Game Preview, Purdue and the Hobbled Painters

Photo Credit: tagsgf.com

Who: Purdue Boilermakers
When: Sunday 1:00PM Eastern
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette
Channel: CBS/ 94.9FM

MSU heads down to West Lafayette looking to extend their winning streak to five. Purdue(17-9)(7-6) could use a win to move them firmly off of the bubble and into an at-large spot. MSU (21-5)(10-3) on the other hand is destroying fools at a torrid pace and is starting to think a lil' bit about 1 seeding their way into the tourney. Weird how three more Big Ten wins is all that stands between comfortably in the tourney and being on the bubble watch. Oh and your two non-con losses being to Duke and UNC never hurts either.

Update: Since I wrote the bulk of this preview Friday morning, Purdue has suffered some pretty epic losses. D.J. Byrd, Hammer and Rails preferred Purdue player of the Big Ten Season has been arrested and will be suspended for Sunday's game. To make things even better *sarcasm for both MSU and Purdue fans*, Boiled Sports frustratedly reports that Kelsey Barlow has been kicked off the team after his third excusable offense. So if we run down to Purdue and blow them out by 30 after this happened to their team, Purdue fans will hate MSU the way Iowa fans hate Dantonio. There will be no calls to "SWEEP THE LEG" on my part Sunday.

The Purdue Quick Rundown

• MSU beat Purdue earlier this season 83-58 after the Purdue plane was grounded due to weather, took off, somehow went into the Bermuda triangle and then had to fly from Khartoum to East Lansing, landing two hours before tipoff. Robbie Hummel was then chided by the Izzone, Matt Painter was very annoyed by this and Brandon Dawson or something. 
• Robbie Hummel looks to finish off his Senior Citizen campaign against MSU with a little bit better showing than 2 points and 6 rebounds.
• Point guard Lewis Jackson is only 5'9"? How in the hell is that possible?

The KenPom Take

When MSU Has The Ball

In KenPom stats, he's kind enough to color code good things green and bad things pink or even red. The green, we has it. The pink, they has it.  For a very easy guide to Tempo-Free Stats check out this ditty at the Only Colors. MSU has a better rebounding percentage on offense than Purdue does on defense, 39.2% to 32.3% respectively.  MSU has an effective FG percentage of 52.4 to Purdue's 53.2 percent allowed. Purdue has been consistently weak on defense this year, giving up higher than average 2pt and 3pt percentages. Further, they've had lower than average steal and block percentages.

When Purdue Has The Ball

The green, we has a lot of it still, but not as much as on offense. The red, they has less of it. Purdue takes excellent care of the ball, with their stupid-low 12.5% turnover percentage. They also shoot the three well averaging 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. They do not shoot free throws well at 66 percent they have the second-to-worst Free Throw shooting percentage in the Big Ten.


Keys To The Game

- Keep the turnover percentages close.
- Make our threes, don't let Purdue make theirs.
- Kill them on the MSU Offensive glass.

The only thing to worry about as it regards this game is the Occasional College Team Brain Fart. With the damage done by the loss of Barlow and Byrd, I just don't see Purdue making a strong game of this. 

Totally Accurate Prediction: MSU by 11.

A frustrated preview exists over at Hammer and Rails. Banks of the Red Cedar has moved to just http://www.banksoftheredcedar.com and celebrates by stating it's case for MSU's Draymond Green for B1G Player of the Year. Munn Minute has a recap of last night's exciting 3-2 OT victory over the Nanooks and a very brief preview for Gameday Part 2. Boom Roast says it's sorry to Austin Thornton.

Here's Your Shield Jonny Reschke

Photo Credit: 247 Sports

Jonny Reschke announced his commitment to Michigan State via Twitter this afternoon. "Just joined the Spartan family. COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN STATE!!!!". Reschke is ranked a four-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports. Reschke reports offers from Michigan State and Toledo and will play Middle Linebacker for the Spartans. His commitment wasn't expected today but MSU did not take a Middle Linebacker prospect last year and the rumor was MSU was leaving this spot specifically for Reschke to become Bullough's replacement. Some idiot blogger guest writing for the Only Colors even went so far to project him as our 2015 Mike.

Obviously this early in the recruiting cycle there's no reason to get too worked up about a lack of offers. If this were August and he were rolling two offers deep I'd be a bit more concerned.

