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SITE: Florida Citrus Bowl (66,000), Orlando, Fla.

KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET

LAST GAMES: Michigan State defeated Penn State, 35-28, Nov. 20, Florida lost to Alabama, 34-7, Dec. 4 in the SEC Championship Game.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: Radio – The Spartan Radio Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Larry Bielat, sideline reporter Harlon Barnett and broadcast host Scott Anderson, will broadcast the game to 31 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard in the Lansing area on flagship station WJIM (AM 1240, FM 97.5). Television – ABC Sports will televise the Florida Citrus Bowl live nationally. Brent Musburger will call play-by-play, with Gary Danielson serving as color commentator. Jack Arute will be the sideline reporter.

THE COACHES –

Michigan State’s Bobby Williams (Purdue ’82) leads the Spartans into the Florida Citrus Bowl, his first game as a collegiate head coach. Williams, who served the last 10 seasons as Michigan State’s running backs coach and acted as the associate head coach this season, was appointed the University’s 21st head football coach on Dec. 5, 1999. A four-year letterwinner and captain as a senior at Purdue, Williams had coached at his alma mater, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Kansas prior to joining the Spartans’ staff May 31, 1990.

Florida’s Steve Spurrier (Florida ’66) is 122-34-2 (.778) in his 13th year as a college head coach, inlcuding a 102-21-1 (.827) mark in 10 years at his alma mater. He has led the Gators to five SEC titles and the 1996 national championship. He was twice the ACC Coach of the Year at Duke, where he spent three years prior to joining Florida, and has earned five SEC Coach of the Year honors. The 1966 Heisman Trophy winner, Spurrier ranks third among active Division I-A coaches in career winning percentage.

THE SERIES – First meeting.

MICHIGAN STATE IN BOWL GAMES – Michigan State is making its 15th appearance in a bowl game and its seventh trip to a New Year’s Day bowl. Michigan State is 5-9 in bowl games all-time, including losses in each of its last four trips, and is 3-3 all-time in New Year’s Day bowl games. It is the Spartans’ sixth bowl trip of the 1990s and first to a Jan. 1 bowl game since the 1989 Gator Bowl (a 34-27 loss to Georgia). MSU’s last bowl game was a 51-23 loss to Washington in the 1997 Aloha Bowl in Honolulu. This marks the Spartans’ third appearance in a bowl in the state of Florida (0-2 in the 1938 Orange Bowl and the 1989 Gator Bowl).

MICHIGAN STATE (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten)

Date            Opponent                Time/Result

Sept. 2         OREGON (ESPN)           W, 27-20

Sept. 11        EASTERN MICHIGAN        W, 51-7

Sept. 18        at Notre Dame (NBC)     W, 23-13

Sept. 25        at Illinois             W, 27-10

Oct. 2          IOWA (ESPN Regional)    W, 49-3

Oct. 9          MICHIGAN (ABC)          W, 34-31

Oct. 16         at Purdue (ABC)         L, 52-28

Oct. 23         at Wisconsin (espn2)    L, 40-10

Nov. 6          OHIO STATE (ESPN)       W, 23-7

Nov. 13         at Northwestern         W, 34-0

Nov. 20         PENN STATE (ABC)        W, 35-28

Jan. 1          vs. Florida (ABC)       1 p.m.

Date            Opponent                        Time/Result

Sept. 4         WESTERN MICHIGAN                W, 55-26

Sept. 11        CENTRAL FLORIDA                 W, 58-27

Sept. 18        TENNESSEE (CBS)                 W, 23-21

Sept. 25        at Kentucky (ESPN)              W, 38-10

Oct. 2          ALABAMA (CBS)                   L, 40-39 OT

Oct. 9          at Louisiana State (CBS)        W, 31-10

Oct. 16         at Auburn (ESPN)                W, 32-14

Oct. 30         vs. Georgia (CBS)               W, 30-14

Nov. 6          VANDERBILT (CBS)                W, 13-6

Nov. 13         at South Carolina (JP)          W, 20-3

Nov. 20         FLORIDA STATE (CBS)             L, 30-23

Dec. 4          vs. Alabama (SEC Champ., ABC)   L, 34-7

Jan. 1          vs. Michigan State (ABC)        1 p.m.

                                        Michigan State          Florida

Basic Offense                           Pro Set                 Pro Set, Multiple

Basic Defense                           4-3                     4-3

Offensive Starters Returning            8                       7

Defensive Starters Returning            7                       2

Specialists Returning                   2                       2

                                        Michigan State          Florida

Offensive Line & Tight End              6-5, 286                6-5, 292

Offensive Backs & Wide Receivers        6-2, 213                6-1, 220

Defensive Line                          6-3, 281                6-4, 275

Linebackers                             6-3, 234                6-1, 241

Defensive Backs                         5-11, 193               5-10, 187

Michigan State Offense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 1 sophomore, 1 freshman

Michigan State Defense: 4 seniors, 4 juniors, 3 sophomores

Florida Offense: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 1 sophomore, 2 freshmen

Florida Defense: 2 seniors, 2 juniors, 6 sophomores, 1 freshman

Michigan State (1999 statistics):

Rushing – Lloyd Clemons (171 carries for 854 yards, 5.0 avg., 0 TD)

Passing – Bill Burke (152 of 277 for 1957 yards, 17 TDs, 16 INTs)

Receiving – Plaxico Burress (53 catches for 957 yards, 18.1 avg., 9 TDs)

Tackles – Aric Morris (122 tackles, 74 solos, 48 assists, 12 for losses, 4 sacks, 7 PBUs, 2 INTs)

