Enjoy this vintage black-and-white YouTube video of the entire game.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
47 years ago today: the Game of the Century
Enjoy this vintage black-and-white YouTube video of the entire game.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Demons exorcised
What a huge win for MSU; and the Nebraska demon--or demonS--have been exorcised.
The game was much higher scoring that I or probably anyone thought, but isn't that usually the way it goes with these games?
I only caught bits and pieces of the game, and not because I was too nervous to watch. I saw the first quarter in its entirety (except for a brief few minutes when i was outside raking leaves and listening to the radio broadcast), but then my wife and I had to attend a work-related dinner at the Fireside Grill, south of Lansing. The good part was that, though there was no television in our large banquet room reserved for all the attendees of this dinner, the restaurant portion of the establishment had several large screen televisions. I was no the only person at this dinner who was interested--or rather, obsessed--with the result of the MSU/Nebraska game. Though we tried to be sociable, three or four of us husbands/boyfriends found ourselves occasionally meandering into the dining room to check the score. Of course, I also had ESPN.com up on my Android Razr so I could sneak a peak at the score. The game ended just a little before dinner wrapped up, and it made the whole experience much better.
By the way, the Fireside Grill is good. If you're in the Lansing area, go check it out. And I'm not getting paid for that endorsement.
So, I missed most of the game, and will have to catch the replay on Big Ten Network, whenever that is. After I have seen the replay, I'll attempt to write a bit more about the game. For now, I plan on just savoring this great Spartan win.
Tonight, I posted the following update status on Facebook, "MSU's "Payback's a B**** Tour 2013" continues. Latest victim: Nebraska. Next week: Northwestern. Go Spartan Dawgs!" I've also threatened to create t-shirts with the slogan, "MSU: Payback's a Bitch Tour 2013," with a list of all the teams the Spartans fell to in close losses last season. Next to the name of the school will be boxes with check marks in them. So far, we have Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska, with Northwestern and Ohio State left. Of course, this t-shirt will only be any good or desirable if MSU beats all of these teams.
Well, I feel a slight headache coming on from staring at this computer screen and the two Bell's Two-Hearted Ales I drank at dinner. Yes, I'm a lightweight in my advanced age.
Until later, Go State!
The game was much higher scoring that I or probably anyone thought, but isn't that usually the way it goes with these games?
I only caught bits and pieces of the game, and not because I was too nervous to watch. I saw the first quarter in its entirety (except for a brief few minutes when i was outside raking leaves and listening to the radio broadcast), but then my wife and I had to attend a work-related dinner at the Fireside Grill, south of Lansing. The good part was that, though there was no television in our large banquet room reserved for all the attendees of this dinner, the restaurant portion of the establishment had several large screen televisions. I was no the only person at this dinner who was interested--or rather, obsessed--with the result of the MSU/Nebraska game. Though we tried to be sociable, three or four of us husbands/boyfriends found ourselves occasionally meandering into the dining room to check the score. Of course, I also had ESPN.com up on my Android Razr so I could sneak a peak at the score. The game ended just a little before dinner wrapped up, and it made the whole experience much better.
By the way, the Fireside Grill is good. If you're in the Lansing area, go check it out. And I'm not getting paid for that endorsement.
So, I missed most of the game, and will have to catch the replay on Big Ten Network, whenever that is. After I have seen the replay, I'll attempt to write a bit more about the game. For now, I plan on just savoring this great Spartan win.
Tonight, I posted the following update status on Facebook, "MSU's "Payback's a B**** Tour 2013" continues. Latest victim: Nebraska. Next week: Northwestern. Go Spartan Dawgs!" I've also threatened to create t-shirts with the slogan, "MSU: Payback's a Bitch Tour 2013," with a list of all the teams the Spartans fell to in close losses last season. Next to the name of the school will be boxes with check marks in them. So far, we have Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska, with Northwestern and Ohio State left. Of course, this t-shirt will only be any good or desirable if MSU beats all of these teams.
Well, I feel a slight headache coming on from staring at this computer screen and the two Bell's Two-Hearted Ales I drank at dinner. Yes, I'm a lightweight in my advanced age.
Until later, Go State!
Friday, November 15, 2013
The Columbia Lions roar, and the Spartans narrowly escape an upset
I thought that tonight, I'd be able to relax on the couch, glass of wine in hand, and casually enjoy a Spartan basketball blowout of Columbia. Little did I know that MSU would play sloppy, uninspired basketball against an efficient, disciplined, and fearless Columbia Lions squad, and that the two teams would be engaged in a life-and-death struggle that was not decided until the last two minutes of the game. Meanwhile, yours truly felt his blood pressure rising in the second half as he hurled angry, colorful oaths at the television screen.
