Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17, and Spartans all alone as Legends Division champions

There will be no sharing of the Big Ten Legends Division title.  The Spartans won it outright by defeating a pesky Northwestern Wildcats team, 31-17. 

MSU will have a rematch next week with the Wisconsin Badgers for the Big Ten title.  The Badgers crushed Penn State, 45-7 (and in the process, inexplicably left their starting quarterback Russell Wilson in the game until the very end of a blowout win--yet another reason to dislike Bret Bielema and hope that MSU clobbers the Badgers next week).

As usual, Northwestern put up a valiant effort.  I certainly won't miss seeing Dan Persa.  That elusive, gunslinging little guy has been a constant thorn in MSU's side for four years, although the Spartans have managed to beat the Wildcats in each of those years.  It certainly hasn't been easy.

Although MSU had already clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship, make no mistake: this game against Northwestern WAS important.  It assured MSU of it's 10th win (the first time that MSU has ever recorded back-to-back double-digit victory seasons), and kept the Spartans' momentum going.  If State had lost, I can just imagine the headlines ("MSU limps into Big Ten title game", "Spartans again falter on the road", etc.) as well as the inevitable belief in some circles that the Michigan Wolverines ended the season on more of an upswing than the Spartans and would be a better representative in the title game.  Trust me, I've been around here long enough to know that this would be a common refrain.

Now, of course, all of the pundits seem to believe that MSU has no chance next week.  They are starstruck by Wisconsin's win over Penn State and seem to have forgotten that Wisconsin always plays better in Camp Randall.  Also missing in some of the analysis I've heard--namely from Mark May and Lou Holtz on ESPN--is that Will Gholston didn't play in the first MSU/Wisconsin game.  Despite not having one of MSU's best defensive players, the Spartans were still able to win.

Fine, let the so-called experts think what they want to think.  I feel confident that MSU is going to lay it all on the line next week.  They are still smarting over not making it to the Rose Bowl last year, and have dedicated their season to this goal.  I am not going to go so far as to guarantee a Spartan victory next week, but the Badgers better strap their helmets on tightly.

Next up, the Northwestern Wildcats

With the Thanksgiving holiday, I've been a stranger lately, but I've made it back in time for today's football game against Northwestern.

I've heard some people say that, since the Spartans have already clinched the Legends Division, this game is not important and MSU should rest some players.  I agree with Mark Dantonio that this talk is ridiculous, and I'm happy that Dantonio has stated this publicly with conviction.

As we know, college football is a popularity contest, so any blemish on MSU's record would hurt them when it comes to BCS rankings and national polls.  It doesn't matter to the BCS computer or the pollsters if the game "doesn't mean anything".

Additionally, what message is sent to the players if the coach downplays the importance of a game?  The Spartans need to treat this game just like any other on their schedule.

Northwestern is a dangerous team, with Persa, Ebert, and Colter on the offensive end.  The Wildcats beat Nebraska in Lincoln, so that should tell you everything you need to know about what Northwestern is capable of doing.  The Wildcats make me nervous.

The Spartans, though, are on a mission for not only an outright Big Ten crown, but a BCS bowl game.  I fully expect them to play at their best, and I look for the Spartans to win this one, 34-24.

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In other Big Ten action, Michigan should finally end a seven-year drought and beat Ohio State.  Purdue should roll over Indiana, and in a mild upset Minnesota will beat Illinois in Minneapolis.  Wisconsin will beat Penn State and the Badgers will be MSU's opponent next week in the Big Ten championship game.

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One final note, congratulations to the MSU hockey team for their stunning victory over the Minnesota Gophers.  Tom Anastos has the Spartan icers playing extremely well.

Reading enemy dispatches

I checked this book out of the library on Thursday, and it is a compelling and fascinating read.  I have been taking notes and will give a full report in this blog as soon as I finish.

