East Lansing -- Michigan State's kickers have combined to make 33-of-36 field-goal attempts in the last two seasons.
That's 91.7 percent, second-best in the nation behind Missouri, which is 94.7 percent because of Grant Ressel's uncanny consistency (36-of-38).
The assumption entering this season was that the Spartans would dearly miss the reliability of Brett Swenson, who was 19-of-22 last season.
Brett who?
Dan Conroy, a walk-on before winning the starting job in a tight competition during preseason camp, has put all fears to rest with a perfect seven-game start for the undefeated Spartans.
Conroy has made all 13 field goal attempts, including four from 40 yards or more, and all 28 extra points.
"If you have a great kicker who is doing very well, chances are you're winning football games," coach Mark Dantonio said. "That's very crucial, especially in this day and age when the games are so close.
"Dan has been a big, big factor in our record."
Conroy's 13 straight is the best start to a season by any kicker in Michigan State history.
He's 14-for-14 now in his career, leaving him one short of Swenson's school record for consecutive makes set in 2008.
Mike McCabe, founder and president of the One On One Kicking camp, has worked with several Michigan State kickers and punters in recent years, including Swenson, Conroy, punter Aaron Bates and kickoff specialist Kevin Muma.
One thing has stood out to McCabe.
"Brett is a tough cookie," McCabe said of Swenson, who is on the Indianapolis Colts' injured-reserve list. "If he missed one, it would tick him off, he'd go back in there and crank the next one. Dan's the same way.
"Those are the types of kids Michigan State is really good at recruiting - those competitors. You've got to find a very competitive kicker."
Despite his streak, there's one kick he didn't attempt that still annoys Conroy a little.
With Michigan State trailing by three points in overtime, he lined up for a 46-yard attempt against Notre Dame, but the call was for a fake and resulted in the winning touchdown.
Sure, he's glad it all worked out and they won the game, but Conroy said he would have embraced the opportunity for the pressure kick, too.
"I'm upset we didn't kick it," Conroy said. "I've got to have that mentality that I want to go out there. I wanted to kick the ball. That would have been fun.
"But I'm glad we didn't, right?"
Conroy, who is from Wheaton, Ill., grew up a Michigan State fan because his father, Larry, is an alum.
Conroy turned down a scholarship offer from Western Michigan to walk on as a Spartan.
"Dream come true, really," he said of winning the job at MSU and earning a scholarship this season.
"I was the biggest Spartan fan growing up. I didn't want to get complacent with just being on the team. I kept pushing myself."
His perfection - along with Swenson's consistency - doesn't come down simply to their kicking. There are two other key elements involved - Alex Shackleton's snaps and Bates' holds.
Shackleton is a fifth-year senior, Bates a senior captain. They are nearly flawless in what they do.
"I'm a lucky man to have those two guys," Conroy said.
Conroy, a third-year sophomore, also feels fortunate to