A Predictor of Future Success is YOUtube

What's to love about this kid? He sheds his blocks really well. There are several times in the two minutes of the video where a dude runs up to him and Reschke slides the kid out of his way. He seems to run to the sidelines really well and attacks through the offensive line quite nicely.  Swagger, he has it. I think there is no more important place in a sport for swagger than playing defense in American football. Areas for improvement? He tackles high and doesn't always take the best angle but that's a little nitpicky. The things that matter, size, speed and swagger are all there.

Jonny Reschke was the Mike of the future probably as far back as a year ago. We've been keeping this spot warm for him and today he's taken it. He'll be a great addition to the MSU defense and I'm excited about this commitment.

Michigan State Fans These Days Don’t Know What They’re In For

I was in jail.

Michigan State University police station, actually, waiting for a transfer to Ingham County Jail. I had let a fix-it ticket for my Honda’s busted exhaust turn into an actual ticket while saving up for a new exhaust, and then the old exhaust fell off completely while driving downtown which drew the attention of the local constabulary and it turns out I had a warrant from the unpaid ticket and . . . yeah.

This was in the Hazy Period of my life. I was as done as I was going to get with college but hadn’t yet bothered to spin the numbered wheel of The Game of LIFE or add people-pegs to my little plastic car. I was taking stock of that decision, or lack thereof, when a fresh-faced lad sporting a blue cardigan and khakis was seated next to me.

I asked him what he was in for. “Rioting,” he said.

I asked him what in the hell he’d been rioting for.

“I . . . I don’t know,” he said. “I’m from Connecticut. I thought  . . . that’s just what we do here.”

* * *

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the student sections at Michigan State. The Izzone is bigger than ever, packing the lower (and part of the upper) bowl, but instead of making the Breslin an impenetrable fortress of intimidation the Izzone picks their spots. They make noise, sure, but they save themselves for big games and big situations.

The southeast corner of Spartan Stadium doesn’t fill up anymore, despite MSU not losing at home since October 2009. Think about that: this fall’s class of Michigan State juniors have never witnessed Michigan State lose at football, yet AD Mark Hollis is openly considering shrinking the student section.

The students are passing up no opportunity to add salty words to their chants, because ha ha why not? FIRST DOWN, BITCH! That’s clever and funny! As Jim mentioned earlier, they also have no problem wheeling out the “Little Sister” chant to against Michigan, because apparently being a girl is worse than being a boy. Besides, we can’t be each other’s little siblings. If students are going to be sexist idiots, they should at least make sense and call Michigan “Big Sister.”

What’s wrong with kids these days?

Part of it, as Hollis said, is cultural. His twelve-year-old doesn’t ever “sit down for two hours and do anything.” But if college kids can’t pay attention to their football or basketball team establishing itself at the top end of national awesomeness, then we might as well give up on humanity now because nobody will ever pay attention to anything ever again.

Part of it is a trend across all sports: going to a game used to be the ultimate populist spectacle. Entering Spartan Stadium meant joining a seething mass of humanity, the lower bowl a cauldron filled by the bloodthirsty hoi polloi. Now, sporting events are more like joining a fancy club with steep dues. The kind of people who go to games are the kind of people who can afford to drop hundreds, or thousands, on tickets and concessions and apparel—and frankly, those people are less likely to stand up and holler from kickoff to gun.

Those are also the kind of people who can afford to send their kid to Michigan State. Tuition keeps going up, and every year the percentage of (highly profitable) out-of-state and international students grows. More and more kids from Connecticut are showing up expecting nonstop multi-sport Spartan domination . . . and nobody screams their lungs out with joy when they get what they expect.

I don’t mean to suggest that students who aren’t from Michigan can’t be Real Spartans. In my experience, how green your blood is depends entirely on how green your heart is—what Michigan State means to you personally.

But of my Spartan friends, many are legacies; their parents moved from wherever to the Lansing area and stayed here. Coming to Michigan State meant establishing themselves as independent adults—and the potential to reach a standard of living much higher than they were raised in. In turn, they taught us to be Spartans and hate Michigan and all that good stuff. When my eldest child started school, I found to my delight kids still display partisanship by chanting, “Michigan, State! Michigan, State!” and jabbing a thumb down (or up), then up (or down) in time with the words, just as I did when I was a kid.