Postscript (10/8/2012):  I promised a full report about this book, and in fact did keep notes, but unfortunately I threw the notes in the trash at some point and have no idea what I wanted to write about it. Basically what I took away from the book is that Rich Rodriguez never had a chance in Ann Arbor. He received no support from either Lloyd Carr, the University of Michigan administration, or the power broker "Michigan Men" (wealthy graduates who support the athletic department along with former Michigan players and coaches).

You may ask yourselves why in God's Green Earth a Michigan State fan would want to read this book. I admit that part of it is a case of schadenfreude on my part, but I was also curious to learn how a football program with such a seemingly solid foundation could sink to such depths in such a short period of time. Bacon's well-written and exhaustively researched book provides those answers.

My afternoon at Spartan Stadium (Michigan State 55, Indiana 3)

I went with my wife to MSU's season finale against Indiana and it was a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a November Saturday afternoon.

I can only afford to attend one or two MSU football games per year, but am happy that I was able to extend my 19-year streak of making at least one game per season.  This relatively modest streak dates back to 1993. 

My pre-game preparation consisted of wearing my favorite "gruff Sparty" hoodie, and making the last second decision to sport my long underwear, which turned out to be a good decision, even though temperature was a warm-for-November 47 degrees.  (And I am sure you, the reader, are thrilled to know that I had my long johns on--perhaps a little too much information?).

After dropping off our two sons at a friend's house in Lansing, we parked our car at my sister-in-law's place in East Lansing and walked over to the stadium, finally reaching our seats just moments before the Senior Day ceremonies.  (Unfortunately, we missed the Spartan Marching Band take the field, which has become one of my favorite parts of the Michigan State football experience).

Let me say something about Spartan Stadium.  Despite the shiny addition that was added onto it a few years ago (completed in 2005, to be precise), the place literally is a "spartan stadium".  In fact, if anything, the west side addition only accentuates the sad appearance of the rest of the exterior and concourses.  Spartan Stadium was never that much to look at in the first place, but the reinforced concrete skeleton is deteriorating and rebar is visible in many areas.  I know it has been this way for quite awhile, but if MSU wants to have a football venue to match the excellence the program has produced on the field for the last few years, this problem should be addressed.  Don't get me wrong, I love Spartan Stadium, but in many ways the old girl is really showing her age.

I will say this in defense of Spartan Stadium: it's completely unpretentious and doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is--a football stadium.  Don't expect any ferris wheels or playgrounds or picnic areas.  When one is at Spartan Stadium, one is expected to watch a football game (unless one is one of the rich folk who can afford a luxury suite--one of Spartan Stadium's few concessions to the modern reality of multi-million dollar collegiate athletics).

Another compliment I'll extend to Spartan Stadium is that is that I am thrilled that Tim Horton's coffee is now served at the concessions (and at all MSU athletics concessions).

As for the game itself, blowout wins can be enjoyable--and this one certainly was for me.  About the only good thing about the Indiana Hoosiers is their sharp new road uniforms and helmets, which resemble those of the Texas Longhorns.  Unfortunately for Indiana, they played like the Longhorns on a three-day bender. 

I had a wonderful time simply kicking back on our south endzone aluminum bench and watching the Spartans run up and down the field at will.  The lopsided score allowed each senior player the opportunity to make his own curtain call in the fourth quarter, and those were touching scenes I won't soon forget.  And everyone in the stadium got a big kick watching guard Joel Foreman run the ball late in the game for a 3-yard gain.

At this time, I wish to extend a debt of gratitude to the Nebraska Cornhuskers for losing on Saturday, and thus guaranteeing the Legends Division crown for the Spartans.  As for that school down the road that beat the Huskers, I refuse to offer them any thanks.  (I believe I mentioned this particular school in a previous post).

When the game was over, I didn't want to leave.  But at least we were able to conclude our football Saturday with a relaxing stroll across a late November college campus, still clinging to its green color before the inevitable onset of winter in the not-too-distant future.