STAT COMPARISON (1999 statistics) –

                                        Michigan State          Florida

Scoring                                 31.0                    30.8

First Downs                             18.5                    19.6

Total Offense                           365.3                   407.9

Rushing Yards                           146.8                   144.1   

Passing Yards                           218.5                   240.6

Time of Possession                      30:16                   28:00

Third Down Conversions                  .344                    .355

Points Allowed                          19.2                    19.6

Total Offense Allowed                   299.0                   332.2

Rushing Yards Allowed                   77.0                    91.6

Passing Yards Allowed                   222.0                   240.6

SPARTANS OF THE WEEK –

Offense: TB T.J. Duckett (career-high 159 yards on 22 carries, four TD runs vs. Penn State)

Defense: SS Aric Morris (nine tackles, seven solos and two assists, plus one pass break-up)

Special Teams: Gari Scott (first career punt return for a TD, 64 yards to become the fourth Big Ten player with over 1,000 career punt return yards)

INJURY REPORT – OUT: OL Brian Ottney (underwent surgery on right shoulder Sept. 3, out for the season), DT Joe Tate (reinjured shoulder/neck in Sept. 21 practice, DNP vs. Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Northwestern and Penn State), LB Pierre Wilson (MCL right knee vs. Wisconsin, out for the season).

SPARTANS AGAINST THE SEC – Michigan State is just 4-6-1 all-time (.409) against teams currently in the Southeastern Conference. This marks the third meeting in a row with an SEC opponent which has come in a bowl game. The Spartans’ last win against a current SEC school was a 7-0 decision over Mississippi State in 1947 in East Lansing. The SEC has won each of the last three meetings.

        Nov. 3, 1928    vs. Mississippi State   T, 6-6

        Nov. 9, 1929    at Mississippi State    W, 33-19

        Jan. 1, 1938    vs. Auburn              L, 6-0          Orange Bowl

        Oct. 7, 1944    at Kentucky             W, 2-0

        Oct. 6, 1945    vs. Kentucky            W, 7-6

        Oct. 12, 1946   vs. Mississippi State   L, 6-0

        Nov. 2, 1946    at Kentucky             L, 39-14

        Oct. 4, 1947    vs. Mississippi State   W, 7-0

        Oct. 25, 1947   vs. Kentucky            L, 7-6

        Jan. 1, 1989    vs. Georgia             L, 34-27        Gator Bowl

        Dec. 29, 1995   vs. Louisiana State     L, 45-26        Independence Bowl

THE WILLIAMS ERA BEGINS – Bobby Williams is the first of Michigan State’s 21 head coaches all-time to take over a team while the season was still in progress. Some other notes about the 41-year-old St. Louis native who was appointed to the head coaching position Dec. 5:

• retained the entire staff of 10 assistant coaches

• has a 5-4 record in bowl games as either a player or a coach

• has coached in five bowl games in his 10 years at Michigan State (1-4 record, with the win coming in the 1990 John Hancock Bowl) and in six bowl games overall (2-4, including Eastern Michigan’s win in the 1987 California Raisin Bowl)

• a four-year letterwinner at Purdue who was a tri-captain as a senior in 1981

• helped the Boilermakers to a record of 38-19-1 (.664) in his five years in the program, including three top-three Big Ten finishes

• finished 3-0 in bowl games as a player, as the Boilermakers won the 1978 Peach Bowl (41-21 vs. Georgia Tech), the ’79 Bluebonnet Bowl (27-22 vs. Tennessee) and the ’80 Liberty Bowl (28-25 vs. Missouri)

THE JUDGES GIVE IT A 10 – Michigan State enters the Florida Citrus Bowl looking to tie the school record for wins in a season with its 10th. The Spartans have won 10 games in a season once before, when the 1965 team went 10-1, winning the Big Ten championship (7-0 conference record), the Rose Bowl (14-12 over UCLA) and staking a claim to the national championship.

WHERE WE WANNA BE – While Michigan State seeks its second 10-win season in school history, Florida enters the game looking to secure its seventh consecutive 10-win season and eighth overall.

DRESSED TO THE NINES – Michigan State has already secured just the eighth nine-win season and the fifth nine-win regular season in school history. This season marks the first time since the national championship year of 1966 that MSU won nine games in the regular season and the first time since the Big Ten championship season of 1987 that the Spartans won nine games overall.

SPARTANS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE – Ten players on Michigan State’s 117-man Florida Citrus Bowl roster hail from the state of Florida. Only Michigan and Ohio have produced more current Spartans. Seven of the 10 are on the Michigan State two-deep, while four are starters. Michigan State’s Florida natives include (with hometown/high school): Amp Campbell (Sarasota/Riverview), Jimel Cofer (Miami/South Broward), Paul Edinger (Lakeland/Kathleen), Herb Haygood (Sarasota/Sarasota), Cedric Henry (Sarasota/Booker), Broderick Nelson (Dania/South Broward), Gari Scott (Lake Park/Suncoast), Josh Shaw (Fort Lauderdale/Dillard), Pierre Wilson (Riviera Beach/Suncoast) and Thomas Wright (Lake Wales/Lake Wales).

