Spartans ready 'to get right back into it' according to Saban

He even let himself kick back a little, taking time out to rent a couple of movies and watch them with his wife, Terry.

But by yesterday, Saban was ready to get his team focused on Saturday's game with Minnesota and the opening of the Big Ten season.

"Terry made me watch 'The English Patient' two nights in a row," Saban said with a groan during his weekly news conference. "I was ready to watch (game) film and get back to it."

Saban doesn't think the undefeated Spartans have lost any of their intensity despite having a week off after their Sept. 20 win over Notre Dame.

During practice Saturday, "our focus was fine," he said. "The players were good and seemed to get right back into it."

Saban expects Minnesota (2-2) could pose a tough challenge, even though the Golden Gophers lost a home game to Houston last week, 45-43.

"They are first in our league in special teams," he said. "They are running the football effectively, throwing it ... with the ability to score a lot of points.

"They are a dangerous team."

The Spartans will have to continue to limit turnovers and dominate the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense if they are to remain undefeated, Saban said.

Minnesota has the biggest front seven the team has faced to date, and quarterback Cory Sauter is more effective than ever, he said.

Minnesota coach Glen Mason ''has their players playing very hard, physical,'' Saban said. ''They just seem to have a lot of enthusiasm right now.''

Michigan State beat Minnesota 27-9 last year at Minnesota. The Spartans lead the series record 22-11, including a 12-4 mark in games played in Spartan Stadium. Minnesota has lost the last 16 games with Michigan State.

The Spartans remain in 12th place in this week's Associated Press poll, while Penn State is second, Michigan sixth, Ohio State seventh and Iowa 11th.

"I would say there are five really good football teams in the Big Ten," Saban said, looking over future opponents and the ratings. He called Purdue the league's ''surprise team'' and said the eventual Rose Bowl contender may be the one that suffers only one Big Ten loss.

"All that sets up kind of a challenging, exciting Big Ten race," he said.

The Spartans hope to have cornerback Amp Campbell back Saturday. Saban said the 6-foot, 185-pound junior has been practicing with the team and that, if he doesn't reinjure the left hamstring he pulled in the Notre Dame game, he should be ready to play.

If Campbell can't play, freshman Richard Newson will take his place.

Sophomore linebacker Mike Austin has fully recovered from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Sept. 10 and is expected to play.

The coach also announced that junior linebacker Dwayne Hawkins is out for the year because of tendon surgery in his knee. Defensive tackle Pete Govens is scheduled for surgery Oct. 9 on the right knee he injured against Notre Dame and may be out for the rest of the season.

09-30-97