SpartanEdge Sports Dudette

Congratulations go out to the New York Giants, and namely Plaxico Burress, for winning the Super Bowl. I remember watching Plaxico back in the late nineties in Spartan Stadium, particularly the 10-2 team in 1999 and you could just tell his receiving skills were something else. While I was upset when he chose to enter the NFL draft early after his junior year, it is always great seeing a fellow Spartan achieve their dreams.

The video of his game-winning reception:

The verdict is in: Coach Mark Dantonio is the man.

If you would have told me that the Michigan State football team would go 7-5 in the regular season, go to a Florida bowl game, and stay competitive in every game back on August 31st, I would have said this season was a success.

Like most years, the Spartans had their share of high and low points. The lethargic loss to Northwestern, the what-could-have-been loss to the Wolverines, and the overtime shutdown against Iowa are all games that come to mind of the low points. Yet unlike most years there were subtle changes. The Spartans never lost a game by more than a touchdown and had a chance to win at the end of every game. A homecoming game under the lights brought out an excitement in the stands that continued till the end of the season. I cannot recall Spartan Stadium being that loud three games in a row over my 19 years of attendance. Most importantly the players believed in the coaching staff and in each other.

Of course, we all had our fair share of complaining. For a while there, it felt like game after game the defense could not stop anyone, particularly in the fourth quarter. Then just the offense needed to score the play-calling became highly questionable. But you cannot deny that the defense and offense improved this season. The offense set a record in scoring, and the defense created turnovers with constant pressure on the quarterback. For the coaches to come in and take what talent MSU did have and turn it into what they did this season was a miracle in itself.

If you look back on my season predictions, I had the right idea in the win and loss column. I predicted a 6-6 season back in late August and remarked if the Penn State game was the deciding factor of whether or not Michigan State would go to a bowl game, Michigan State would win. And that was exactly what they did.

The last quarter of the Penn State game was a turning point for this football program. After Michigan State came back from a 17 point deficit to win, the fans that remained knew how special this game was. It marked a winning season, a bowl game, and most importantly a message that the Spartans were back and no longer could be taken lightly.

And then, at the end of the game, when most of the players had already left the field, Javon Ringer went to the 50 yard line, kneeled, and prayed. After a minute he got up, ran off the field and was greeted to a loud applause from the fans. For Javon that night was vindication for all of the hard work and heart he has given the team over his past three seasons.

For Michigan State, it was only the beginning.

Somewhere in the 3rd quarter of last Saturday’s Spartan loss to rival Michigan, when Michigan State was dominating the game and making a comeback, I exclaimed that the “time was now.” You could feel it in Spartan Stadium, that this change was coming, and that the Spartan players started believing.

Of course that was followed by another Michigan comeback, the 5th close loss of the season, and the devastation of realizing that for the 6th straight year, State lost. Why does this keeps on happening to Michigan State? Why do the Spartans continually give up the game at the end? Is it play-calling? Certainly there have been questionable calls made by the coaches in every game. The Michigan game was no exception, particularly the toss to Jehuu Caulcrick on 3rd and 2, and the decision to go to the prevent defense at the end of the game. Or is Michigan State’s problem simply that they do not have talent? Will Coach Dantonio be able to compete and recruit top players to come to MSU?

For right now, there are no answers. A win on Saturday would have meant the world to every Spartan fan. It made me so angry to see the many Michigan fans and players celebrate and act like their usual arrogant selves. They take everything for granted. They have no respect for the opposing team. And we have to endure another year of the haughty banter. The Michigan players even took a knee at the end of the game at center field for a “moment of silence” for MSU football. Running back Mike Hart afterwards talked about how Michigan State was a “little brother” and that he was laughing on the sidelines when Michigan was down because he knew they would come back.

Thankfully, Coach Dantonio gets this rivalry and he is not afraid to speak out and say it like it is. He is just as angry as the Spartan fans are.

Michigan’s pride is about to fall. A change is coming.

October 25th, 2008. The countdown is on.

Is this year’s MSU team the “Same Old Spartans?”

After a sounding win against Indiana last week, Coach Dantonio had the team ready to play and prove to everyone that things have changed in East Lansing. A win under the Homecoming lights with a season high in attendance at Spartan Stadium not only improved the record to 5 wins, more than last year’s 4, but gives hope that this program is indeed turning itself around.

The previous week against Northwestern was a disaster. Michigan State’s defense was embarrassing, giving up 48 points in four quarters and overtime. While Michigan State’s offense has been impressive this season, particularly Javon Ringer’s running game and Devin Thomas’ spectacular catches, when in comes down to crunch time, coaching decisions have been questionable. Not running Ringer in overtime and throwing all four passes in the end-zone when State only needed 10 yards for a first down were very troubling. The Spartans could have come out the following week against a good Indiana team looking flat; instead they took an early lead and controlled the game in terms of time possession.