NOT SUNNY FOR THE SPARTANS – Michigan State is playing just its seventh game in the state of Florida and its only one in the decade of the 1990s. The Spartans, who have lost all six previous visits to the Sunshine State, last played in Florida at the 1989 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. A complete list of MSU games in Florida:

        Jan. 1, 1938    vs. Auburn              L, 6-0          Miami – Orange Bowl

        Nov. 23, 1945   at Miami                L, 21-7         Miami

        Nov. 20, 1959   at Miami                L, 18-13        Miami

        Sept. 25, 1982  at Miami                L, 25-22        Miami

        Sept. 24, 1988  at Florida State        L, 30-7         Tallahassee

        Jan. 1, 1989    vs. Georgia             L, 34-27        Jacksonville – Gator Bowl

THEY SHOULD PUT THE FROZEN FOUR HERE – This marks the second time in less than 10 months that a Spartan team has been rewarded for a remarkable season with a trip to Florida. The men’s basketball team played in the 1999 NCAA Final Four at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

SENIORS BID FAREWELL – Twenty-seven seniors will make their final appearance in a Spartan uniform vs. Florida. This senior class has helped Michigan State to a four-year record of 28-19 (.596) since 1996, including trips to three bowl games (’96 Sun, ’97 Aloha and 2000 Florida Citrus).

The Class of 2000 includes LB Mike Austin (Xenia, Ohio), PK Max Axler (Shaker Heights, Ohio), QB Matt Bitonti (Sterling Heights), QB Bill Burke (Warren, Ohio), CB Amp Campbell (Sarasota, Fla.), TB Lloyd Clemons (Detroit), PK Paul Edinger (Lakeland, Fla.), CB Donvetis Franklin (Fayetteville, N.C.), C Brian Grant (East Grand Rapids), FB Bill Greene (Canandaigua, N.Y.), WR Brandon Hughes (Chicago, Ill.), C Casey Jensen (Eagan, Minn.), K Andy Kennedy (Swanton, Ohio), WR E.J. Martin (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), DE Raheem Miller (Rochester, N.Y.), SS Aric Morris (Oak Park), C Mike Neal (Okemos), LB Julian Peterson (Hillcrest Heights, Md.), TE Brad Rainko (Farmington Hills), TE Kyle Rance (Troy), OT Greg Robinson-Randall (Hitchcock, Texas), WR Gari Scott (Lake Park, Fla.), DE Robaire Smith (Flint), DT Desmond Thomas (Beltsville, Md.), LB Brian Williams (Holland), LB Shawn Wright (Shaker Heights, Ohio), WR Todd Zayti (Northville).

POLL GAZING – Michigan State stands ninth in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN coaches polls. The Spartans were as high as fifth in the Associated Press poll and seventh in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll on Oct. 10. That marked the first time MSU had been in the top 10 since standing eighth in both polls at the end of the 1988 season and was the Spartans’ highest ranking in the AP poll since a No. 3 ranking on Sept. 18, 1967.

A win in the Florida Citrus Bowl would give the Spartans a chance for their highest final AP ranking since at least its eighth-place ranking at the end of the 1987 season. The last time the Spartans finished higher than eighth in the poll was 1966, when MSU was second.

SURPRISE GUYS – Michigan State is the highest-ranked team in the current Associated Press poll which did not appear in the AP’s preseason top 25. Others in the current top 15 which were overlooked in the preseason were No. 11 Marshall, No. 12 Minnesota and No. 15 Mississippi. MSU’s rise to fifth in the Oct. 10 Associated Press poll was the highest ranking at any point this season for a team which was not ranked in the AP preseason poll.

UPSET SPECIALS – Michigan State is 7-5 in its last 12 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including a 4-2 record this year with wins over 24th-ranked Notre Dame, third-ranked Michigan, 20th-ranked Ohio State and 13th-ranked Penn State. Six of those seven victories over ranked teams have come while MSU was unranked or ranked below its opponent and includes the upset of No. 1 Ohio State last year in Columbus. The Spartans had been 3-22 (.120) in their previous 25 games against ranked teams before their current 7-5 run.

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET – Michigan State has compiled its first nine-win regular-season since 1966 against a terribly difficult schedule. Not only have six of MSU’s opponents been ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game, but Florida will be the fourth team MSU has played which is ranked among the top 15 in the final BCS rankings (2-1 in those games to this point).

DOMINATING DEFENSE – Michigan State’s total defense (299.0 yards allowed per game) ranks first in the Big Ten and 12th in the nation and sports the best average at MSU since 1989 (280.9) by over 15 yards per game. Last year, the Spartans gave up 363.3 yards per game.

The Spartans stand 22nd in the nation in scoring defense at 19.2 points against per game, the best mark since the 1990 team allowed 18.6 points per game.

SPARTAN SACK ATTACK – Michigan State’s defense has produced 47 quarterback sacks in 1999, the most since MSU began keeping team totals in 1984. The most since then had been the 1997 team with 36 sacks.

GROUNDING GROUND GAMES – Michigan State leads the Big Ten and stands fifth in the NCAA in rushing defense, allowing just 77.0 yards per game on the ground. That figure would be fourth-best all-time at MSU in a full season. MSU has given up 100 yards rushing just four times this season (108 to Notre Dame, 301 vs. Wisconsin, 110 vs. Northwestern, 157 vs. Penn State). Ron Dayne (214 yards) is the only player to rush for 100 yards against the Spartans this year.

Michigan State did not allow a rushing touchdown through the first five games of the season, the first time MSU had gone five games without giving up a rushing touchdown since joining the Big Ten in 1953.

A year ago the Spartans finished 10th in the Big Ten in rushing defense (171.8 yards per game).