I suppose the bottom line is that, when it mattered, the Spartans did enough to win. They may have learned some valuable lessons along the way. First, the target on their backs is larger than it usually is and they'd better get used to it. Second, they should never underestimate or disrespect an opponent. I hope that this scare against Columbia will be beneficial in the long run.
I suppose the bottom line is that, when it mattered, the Spartans did enough to win. They may have learned some valuable lessons along the way. First, the target on their backs is larger than it usually is and they'd better get used to it. Second, they should never underestimate or disrespect an opponent. I hope that this scare against Columbia will be beneficial in the long run.
Time to slay the Nebraska demon
It's time to exorcise some demons tomorrow in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Michigan State has never beaten Nebraska in football...ever.
Seven games, seven losses.
Streaks can't last forever, can they? The Spartans, without a doubt, have a better team than the Cornhuskers this year, I'm sure they remember all too well last year's hearbreaking loss, the stakes are higher in this year's game, and I have a feeling that the Spartans come away with a hard-fought win.
But I'm sure you all know me too well at this point to think I'm coming into this game with too much bravado. As a lifelong Spartan fan, I must have contingency plans in the event of defeat. Lincoln is a difficult place to win for opposing teams, and Nebraska seems to be living a charmed life in recent weeks with their miracle win over Northwestern and last week's come-from-behind sniping of the Wolverines.
But Michigan State, just to reiterate, is the better team, and Nebraska's squad is a M*A*S*H* unit. Taylor Martinez is out for the season, the Huskers' offensive line is beat up, and wide receiver Kenny Bell has been banged up in recent weeks. It may come down to Ameer Abdullah to carry the load for Nebraska, and he is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten. If the Spartans can at least contain Abdullah by holding him under 100 yards rushing, and prevent quarterbacks Ron Kellogg or Tommy Armstrong, Jr. from pulling any miracle plays out their hats (helmets?), then MSU should win.
The victory could be more comfortable if MSU's sometimes erratic offense can play well and avoid mistakes. Nebraska's defense can, when they want to, play quite well. But Nebraska's defense tends to be as unpredictable as MSU's offense, and in fairness, the Spartan offense has improved drastically since the first month of the season.
If all goes well for the Spartans, I can see them winning something like 24-14. But I wouldn't be shocked if the game ended up as a 13-10 slog. It's just really hard to predict. Heck, if the Spartan Dawgs dominate on defense and the MSU offense revs up, then MSU could win by three touchdowns. It's a difficult game to gauge.
Whatever happens, I don't think I can stomach the disasterous result of the 2011 game, in which the Spartans looked they we were wearing concrete shoes en route to a 24-3 shellacking. But I don't think this will happen again. MSU's defense is way too good for that to happen, and Nebraska is a damaged team that may be hanging on for dear life. My only reason for not believing MSU will win in a rout is that this game is in Lincoln. The red-clad home crowd at Memorial Stadium will probably keep the Huskers in the game.
I'm looking at this game much as I did MSU's 2010 game against Penn State. As you may recall, the Spartans were playing for a share of the conference title, but in a place where they hadn't won since 1965 (well before any of the players were born and maybe before many of the players' parents were born). It was not a stellar Penn State team, and it was a game in which the Spartans were clearly the better team entering the game, but still there was that lingering doubt (at least from yours truly) that they would succeed in a stadium that had been so unforgiving in the past. As it turned out, the Spartans did win the game, though they blew a big lead in the fourth quarter and the final wasn't decided until MSU recovered a Penn State onside kick. But the Spartans got it done and exorcised the Happy Valley demon.
Tomorrow, it's time for the Nebraska demon to receive the same fate.
Michigan State has never beaten Nebraska in football...ever.
Seven games, seven losses.
Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The fans may be friendly, but the results for Michigan State have been most unpleasant.
Streaks can't last forever, can they? The Spartans, without a doubt, have a better team than the Cornhuskers this year, I'm sure they remember all too well last year's hearbreaking loss, the stakes are higher in this year's game, and I have a feeling that the Spartans come away with a hard-fought win.
But I'm sure you all know me too well at this point to think I'm coming into this game with too much bravado. As a lifelong Spartan fan, I must have contingency plans in the event of defeat. Lincoln is a difficult place to win for opposing teams, and Nebraska seems to be living a charmed life in recent weeks with their miracle win over Northwestern and last week's come-from-behind sniping of the Wolverines.
