Max-ed out on Bullough: does the public have a right to know the truth?

I've been wrestling, the last few days, with whether the public has a right to know why Max Bullough was suspended from the MSU football team. I find myself going back-and-forth on the issue.
 

I've heard the argument that, if the truth is disclosed, the speculation will end, the story will soon die, and the focus can return to the Rose Bowl. I'm not convinced of that. Instead of the story being, "Bullough is suspended for undisclosed reasons, oh and by the way, MSU is playing in the Rose Bowl" the story would become, "Bullough is suspended for [name the infraction], oh and by the way MSU is playing in the Rose Bowl. Now, back to why, how, when, and where did Bullough [commit the unknown infraction]."
 

It seems that the Bullough story has already lost some steam, but I suppose we won't know for sure until January 1.
 

Ultimately, it's up to Max Bullough and his family to come forward when they see fit to do so. Their silence may be as much about protecting the team as it is about protecting Max.
 

I, for one, intend on focusing all of my attention on the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game, and not on Max Bullough's travails.

...and just when everything was so "rosy"

"Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at its zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us." --Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story

Happy Boxing Day, everyone.

MSU football fans' "unthinkable disaster" was discovered late Christmas evening. It feels considerable worse than the Bumpus hounds tearing apart the Christmas turkey.

I woke up briefly late last night, and checked my phone, as I often do when I wake up late at night for some reason. At the top of my Facebook feed was a photo of Max Bullough, with the headline, "Michigan State's Max Bullough suspended for Rose Bowl" (or something similar). I (along with countless other MSU fans, I'm sure) was in utter disbelief. How could this happen to one of MSU's team captains, the "quarterback" of the defense, a kid who has worked his entire career to reach this pinnacle, scion of the famous Bullough family of Spartan football?

What could Bullough have possibly done to get him suspended from the Rose Bowl? And why is it that it never seems easy for MSU football? The Spartans finally make it back to Pasadena for the first time in 26 years, and arguably the heart and soul of the team will not be making the trip. It puts a big damper on the whole game now, which will only be relieved if the Spartans find a way to beat Stanford without Bullough.

I applaud Mark Dantonio for taking a stand and suspending Bullough for whatever his transgression was. I'm sure it's extremely painful for Dantonio, but I have a feeling that Max is receiving as much punishment, if not more, from his grandfather, father, and uncles. This has to be extremely disappointing and embarrassing for the entire Bullough clan, and especially Max himself. It's an incredibly sad way for him to end his, up to now, outstanding Michigan State football career.

It's time for the MSU defense to pick up the slack in Bullough's absence, though his loss creates a large void. Thankfully, the defense has depth, and this is a perfect opportunity for someone like Ed Davis, Kyler Elsworth, Denicos Allen, or Taiwan Jones to have a big day on January 1. Someone had to replace Max Bullough soon anyway, it'll just happen one game earlier than anyone expected.

Back for a little spring housekeeping

It's been about two weeks since I last wrote in this blog. At that time, I was lamenting the fact that Michigan was playing in the national championship game, and considering the possibility of a life in hiding if they won. (Tongue firmly in cheek).

Well, lucky for me and most of Spartan Nation, the Wolverines lost. But I'm here to give the Wolverines their props for a great tournament run and peaking when it mattered the most. Congratulations Michigan on a great tournament (but I'm happy you didn't win the whole thing. Call me petty, but that's where I stand).

So now the college basketball season is over, and the college sports season as a whole is slowly winding down.

Overall, it was a good year for the MSU men's basketball team. Quite frankly, I thought they overachieved. I had no idea how they would perform without a great leader like Draymond Green, but the team exceeded my expectations. A game out of first place and a Sweet Sixteen finish in the tournament isn't too shabby. We already know that Gary Harris is returning for his sophomore season, and if Adreian Payne also comes back--this is still up in the air as I write--I can see the team being a definite Final Four contender in 2013-2014.

***

I had intentions of attending the MSU spring football game yesterday, but the weather was abysmal. Call me a bad fan, but I had no desire to sit in Spartan Stadium and suffer through mid-30 degree temperatures. The game was televised on the Big Ten Network anyway, so there was little need to schlep over to campus to see it.

It's very difficult to glean anything from the spring game, since it's just a split squad game with the quarterbacks not "live." (If the defenses look great, does that just mean the offenses are bad? The spring game presents that type of conundrum).

From what I could see, the defense looked good, which wasn't a surprise. The White team defense had an interception and a fumble recovery that both went to the house for touchdowns. Max Bullough looked beastly, and should be poised for a big season in 2013.

None of the three quarterbacks really stood out. All three had their share of good and not-so-good plays. The position is still up for grabs, as far as I can tell.

Riley Bullough looks like a viable option at running back, with this straight-ahead bullish running style.. Nick Tompkins and Jeremy Langford had a few nice runs, but this is yet another position with a giant question mark looming over it.

There also seemed to be far too many dropped passes by the wide receivers, and that was disappointing. But Keith Mumphery, Bennie Fowler and Aaron Burbridge all had some "wow" moments, and were the game's standouts at receiver. In addition, DeAnthony Arnett had a splendid touchdown catch in double coverage and A.J. Troup had a nice hitch-and-run for a touchdown. This is a position with talent, and there is hope that these guys will perform much better than they did last season.

Overall, the game left me (and probably most Spartan football fans) with more questions than answers. The one thing we can count on is that the defense will be outstanding once again.

I have to give a special mention to Kirk Cousins, who was the color commentator on the BTN broadcast. He was outstanding, and there really doesn't seem to be anything this guy can't do.

***

Last year, when basketball season ended, I had intentions of posting periodically during the summer. Of course, I didn't do that at all. I won't make any promises or guarantees this time, though I doubt anyone is waiting with bated breath for my musings. We'll see how inspired I am, and whether I can ever find an open computer in this house.

So, for now, so long. If I'm incommunicado during the summer, I'll definitely be around in the fall.