        MSU’S BEST RUSHING DEFENSES ALL-TIME

        Rushing Yards Per Game Allowed (National Rank in Parentheses)

        1. 1965 45.6 (1)

        2. 1966 51.4 (3)

        3. 1987 61.5 (1)

        4. 1999 77.0 (2)

        5. 1963 82.0 (4)

        MSU’S BEST SINGLE-GAME RUSHING DEFENSE PERFORMANCES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

        Date            Opponent        Yds.    Att.    Avg.    TDs     Result

        Nov. 6, 1999    Ohio State      0       22      0.00    0       W, 23-7

        Oct. 9, 1999    Michigan        6       21      0.29    1       W, 34-31

        Oct. 31, 1998   Northwestern    6       30      0.20    0       W, 29-5

        Oct. 2, 1999    Iowa            7       26      0.27    0       W, 49-3

        Sept. 28, 1996  Eastern Mich.   25      39      0.64    0       W, 47-0

        Sept. 2, 1999   Oregon          28      29      0.97    0       W, 27-20

        Sept. 11, 1999  Eastern Mich.   29      24      1.21    0       W, 51-7

        Sept. 6, 1997   Western Mich.   29      21      1.38    0       W, 42-10

        Sept. 25, 1999  Illinois        42      34      1.24    0       W, 27-10

        Oct. 12, 1996   Illinois        49      32      1.53    2       W, 42-14

        Sept. 16, 1995  Louisville      50      37      1.35    0       W, 30-7

The Spartans’ pass defense efficiency rating, which was 122.90 in the first seven games, has been 79.36 in the last four. MSU was ranked 64th in the NCAA in that category through seven games, but has moved nearly halfway up the ladder to 34th in the most recent rankings (112.35 rating on the year).

TWO-MAN GAME – In the last five games, FR TB T.J. Duckett has six touchdowns, JR WR Plaxico Burress has five TDs and the rest of the Spartan offense has combined for one TD (a Chris Baker reception). The Spartan defense and special teams have combined for four TDs in those five games.

BURKE TO BURRESS: SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD – QB Bill Burke and WR Plaxico Burress both set school records in the 34-0 win over Northwestern. Burke threw his 43rd career touchdown pass to Burress in the second quarter, tying Dave Yarema (1982-86) and Ed Smith (1976-78) for the MSU career record. Burress caught two more TD passes from SO QB Ryan Van Dyke, tying the single-game school record of three TD receptions, which he also equaled earlier this season. The three TD catches gave Burress nine for the season, breaking the single-season mark he shared with Andre Rison (1988) and Bob Carey (1949).

PLAX DOMINATES SEASON’S SECOND HALF – Junior WR Plaxico Burress, a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection, ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (87.0 per game) and fourth in receptions (4.8 per game).

Burress had a single-game school-record 255 receiving yards vs. Michigan and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. In the last seven games, he has averaged 5.3 catches for 104.0 yards and 1.3 TDs per game, including a pair of three-TD games, tying the MSU single-game school record. In the first four games of the year, Burress averaged four catches for 57 yards per game with no touchdowns. Thirty-seven of his 53 catches have been good for first downs.

ONE TD GIVES BURKE RECORD ALL TO HIMSELF – Senior QB Bill Burke has had at least one touchdown pass in 13 of his last 15 games, and needs just one to hold the MSU career record for TD passes all to himself. He has 43 TD passes for his career and is currently tied with Dave Yarema (1982-86) and Ed Smith (1976-78) for the school record. Burke threw four TD passes vs. Iowa this year, equaling the single-game school-record.

WHY DON’T THEY JUST RUN A 43-YARD PATTERN ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME AND GET IT OVER WITH? – JR WR Plaxico Burress, with 957 receiving yards this year, is 43 receiving yards shy of becoming the first Spartan player to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

SR QB Bill Burke, who has 1,957 passing yards this year, is 43 yards shy of becoming only the second Spartan to have two 2,000-yard passing seasons (Tony Banks, 1994-95).

IS LIFE GRAND? – TB Lloyd Clemons is 146 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards this season. MSU has had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the last four years and in 11 of the last 14 seasons.

O FROM THE D – Michigan State’s defense has produced five touchdowns this season (three interceptions, two fumbles), led by two from LB T.J. Turner (INT vs. Purdue, fumble vs. Northwestern). The Spartan defense accounted for two TDs last season.

BAKER A FAVORITE TARGET – Sophomore TE Chris Baker is second on the team in receptions with 36 (370 yards and four touchdowns). Baker has 3.27 catches per game and 33.6 yards receiving per game. Baker is Michigan State’s most prolific pass-catching tight end in nearly 20 years, since Al Kimichik had 3.55 catches per game and 34.8 yards per game in 1981.

MORRIS THE TOP CAT IN SPARTAN SECONDARY – Senior SS Aric Morris – a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week – was voted the Spartans’ Most Valuable Player by his teammates. He shared the Big Ten honor after the Notre Dame game and earned it to himself after the Oregon game. He made 11 tackles against the Irish (six solo, five assists), after setting a career-high with 19 tackles vs. Oregon. At Wisconsin, Morris equaled his career-high with 19 tackles (12 solo, seven assists).

Morris, who has 14 career double-figure tackle games including seven in 11 games this year, leads the Spartans in tackles with 122 (74 solos, 48 assisted). He has led the team or shared the team lead in tackles in six of the 11 games this year.

HERE’S THE KICKER – Senior PK Paul Edinger has been one of the nation’s best in 1999, converting on 18-of-22 field goals and 38-of-39 PATs, including a career-long 55-yard field goal at Wisconsin. Edinger has made three field goals of 50-plus yards this season on four attempts. He is third in the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally at 1.75 field goals made per game. Edinger also sports the league’s second-best field-goal percentage at .818.

