Dantonio 'embraces rivalry' with Penn State

EAST LANSING -- MSU football coach Mark Dantonio revisited some of the memories that stick with him in the Michigan State-Penn State series.

Like the last-second loss in 1995 when Dantonio was in his first year as a Nick Saban assistant. And the 1997 upset of No. 4 Penn State, with MSU's Sedrick Irvin and Marc Renaud both rushing for more than 200 yards.

And the dramatic 1999 win. And 2007, his first year as head coach, when the Spartans came back from a 17-point deficit in the second half to triumph.

"I guess I embrace the rivalry," Dantonio said at his news conference today. "(Penn State is) a challenging program to play against and win, but we've won before and we look to win again."

The Spartans (6-5 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) and No. 13 Nittany Lions (9-2, 5-2) meet at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) at Spartan Stadium. MSU will say farewell to 19 seniors in a ceremony before the game.

MSU is looking to secure a warm-weather bowl bid, while Penn State is still in the hunt for a BCS bowl.

The MSU depth chart is mostly the same as last week, although Edwin Baker and Larry Caper are listed as co-starters at running back, with Ashton Leggett at No. 3.

Senior linebacker Brandon Denson, who missed last week's game with an injury, is listed first on the depth chart.