Green-White scrimmage is a game again

EAST LANSING - The winners will eat steak, served by the losers - who will then sit down for a meal of pork and beans.

Michigan State's spring game, set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium, may not be the best way to judge the Spartans' various units, because they'll be mixed up among two teams. But it promises to be the most fun such event in years, with a game-day setting, clock and scoreboard, honorary coaches and high stakes for the green team and the white team.

In recent years, MSU has used this day for a controlled scrimmage - with the first-team defense battling the first-team offense, but none of the pomp.

"I haven't been this excited about the spring game since I've been here," tight end Kellen Davis said. "This to me is like a backyard pick-up game."

MSU first-year coach Mark Dantonio split up his seniors into green and white, then let them draft the rest of the players on Wednesday. The white team won a game of rock-paper-scissors and got the first pick - starting quarterback Brian Hoyer.

So white looks like the early favorite, although green has starting running back Javon Ringer, and plenty of confidence.

"I will guarantee victory for the green team," Davis said. "We'll win by at least 20."

"I'll say 30," said senior linebacker SirDarean Adams, another green teamer.

"They're crazy," Hoyer said. "If they win by 20, they can have all the steaks in the world because it's not gonna happen."

MSU trustee George Perles, the team's former head coach, will be the green team's honorary coach, while former MSU player and assistant coach Hank Bullough will oppose him on the white side. MSU's staff will be split up as well.

Although coaches might be able to glean more from an offense vs. defense scrimmage, they've had two in spring ball. And this is a chance to better engage the fans and create some excitement.

Also, Dantonio said the setting and stakes will tell him something about his inherited players.

"I need to see people playing under a little bit of pressure," he said.

It could be intense considering the postgame meal up for grabs, for players and coaches other than Dantonio.

"I'll eat with the losers," he said.

IF YOU'RE GOING: A free youth clinic will take place before the game, from 10-11:30 a.m. on the practice field behind the Duffy Daugherty building. Children ages 8-12 are invited to attend.

Parking and admission are free. Fans are asked, however, to donate to "Make A Change" upon entering the stadium. It's a foundation started by senior center John Masters, to raise money to fight cancer.

DIFFERENT WAY: Mark Staten is MSU's tight ends and tackles coach, while Dan Roushar, the offensive line coach, focuses on guards and centers.

That's a change for MSU, which had an offensive line coach for centers, guards and tackles, and a separate tight ends coach in the past. Staten said one advantage is that he and Roushar basically split up what they're watching on the offensive line during practices and games. Also, "we get more time together," Staten said, and tight ends in this offense must be strong blockers.

"Tight ends are just tackles with privileges," Staten said.

So far Dantonio and Staten have been pleased with the blocking and receiving of Davis, who "has tons of potential," Staten said.

Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@lsj.com.