He has made 16-of-22 field-goal attempts from 40-plus yards in his career (seven-of-11 this year). Eleven of Edinger’s 18 field goals in 1999 have come in the second half.

PETERSON REWRITES TFL RECORD BOOK – Senior LB Julian Peterson has made 22 tackles for losses this season (96 yards) to set an MSU single-season mark. In last year’s upset win over top-ranked Ohio State, Peterson established an MSU single-game record with seven tackles for losses.

Peterson, who stands tied for third on the team in tackles with 56, was named one of 15 semifinalists for Defensive Player of the Year by the Football News. He matched his career high with 11 tackles (five solos, six assists) against Oregon, including six tackles for loss (seven yards). Peterson forced three fumbles in the first four games, while he climbs the MSU career charts in tackles for losses (third with 38) and sacks (fifth with 19).

WHEN BEARS ATTACK – Senior DE Robaire Smith leads MSU defensive linemen and stands sixth on the team in tackles (37-26-63). He had a career-high 12 tackles at Wisconsin. He ranks second on the team in tackles for losses (14 for 81 yards) and sacks (eight for 71), behind LB Julian Peterson in both categories. Both totals rank among the top 10 single-season efforts in MSU history. He is tied for second on the team with two interceptions.

HURRICANE LLOYD CONTINUES TO INFLICT DAMAGE – Senior TB Lloyd Clemons enjoyed three 100-yard rushing games in the first four games of the season, and built upon his single-game career-high in each of those games. He has not put up 100 yards in a game since, but has still been one of the most consistent weapons in the Spartan offensive arsenal. The walk-on transfer from Division I-AA Rhode Island leads MSU and stands seventh in the Big Ten with 77.6 rushing yards per game. The coaches tabbed him as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.

FOUR SCORES AND DUCKETT KEEPS GOING – Freshman T.J. Duckett started the season working on both offense (tailback) and defense (linebacker), but has been used more and more at tailback as the season has progressed. Duckett had his best game as a Spartan in the regular-season finale, carrying the Spartan offense to victory against Penn State. He carried 22 times for 159 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the first Spartan back since Sedrick Irvin (vs. Indiana 1997) to rush for four scores in a game. He gained the last 25 yards of the 39-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter against Penn State which sealed the win, including a 5-yard run on a fourth-and-1 and an 11-yard TD run on the next play.

Nearly 60 percent of Duckett’s rushing yards this season have come in the last four games (315 of 529). Duckett has 10 of the Spartans’ 12 rushing TDs on the year. With 10 rushing TDs, he has already equaled the most rushing TDs in a season his older brother, Tico, scored in his Spartan career (Tico had 10 in 1990). Tico finished as the Spartans’ second-leading all-time rusher with 4,212 yards from 1989-92.

GREAT SCOTT – Senior WR Gari Scott, who missed the Wisconsin game with a strained knee, broke the Michigan State record for career punt return yards in the opener against Oregon. In the regular-season finale against Penn State, Scott had his first career punt return for a touchdown, 64 yards to give MSU a 14-0 lead. In the process, he became just the fourth Big Ten player to record 1,000 career punt return yards. He now has 1,075 career punt return yards, 455 more than Derrick Mason, who stands No. 2 on the MSU career list.

Offensively, Scott has at least one TD catch in five of his 10 games and six on the season. With three catches for 50 yards vs. Ohio State, Scott moved into third place on MSU’s career chart in receptions (he now has 133) and became only the fifth Spartan ever to reach the 2,000-yard milestone (now 2,085).

SOUP IS GOOD FOOD – Senior CB Amp Campbell, nicknamed “Soup” by his teammates, completed a storybook return to the field against Oregon, returning a fumble 85 yards for the game-winning TD. He has one interception this season, coming in the end zone at Notre Dame. Against Michigan, Campbell broke up four passes and held David Terrell to 8.6 yards per catch. His forced fumble in the fourth quarter against Penn State set the stage for T.J. Duckett’s game-winning touchdown run on the ensuing MSU drive. Campbell holds the MSU’s single-season (24 this year) and career (54) records for pass break-ups.

Campbell suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury last year against Oregon. He fractured his sixth and seventh vertebrae as he attempted to make a tackle on Oregon’s second touchdown, an injury which required spinal-fusion surgery that night.

Just days after the operation Campbell referred to his career in the past tense at an emotional press conference upon his return to East Lansing. His rehabilitation picked up speed around the midpoint of last season, however, and he began to think seriously about returning to the field. This summer he was cleared to play and the NCAA granted a sixth-year waiver request. To fulfill Big Ten regulations he still needed to complete his undergraduate degree, which he did this summer and earned a telecommunication degree.

NOT THAT FLORIDA ISN’T BEAUTIFUL, BUT WE LIKED IT AT HOME THIS YEAR – Michigan State had a perfect 6-0 record at Spartan Stadium this year, the Spartans’ 16th unbeaten record of all-time and first since 1966 (5-0-1). It was their first unbeaten and untied home slate since 1965 (5-0-0).

PUNTING GAME KICKS INTO GEAR – The Spartans have been extremely effective when a punt is involved this year, whether MSU is kicking it or receiving. The combination of SO P Craig Jarrett (13th in the nation with a 43.5 average) and a strong cover team has given MSU the best net punting average in the Big Ten and the third-best in the nation (40.2 yards per punt).

On the receiving end, SR Gari Scott is MSU’s all-time punt return yardage leader (1,075) and is one of four Big Ten players all-time to surpass the century mark. Scott is third in the Big Ten and 16th in the nation in punt return average (13.2).

FAST START – Michigan State’s 6-0 start was its best since 1966, when the Spartans started 9-0 and tied Notre Dame in the season finale.

