Training staff has busy week

EVANSTON, Ill. - Midway through the 2008 season, injuries have finally started to build up for the Michigan State football team.

In, arguably, the most physical game of the season last Saturday against Iowa, many of the Spartans were banged up and their status for the Northwestern game was unknown.

However, due to the effective work of the MSU training staff, the majority of those beat up Spartans played against the Wildcats.

"(The training staff) is doing a great job," linebackers coach Mike Tressel. "They do everything they can to get a guy back as quickly as possible. But they are going to be honest and straightforward with you.

The secondary was the group hit the hardest by injuries last week. Senior safety Otis Wiley, defensive back Kendell Davis-Clark and cornerbacks Ross Weaver and Chris L. Rucker were all unable to play for all or portions of the Iowa game.

Wiley said he "tweaked" something in his leg, Rucker suffered an arm injury, Weaver was ill and Davis-Clark was still battling a shoulder injury. With Northwestern (and its spread offense) the next opponent, the injuries were a huge concern.

Head trainer Jeff Monroe and his staff were able to get three of those players back for Saturday's game. Rucker was the only player who did not see action, even though he did dress and went through pre-game drills.

"Our goal is to return the players to the playing field in a safe matter," said Monroe, who has been the head athletic trainer for 23 years. "There are ways to protect certain body parts with wraps and pads. But in general, we treat them and God heals them."

In addition to the secondary, wide receiver Mark Dell and linebacker Brandon Denson also were able to return from injuries against the Wildcats.

The most prevalent problem Monroe's staff faces when it comes to injuries is that the player thinks he is less hurt than he really is. To deal with it, the staff will demonstrate exactly why they are not ready.

"We just do similar drills that they might have to do during the game," Monroe said. "We show (the athlete) specific examples and we determine from them. But the athlete always comes first."

NOT ALL WELL: Even though they all played, Wiley, Weaver, Dell and Denson were not playing at 100 percent Saturday, and that led to some personnel changes.

Kendell Davis-Clark played strong safety, in place of Wiley.

Weaver was replaced in the second quarter by true freshman Johnny Adams, who intercepted Northwestern quarterback C. J. Bacher on his second play. Weaver returned later in the game.

Jeremy Ware replaced Rucker as the starting cornerback.

Blair White started for Dell, who played mostly in three-wide receiver sets. Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said not using Dell frequently was strictly a precautionary measure.

Denson played only on special teams.

In other injury news, junior center Joel Nitchman took a shot to the head late in the first half and did not return.

OVER 1,000: On MSU's second drive in the first quarter of Saturday's game, running back Javon Ringer went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

He finished with 124 yards, which put his season total at 1,112.

He matches Lorenzo White for the quickest Spartan tailback to get to the 1,000-yard plateau. Each did it in their team's seventh game.

CAREER FIRSTS: A few career firsts occurred during Saturday's game.

Redshirt freshman tight end Garrett Celek caught his first career touchdown in the first quarter. He was on the receiving end of a 3-yard TD pass from Brian Hoyer.

Also, true freshman Adams made his first career interception in the second quarter.

Freshman wide receiver Fred Smith added his first career reception in the third quarter to set up a Brett Swenson field goal.

HONORARY CAPTAIN: The honorary captain for the game was former offensive tackle Joe Tate. Originally from Southfield, Tate played at MSU from 1999-2003.