The last time Brian Hoyer played at Beaver Stadium, he was slinging the ball around 61 times.
The next time Hoyer plays at Beaver Stadium, he'll be more likely to hand the ball off 61 times.
"I'll make one guarantee about Saturday," Hoyer said, "you're not gonna see me throw the ball 61 times. ... I think that's a record that won't be broken as long as coach [Mark] Dantonio is here."
Hoyer quarterbacked the Spartans in 2006 and threw an incredible 61 times playing for the injured Drew Stanton. He'll quarterback Michigan State when the Spartans play Penn State in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff but knows his role has changed to a game manager with a change in coaches.
Michigan State fired former Spartans coach John L. Smith with three games left in the 2006 season, but allowed Smith to finish the year. Stanton was injured in the next-to-last game, so Hoyer stepped in and Smith placed even more of an emphasis on throwing the football.
Hoyer threw 50 times in a 31-18 loss to Minnesota, then threw 61 times against Penn State.
He vividly remembers being popped by current Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny when he rolled out, but otherwise escaped without injury as he threw quick passes in a spread offense.
Penn State won, 17-13, but Hoyer cherishes the experience.
"What better place to start your career?" Hoyer said. "If you can't be at home, what better place than at Beaver Stadium on Senior Day? It was an experience I'll remember for a long time."
The style of offense Penn State will see Saturday couldn't be more different. Dantonio, who coached under Ohio State's Jim Tressel, has installed an offense that safety Anthony Scirrotto described as "ground and pound."
Spartans running back Javon Ringer has 353 carries, easily the most in the NCAA, and Hoyer's role has shifted.
He still threw 48 passes in the season opener against California and 44 passes two weeks ago against Wisconsin, but his stat lines are more frequently dotted by attempts under 20.
"I haven't had a problem with that," Hoyer said. "But obviously, we're winning games, and we put ourselves in position to win a share of the Big Ten championship. I can't complain as long as we're winning. If we had a different record, it might be a different story."
Hoyer said he has picked up on the nuances of the position better this season than others. He's more concerned with making the proper checks and getting into the right running plays than looking for open receivers downfield.
"I'm able to get ourselves out of bad plays and make good plays," Hoyer said. "You talk about being a manager of the game, you've got to do those types of things."
Center A.Q. Shipley got to know Hoyer when the two played in the Big 33 game. Shipley represented Pennsylvania, while Hoyer and Spartans defensive tackle Justin Kershaw played for Ohio.
Shipley has seen Hoyer's responsibilities change but knows the quarterback's capabilities.
"He throws the ball as good as any guy in the Big Ten," Shipley said. "He's done a good job with that team being a leader, being a captain and being a quarterback on that team."
Hoyer may not throw 61 times Saturday -- or ever again -- but with the Spartans playing for a share of the Big Ten title and possible New Year's Day bowl game, he hopes he comes away with more memories to add to the 2006 game.
"We weren't playing for anything," Hoyer said. "We had nothing to play for. Our coaches had been fired. ... To go in there, keep it close my first start in a hostile environment like that, I took away some memories from it."