BLANK STARE – Michigan State’s 34-0 win over Northwestern was its first shutout since Sept. 28, 1996, vs. Eastern Michigan (47-0). It marked MSU’s first shutout against a Big Ten team since Nov. 19, 1988, vs. Wisconsin (36-0), and its first road shutout of a Big Ten opponent since Oct. 17, 1987, vs. Northwestern (38-0).

SOMEBODY STOLE THE JERSEYS FOR TWO WEEKS – Michigan State’s two losses this season were dramatically different statistically from the seven wins. Here’s a look at Michigan State’s statistics comparing wins and losses, with totals and per-game averages listed:

                                NINE WINS       TWO LOSSES      Difference

                                Total (Avg.)    Total (Avg.)    between averages 

        Points For              303 (33.7)      38 (19.0)       -14.7

        Total Offense           3502 (389.1)    516 (258.0)     -131.1

        Rushing Yards           1461 (162.3)    154 (77.0)      -85.3

        Passing Yards           2041 (226.8)    362 (181.0)     -45.8

        Points Against          119 (13.2)      92 (46.0)       32.8

        Total Yards Allowed     2361 (262.3)    928 (464.0)     201.7

        Rushing Yards Allowed   487 (54.1)      360 (180.0)     125.9

        Passing Yards Allowed   1874 (208.2)    568 (284.0)     75.8

        Turnovers               14 (1.6)        11 (5.5)        3.9

        Opponent Turnovers      19 (2.1)        4 (2.0)         -0.1

MAGIC NUMBER 24 – Since 1990, Michigan State is 52-11-1 (.820) when it scores at least 24 points and 9-42-1 (.183) when it scores fewer than 24 points. During that nine-year period, the Spartans have compiled an overall record of 60-53-2 (.530).

SPARTANS PREFER ARTIFICIAL TURF – Michigan State’s 34-0 victory over Northwestern marked the Spartans’ fourth win on natural grass since 1993 (the others coming at Notre Dame Stadium in 1997, Ohio Stadium in 1998 and Notre Dame Stadium in 1999). The Spartans are just 4-13-1 (.250) in their last 18 games played on natural grass. By contrast, Michigan State is 34-20 (.630) in its last 54 games on artificial turf.

FULL HOUSE – All six MSU home games for 1999 were sold out. Michigan State fans purchased a record 60,857 season tickets for 1999, breaking the previous record of 60,145 (1997).

FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG — USA Today and called Amp Campbell’s fumble return for a touchdown against Oregon the season’s Best Moment in its mid-season report . . . S Thomas Wright of Lake Wales, Fla., is the closest Spartan to his hometown (approx. 50 miles) . . . ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit ranked T.J. Duckett among the nation’s top five freshman players at midseason.

BIG TEN STAT LEADERS –

Category                        Stat Avg.       Big Ten         NCAA    

Total Offense                   365.3           8th             67th

Rushing Offense                 146.8           7th             57th

Passing Offense                 218.5           5th             52nd

Scoring Offense                 31.0            5th             24th

Total Defense                   299.0           1st             12th

Rushing Defense                 77.0            1st             2nd

Pass Efficiency Defense         112.4           5th             34th

Scoring Defense                 19.2            3rd             t-22nd

Turnover Margin                 -0.18           8th             t-69th

Net Punting                     40.2            1st             3rd

Punt Returns                    12.7            3rd             14th

Kickoff Returns                 16.9            9th             111th

SPARTANS OF THE WEEK —

Opponent        Offense Defense Special Teams

Oregon  Lloyd Clemons   Julian Peterson Gari Scott

Eastern Michigan        Shaun Mason     Josh Shaw       Paul Edinger

Notre Dame      Bill Burke      Renaldo Hill    Shawn Wright

Illinois        Chris Baker     Robaire Smith   Duron Bryan

Iowa    Plaxico Burress Mike Austin     D. Bryan/S. Wright

Michigan        P. Burress/B. Burke     Renaldo Hill    Herb Haygood

Purdue  Casey Jensen    T.J. Turner     Duron Bryan

Wisconsin       T.J. Duckett    Josh Thornhill  Paul Edinger

Ohio State      Lloyd Clemons   H. Thompson/R. Newsome  Shawn Wright

Northwestern    Dawan Moss      T.J. Turner     DeMario Suggs

Penn State      T.J. Duckett    Aric Morris     Gari Scott

Date            Opponent                Bowl Game               Last Game       

Sept. 2         Oregon (8-3)            Sun (Minnesota)         W vs. Oregon State, 25-14

Sept. 11        Eastern Michigan (4-7)  –                       L at Northern Illinois, 30-23

Sept. 18        at Notre Dame (5-7)     –                       L at Stanford, 40-37

Sept. 25        at Illinois (7-4)       Micron PC (Virginia)    W vs. Northwestern, 29-7

Oct. 2          Iowa (1-10)             –                       L at Minnesota, 25-21

Oct. 9          Michigan (9-2)          Orange (Arkansas)       W vs. Ohio State, 24-17

Oct. 16         at Purdue (7-4)         Outback (Georgia)       W at Indiana, 30-24

Oct. 23         at Wisconsin (9-2)      Rose (Stanford)         W vs. Iowa, 41-3

Nov. 6          Ohio State (6-6)        –                       L at Michigan, 24-17

Nov. 13         at Northwestern (3-8)   –                       L at Illinois, 29-7

Nov. 20         Penn State (9-3)        Alamo (Texas A&M)       L at Michigan State, 35-28

