DALLAS (FWAA) – The Michigan State
Spartans (8-1) stayed perfect in the Big Ten with a
more-than-dominating win over arch-rival Michigan, 29-6, holding
the Wolverines to an eye-catching minus-48 yards rushing. The
defensive gem from the nation's top defense earned the Spartans
the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week
honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 2.
The announcement came exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "College
Sports Today," hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.
The Spartans are 5-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since
1966, and have now won five of their last six games against
Michigan. The 23-point win was the most lopsided in the series
since 1967. MSU, which led the nation coming into the game
allowing only 54.9 rushing yards per game, held Michigan to its
school-record-low rushing output. The Spartans have not given up
a touchdown in their last three games, and recorded season highs
in tackles for loss (11 for minus-65 yards) and sacks (7 for
minus-49) on Saturday.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Denicos Allen had nine tackles
to lead MSU, and sophomore defensive end Shilique Calhoun
recorded career highs in tackles (six), tackles for loss (3 for
19 yards) and sacks (2.5 for 17).
"We talked all week about keeping the lion in the cage, just
peaking at game time," Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
said after the game. "Don't worry about all the things that are
being said, just keep your mouth shut, get ready to play, start
the game and finish stronger than when you started. We were
going to let the lion out of the cage at 3:30 and that's what
happened. We got stronger as the game continued."
Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week nominees
for the weekend of Nov. 2 included:
• Florida Atlantic (3-6): The Owls
scored 27 unanswered points in a 34-17 win over Tulane,
handing the Green Wave their first Conferene USA loss to cap
off an emotional week. FAU intercepted four consecutive
Tulane passes in the second half and yielded only 167 total
yards on the day, handing interim head coach Brian Wright
his first victory. Wright took over the program last
Wednesday after the resignation of Carl Pelini.
• Florida State (8-0): The Seminoles
rolled in another matchup of undefeated ACC rivals, this one
a 41-14 runaway over Miami. FSU outscored Miami 20-0 in the
second half to secure the win, adding a third blowout
victory over a top-25 team in its last four games, including
wins over Maryland (63-0) and Clemson (51-14).
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national
team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the ninth season
that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor.
Each remaining Monday during the 2013 college football regular season,
the FWAA will name the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the
Week.
Founded in 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven games
that have decided the college football national championship, including
four Bowl Championship Series title games. This season, the Tostitos
Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 1, 2014, at University of Phoenix
Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will
be played on Dec. 28, 2013, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For
more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of
the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.
2013 FWAA ALL-AMERICA
COMMITTEE |
Mark Anderson |
Las Vegas Review-Journal |
Mountain West |
Greg Barnes |
Inside Carolina |
ACC |
Kirk Bohls |
Austin American-Statesman |
Big 12 |
Joseph Duarte |
Houston Chronicle |
Conference USA |
Lee Feinswog |
Sports225.com |
SEC |
Tommy Hicks |
Mobile Press Register |
Sun Belt |
Joey Johnston |
Tampa Tribune |
American |
David Jones |
Harrisburg Patriot-News |
Big Ten |
Lindsay Schnell |
The Oregonian |
Pac-12 |
George Schroeder |
USA Today |
National |
Phil Steele |
Phil Steele Publications |
National |
John Wagner |
Toledo Blade |
Mid-American |
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