But Michigan State, just to reiterate, is the better team, and Nebraska's squad is a M*A*S*H* unit. Taylor Martinez is out for the season, the Huskers' offensive line is beat up, and wide receiver Kenny Bell has been banged up in recent weeks. It may come down to Ameer Abdullah to carry the load for Nebraska, and he is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten. If the Spartans can at least contain Abdullah by holding him under 100 yards rushing, and prevent quarterbacks Ron Kellogg or Tommy Armstrong, Jr. from pulling any miracle plays out their hats (helmets?), then MSU should win.
The victory could be more comfortable if MSU's sometimes erratic offense can play well and avoid mistakes. Nebraska's defense can, when they want to, play quite well. But Nebraska's defense tends to be as unpredictable as MSU's offense, and in fairness, the Spartan offense has improved drastically since the first month of the season.
If all goes well for the Spartans, I can see them winning something like 24-14. But I wouldn't be shocked if the game ended up as a 13-10 slog. It's just really hard to predict. Heck, if the Spartan Dawgs dominate on defense and the MSU offense revs up, then MSU could win by three touchdowns. It's a difficult game to gauge.
Whatever happens, I don't think I can stomach the disasterous result of the 2011 game, in which the Spartans looked they we were wearing concrete shoes en route to a 24-3 shellacking. But I don't think this will happen again. MSU's defense is way too good for that to happen, and Nebraska is a damaged team that may be hanging on for dear life. My only reason for not believing MSU will win in a rout is that this game is in Lincoln. The red-clad home crowd at Memorial Stadium will probably keep the Huskers in the game.
I'm looking at this game much as I did MSU's 2010 game against Penn State. As you may recall, the Spartans were playing for a share of the conference title, but in a place where they hadn't won since 1965 (well before any of the players were born and maybe before many of the players' parents were born). It was not a stellar Penn State team, and it was a game in which the Spartans were clearly the better team entering the game, but still there was that lingering doubt (at least from yours truly) that they would succeed in a stadium that had been so unforgiving in the past. As it turned out, the Spartans did win the game, though they blew a big lead in the fourth quarter and the final wasn't decided until MSU recovered a Penn State onside kick. But the Spartans got it done and exorcised the Happy Valley demon.
Tomorrow, it's time for the Nebraska demon to receive the same fate.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
MSU knocks off Kentucky's latest collection of one-and-doners
Not a lot of time to write this morning.
I'm thrilled with last night's Spartan basketball team win over John Calipari's latest collection of Kentucky Wildcat one-and-done mercenaries.
There's no doubt that Kentucky is loaded with talent, but they made so many mistakes and were so terrible at the free throw line, it's amazing they were able to tie the score late in the game, before succumbing to the Spartans' experience and poise down the stretch.
So, we have one big game down this week (MSU's basketball win), with another coming up on Saturday (football game against Nebraska). Here's hoping for a 2-0 record.
***
For what it's worth, I'm not a fan of the rule changes in college basketball. All the touch foul calls last night limited the flow of the game, and I couldn't believe how long it took to play with all the clock stoppages. A college basketball game shouldn't last much more than two hours, but the MSU/Kentucky must have taken at least 2 1/2 hours to play. This is ridiculous and hurts college basketball. It certainly has an adverse effect on the watchability of college hoops and may lead casual fans to the NBA game.
***
I'm coming back to this post a little later in the day. I've heard basketball experts on the radio, Tim McCormick in particular, who believe that the college basketball rule changes will be beneficial in the long run, it'll just take time for players and coaches to adjust. I'm willing to wait it out and see if this is true.
I'm thrilled with last night's Spartan basketball team win over John Calipari's latest collection of Kentucky Wildcat one-and-done mercenaries.
There's no doubt that Kentucky is loaded with talent, but they made so many mistakes and were so terrible at the free throw line, it's amazing they were able to tie the score late in the game, before succumbing to the Spartans' experience and poise down the stretch.
So, we have one big game down this week (MSU's basketball win), with another coming up on Saturday (football game against Nebraska). Here's hoping for a 2-0 record.
***
For what it's worth, I'm not a fan of the rule changes in college basketball. All the touch foul calls last night limited the flow of the game, and I couldn't believe how long it took to play with all the clock stoppages. A college basketball game shouldn't last much more than two hours, but the MSU/Kentucky must have taken at least 2 1/2 hours to play. This is ridiculous and hurts college basketball. It certainly has an adverse effect on the watchability of college hoops and may lead casual fans to the NBA game.
***
I'm coming back to this post a little later in the day. I've heard basketball experts on the radio, Tim McCormick in particular, who believe that the college basketball rule changes will be beneficial in the long run, it'll just take time for players and coaches to adjust. I'm willing to wait it out and see if this is true.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Basking in the afterglow
It's been a great week to be a Michigan State Spartan fan.
