Eastern Michigan has nothing to lose and everything to gain today against Michigan State.
That's why MSU coach Mark Dantonio and his players expect the Eagles to be loose, focused and upset-minded when they face the Spartans, and why Dantonio stressed Tuesday his team can't get caught in the mental trap of looking past them.
The Spartans are 7-0 against Eastern Michigan over the past seven meetings, and the Eagles haven't had a winning season since 1995. They also are 0-23 against the Big Ten.
Eastern, however, has shown improvement since Jeff Genyk took over as coach five years ago. The Eagles played Michigan and Northwestern close last season, and won, 52-0 last week over Indiana State.
Although the Sycamores play in Division I-AA, the margin of victory should give the Eagles confidence today and a desire to push for an upset.
"In 2008, when you shut out teams, I don't care who you're playing, it's difficult," Dantonio said.
Genyk, a longtime Northwestern assistant, brought the Wildcats' spread offense to Ypsilanti and added his own touches over the past five years. MSU has had problems against spread teams -- witness the overtime loss to Northwestern last year -- and Eastern could provide a test for the Spartans' secondary and pass rush.
"They run really well, they throw the ball -- they do a lot of things that present a lot of problems for defenses," MSU defensive line coach Ted Gill said. "We've had to really do our homework and do the things we need to do to get them stopped. You can see why they were able to put a lot of points on the board."
Junior quarterback Andy Schmitt, entering his second season as a full-time starter for Eastern, also started seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2006. Running back Terrence Blevins (Detroit Denby) rushed for 176 yards last week.
"It's a great design that creates problems schematically, and Eastern Michigan has good skill players," Dantonio said of Eastern's spread. "The quarterback is right here from St. Johns, and from what I understand wanted to come to school here (at MSU), so I'm sure he'll be motivated. Skill players are back, and Terrence Blevins is a good tailback."
MSU will have the overall advantage with larger and faster players at most positions, and Eastern's offensive and defensive lines will face stronger counterparts. That might cause the Eagles to use trick plays to try to gain an advantage. Dantonio expects them to gamble on special teams as well.
MSU is favored by 21 points, and the Eagles might have trouble hanging with the Spartans over four quarters.
Then again, that's what everyone thought when they played U-M last year. The Eagles lost, 33-22, but it wasn't the blowout some expected.
"They're a lot better than people think," MSU running back Javon Ringer said. "I know a lot of people might think, 'Oh, it's Eastern Michigan, this should be an easy game,' but no, that's not the case. They're a lot better than what they've been in previous years. They have a really athletic defense -- they're not the biggest group of guys, but their speed makes up for that, and they go to the ball really well."
That's why MSU coach Mark Dantonio and his players expect the Eagles to be loose, focused and upset-minded when they face the Spartans, and why Dantonio stressed Tuesday his team can't get caught in the mental trap of looking past them.
The Spartans are 7-0 against Eastern Michigan over the past seven meetings, and the Eagles haven't had a winning season since 1995. They also are 0-23 against the Big Ten.
Eastern, however, has shown improvement since Jeff Genyk took over as coach five years ago. The Eagles played Michigan and Northwestern close last season, and won, 52-0 last week over Indiana State.
Although the Sycamores play in Division I-AA, the margin of victory should give the Eagles confidence today and a desire to push for an upset.
"In 2008, when you shut out teams, I don't care who you're playing, it's difficult," Dantonio said.
Genyk, a longtime Northwestern assistant, brought the Wildcats' spread offense to Ypsilanti and added his own touches over the past five years. MSU has had problems against spread teams -- witness the overtime loss to Northwestern last year -- and Eastern could provide a test for the Spartans' secondary and pass rush.
"They run really well, they throw the ball -- they do a lot of things that present a lot of problems for defenses," MSU defensive line coach Ted Gill said. "We've had to really do our homework and do the things we need to do to get them stopped. You can see why they were able to put a lot of points on the board."
Junior quarterback Andy Schmitt, entering his second season as a full-time starter for Eastern, also started seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2006. Running back Terrence Blevins (Detroit Denby) rushed for 176 yards last week.
"It's a great design that creates problems schematically, and Eastern Michigan has good skill players," Dantonio said of Eastern's spread. "The quarterback is right here from St. Johns, and from what I understand wanted to come to school here (at MSU), so I'm sure he'll be motivated. Skill players are back, and Terrence Blevins is a good tailback."
MSU will have the overall advantage with larger and faster players at most positions, and Eastern's offensive and defensive lines will face stronger counterparts. That might cause the Eagles to use trick plays to try to gain an advantage. Dantonio expects them to gamble on special teams as well.
MSU is favored by 21 points, and the Eagles might have trouble hanging with the Spartans over four quarters.
Then again, that's what everyone thought when they played U-M last year. The Eagles lost, 33-22, but it wasn't the blowout some expected.
"They're a lot better than people think," MSU running back Javon Ringer said. "I know a lot of people might think, 'Oh, it's Eastern Michigan, this should be an easy game,' but no, that's not the case. They're a lot better than what they've been in previous years. They have a really athletic defense -- they're not the biggest group of guys, but their speed makes up for that, and they go to the ball really well."
