Michigan football team well aware that Spartans enjoy occasional trick plays
Michigan State tight end Charlie Gantt heads to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown against Notre Dame on a fake field goal.
AP photo
They called the play Little Giants.
It made a big splash for the Michigan State football team.
Facing a 4th-and-13 from the Notre Dame 29-yard line, the Spartans signaled for what’s, thus far, the most gutsy play-call of the 2010 college football season.
The Spartans lined up for a field-goal attempt, but instead holder Aaron Bates threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Charles Grantt in overtime to seal a 34-31 win over the Fighting Irish on Sept. 19.
When No. 18 Michigan (5-0) hosts No. 17 Michigan State (5-0) at Michigan Stadium (3:36 p.m., ABC), the Wolverines will be on the lookout for another fake field goal.
As for other trickery, Michigan State is the more likely of the two schools to rely on such plays Saturday.
“We’ve all been with Coach D going on about eight years now,” interim Michigan State coach Don Treadwell said of Mark Dantonio. “We’re used to him being aggressive.
“Just from an offensive standpoint, there’s always going to be a thought here or there to have something unique or a tricky play that you may have a thought of taking a peek at week to week.” The Michigan coaching staff has a more conservative philosophy. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said the gutsiest play call he’s made in 18 years as a head coach came in the 2006 Sugar Bowl, when he called a fake punt that secured a 38-35 win over Georgia.
With 1:26 left in the game, West Virginia punter Phil Brady ran 10 yards on a 4th-and-6. The new set of downs allowed the Mountaineers to run out the clock. “It wasn’t that gutsy of a call,” Rodriguez said. “We were having trouble stopping them anyway.”
Rodriguez described his trick-play calling as a calculated risk.
“It’s because of something you saw previously in a game, or if they give you that same scenario or situation,” he said. “It’s not a shot in the dark.”
The last time a trick play appeared in a Michigan football game, the Wolverines stood on the receiving end.
In 2009, Purdue opened the second half of its game in Ann Arbor with an onsides kick and recovered. The Boilermakers capitalized on the momentum, scored a touchdown on the very next play and escaped with a 38-36 win.
“We had gotten really good that the onsides kick,” Purdue coach Danny Hope said. “We thought it’d be hard for an opponent to defend.”
Heading into the Michigan State game, the Wolverines can say one thing for certain ¬- after watching what transpired between the Spartans and Fighting Irish, nothing will be a surprise.
Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
A2D2
Fri, Oct 8, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.
Jim Miller (the former NFL QB) is a MSU announcer. Did any of you hear his comments about the game? Absolutely a rant on his blog. My favorite comments of his are that the "game is already over" and that "Michigan has no offensive line".. Apparently there are two L's in buffoon!
3 And Out
Fri, Oct 8, 2010 : 1:18 a.m.
tater...you embarrass true Michigan fans and alums...after the last 2 embarrassing losses to Sparty...we are in no position to call anyone "little brother" which is such an arrogant and antiquated term...please give it a rest.
UMClass74
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 11:54 p.m.
I think Rodriguez would like to control the ball game by having Denard and the offense on the field more. Of course you like to see the big plays but you don't want to see your defense on the field as much as last game. In addition, I would rather see the defense rush four linemen to put more pressure on the QB so their receivers can't run longer routes. Rushing only three gives their QB all the time in the world to pick apart the secondary. Too bad UM secondary is decimated and freshmen are back there. They need to learn their coverages fast and learn not to let anyone get behind them. MSU will try to stop Denard by a part zone defense, one on one will not work. But I hope that opens up more lanes and for other running backs and leaves the WR in the open. Like they said, he (Denard) is hard to defend. The UM defense will step it up another notch. Run defense is not that bad, secondary needs help and experience. Go Blue from Seattle! UM74
lawrencelaundry
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 11:42 p.m.
Weather is gonna be just what the florida boys like. MIchigan will take advantage of that with speed. Which means more 1st downs and longer possessions. Our D should be better conditioned after last week. I think we will stack the box more because msu is a I formation team, another benefit for us. Just heard Brandon Herrion will be back which moves Roh to D end, where he's better at. To much emotion for michigan players to lose this one. MICHIGAN by 10. MARTIN with 2 sacks on little brother. Go Blue!!
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 10:11 p.m.
The problem with the long sustained drives approach is I fully expect MSU to come out and blitz like crazy in this game. Dantonio is aggressive and his defense is going to want to hit Denard every chance they get, as hard as they can. I fear three things in this game: 1) Denard gets injured (obviously) 2) Denard throws a couple picks/fumbles due to being rushed into throwing or being sacked (like Tate against OSU) 3) Michigan is forced into completely being a one-dimensional passing offense. I expect MSU to have at least one trick play in this game. I would even put money on it.
Kubrick66
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.
tulsatom... I think the weather will be a factor. Warm dry field makes for a fast track which favors Michigan's offense. Expect Denard to use all his weapons. Go Blue!
tulsatom
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 7:42 p.m.
It makes more sense to me now, Kubrick66. I hope U-M can sustain drives against MSU like they did against UCONN, but with no slight intended to UCONN, I think the MSU defense will pose more of a challenge than the Huskies, but I hope I'm wrong. Due to the quick strike nature of the offense, I see more all-or-nothing drives in which U-M either scores on a big play or goes 3-and-out without being able to sustain long drives. This is just the feel I'm getting leading up the game but I've been wrong before. I'm really looking forward to this game and hope the weather is not a factor.
Kubrick66
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.
tulsatom... MSU does have a better defense than IU and should limit the big plays and force Michigan into long, sustained drives. I expect the same from MSU's offense. Sure, there's going to be some big plays, always is, but nothing like the IU game. So this could really limit the possessions for each team... Take the UConn game for example. Michigan had sustained drives and only 8 true possession the entire game. UConn had only nine. Add in five or more punts and suddenly the "shootout" is a 24-21 game- and I just don't see that happening. So something has to give. Michigan can't punt 5-6 times and still manage to score over thirty. They just won't have enough possessions to do so.
tulsatom
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.
Kubrick66, I respect your point of view and agree with you often. Just curious... What makes you think U-M will punt the same or less against MSU than they did against Indiana? To me, MSU has a better defense than Indiana does, do they not? What am I not factoring in to the equation?
Kubrick66
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 5:39 p.m.
tulsatom... Michigan punted five times against IU. If they punt more than that on Saturday they'll lose by two or three scores. I don't see that happening.
Sean T.
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.
I agree, TulsaTom.
tulsatom
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 5:11 p.m.
If the U-M defense shows improvement, I'm liking their chances to win this one because they have the home field advantage and a high octane offense. On the other hand, if they continue to look lost and confused on defense and give 15-yard cushions to the MSU receivers, it could be a long day for the home team as Cousins will pick them apart. I'm thinking U-M will need some defensive stops in order to win this one because I MSU will cause U-M to punt more often than Indiana did.
tulsatom
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 5:02 p.m.
"It wasnt that gutsy of a call, Rodriguez said. We were having trouble stopping them anyway". Sound familiar?
Sean T.
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.
I doubt that there will be any tricks going on in this game. Hail