If there is a heaven, this must be what it's like

Michigan State finished its mission, begun as far back as the end of last season's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. They are not only Big Ten champions, they are Rose Bowl champions, and when the dust clears could finish as high as #3 in the nation. The Spartans survived an all-out bare-knuckled slobber knocker against a tough team from Stanford.

What a great time to be a Spartan.

It wasn't a perfect game yesterday by any means. Connor Cook made an uncharacteristic mistake on a pick six, and late in the game when MSU finally got the running game going, Langford fumbled the ball for the only time I can remember all season.

But, like they have all season, the Spartans showed resolve, determination, and guts. They never quit, and they got it done in the end. And was it not fitting that the player to make the game-clinching play (or at least make a major contribution in the game-clinching play) was Kyler Elsworth, the former walk-on, fifth-year senior who was making his first ever start in his final collegiate game (in place of Max Bullough).

Kyler Elsworth and Shilique Calhoun in the game-clinching fourth down stop (Lansing State Journal photo)

Right now, I'm trying not to worry about Mark Dantonio's future at MSU, or about next year. Right here, right now, I am in heaven. It simply doesn't get any better than this as a Michigan State sports fan.