For me, the success of Michigan State athletics, and the rivalry between the two schools, was expressed constantly around me in the home and at school and at church . . . it absorbed the entire community. Nick Saban’s last season here, the amazing 9-2 Citrus Bowl year, seemed as close to glory as Michigan State was ever going to get. Crowds packed Spartan Stadium to the brim, and the team started calling their home “The Woodshed” because they almost never lost there.

Now they actually never lose there.

When I see current MSU students from parts unknown on Twitter with “Proud future Chicagoan” in their bio, it makes me wonder. Coming from money elsewhere, heading for money elsewhere, stopping here to party in between . . .  how much can Spartan triumph possibly mean? Who cares about taking pride or being classy when they can just show up drunk and have fun and leave halfway through to go drink? Or, hey better yet, just leave the paid-for ticket in their pocket and keep playing another few hours of flip cup?

For this generation of Spartan students, going to a top bowl game or beating Michigan or going to a Final Four isn’t a jumping-up-and-down screaming, fandom-defining moment, it’s just what we do here.

* * *

The final part of it rests squarely on the shoulders of the power brokers in college sports. Mark Hollis, Jim Delany, and the NCAA as a whole, I’m looking at you. How can students think football games are special when they don’t mean anything? How can you expect thousands of college kids to show up and scream their brains out as Michigan State puts it in cruise control against FAU or Chicago State for the umpteenth time?

When I rant and rave about “diluting the product,” this is what I mean. College athletics has stretched itself to the breaking point. Universities and conferences are desperately trying to board the TV money train while their arm is shackled to the boring old concrete pylon that is a century of amateur college athletic tradition. That money train is pulling away, and either they need to let it roll away, or break out of their college handcuffs once and for all.

Prepare for Rose Bowl.

A couple of months ago, I took my family to the dentist. Being a good Spartan, the dentist in question has MSU memorabilia up all over the office, including a matted and framed blimp shot of the 1988 Rose Bowl. Exactly as above, but with “MSU” and “USC” in the end zones.

My five-year-old son looked up at the picture and said, “Dad, is that Spartan Stadium?” “No,” I answered, “that is the Rose Bowl.” I blanketed the words with velvet reverence.

“But, it says ‘MSU’!”

“Yes,” I explained, “they paint the end zones for the schools playing the Rose Bowl game that year. You see, the Rose Bowl is a game played between the champion of the Big Ten and the Pac-10 every year, except . . . well, uh, sort of. Mostly. Yes, mostly.”

He asked, “Is that from this year?” I grinned wryly. “Heh, no, that’s a picture from 1988, the last year Michigan State played in the Rose Bowl. I was seven years old then, same as your big sister is now.”

Oh my God.

OH MY GOD.

Since the Spartans last went to the Rose Bowl, I grew up and went to MSU and got married and had a kid and now that kid is as old as I was when the Spartans last went to the Rose Bowl.

I felt no pain at the dentist that day. Nothing could sting quite like the realization that for all the big wins and star players to come out of Michigan State since I became self aware, they’ve spent almost the entire time failing to get anywhere near Pasadena. USC has gone to the Rose Bowl EIGHT TIMES SINCE THEN. Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern and freaking Wazzou have all been to the Grandaddy of Them All more recently than Michigan State.

You know who started the 1988 Rose Bowl for USC? Rodney Peete. Rodney Peete, who finished second in Heisman voting to Barry Sanders, got drafted by the Lions in the 6th round, was immediately installed as the starter (!), and had a sixteen-year career in the NFL which ended seven years ago.

Rodney Peete! Tecmo Super Bowl!

Last year the Spartans won the Big Ten Championship, or whatever passes for it these days. By traditional rules, that would have ended the interminable Rose Bowl drought, but no. Wisconsin, a team they beat soundly during the regular season, had collected more Starbits or something and so Michigan State had to go the Capital One Bowl and suffer a loss so spectacular that the clothing line bearing the #BEATEMDOWN hashtag it spawned still sells like hotcakes.

The Rose Bowl was first played in 1901, nine months before the inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt. It’s been played 97 times since then, twenty times more than any other bowl. It is the bowl game that is the reason bowl games are called ‘bowl games.’ But these are Modern Times and so in order for the best team from the Big Ten to go to the Rose Bowl as has been done since my Grandfather was like negative thirty, Michigan State must beat a team it already beat this year in a big fake money grab perpetrated by profiteering gasbags who miss no opportunity to ‘brand’ themselves with tradition they stomp all over while selling out to the highest bidder, or really any available bidder.

So be it.