SPARTAN TRENDS — Here’s how Michigan State has fared this year and in the last five seasons (1995-99):

                                                        1999    1995-99

Games played in Spartan Stadium:                        6-0     23-8

Games played on the road/neutral site:                  3-2     11-16-1

Games decided by a TD or less: 3-0 9-8 Games decided by a FG or less: 1-0 3-5

When scoring first: 8-1 28-11-1 When opponent scores first: 1-1 6-13

When leading after first quarter: 4-0 23-5-1 When trailing after first quarter: 0-2 4-12 When tied after first quarter: 5-0 7-7 When leading at halftime: 7-0 30-8 When trailing at halftime: 1-2 3-15-1 When tied at halftime 1-0 1-1 When leading after three quarters: 7-0 29-3-1 When trailing after three quarters: 0-2 3-18 When tied after three quarters: 2-0 2-3

When gaining more first downs than opponent: 6-0 27-6 When gaining fewer first downs than opponent: 3-2 7-14-1 When gaining same number of first downs as opponent: 0-0 0-4

When gaining 200+ yards rushing: 2-0 19-3-1 When opponent gains 200+ yards rushing: 0-1 3-12-1 When an MSU player rushes for 100+ yards: 4-0 21-6-1 When an opponent rushes for 100+ yards: 0-1 9-13-1 When outrushing opponent: 9-0 30-5-1 When being outrushed by opponent: 0-2 4-19

When gaining 200+ yards passing: 5-1 20-13-1 When opponent gains 200+ yards passing: 5-1 13-13-1

When gaining more total yards than opponent: 6-0 29-6 When gaining fewer total yards than opponent: 3-2 5-18-1 When leading in time of possession: 7-0 24-12-1 When trailing in time of possession: 2-2 10-12

OFFENSIVE QUICK BIOS

2 • HERB HAYGOOD • FL • had a career-best five catches in his first career start at Wisconsin • has 11 catches for 145 yards on the year with a TD (vs. Iowa)

4 • PLAXICO BURRESS • SE • consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection • tied MSU single-game record with three TD catches vs. Iowa and vs. Northwestern, and set single-game record with 255 yards receiving vs. Michigan • averaging 104.0 receiving yards per game in the last seven outings • 43 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for the second consecutive season • 37 of his 53 catches have been for first downs • has nine TDs, an MSU single-season record, all in the last seven games

7 • LAVAILE RICHARDSON • SE • has four catches for 73 yards this year • made his first career start at Wisconsin • caught at least one pass in nine games in ’98

8 • T.J. DUCKETT • TB • MSU’s second-leading rusher overall (104 carries, 529 yards, 10 TDs) • had four TDs vs. Penn State, the first MSU player to rush for four TDs in a game since Sedrick Irvin vs. Indiana in 1997 • had a career-high 159 yards rushing vs. Penn State on 22 carries • has nearly 60 percent of his season total of rushing yards in the last four games • has 10 of MSU’s 12 rushing TDs • older brother, Tico, ranks as MSU’s second-leading all-time rusher (4,212 yards, 1989-92) • wears #8 as the sum of the digits in Tico’s #35

16 • BILL BURKE • QB • shares MSU career record with 43 TD passes • has thrown for 200 yards in eight of his last 15 games, including MSU single-game record 400 vs. UM • one of four MSU QBs with over 5,000 career passing yards • already ranks among MSU career passing leaders in attempts (fourth at 731), completions (fourth at 395), completion percentage (seventh at .540), yards (third at 5,206) and TD passes (tied-first at 43) • MSU is 8-3 when he throws for 200-plus yards • has started 23 straight games

22 • SHAWN FOSTER • TB • team’s third-leading rusher with 197 yards (5.1 avg.) • led MSU vs. Iowa with 67 rushing yards

23 • LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS • TB • fourth on team in rushing (25 carries for 135 yards)

36 • LLOYD CLEMONS • TB • former walk-on who transferred to MSU from Division I-AA Rhode Island • has three 100-yard rushing games this year, including a career-best 141 yards at Illinois • has 854 yards on 171 carries (5.0 avg.) in 1999 • seventh in the Big Ten with 77.6 yards per game • was MSU’s second-leading rusher last year behind Sedrick Irvin with 364 yards on 73 carries

49 • DAWAN MOSS • FB • made first start of career at Illinois and has two starts on the year • scored on his first career carry vs. EMU with a 42-yard TD run • ran 14 yards for the eventual game-winning TD vs. Michigan on his only carry of the day • first MSU FB to score a rushing TD since 1996 (Travis Reece vs. Michigan) • Offensive Spartan of the Week vs. Northwestern

64 • CASEY JENSEN • C • C this year after playing both RG and LG in 1998 • Offensive Spartan of the Week vs. Purdue • had a season-high 14 production points vs. U-M • has produced his top grades vs. Iowa (career-high 89 percent), Purdue (87) and Notre Dame (87)

70 • DAVE SUCURA • LG • moved to left guard this year after starting every game at left tackle in 1998 • top performances of 1999 have come vs. Michigan (graded out 82 percent with 14 production points) and Notre Dame (80/20)

71 • SHAUN MASON • RG • offensive Spartan of the Week vs. EMU (graded out at 82 percent) • graded out with a career-best 89 percent vs. Oregon (83 percent run-blocking, 94 pass-blocking) and 84 percent at Notre Dame (14 production points)

74 • SIITUPE PEKO • LT • a JUCO All-American at Cerritos College, he has won the starting job at left tackle • turned in his best performance of the season vs. Michigan (81 percent with 15 production points)