Saturday’s task of taking on the #1 rated Ohio State Buckeyes will be difficult. For Michigan State to win Javon Ringer needs to have a great game, Devin Thomas must get good yardage on kick returns, and the defense cannot give up big plays, especially on third down. The Spartans believe in themselves and are looking back at their 1998 “Shock the World” upset against the #1 Buckeyes for inspiration. Coach Dantonio also goes up against his fellow mentor Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel, their third meeting as head coaches (Dantonio’s Cincinnati team lost his first two meetings). While Ohio State most likely will come out with the win, I predict Michigan State to hang with them for a while, until Ohio State will take control of the game. Pick: Ohio State 28, Michigan State 17

After watching the Michigan State vs. Wisconsin game last week, I felt like I had gone on an emotionally exhausting rollercoaster ride. The Spartans played their hearts out for four quarters, battled back from being down ten, but came up short against the then ninth rated team in the country.

There really is two ways to look at this game. The first, of course, is to point out the penalties that hurt the team at the end of the game. Kellen Davis’ “roughing the passer” penalty was especially crucial as the penalty came after Michigan State’s defense had stopped Wisconsin on third down. The drive ended up in a field goal-the difference in the football game. Corner Chris Rucker’s fight and ultimate dismissal from the game is inexcusable, but I have faith that Coach Dantonio will continue to emphasize discipline with the team. The play-calling in the fourth quarter was equally crucial. What good did running the ball on 3 and 7 do? It set up a 52 yard field goal attempt by Brett Swenson in a year where Swenson has been anything but consistent. In the last drive of the game, Michigan State failed to get two yards in two pass plays. I think it would have been more efficient to run Ringer or Caulcrick on 3rd and 2, especially since both of them were having such a great day. Even if they did not get the first down, they had enough time to come up with a pass play for fourth down. Of course that could have been very risky.

Even though wins and losses are cut and dry, if you would have told me that after the first five games of the season, Michigan State would be 4-1, I would have been thrilled. Michigan State traveled to Wisconsin, a team that holds the nation’s longest winning streak, and gave everything they had. They never gave up, battling for four quarters in their quest. Michigan State has a new attitude and believed they could win every minute during that game. The Detroit press has taken the “same old Spartans” route in their reporting and has failed to look at the improvements. Yes, Michigan State did not win, but to view this loss like all the other “typical” losses is insane. The press may have a point, however, if Michigan State goes on to lose Saturday against Northwestern.

Northwestern comes to town very much with Michigan State’s record comeback last year on their minds. Northwestern has had a rough season so far, getting killed by Ohio State, and losing to Duke (who at the time had not won a game since 2005 against a lower division opponent). Last week Northwestern came out and gave Michigan quite a game, and had the lead at halftime. Who knows which Wildcat team will show up Saturday, but Michigan State should be warned that Northwestern is not the push over earlier so believed. On the other hand, this is another statement game for the Spartans. This is the chance for them to declare that the football program has changed and that they will no longer fold when faced with adversity. Pick. Michigan State 35, Northwestern 17

Notables:

Bob Griese and ABC’s coverage of the Michigan State-Wisconsin game this weekend was deplorable. Not only was it a Wisconsin love-fest, but Bob Griese could not resist almost calling Michigan State players, specifically Nehemiah Warrick, a bunch of thugs. Warrick’s bone crushing hit on the Wisconsin receiver might have been a bit too rough, but I am sure Warrick did not want to literally almost kill the guy. Griese’s statements were not fair to Warrick’s character.

Michigan happened to squeeze out of trouble that could have forced them to forfeit the Penn State game, after freshman Artis Chambers ineligibly played in the game violating Big Ten rules. If this was Michigan State, you better believe the Big Ten would have forced us to forfeit the game…

The Michigan State Student section is trying to get a new chant going for the football games. “Pound, Green, Pound” will try to go into action at Saturday’s game. Bets are on that it only takes a quarter before the students switch the words to use as many profanities as possible. The way the student section has conducted themselves in the first three home games of the season is not only embarrassing, but it ruins the great MSU traditions handed down to us for 150 years. Something needs to be done in order to stop the organized chants of profanity and changing of the lyrics in the cheers.

In light of Notre Dame’s winless record and the Spartan’s win against them two weeks ago, here is a funny video that pays homage to the disaster in South Bend.

When Michigan State’s offense received two penalties on one play taking them out of field goal position early in the second half of last Saturday’s 17-13 win against Pittsburgh, I loudly exclaimed to everyone around me “well, there’s the game.”

