IU Michigan State battle for 59th time

The IU football team (2-2, 0-1) will return to Memorial Stadium for its Big Ten home opener.

The Hoosiers will face Michigan State (3-2, 0-1) this Homecoming weekend.

“A quality program, great players, good challenge, got them at home for Homecoming,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said about Michigan State.

In addition to wanting the Homecoming win, the Hoosiers will battle it out for the Old Brass Spittoon.

Since 1950, the Old Brass Spittoon has been awarded to the winner between the Hoosiers and the Spartans. The teams have faced each other since 1922 but didn’t receive the spittoon until 1950.

The Michigan State student council introduced the trophy, and the Indiana Student Senate agreed to the terms that when these teams play against each other, the winner receives the spittoon.

The spittoon, according to legend, has existed since both universities were established and came from one of Michigan’s earliest trading posts.

Of the 54 times played for the Spittoon, Michigan State has won 41 times, and there was a tie in 1977. The Spartans have won 12 of the last 14 times.

MSU currently houses the spittoon after winning last year 55-3 in East Lansing, Mich.

The Spartans’ defense troubled the Hoosiers last year, allowing 236 total offensive yards and no touchdowns.

Michigan State returns eight of its 11 defensive starters from a year ago. The Spartans are ranked 12th in the nation in points allowed per game, with 12.8 on average.

They have kept their opponents to 20 points or less in the first five games of this season.

“They are a very physical group,” Offensive Coordinator Seth Littrell said. “It’s one of the better defenses I’ve seen on film. They play well together.”

MSU ranks second in both pass and rush defense in the Big Ten conference.

On average, the Spartans keep opponents to 167 passing yards per game and 96 rushing yards per game.

Littrell said he figures the MSU defense will try to stop the rushing attack for the
Hoosiers.

“They are going to try and take away the run and man up the corners so that you have to try and make plays,” he said.

Both teams are not only fighting it out for the Old Brass Spittoon but also for their first Big Ten wins of the 2012 season.

“They are going to come in and make some plays, and we are going to need to match their intensity,” Littrell said.