Michigan State Vs. Eastern Michigan: Spartans Ready To 'Show A Response' To Loss To Notre Dame

Eager to put an uncomfortable 17-point loss to Notre Dame behind them, the Michigan State Spartans will hit the field this Saturday in search of a huge win over a winless Eastern Michigan team.

After accounting for just three points offensively with a paltry 2.0 yards per carry average on the ground in Saturday's frustrating performance, Mark Dantonio's players have been all business in practice this week under the watchful eye of their sixth-year coach. Because as far as Dantonio is concerned, the most important thing right now is to get back on the field and remove the bitter taste from everyone's mouth:

Dantonio: "I wish we were playing today, I wish we were playing tomorrow. This game is about showing a response. Our players will be ready."

— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) September 18, 2012

There's no question that Eastern Michigan is a significant step down from the Irish, but it might not matter come Saturday. The Spartans entered the year with extremely lofty aspirations, and are assured to come out firing against the Eagles on Saturday in order to restore their dignity first and foremost.

The Eagles will enter the weekend with a defense ranked No. 116 in college football with 40.7 points allowed per game, so things should be much easier on Spartans quarterback Andrew Maxwell this time around. Even if Maxwell struggles to find a rhythm with his receivers for a second straight week, Michigan State's mammoth offensive line should have no trouble finding running lanes for tailback Le'Veon Bell.

Head over to The Only Colors for more Michigan State football coverage, and be sure to visit Hustle Belt for more on Eastern Michigan. Also check out SB Nation's college football hub for more news from around the country.