Wisconsin, I’m sorry. You guys have a real cool program and a real good team and I dig that thing you do when you all jump around until your stadium exhibits signs of imminent structural failure. But this is bigger than you. It’s a mission, a duty, a crusade to win back the prestige and heritage of Biggie and Duffy and every All-American who’s worn the only colors. The Spartans have won 21 games in two seasons and we aren’t going to the Capital One, Outback, or heaven-help-us Alamo Bowl again. This game means nothing to you, and it means everything to us.

Spartans, #P4RB.

NW: Friday Morning Youtubin'!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Indiana: A Passionate Fan's Request For You to Use That Ticket

This was a comment received in the Abbreviated Game Preview below. I appreciated and agreed with it so much I'm putting it on the front page. If/when the author gives me permission to link him on Twitter, then I will do so. Update: Congratulate him in the comments section below if you want to.

Michigan State alumni, students, fans, I have one simple, emphatic request for Saturday: if you are at all able, please, please, go to the game.

Why such an urgent plea?

For years I've claimed to my father (also a Spartan) that if we ever got a consistent winner on the football field, watch out: the alumni, East Lansing, and the state would go absolutely nuts, and prove Tom Izzo right that we are a football school ranking with the best of them.

While I'm not ready to go back on my word, the easiest way to measure this sentiment is rear ends in seats. At last year's Purdue home finale, and two weeks ago against Minnesota, there were large, noticeable holes in the student and other sections; just as Joe mentioned recently, I was shocked and disappointed. I fear the first camera shot of the stands on Saturday at 12:05pm against Indiana.

So here we are. Going for two straight undefeated home seasons. Winningest quarterback and class in school history. Chance at two B1G titles in a row. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams saying that a few short years ago?! Bowl reps in the stands. A few major recruits attending, for whom atmosphere and hype are very real factors.

Full disclosure: I graduated in 2004 and have since moved out of state, and can no longer go to games. There are certainly many more like me, and I am therefore part of the problem.

Listen, I know the cost of a game is high, and the economy's rough, and it's noon against Indiana, and we're top 20 in attendance for 50 straight years, all of which is nothing to sneeze at. But (this makes my skin crawl) Michigan puts 110,000 people in the stands for every...single...game. Please don't tell me we need 30 years of sustained success to fill Spartan Stadium every week.

Most of all, go to the game because whether you've been following the team for 5 years or 40, you've been waiting for a consistent winner. Well, here it is. This is supposed to be the payoff for all the pain! For so long, the team didn't deserve the loyalty it got. Now let's make sure we deserve the team we've got.

Eric
Finance '04

Indiana: Friday Morning Youtubin'!

Abbreviated Game Preview: Indiana

This preview is written in five minutes because the Senior Day Obits took a long time. So here goes.

- Tre Roberson will be fun to watch except for when he gives MSU a headache. Maybe a young Antwaan Randle-El.

- Senior Day should be a lot of fun. Graduating very few dudes on defense. We should be nearly as good next year on D.

- Also, give an extra cheer for Worthy in case this is his last game in the Spartan Green.

- A win Saturday and Nebraska loss clinches the Legend Division. Dantonio isn't rooting for Michigan and neither should you.

- Our Offensive Line sure has improved, haven't they? When was the last time you really heard any serious complaint about those guys? After the ND game, that's when.

- I'd like the trophy to officially be Michigan City. I'd like that better if it were the municipality of Michigan City.

- We'll win this game, but won't cover. I don't see us hanging an extra 28 on Indiana. Closer than you think, farther apart than Minnesota.

MSU 31 Indiana 14

Protected Rivalry: The Old Brass Spittoon

Here is how I feel about our protected rivalry with Indiana. It is pointless and amusing much like Nyan Cat.



5 Alternative Trophies to The Old Brass Spittoon

1.) Betamax copy of Hoosiers autographed by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird
2.) Michigan City.
3.) The Stores of The Old BMG Warehouse in Terra Haute.
4.) The Lugnut on top of the Smokestack in Downtown Lansing.
5.) The Loser has to claim that Lee Corso coached at their school. This in fact only happened at Indiana.

Enough talk about this trophy, it has sapped my will to live.

