 minutes, 39 seconds.

West Lafayette, Ind. It's not crazy to think Michigan State could put together its best game of the year Saturday against Penn State.

East Lansing -- Michigan State backup quarterback Keith Nichol could get some opportunities this weekend to boost his team's red-zone offense.

Michigan State's 2009 football season is winding down quickly. With the Spartans' Big Ten championship hopes having been dashed, coach Mark Dantonio's team is now focused on winning at least one of its final two games in order to reach a bowl game for the third consecutive year.

Michigan State made a couple changes to its secondary Tuesday in an effort to boost its defense against Purdue.

East Lansing -- Michigan State didn't get any better or any worse in blasting Western Michigan, 49-14, for its fifth victory of the season.

East Lansing -- Ashton Leggett made the most of his opportunity for Michigan State in Saturday's 49-14 rout of Western Michigan.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nighttime was the right time to have a game on Oct. 31 at the new TCF Bank Stadium on the Minnesota campus.

EAST LANSING -- When Iowa visits Michigan State on Saturday, the Hawkeyes will participate in the eighth night game in the 86-year history of Spartan Stadium.

EAST LANSING - Plenty of thought went into the decision to play freshman Edwin Baker.

The first half was one of MSU's worst offensive displays in recent memory. Then the fireworks came in a 13-minute, 24-point stretch of the second half.

After struggling with an uptempo offense against Central Michigan, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said his team is ready to handle Northwestern's fast-paced offense following two successful defensive outings against similarly paced Michigan and Illinois.

East Lansing -- The season-ending knee injury to Michigan State running back Glenn Winston might push coach Mark Dantonio to burn the redshirt of freshman Edwin Baker.

Champaign, Ill. - After a battle for the starting quarterback position finally appeared to have ended near the midpoint of the MSU football team's season, one of those quarterbacks led the Spartans to their second straight victory Saturday and back to .500 with a 3-3 record.

There is no better living example of fortitude on the Michigan State football team than Danny Fortener.

Michigan State could get some more defensive-line help for Saturday's game against Michigan.