08/31/2007

Gordon to start for MSU

TC West grad unseats senior returning starter

By MARK URBAN

murban@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Entering preseason practice, red-shirt freshman linebacker Eric Gordon was installed as Michigan State's starter at weakside linebacker.

Some thought the coaching staff was sending a message to returning senior starter SirDarean Adams.

Others thought the 6-foot, 220-pounder from Traverse City West would have difficulty holding on to the spot.

But when Gordon runs out on the Spartan Stadium field to take on Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday, it will be as a first-stringer. Kickoff is set for noon.

"It's pretty exciting,” said Gordon said, whose grandfather Don Dohoney was an All-American at MSU in 1953. "It's still been a dream just to be here. Now it's even more of a dream just to start.”

After rising to the top of the depth chart, Gordon went out in the first scrimmage on Aug. 12 and recorded a team-best eight tackles, including 3½ for losses of 21 yards.

"SirD and I just fought a lot for the position,” Gordon said. "I guess I just went out and did what I was supposed to do.”

Gordon won't be the only former area player making his debut for the Spartans.

St. Francis grad Patrick Rigan, also a red-shirt freshman, plays nose tackle after moving from defensive end. Rigan, who wears No. 96, isn't listed on the three-deep depth chart and was unavailable for comment.

Wearing No. 43, Gordon is slated to be one of two red-shirt freshmen starting on defense for the Spartans in coach Mark Dantonio's debut.

Gordon will also be the shortest starter on defense. In fact, he's the shortest linebacker in the program.

Of course, Gordon is quick to point out that Detroit Lions' second-year linebacker Ernie Sims also stands 6-foot and carries just five extra pounds.

"A lot of the linemen say it's harder to block me than the taller guys because they don't see me,” Gordon said. "I just pop out of nowhere. So it does have its advantages.

"But it also has its disadvantages. I can't always see over them. But I don't think it matters that much.”

Gordon said it will be special when he runs through the tunnel for the first time wearing the green and white. Plus, it beats sitting in the stands, which he did all of last season when the Spartans struggled to a 4-8 finish, including a 1-7 mark in the Big Ten, under fired coach John L. Smith.

But all that will melt away come game time.

"It'll be cool to come out of the tunnel,” Gordon said. "I haven't done that yet. I sat in the stands last year, but it kind of (ticked) me off.

"It's going to make my first time coming out of the tunnel that much better, especially because I'm starting.”

Of course, Gordon is about to enter into a whole new environment on Saturday. For starters, it will be on national television (ESPN2) for millions and in front of thousands.

"Consider that against TC Central it's great to have 8 to 10,000 for a game,” he said.

"Now it's going to be 80,000,” Gordon joked. "It's only about 10 times more.”

In addition to making his mark this preseason, Gordon first stood out this spring when he recorded 27 tackles — including four for losses of 21 yards — in three scrimmages and was named to the all-spring team selected by The Sporting News.

Like MSU, Alabama-Birmingham is also coming into the season with a new coach. Neil Callaway takes over the Blazers after six seasons as the offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia.

UAB was 3-9 last season and 2-6 in Conference USA.

"They're talented,” Gordon said. "They're a fast team and they're athletic. You can't take them lightly at all.”

Dantonio, an assistant at Michigan State from 1995-200, takes over as the head coach after posting an 18-17 record in three seasons at the University of Cincinnati.

So the Spartans are also eager to kick off the Dantonio era.

"We're real excited,” Gordon said. "I know everyone is watching to see how we'll do the first game and see how well we do this season.

"I'm just ready to get everything going and play against another team. I've been playing for over a year against the same guys.

"Back and forth, just hitting the same guys over and over again. I'm ready to hit somebody else.”