Hart laughs off 'little brother' and ankle pain
EAST LANSING - Mike Hart doesn't worry.
He wasn't worried that the high right ankle sprain that sidelined him the previous 21/2 games would keep him out Saturday at Michigan State.
He certainly wasn't concerned when the Spartans extended their lead to 10 points with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter.
"I was just laughing,'' Mike Hart said. "I thought it was funny. They got excited. It's good.''
"Sometimes you get your little brother excited when you're playing basketball and you let him get the lead. Then you come back and take it from him.''
With 110 yards, Mike Hart had the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career against Michigan State and extended his school record of consecutive 100-yard games to eight.
One of his key carries came two plays after the Spartans had scored their last touchdown. With Ryan Mallett in for one play at quarterback because Chad Henne rolled his ankle, Ryan Mallett fumbled. Mike Hart scooped up the ball and scampered 11 yards for a first down.
In the first half, Mike Hart had runs of 32 and 37 yards, but he spend large stretches of the second half on the bench. All but 13 of his yards came in the first half.
There were times he needed more treatment on the ankle and other times he just sat on the bench.
"It feels a lot better than when I first hurt it,'' Mike Hart said. "It wasn't like I injured myself any more today, but it's just an injury that takes time. I knew I was going to be in and out of the game today.''
Mike Hart expects to be healthier by the time the Wolverines play at Wisconsin next Saturday. A high ankle sprain his sophomore season kept Mike Hart out of action for three games.
This time he only missed two full games.
"We're a week early, but I had to go,'' Mike Hart said.
Another set of Michigan seniors went through their careers without losing to MSU.
"That doesn't happen very often,'' Carr said. "I think they've got something they'll be awfully proud of.''
The Spartans' last victory came in 2001 at Spartan Stadium. Two of the games since then were decided in overtime and Saturday's made the Wolverines sweat until Michigan State's final offensive snap.
"There are going to be a lot of games like this in the future because I think Mark Dantonio is going to do a great job here,'' Carr said.
Program pre-order
Michigan is already selling programs for its home finale against Ohio State on mgoblue.com. It is a commemorative issue chronicling Bo Schembechler, who died one day before last year's game. Cost is $15 with a limit of three programs per person. Orders will be shipped the week of Nov. 19.
Running back Javon Ringer rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries to record his sixth 100-yard game of the seasons. And, his 72-yard run on the last play of the third quarter not only sparked MSU's ill-fated rally but may still end up being MSU's play of the season.
After spinning out of the grasp of U-M linebacker Shawn Crable, he reversed his field and ran up the right sideline until Crable amazingly caught him at the Wolverines' 5-yard line.
"I just tried to follow my blockers to the left, but there wasn't much space,'' Ringer said. "I got grabbed and I wasn't going down - I knew we needed a big play.''
Caulcrick scores, again
Ringer's running mate, Jehuu Caulcrick, ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns to move into second place on MSU's career list with 36. He leads the Big Ten with 18 touchdowns and moved into a second-place place tie on MSU's single-season list with Eric Allen (1971).
But, Caulcrick took exception with one U-M player who added injury to insult as the players were walking off the field, and got into shouting match with him.
"When you get a win, you go off the field and celebrate with your team,'' said Caulcrick, a senior co-captain. "You don't come to someone else and try to rub it in. That's a lack of respect.''
Squib kicks
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a campaign stop at Saturday's game . ... The second quarter interception by safety Jamar Adams was his third of the season. ... Right guard Alex Mitchell returned in a reserve role to Michigan's offensive line. He hadn't played since Sept. 22 against Penn State. The Wolverines lost defensive back Brandent Englemon to a second-half injury when he tackled Caulcrick.
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