AP Names MSU's Javon Ringer First Team All-American

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- For the 90th time in school history, Michigan State has a consensus All-American.

Javon Ringer was named to the Associated Press All-America first team Tuesday, less than a week after he earned the title of Walter Camp All-American in Orlando, Fla., the site of the Spartans' Capital One Bowl game against Georgia.

The senior captain from Dayton, Ohio, accounted for 96 percent of his team's rushing yards this season (1,590 of 1,661), led the nation with 370 carries (of his team's 477) and is proud to be still standing relatively unscathed from the most significant workload of his life.

"By playing for Michigan State, I've been fortunate enough to have an opportunity to perform on a national stage," Ringer said in a statement released Tuesday night by the school. "In this offensive system, I've been asked to play an important role and that's certainly not something that I've shied away from.

"I've taken my share of hard hits, but I've been fortunate to play the entire season with just some bumps and bruises."

Ringer is the first MSU player since receiver Charles Rogers in 2002 to be named All-America at an offensive or defensive position.

Brandon Fields, a punter, was the school's last All-American in 2004, followed by kick returner DeAndra Cobb a year earlier.

When informed Tuesday night by The Detroit News of Ringer's accomplishment, mentor Lorenzo White, a two-time All-America tailback for the Spartans, gushed with pride about his prized pupil.

"Everybody knows what kind of work he put in this year," White said. "It shows his durability and qualities that will make pro scouts look at him and say, 'He's tough, a team player and among the top at his position.' "

The two running backs talk often and share stories about the demands often placed on the job.

Regular season practices typically gave Ringer enough work, but not to the point of exhaustion. Bowl practices, however, at least the seven since Tuesday have been a different animal, Ringer said.

"I've done a lot," said Ringer, who mentioned 50 and 60-yard sprints in recent sessions . "I want to hit, I like hitting."

"I don't want to go the whole month without being tackled and then get hit for the first time against Georgia."

Durability is one of Ringer's strongest qualities.

Trainer Jeff Monroe told The Detroit News last month that Ringer responds well from basic treatment. Enhanced pharmaceuticals like anti-inflammatory medicine haven't been needed because Ringer deals with pain so well.

Ringer overcame several unexpected health issues this season, including a stomach virus that caused him to lose at least 10 pounds before a Nov. 1 game against Wisconsin.

Against the Badgers, ailing from the condition, he accounted for 64 all-purpose yards to become the school's career leader in the category.

On Oct. 25, Ringer overcame what was initially thought of as a severe hamstring injury in practice to blast Michigan for 197 yards and two scores.

Team officials said after the 35-21 win in Ann Arbor that Ringer could barely walk off the field when he injured the hamstring two days before the game.

Coach Mark Dantonio has repeatedly called Ringer a "true Spartan warrior" willing to make any kind of sacrifice for the team's benefit.

Ringer has tried to set such an example all season and brought his entire offensive line with him to a postgame news conference after a 23-7 win over Notre Dame on Sept. 20.

"Since arriving at Michigan State, my focus has been on becoming a complete back; someone willing to do whatever it takes to win," Ringer said.

Ringer's mother, Darlene Ringer, said she still is amazed at her son's ability to take a pounding and keep going.

She never questioned Dantonio and his staff's decision to have such a persistent running focused on her pride and joy.

"Javon would tell me he was sore, he's not inhuman, but he never wanted to be too vocal about it," Darlene said. "I would tell him, 'If you're tired, tell the coaches.' But I knew then and still know now that would never happen."

Virus limits Ringer to 21 carries, 54 yards

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- If you're wondering why Javon Ringer looked slower than usual Saturday against Wisconsin, he had a legitimate excuse.

Ringer wasn't near 100 percent healthy because of a virus he caught during the week that led to a 10-pound weight loss in a matter of days.

"That's what the doctors tell me," Ringer said. "I haven't eaten, by body had been aching, I haven't been sleeping. My body has been hot one moment and cold the next."

The Spartans' top running said he weighed in at about 192 Saturday, the lightest he's been in years. Once the appetite is back, Ringer will know he's recovered.

"I love to eat," Ringer said. "Once I start eating, I know I'll gain my weight back quick."

Entering Saturday's game as the nation's leader in rushing touchdowns (16) and carries (300), the 5-foot-9 playmaker finished Saturday with a season-low 54 yards on 21 carries.


Ringer did, however, score two key touchdowns to get MSU back in the game.

Both came from distances of two yards late in the third quarter and midway through the fourth.

In post-game interviews, Ringer expressed plenty of happiness about the win, but also some frustration that he couldn't be in the best shape.

"A lot of times I felt like maybe things could be a little different if I had a little more kick in my step," Ringer said. "My teammates knew I wasn't feeling too good, my offensive line knew I wasn't feeling too good.

"I'm just glad everybody continued to work. This is a team thing."

NOTE FROM SpartyOn.com :

Despite only carrying for 54 yards this Saturday, Ringer amazingly is still the #1 running back in the country leading all others with 321 carries, 1,427 yards and 18 touchdowns. Even more unbelievable is the fact that in those 321 carries, Ringer has not fumbled once all year.

Northwestern : Wildcats or Just Puss' in Boots?

SpartyOn.com Week 7 Pregame Checkdown : Don't Believe the Hype : MSU vs Northwestern

When it comes to the Northwestern Wildcats versus Michigan State Spartans this weekend, don't believe the hype. If you read the blogs, sports websites and papers, the game is supposed to be a shootout between two leaders in the Big Ten. One will be proven unworthy of their lofty perch, and I'm thinking a lot of purple-wearing people are going to be Green with envy when the clock hits zero.

We all know about NCAA rushing leader Javon Ringer and last year's offensive explosion by C.J. Bacher, but let's look at the lesser known facts that will make the true difference...


Northwestern :

- Opponents have 10 combined wins in 26 games including Syracuse 1-4, Ohio 1-5
- Beat Duke, that perennial powerhouse by a walloping four points
- Northwestern's D-line has 17 sacks already this season, that's great, but MSU's offensive line has only given up only two sacks in six games, that's right, two
- Shonn Greene had 159 yards rushing against NW and averaged 7.6 yards per carry which bodes well for Ringer
- Running back Tyrell Sutton did not practice Wednesday


Michigan State :

- Chicago is full of Spartan graduates and the Northwestern stadium is definitely not an imposing place to play
- Hoyer, Dell and B.J. Cunningham are on track to make defenses think twice about keying on Javon every play. Confusion in a defense kills.
- MSU's defensive backs will get multiple interceptions in the game not only because of their tenacity and intelligence, but because of the new-found strength of their brothers up front like Trevor Anderson on the Spartan D-line putting pressure on QBs and forcing errors
- When it comes to close games, a great kicker is solid gold. Enter Brett Swenson, 12 for 13 on the year.
- Don't get too excited about the Spartans being banged up, according to the official depth chart for Saturday, MSU is at full strength at every position, including Otis Wiley.

It has been two weeks since Northwestern have given or taken a real hit. Last Saturday, the 'Wild' cats (on their bye weekend) sat around their dorm rooms watching MSU gel even tighter as a solid team and emerge from a knock-down street fight with a very respectable Iowa team stronger, more confident, and ready to take on all comers. The bumps and bruises sustained in that game will only fuel Michigan State's desire to dominate in Evanston on Saturday.


Predictions :

Javon goes for 200+, Bacher gets sacked at least three times and is picked off twice

MSU 37 - Northwestern 21


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