I slept like a baby on Saturday night, visions of Spartan sacks of Devin Gardner in my head. Sunday morning, I woke up and enjoyed reading various Michigan fan meltdowns on Facebook, wrote my celebratory blog post, and then caught the highlights of the game on our local Sunday sports show, Staudt on Sports, while reading the Lansing State Journal Sunday sports section.
The fun extended throughout the week, as I listened to practically every local sports radio show, re-living the game. The most enjoyable schadenfreude of my life came on Tuesday, when I listened to podcasts from WTKA, the Ann Arbor sports radio station. Sam Webb, Stanley Edwards, and especially Rick Leach sounded like they were attending a wake.
I'll spare you the minute details of all I have taken in this week regarding MSU's rout of the Wolverines, but suffice it to say that the last six days have been wonderful. The best part is that, as a fan, I can continue to bask in this win and don't have to worry about getting ready for Nebraska on November 16.
***
Today, while outside raking leaves, I thought of Mark Dantonio's "Pride comes before the fall" comments after the 2007 Michigan loss. At a time when MSU had lost six straight to Michigan, and suffered through the aimless Bobby Williams and John L. Smith eras, Dantonio's declaration was exactly what Spartan Nation needed to hear. It may have rubbed some Michigan people the wrong way, but too bad. The man understands this rivalry--and the cold fact is that the MSU/UM series hasn't been the same since that heartbreaking '07 loss when Mike Hart ran his mouth with the "little brother" crap.
***
Michigan State played its first official (i.e. one that counts in the won/lost record) regular season basketball game tonight, a 98-56 blowout win of McNeese State.
The college basketball season starts far too early. I miss the days when the the first game wasn't played until late November, coinciding with the end of the football season. Heck, I just made the transition from Tiger baseball to Spartan football, so I'm definitely not in a basketball mood yet.
I slept like a baby on Saturday night, visions of Spartan sacks of Devin Gardner in my head. Sunday morning, I woke up and enjoyed reading various Michigan fan meltdowns on Facebook, wrote my celebratory blog post, and then caught the highlights of the game on our local Sunday sports show, Staudt on Sports, while reading the Lansing State Journal Sunday sports section.
The fun extended throughout the week, as I listened to practically every local sports radio show, re-living the game. The most enjoyable schadenfreude of my life came on Tuesday, when I listened to podcasts from WTKA, the Ann Arbor sports radio station. Sam Webb, Stanley Edwards, and especially Rick Leach sounded like they were attending a wake.
I'll spare you the minute details of all I have taken in this week regarding MSU's rout of the Wolverines, but suffice it to say that the last six days have been wonderful. The best part is that, as a fan, I can continue to bask in this win and don't have to worry about getting ready for Nebraska on November 16.
***
Today, while outside raking leaves, I thought of Mark Dantonio's "Pride comes before the fall" comments after the 2007 Michigan loss. At a time when MSU had lost six straight to Michigan, and suffered through the aimless Bobby Williams and John L. Smith eras, Dantonio's declaration was exactly what Spartan Nation needed to hear. It may have rubbed some Michigan people the wrong way, but too bad. The man understands this rivalry--and the cold fact is that the MSU/UM series hasn't been the same since that heartbreaking '07 loss when Mike Hart ran his mouth with the "little brother" crap.
***
Michigan State played its first official (i.e. one that counts in the won/lost record) regular season basketball game tonight, a 98-56 blowout win of McNeese State.
The college basketball season starts far too early. I miss the days when the the first game wasn't played until late November, coinciding with the end of the football season. Heck, I just made the transition from Tiger baseball to Spartan football, so I'm definitely not in a basketball mood yet.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
"Letting the lion out of the cage." Michigan State 29, Michigan 6
I took the above quote from Mark Dantonio, who used it to describe how he expected his players to perform when the ball was kicked off at 3:30 yesterday afternoon. It was a great performance by the team as a whole, and the defense resembled lions on the hunt: constantly, relentlessly circling, stalking and eventually pouncing on their prey.
I'm still in awe of what I witnessed yesterday at Spartan Stadium. It was the greatest spectacle I've ever seen there, and the most dominating defensive performance from an MSU team in my lifetime, and that includes the 1987 Big Ten championship/Rose Bowl team.
As I told a few people yesterday, it was the game I'd waited my entire life to see. It was a thorough, methodical, and relentless annihilation of the Wolverines. Michigan's offensive line was completely over-matched, and as I hoped would happen, Devin Gardner's football life on that wet, sloppy field was made a living hell. To borrow the "Wild Kingdom" analogy once more, Gardner looked like a gazelle being relentlessly pursued by lions. He had absolutely no place to run before being pounced on by the predators in green.