A guy in front of me turned around and looked at me like I was crazy. “Hey, we are winning!” Of course I responded by explaining how in all of my MSU football experiences in the past 20 years, this game was obviously cursed to go down as one we should have won, but did not. Michigan State usually never wins close games, especially those where the score is only in the teens.

I was very glad at the end of the game that I was standing corrected. Last year, this was easily a game we would have lost. For a moment there I had to make sure that Mark Dantonio was standing on the sideline instead of last year’s coach John L. Smith. The amount of penalties Michigan State received was atrocious and the offense once again could not move the ball, all of which resulted in many lost opportunities.

This year, however, the defense has been stepping up and stopping our opponents when it matters. They are putting pressure on the quarterback, with already having more sacks in three games than last year combined.

So here we are again, 3-0 and getting ready to play Notre Dame. Last week I was hoping for a Notre Dame victory over Michigan because the thought of playing a 0-3 Irish team was just scary, and a bit odd. While Notre Dame looks completely horrible on all sides of the football, this is a perfect opportunity for Michigan State to lay an egg in South Bend, regardless of Michigan State’s dominance in Notre Dame’s stadium.

Is it just me or is the Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry getting bitterer each year? The media still is having a field day with the “planting the flag” incident back in 2005. And yes, Charlie Weis happens to be a classless coach, especially after claiming he was slapped after last year’s sideline ruckus. But can we just get over it already? John L. Smith is gone, and so is the “and I got slapped” mentality.

Pick: Notre Dame gets its first offensive touchdown of the year, but the Michigan State defense prevails in the end. MSU 24, ND 13

Is it just me or has the universe done a complete 180 degree turn in the past two weeks? While Michigan State fans are celebrating their usual winning start, down the road in Ann Arbor the city is exclaiming how horrible their Wolverine team is and the sports talk is all about finding the next successor to head Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

The best part is how we as Michigan State fans are eating it all up. We are taking delight at this weird turn of events, ordering Appalachian State shirts, and exclaiming how much we love the Oregon Ducks. We are so used to being the butt of football jokes, of being harassed because we wear our green and white, and for once we look like the stable football program in Michigan.

I must admit, however, I feel a bit unsettled. I am waiting for the universe to go back to normal, for John L. Smith to come running on the field slapping himself and telling us it was all a dream, that he was never fired and the Mark Dantonio era had never began. Or at the very least for Michigan to start winning their football games again.

How good is this Michigan State football team? Not enough for us to be running our mouths and telling all of our Michigan friends we are going to beat them this year, that’s for sure. Michigan State should have beaten Bowling Green by at least 17 more points than last Saturday’s 28-17 win. A missed field goal, a bad throw by quarterback Brian Hoyer that ended up as an interception, and some horrible officiating resulted in the game being closer than what it should have been.

While Bowling Green’s offense was a big test for the Michigan State defense, the important lesson to take from the game was the changes and adjustments made at halftime. The Spartans held Bowling Green to only three points in the second half. Coach Dantonio stressed at the end of the game how he was proud of how the team responded to adversity, namely being down a touchdown in the game and not getting the right calls from the officials. Under John L. Smith, the team could not handle adversity, and most likely his team would have lost in a game like this.

I am still predicting a 6-6 season, and really do not know what to think going into Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh. Like last year, I could easily see this game going in many different directions. Regardless, it will be fun to see 0-2 Michigan and 0-2 Notre Dame square off this weekend.

It is a very rare day when everything in the world of college football goes your way. Saturday was probably one of the best days ever as a Spartan fan, with Michigan State winning their first game of the season 55-18 against UAB. Although lets face it, the fact that Michigan lost to division 1-AA Appalachian State, just about makes the whole year.

APPALACHIAN STATE BEAT MICHIGAN!!!!! I have been randomly shouting this since Saturday, and it has yet to get old. The best part of this whole “biggest upset in college football” deal is that it could not have happened to a more arrogant team. You Tube has videos of people all over the nation celebrating Appalachian State’s victory. If anything, this historic Michigan loss has brought the nation together in collectively realizing their hatred towards the Wolverines. And there is nothing wrong with that.

For once the tables have turned. Ann Arbor is in hysterics over their “lame-duck coach” Lloyd Car, radio announcers are saying Michigan’s season is over, and the whole UofM fan base is in mourning. No longer can a Michigan fan bring up the two Michigan State losses in the early nineties to MAC school Central Michigan. Not when they have an even worse loss in their history.

As for the Spartans, they showed an impressive effort against UAB, especially with the offense. Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer looked almost perfect, completing his first 10 passes and a beautiful touchdown. Running-backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick both had great days, with Caulcrick running for four touchdowns and being honored as Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. A huge improvement was made in the lack of penalties, with only four for thirty-five yards in Saturday’s game.