The Victory March Begins in November

On Friday night, in case you were under a rock, MSU played North Carolina on an aircraft carrier in San Diego. Tom Izzo stood majestically behind the President and First Lady during the national anthem. North Carolina won the game 67-55 in a game that seemed both closer and much farther apart than that. MSU outrebounded UNC 41-29 and had all the hustle you could possibly want out of young squad of whippersnappers. This team, it looked vintage Izzo. They were crashing the boards, having fun playing the game, it's the team I feel like I haven't seen in a few years.



Ballin'

Tonight MSU plays Duke at 7p in the 24 hours of hoops. This morning Seth Davis tweeted: "Mich St better than people think. Got their feet wet vs tough UNC team. Plus, they have NO pressure on them. Just a hunch, folks." To which Dan Wetzel replied: "@SethDavisHoops Good theory on Duke, but when was last time Michigan State won a major, early season non-conf game?" To which several people replied that when MSU beat Washington in Maui last year they were ranked 11th and that MSU knocked off number 6 Texas in 2008.

The point Wetzel makes is a legitimate one, MSU has struggled in major non-conference games in the pre-season. It'd be nice to win some big games in November and December and it's been a concern of mine that when Izzo leaves too much value will be placed on finding someone who wins early season games. To be honest though, it's never bothered me a bit. You don't win the NCAA championship in November, you win it in March and April. That's what Tom Izzo does best.

Michigan State will probably not beat Duke tonight. The best Izzo squads have had a hard time getting the better of Duke and with Coach K going for the all-time win record tonight and our squad being the youngest I can remember in a long time, the odds are not on our side. See for the write-up that features game theory, etc. However, as I said, I think this'll be the Izzo-iest Izzo squad in a while and they'll be there in March when it matters. This is going to be a fun season of basketball.

Iowa: Friday Morning Youtubin'!

Normally this is where I show a bunch of videos of us beating up on the opposing team, but seriously let's kick these guys asses. If I have an axe to grind with anyone it's Iowa.









And for all the whining about Iowan Dantonio Impropriety

Kirk Ferentz: The Nemesis of Mark Dantonio?

In Iowa City, there lives a man. His name is Kirk Ferentz and he is the Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. After four years of watching this man in relation to our coach Mark Dantonio I have come to an indisputable conclusion. Kirk Ferentz's purpose in life is to shit in Mark Dantonio's cereal.

Last year was of course the most severe example with MSU losing 37-6 and Ferentz gleefully rubbing his nose in it. You know, as much as he gleefully does anything. In the video below, he cites the excellence of a play made by his team in this 37-6 blowout as payback for the "Hook and Lateral" that Michigan State ran against them in 2009.



You know, he was paying back Michigan State for making their 2009 game close. Maybe it wasn't satisfying enough for him to grow 70,000 arms and punch everyone in the gut as the clock expired in 2009. Seriously, what the hell kind of comment is that? The kind you deliver when you just drop the hammer on someone.

In 2008, MSU carries a 13-3 lead in at the half and is a 4th and 2 stop of Iowa's Shonn Greene away from losing at the end of the game. In 2007, we lose out in double overtime in a game we took right down to the wire. (Side Note: I watched that game in the Capital City airport bar with Tom Izzo.)

It's not that Ferentz beats MSU, it's that when he does beat MSU my blood hurts afterwards at the fashion in which the beating occurred. It's because of this that I find myself wondering if Kirk Ferentz is the nemesis of Mark Dantonio.

One Step Ahead

Ferentz and Dantonio share the mantra of playing football traditional Big 10 football with a focus on high percentage passes, minimizing turnovers and stifling defense. The problem is that in this match-up so far, Ferentz has totally outdueled Dantonio in these areas. The only time we won the turnover battle? When we won in 2008. How many times have we outrushed Iowa in this series? Zero. Even in 2008 win, they outgained us in total yardage and time of Possession. Why did we win that game they turned the ball over three times, we turned it over one. It's becoming clear that when Ferentz and Dantonio get themselves together in the yard, Ferentz beats Dantonio at his own game.

How And Why Is This Year Different?

There are two teams that control their own destiny in the Legends division. They are playing in Iowa City on Saturday. As a result, Iowa is getting the red-letter game treatment this week. Dantonio has closed off player access from the media for the second time this year. The first was against Ohio State who is apparently a much better team than we all thought they were after that game. Of course MSU has to win every game in November to have the opportunity to play for the Rose Bowl, but no remaining game will be more difficult than this Saturday's game in Iowa City.

