Upon further review

Jones lowers the boom on unsuspecting Owl

Trying to preserve the 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Spartan linebacker Greg Jones delivered a hit that Owls receiverer Jamari Grant won't soon forget.

On first down from his team's 30, Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith nicely set up a wide receiver screen pass to his left by waiting for most of the MSU pressure to get near him.

He hit Grant, who had at least 30 yards of green ahead of him.

That's when a 6-1, 222-pound green streak with No. 53 stitched onto his jersey came hurtling toward Grant. Jones lowered his shoulder and popped the 6-5, 210-pound receiver, sending him sprawling onto the grass with a splash for a 5-yard loss.

Punting prowess

You can single out the 1-yard punt that Aaron Bates had toward the end of the first half as a negative, but that he was able to pick up the slippery snap, elude the Owls' rushers and get a kick away at all was impressive.

Aside from Javon Ringer, Bates might have been MSU's busiest and productive player during a game in which field position proved critical. The sophomore's other nine punts went for 407 yards, and he landed two more inside the 20 and added a pair of 50-plus-yard punts to bolster his 40.8-yard average.

His 10 punts Saturday - a carrer high - more than doubled his season total. Through three games, Bates has placed six of his 18 kicks inside opponents' 20 and now has a 39.7-yard average.

From the other side of the field

Florida Atlantic needed everything to go right Saturday if the Owls were going to upset Michigan State.

One thing they couldn't control was the weather, and a steady rain that started before dawn and continued throughout the game grounded FAU's pass-oriented offense, effectively drowning out hopes of a win.

It boiled down to too much water and too much Javon Ringer, the Spartan's running back, who rushed for 282 yards and two touchdowns to lead MSU (2-1) to the 17-0 win at Spartan Stadium.

"Flabbergasted," FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger (above) said about watching his offense struggle. "And I am still flabbergasted. It was totally out of character."

"I thought I threw four spirals all game. I would say 98 percent of the balls that weren't completed were my fault," said Smith.

- Ted Hutton, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Q & A with Todd Boleski

• What's a game like today like for a kickoff specialist?

Boleski: Well, my hands are like prunes (laugh). As a kickoff specialist, I like to warm up before the game by kicking a couple field goals to get the legs going. I don't do too many kickoffs because it's strenuous on the legs. And in the gaps in between touchdowns, I'll usually hit the bike on the sideline for a while and stretch. Then before I go and kick, I'll take a a couple practice swings.

• How about at practice?

Boleski: At practice, Coach (Dantonio) has different days for punt and kickoff returns. On kickoff days, I try to treat it like a game. I'll try to warm up about 30 minutes beforehand. I'll swing my leg, but I won't take too many kickoffs because it's a long season. I had some tightness in my hips last season, so I'm focusing on quality hits instead of quantity. I'll stretch a lot, too. And if I have some mechanical issues, I'll usually work those out.

• How exactly does one injure himself playing Ultimate Frisbee?

Boleski: (Laugh) I'm done playing that. We started playing that back when (former coach) John L. (Smith) was here. After I sprained an ankle in the winter, then did it again in the spring, I told Coach D that I'll stick to football-related activities. It's fun, but kicking's a better time and a little more rewarding.

• We hear you're also one of the more unique personalities on the team.

Boleski: I'm pretty much the joke-maker all the time. We're a pretty tight group. But if you do something that I need to get on you for, you'll hear from me. I'm kind of that loose guy and cracking jokes. That helps deal with the pressure here and there, and for me too.

Rain protection for Sparty

EAST LANSING - Saturday's weather was so bad that even Sparty, with all his gruff and tough exterior, needed to pull on a durable, yellow rain slicker to turn away the at-times heavy downpour.

Forgive those of the 70,321 who paid for tickets and didn't show up to the Michigan State-Florida Atlantic game when they saw the deluge that blanketed the area.

The dripping fans who braved the weather to tailgate sought relief from rain under canopy tents and trees. MSU's band didn't play a halftime show due to concerns over the field's condition. And you wouldn't have known school colors are green and white from the kaleidoscope of rain gear that those in the stands sported in vain attempt to dodge the elements.

Munn Field, normally lined with cars and tailgaters, sat vacant - closed by order of MSU's Department of Police and Public Safety. Still there were some, like Kirk Telford from Durand, who drove through the rain to break out a poncho and enjoy some food and beverages with a few buddies in the parking lots around the stadium.

"This is the first time I've been down here when it's raining before the game. Been here when it's raining during the game and you stayed, but before the game you want to stay at home and watch it on TV," Telford said while standing underneath a bus shelter. "It might spoil the day for some people, but not us. We enjoy it."

The bowels of the stadium became a haven for those seeking some respite from the rain. If fans managed to stay dry before getting inside, they didn't for long. As the band played the national anthem before kickoff, the sky opened up and turned a steady drizzle into a drowning of drops and prompted a flood of cheers.

Spartan Marching Band member Mackenzie Viventi, while toting a heavy bass drum over her shoulders, said her already heavy woolen uniform picked up an additional 10 pounds of water weight.

Yet another injustice for the musicians in the crowd.

"Today, it was OK because we were kind of unmotivated because of the rain," she said. "But it's never fun working all week and then not being able to perform. And I'm absolutely soaked through."

Of course like clockwork, the rain all but subsided just in time for everyone to get home and dry off.