On defense, the Spartans held UAB to .4 yards a carry. However, like always, the weakness of the defense is once again the secondary. The Big Ten is going to kill our secondary just like last year and the years before.

With the new kickoff rule being enforced this year, moving back kickoffs to the thirty yard line, it was very evident how the Spartan’s kickoffs were no longer going into the end-zone like earlier years. Many of the balls were only going to the 10 yard line, and UAB almost ran one back for a touchdown. This must be fixed or it is only a matter of time until an opposing team scores on a runback.

Overall I was very impressed with how Coach Dantonio handled the first game and the values and discipline he has instilled into his players. Next week will be tougher than originally expected as Bowling Green is coming off an overtime win against fellow Big-Ten team Minnesota. Look for a high-scoring game, with Bowling Green capitalizing on State’s weak secondary. Michigan State will pull ahead after halftime. Pick: MSU 45, BGSU 28

For some reason, at the beginning of every Michigan State football season, it does not matter what happened the previous year, it does not matter if we have zero talent, and it does not matter what the sports critics think, I still get excited. While most MSU returning students may be a bit down about the Spartan’s prospects this season, and they do have good reason to believe as such, there is just something about starting brand new each year on a late summer day in Spartan Stadium that never fails to have me ready for the season and proud to be a Spartan.

In many ways, this year really is brand new. First-year MSU Coach Mark Dantonio has brought into the program a focus on toughness. With one of the hardest schedules in the country, the Spartans will need a lot of toughness to be competitive. While I do not expect that the state of the football program will automatically change overnight, I do think there will be subtle differences this year that will show that the program is going in the right direction. It may not be evident on the scoreboard and the win-and-loss column, but hopefully on the field the change in attitude will be.

So as I do every year, I will try to predict how the season will turn out. I will probably end up being way off, but its fun nonetheless.

Game 1 vs. UAB: Vegas has the Spartans winning by 20, which I think is very generous. Expect to see a slow start on offense, mistakes, and a focus on the running game. Pick: MSU 23, UAB 10

Game 2 vs. Bowling Green: The annual MAC game again should be a win, although by the end of the second game it should be very evident what State’s weaknesses are as a team. Pick: MSU 35, Bowling Green 21

Game 3 vs. Pittsburgh: Like last year, this game could go either way. I was very surprised how State played at Pittsburgh last year, of course, after that game things went downhill quickly. To make things interesting I’ll take Pittsburgh 24, MSU 17.

Game 4 at Notre Dame: MSU loves to go on the road and win at Notre Dame, and the Irish hate it. Can we do the improbable and win on the road again in Irish territory? Look for some bad blood between these two teams after the last two years, the Spartans will want this one badly. Pick: MSU 35, Notre Dame 31

Game 5 at Wisconsin: A likely loss for State, Wisconsin should be pretty good this year, and State will be tired out from the Notre Dame Game. Pick: MSU 23, Wisconsin 42

Game 6 vs. Northwestern: The Wildcats will have last year’s miraculous comeback on their minds when running into Spartan Stadium. This is a key game if State plans to go bowling. Pick: MSU 35, Northwestern 31

Game 7 vs. Indiana: Another key game in the hunt for a bowl, this time under the lights of Spartan Stadium and broadcasted on the Big Ten Network. This time we will win on Homecoming. Pick: MSU 38, Indiana 28

Game 8 at Ohio State: The Spartans will try to hang in there, but let’s face it, the Buckeyes are going roll over State. Pick: MSU 17, Ohio State 45

Game 9 at Iowa: After Ohio State, it will be hard to travel again on the road to Iowa right before the Michigan game. Pick: MSU 13, Iowa 27

Game 10 vs. Michigan: I always try to remain optimistic when talking about the annual rivalry game, and this year I will stay true to that, even though State’s chances look grim. It has been 6 years now since Michigan State beat Michigan; it is about time we win again. Pick: MSU 28, Michigan 24

Game 11 at Purdue: It only makes sense that Michigan State implodes the week after Michigan, whether they win or not. That makes this easy. Pick: MSU 16, Purdue 24

Game 12 vs. Penn State: I have surprised myself, and already have Michigan State winning 6 games. Most likely it will come down to this game to decide if MSU will go to a bowl game. If it does I’ll take the Spartans, Dantonio will not let them screw it up. Otherwise I’ll take Penn State 24, MSU 21.

Overall: 6-6

Hey everyone! Like last summer, I will have limited internet access and therefore will not be blogging the first half of the summer on sports. I am studying abroad in July, and invite you all to check out the Study Abroad Blog, where I and many other SpartanEdgers will be writing about our experiences.

Have a wonderful summer, and see you back in August!

Go Green!