Is there an analog for this season's game

Actually, yes. I'm glad you asked. This game actually reminds me a bit of the 2009 MSU-Iowa game. Iowa had a stifling defense, an at times baffling quarterback and was on their fourth string running back. MSU was having a disappointing season and struggled with losses in games they probably should not have lost. This game is mildly different in that 2011 Iowa is better than 2009 MSU was, but the stakes for 2011 MSU are equally as high they were for 2009 Iowa.

How Can Ferentz Foil Dantonio This Year? (Aka cause Mark Dantonio to say "I'll GET YOU NEXT TIME GADGET!!!!")

Simple. If he beats Dantonio on Saturday, goes on to lose a game to Nebraska, letting Nebraska back into the B10 title game and securing a bowl berth for MSU somewhere tepid in January like Tennessee. If this happens, next year this article will be titled Kirk Ferentz: The Man Who Ruins My Happy Times.

Minnesota: Friday Morning Youtubin!

Apparently that's it unless you want to watch Brian Hoyer throw 61 times in a loss in 2006.

Nebraska Loss: All is Well

Well folks, we lost and it sucked. Big breakdown coming on Monday. Watch the first offensive drive for keys on why playcalling did nothing to help us win. See following offensive drives for why our defense cracked in the second half.

As least we're not Iowa right now.

The Defense of East Lansing

Maybe this is a false assumption on my part, but I've always thought the questions being asked by the media have some correlation to what's on the mind of a sports team. If this supposition holds any merit, MSU is going to have it's work cut out for it tomorrow.

See when you get to speak with the GameDay staff and 60 percent of the questions revolve around the game and aftermath of last week's game, you're missing a great moment to talk about the present and very immediate future. Although, in fairness Howard might have brought it on himself a bit.



People did not really care for his Lions hat.

What conversation did focus on today's matchup with the Badgers centered on this one key element. The defense is the marquee unit of the Michigan State Football team. Yet, they're the ones with the most to overcome in terms of moving on from the past to the present. Will Gholston was suspended on Thursday and then Friday Pat Narduzzi was admonished for his 60 minutes of necessary roughness comments. Both Herbie and Howard supported the suspension of William Gholston and were willing to spend a few minutes talking the fallout of MSU's dirty play.

Yet it's clear that the Spartans have earned the respect of both Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. Herbstreit said: "Their mentality and the way they play, if you're a defensive guy, you've gotta love that." Howard said: "The Michigan State defense is one of the statistically best defenses in the nation." Gritted teeth were involved for Howard, but definitely some respect.

Still, what remains clear after our meet and greet with Howard, Herbstreit and Erin Andrews (more on that later), is that this game is about one thing. The Defense in East Lansing defending East Lansing. Defending East Lansing from media jib-jabbing, defending their suspended players from more criticism and defending the goal from a ferocious Badger offense. (Obligatory Badger Reference) With so much attention placed on the style of the Defense this week, how could the game come down to anything but their play? Tonight, tune in and view the Defense of East Lansing.

ESPN College GameDay: Built by Home Depot, Conquered by Michigan State Spartans

You are going to be on ESPN.

You’re reading this; you know where you’re going. Early Saturday morning, you’ll swathe yourself in Green and White and drive to campus. You’ll wait until 6:00 am, when they’ll let you park in the Trowbridge ramp for $15. You’ll proceed to Munn Field, which will be opened for you (and thousands of your closest friends) at 7:00. Two hours later, the football-watching world will see you piped into their home—and the strength of our numbers.

Last time ESPN College Gameday came to Michigan State, it was 2005. The Spartans were a miserable 5-5. GameDay was not there to witness a clash of titans; they were there to crown Penn State.

This season, ESPN is putting Michigan State on the biggest possible stage. We’re playing for extraordinarily high stakes. We’ll host the Wisconsin Badgers, the usurpers of our rightful 2010 Rose Bowl berth. As you know, MSU is 5-1 and the Badgers are 6-0; both teams are undefeated in-conference. A win would put either school in the driver’s seat to win their B1G division.

Last week, Jim wrote eloquently about the Little Brother mentality. It’s clear that the team has overcome this complex, but have the fans? Saturday will be the true test.

Everyone even casually associated with Michigan State understands the importance of the Michigan rivalry; campus was saturated with fans last week. But do we really play a one-game season, in fans’ minds? Has the team already accomplished everything fans hungered for?

Us Michigan State fans have always held the great teams of Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty dear. We’ve been raised to believe our rightful place in the NCAA hierarchy is at or near the top; we should perennially compete for Rose Bowl berths and occasionally be amongst the best in the land.

