MSU/UAB unit breakdown (unabridged)

[Green Forever]

Draining early-morning winter workouts - orchestrated by first-year strength and conditioning coach Steve Martin - set the tone for what Callaway expects from his players. ]

Dang-- I didn't know they had this guy working with them!

[Put Dahlman in!!]

Originally Posted by ezecheese

MSU 26
UAB 20

Ugly game. Lots of 3 and outs and punting. Both offenses will look bad, droped passes, ints. A win is a win.

26 is an interesting number......how do you see us accomplishing that?

3 touchdowns, 1 missed extra point, and a field goal?
4 touchdowns, 2 missed extra points?
8 fieldgoals and a safety?
3 touchdowns, 2 2-pont conversions, 1 extra point and a field goal?
2 touchdowns and 4 field goals?
13 safeties?

[Spartan4ever]

It is being reported that UAB Safety Will Dunbar has been suspended and will not play against MSU. Dunbar is one of two returning starters in the Blazers secondary.

I don't know who the kids backup is or if he has any game experience, but it can't help their situation any to lose a veteran they were counting on.

[Spartan4ever]

Originally Posted by UABinBHM

...And just FYI... I keep seeing this 44 freshmen number being thrown around. I know of only about 25 true freshmen. If there are 44 "freshmen," then that is including guys that were redshirted last year. A redshirt freshman is a bit different than your straight-out-of-high school true freshman. But even so, I don't think we redshirted 20 guys last year.

UAB Blazers @ Michigan State Preview

After bemoaning the lack of numbers UAB had to work with coming into Summer practices, it’s hard to believe that things got (relatively) worse when players reported and two-a-days got underway. Some key players who were expected to contribute right away never made it to campus including JC RB Aaron Johns, JC DT Antonio Forbes, and freshman DT Adam Arthur. Others have stepped up in their place, but UAB can hardly afford to miss anyone with only 67 of their roughly 100 roster players on scholarship. In fact, the roster as a whole is made up of 20 seniors, about 30 middle-classmen, and 44 freshmen.

[MichState04]

Originally Posted by Spartan4ever

It is being reported that UAB Safety Will Dunbar has been suspended and will not play against MSU. Dunbar is one of two returning starters in the Blazers secondary.

I don't know who the kids backup is or if he has any game experience, but it can't help their situation any to lose a veteran they were counting on.

2006: Had outstanding season for the Blazers, leading the team in tackles with 65 (44 solo, 21 assists) ... earned third-team All-Conference USA honors in vote of league's coaches ... also tied for team lead in interceptions with three ... had a pair of forced fumbles ... also recorded one sack and three tackles for loss ... recorded a season-high 13 tackles in contest vs. Southern Miss, including eight solo hits ... recorded 26 tackles over the final three games of the season ... returned interception 29 yards in win over East Carolina ... registered seven tackles vs. UCF in season finale ... had six tackles against both Rice and UTEP ... had a caused fumble against Georgia and Southern Miss.

According to Blazer BB's, true freshman Marquis Coleman is backup.

This really hurts them, he sounds like he was one of the better players they have.

[rob]

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

You forget that this is MSU. Nothing shocks me anymore when you learn to expect the unexpected.

[brewpaul]

Originally Posted by H-town Spartan

I don't think you're giving MSU enough credit. We're playing UAB. I'll be extremely surprised if we don't score 40 points.

I would be surprised if we scored 40 points this year against Birmingham Brother Rice, let alone a division I program.

[jartan77]

Originally Posted by UABinBHM

TopDog... I would say you're about right... I just don't think it will be that kind of offensive explosion. As I said, I would say 28-13, MSU if we can't control the run game at all really. Mostly, I just don't want to see our team quit and I don't want to see alot of injuries. I want a solid, disciplined team that has character. Wins and losses won't be a measure of success for this team anyway. I wish you guys luck as well... particularly after our game.

If we're truly on the road to getting back to playing Big Ten Football, Big Ten style, you may not get your wish. I would remind you that there is a difference between wearing down (from conditioning) in the second half, and being beaten into submission by the pounding of a larger team, as happened at Pitt last year. Pitt was up 10-0, and lost badly as we dominated the rest of the game, sans a late desperation drive by Pitt. We scored close to 35 straight points as we moved them up and down the field. They didn't give up, or simply get winded. They got a beat-down.

From all of the analysis, including this thread, that's what I'm expecting Saturday. UAB comes come out hot and spunky, and the first quarter is a draw. And MSU keeps delivering body blows until the spunkiness disappears, and you are ground into submission by 3-yards and a cloud of dust Offense, with sprinkles of "dang, Hoyer DOES know how to throw the ball".

MSU 38, UAB 13. Most of the MSU points come in the second half.