As I mentioned in a previous post, this was the very first time I had ever attended an MSU/UM game in person, and it couldn't have been a more perfect one in terms of the result. The weather, on the other hand, was nothing short of horrendous: cold, rainy, wet. I told my wife that if MSU lost the game, I'd be pretty angry that I'd sat in such terrible weather for 3 1/2 hours. But the Spartans' dominating performance, and the almost Mardi Gras-like "Sparty Party" atmosphere in the waning moments of the game and the immediate aftermath, made the entire experience worthwhile. I have to admit I was practically in tears (or joy and happiness) in the final few minutes of the game. It was the resounding football victory over Michigan that I've been waiting for and longing for my entire life. I didn't feel the wetness or chill after the game ended, I was warm, giddy, bouncing up and down, and completely impervious to inclement weather.
There was also no worry of me ending up in a holding cell Saturday evening. I was on my best behavior, but there was little reason to get angry with anyone anyway. The game was such total domination by MSU, that one barely heard a boo from the smattering of Michigan fans in Section 19, where our seats were located. The only drawback was having to stand the entire game to see anything. I don't necessarily mind standing, since I'm used to the experience at rock concerts, but I felt bad for the folks behind me who wanted to sit. We had a couple sitting behind us, folks probably in their fifties, who didn't want to stand. At one point in the game, I apologized to them for standing but explained that I HAD to stand in order to see anything on the field. They didn't seem to mind. (I don't know if they lasted the entire game. They may have left early). But, for cripe sakes, it's the MICHIGAN GAME!! If you get angry about people standing through the whole game, go home and watch the game on TV!
Halftime was the only time I remember being actively annoyed by any Michigan fans. I ventured down to the concession stands in the concourse to buy some coffee in order to fight off the chill a bit. Two Michigan fans stood behind me in line, and spent the entire time complaining: "They didn't lay this [the concourse] out very well." "They don't even have TVs down here?!" I guess Michigan fans expect the Ritz-Carlton when they go to a college football game. I was a good boy and bit my tongue.
***
I just watched the replay of the game on the Big Ten Network, and MSU's complete defensive domination is even more profound watching the TV broadcast. I also had no idea how much Michigan's Taylor Lewan completely lost his mind during the game. I suppose getting destroyed by Shilique Calhoun all afternoon caused Lewan to completely lose his composure. Let's just say my already rather low opinion of Lewan just approached basement level. I hate to throw a college athlete under the proverbial bus, but there it is. I'm not a big fan of that kid. He has some growing up to do.
I'm impressed with how far this MSU team has come since the Notre Dame game. I don't remember ever seeing a Spartan defense this ferocious. (How appropriate, by the way, that the great Percy Snow, lynchpin of the 1987 "Gang Green" defense, was honored at halftime in a game in which MSU's defense dominated so completely). The offense is making strides, too. Sure, they had some difficulty in this game: Connor Cook and his receivers seemed to have some communication issues, some passes were bobbled, some receivers were both over and under-thrown. Overall, though, the MSU offense moved the ball and scored when it needed to. The touchdown drive to close the first half was beautiful, and Bennie Fowler made an incredible catch in the corner of the end zone, and Cook's pump fake was a thing of beauty. Connor Cook also had a brilliant completion to Fowler in the fourth quarter, when he was eluding Michigan's pass rush and connected with Fowler, who then dragged a few Wolverine defenders to the nine yard line. This set up a Spartan touchdown that made the score 22-6 and essentially iced the game.
So in conclusion, Michigan State's offense isn't great, but it's efficient...and it's slowly improving. Jeremy Langford and Delton Williams are a formidable running tandem. R.J. Shelton is making big contributions as a freshman, and MSU's kicker Michael Geiger displays incredible poise for a freshman. Josiah Price, though he bobbled a few passes on Saturday, is becoming a good tight end. Trevon Pendleton has also come on strong in the last few weeks and is becoming a multi-dimensional threat from the fullback position. I have to give major props to Dantonio and his staff for developing these players. They know their roles and play them perfectly.
And what more can be said about the defense? This has to be, if not the best defense in the country, definitely in the top two or three.
Now comes what I consider a perfectly scheduled bye week. The Spartans will have some time to absorb this win, get some players healed, and prepare for what I think should be a payback game against Nebraska.
The Spartans have three tough but certainly winnable games coming up, and this 2013 season is shaping up as one that could be special.
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