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✦ TOP STORYLINES: NOTRE DAME VS. MICHIGAN STATE BY LOU SOMOGYI LET'S GET PHYSICAL There is something about Spartan Sta- dium that has brought out the best in Michigan State's ground game when it faces Notre Dame. • During Michigan State's 34-31 over- time victory in 2010, all the headlines went to the gutsy fake field goal call by head coach Mark Dantonio on the final play that resulted in a touchdown. Overshadowed was how Spartan run- ning backs Le'Veon Bell (17 carries for 114 yards) and Edwin Baker (14 carries for 90 yards) combined for 204 yards rushing, 6.6 yards per carry and two touchdowns. • In 2008, MSU tailback Javon Ringer carried 39 times for 201 yards in the Spar- tans' 23-7 victory at home against the Irish. He became the first individual in 11 years to eclipse 200 yards rushing versus Notre Dame. • Although the Spartans lost at home, 40-37, to the Irish in 2006, they still rushed for 248 yards and a robust 5.8 yards per carry in the shootout. Conversely, Michigan State's ground attack was stymied on its last two trips to Notre Dame Stadium, including just 105 yards in a 33-30 overtime loss in 2009. Far more pertinent is that in last year's 31-13 defeat at Notre Dame, the dynamic tandem of Baker (10 carries for 26 yards) and Bell (seven attempts for 27 yards), combined for 53 yards on 17 carries (3.1 yards per attempt). The Spartans recorded only one first down last year against the Irish while run- ning the ball — tied for the second fewest in a game in their program's history. "They're a running team," Irish star line- backer Manti Te'o said of the Spartans afterwards. "We made them do something I don't think they want to do … when you Junior running back Le'Veon Bell thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation by carrying the ball 44 times for 210 yards and two touchdowns in Michigan State's 17-13 win over Boise State Aug. 31. ✦ PAGE 6 get an offense to do that, you've won half the battle." Last year, only four other teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision yielded fewer touchdowns on the ground than Notre Dame's eight. It validated to head coach Brian Kelly that his blueprint to rebuild the program by first and foremost control- ling the line of scrimmage was coming to fruition. "That's where we started this journey — begin with recruiting on defense, and playing a tougher style of football," Kelly said. "… The foundation of this program has got to be built on being able to control the line of scrimmage. That's how you build consistency." Kelly listed the primary 2012 Irish strengths as both sides of the line, and there was no debate after the 50-10 vic- tory over Navy on opening day. The Irish rushed for 293 yards — the most it had in one game in eight years — and held the Midshipmen, who annually average about 300 yards per game on the ground, to 149, with 39 of it coming on the final two plays. The performance was pooh-poohed by skeptics because of the significant size disparity of the Midshipmen compared to the Irish front line that. A week later, the doubts became validated, at least on of- fense, for the Irish. Notre Dame managed only 52 yards on the ground versus the Boilermakers and conceded early on that it wasn't going to be able to assert control along the line of scrimmage. It had just one designed run- ning play for a running back in the first quarter, which set a tone that the Irish would rely heavily on sophomore quar- terback Everett Golson's passing, plus his ability to extend the play with his mobility. "In retrospect we could have done a better job as a staff in finding ways to just