76 • GREG ROBINSON-RANDALL • RT • has started 21 straight games at right tackle • career-best 86 percent grade vs. Ohio State (10 production points) • 82 percent vs. Michigan with 12 production points

83 • CHRIS BAKER • TE • second on team with 36 receptions and third in receiving yards with 370 • top 12 in nation among TEs in catches (sixth) and yards (11th) • best catches and yards per game of any MSU TE since Al Kimichik in 1981

85 • IVORY McCOY • TE • has 13 catches and 193 receiving yards • 11 of 13 catches have been for first down • caught third career TD pass vs. Illinois

86 • GARI SCOTT • FL • missed Wisconsin game with an injury, snapping string of 31 straight starts and 31 straight games with at least one reception • six of his 29 catches this year have gone for TDs and 12 of 29 have come on third down • second on team with 473 receiving yards and has at least one TD catch in five of his 10 games • owns the MSU record for career punt return yardage (1,075 yards) • 36 career starts

DEFENSIVE QUICK BIOS

3 • AMP CAMPBELL • CB • consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection • has made a courageous comeback from a cervic-spinal injury suffered last year at Oregon and capped it off with the game-winning TD vs. the Ducks this year on an 85-yard fumble return • owns MSU’s single-season (24 this year) and career records for pass break-ups (54) • has 37 games (and 36 starts) under his belt • has seven career INTs (including two this year)

5 • LORENZO GUESS • S • returned first career INT for TD vs. EMU (39 yds.) • had career-high five tackles vs. Michigan • plays guard for MSU’s Final Four basketball team

9 • ARIC MORRIS • SS • team-leader in tackles (74-48-122) for the second year in a row • voted team MVP by his teammates • two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week • has double figures in tackles in seven of 11 games and in 14 games in his career • had career-best 19 tackles vs. both Oregon and Wisconsin • made 14 stops vs. Purdue and returned an INT for a touchdown • MSU’s co-captain, along with Gari Scott

15 • RENALDO HILL • CB • tied career high with 10 tackles vs. Michigan • six career INTs, including one which clinched the win vs. Oregon • brother, Ray, is a former Spartan and current Miami Dolphin

25 • MIKE AUSTIN • LB • an experienced senior with 23 career starts • started the first five games of 1998 and returned for the season finale

32 • RICHARD NEWSOME • FS • second on team in tackles with 50-34-84 • Spartan Co-Defensive Player of the Week vs. Ohio State with eight tackles, including a sack, and first career interception • made career-high 17 tackles at Wisconsin

35 • T.J. TURNER • LB • Defensive Spartan of the Week vs. Purdue (two INTs, including one returned for a TD) and vs. Northwestern (8 tackles, INT, fumble return for a TD) • tied for second in Big Ten with five INTs • made 10 stops (4-6-10) at Illinois

37 • CEDRIC HENRY • CB • missed the first three games but returned against Illinois with 2-2-4 tackles and one pass breakup • ran his first career punt return back 70 yards for a TD vs. Iowa

50 • JOSH THORNHILL • LB • career-best 18 tackles (eight solo, 10 assists) at Illinois • Spartan of the Week with 12 tackles at Wisconsin • fourth on team with 32-39-71 tackles • second-team freshman All-America pick by The Sporting News in 1998

66 • DESMOND THOMAS • DT • had three sacks in first five games of the year

75 • NICK MYERS • DE • called by defensive coordinator Bill Miller the biggest pleasant surprise of preseason camp, he has produced 30 tackles and two sacks

80 • JACE SAYLER • DT • playing DT after starting 12 games at DE in ’98 • made his first start of the '99 season vs. Ohio State and recorded seven tackles including a sack • missed start of preseason camp with mono

89 • HUBERT THOMPSON • DE • has 25-18-43 tackles,10 TFLs, seven sacks and three pass breakups in nine games played • third on team in sacks with seven • made his first career start vs. Ohio State and earned Spartan Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors (seven tackles including three for losses)

91 • ROBAIRE SMITH • DE • consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection • second on the team in TFLs (13) and sacks (7) • sixth on team and first among defensive linemen with 37-26-63 tackles • tied for second on team with two INTs • made career-high 12 stops vs. Wisconsin • 10 tackles vs. Oregon (five solo), including two TFLs and one sack

95 • JOSH SHAW • DT • seventh on team with 24-35-59 tackles • starting DT led MSU in tackles vs. EMU with 4-5-9, including one for loss and one pass breakup

98 • JULIAN PETERSON • LB • third on team with 49-25-74 tackles • has a single-season MSU record 25 TFLs • owns the top two TFL games in MSU history (seven vs. Ohio State, 1998, six vs. Oregon, 1999) • led team with 10 tackles vs. Penn State • posted career-best 5-6-11 tackles vs. Oregon and forced the fumble which Amp Campbell returned for the game-winning TD

SPECIALISTS

1 • PAUL EDINGER • PK • second-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media for the second year in a row • 18-for-22 in FGs and 38-for-39 in PATs in ’99 • has top two FG seasons in MSU history and top two scoring seasons among kickers • has hit 16-of-22 attempts from 40-plus yards in his career (7-of-11 in 1999) • 21 of 67 KOs have been touchbacks in ’99 • ranked among nation’s top 10 kickers by Lindy’s (No. 5) and The Sporting News (No. 7) • last year set an MSU record for field goal percentage (.846, 22 of 26)

12 • CRAIG JARRETT • P • ranks second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 43.5 punting average • has hit 18 punts 50-plus yards and had 14 downed inside the 20-yard line in 1999 • a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches and second-team by the media

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