The reality’s been different.

The other day, my family went to our dentist. In his hallway, he’s hung a matted and framed aerial photo of the 1988 Rose Bowl. My son eagerly asked questions about it; while answering I heard myself say I was his big sister’s age—seven years old—the last time MSU played in Pasadena.

Last season was very nearly Michigan State’s triumphant return to the top of the Big Ten food chain; this game and the next could right 2010’s wrong. It’s no secret the Marks Dantonio and Hollis aim to elevate Michigan State football back to its lofty historical perch. Part of that means not being satisfied with a winning record, a bowl berth, and beating Michigan. Part of being a perennial conference contender and occasional national contender is understanding the stakes for which our Spartans play.

This game, against this opponent, with each team’s respective records, and a national prime time audience, should be importance enough. Spending all day and all night tailgating before showing up in droves would normally be fine. But Spartan fans have an incredible opportunity to show that not only our team is ready for the national stage, but our school, program, and fans are too.

Really, this is all wasted effort on my part. I don’t know why I’m writing to you. I don’t know why I’m preaching to the choir. You’ll be there. You’ll be wearing your colors and screaming in and out of commercial breaks and you’ll cheer your brains out when the 200th piece of mascot headgear Lee Corso ever dons is a Sparty head.

Don’t worry, I didn’t mean to harangue you, proud and loyal Spartan.

I’m talking to everyone else.

Game Preview: Wisconsin

It's fourth and goal from the one. The Badgers have stopped us on three consecutive attempts into the end zone. We line up in the Power I and Cousins hands off to Caper, except he doesn't. B.J. Cunningham jogs past the defense and into the back of the end zone where Cousins lofts the ball gently into his hands. The Spartans take the lead 34-24 with 2:45 seconds left to go.

Here's another one

Michigan State marches down the field but they're out of timeouts. They march all the way down to the 23 and get a first down with 11 seconds to go. THe hurricane kick unit comes out and it's gonna be close and HOLY CRAP AND A!!!!!!!!

Timeout

Timeout? To ice the kicker? It's totally icing the kicker to call timeout instead of making him rush through a field goal. Except that it's not, it's giving him a chance to relax and go through his normal routine.

Noticing a trend yet, if not, allow me to convince you

Bielema is 14-10 on the road and 10-10 in the Big Ten in road games. His record against top 25 road teams is 2-3(to be fair, I'd bet most coaches aren't better on the road). The Big Ten road teams he beats Iowa, Purdue, Minny and one at Michigan. The ones he loses to OSU, PSU, MSU, Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern. So loses to quality opponents, beats easy ones. Check.

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Wisconsin's Passing Attack vs MSU Pass Defense

Well, Wisconsin's passing attack is led by Russell Wilson. In case you've been living under a Big Ten rock for the past three or four months, he transferred from NC State after deciding he wanted to play for an actual football team. This season he's been 95 of 128 for 14 TD's and a pick. On top of being the Playstation champion of the Big Ten so far, his pocket presence is amazing. During the Nebraska game, I watched him look in the pass rush, both Defensive Ends got good penetration, he simply stepped about eight inches to the right to avoid the defenders looking downfield and fired a pass 20 yards downfield for a first down. So 74 percent completion rating, 14 to 1 TD-INT ratio and amazing pocket presence. We're probably screwed, I'd guess.

Except.

You know, our pass rush isn't too damn bad. You might even say after turning in 16 sacks the last two games, they're pretty damn good. You might even go on to say that there were probably another 5-10 times only the speed of Denard Robinson or Braxton Miller got them away from said sack. Further, Michigan State has eight interceptions on the season, three of which have been returned for touchdowns.

Of course, there is the matter of Will Gholston. He's been beastly in the past two games, maybe even a little too beastly. Simply put, you can't punch a dude, no matter what. I don't expect him to play in this game, nor do I think he should and that sucks.

Advantage: Push(slight lean Wisconsin)

Wisconsin Rushing Attack vs. MSU Run Defense

Wisconsin brings in the seventh ranked rushing offense in the country. The running backs James White and Montee Ball have combined for 25 TDs this season. That's a lot of damn TDs. The rushing game is averaging 29.2 points per game. MSU's total offense is averaging 28 points per game. Their rushing attack is fierce and real.

By contrast MSU's Rushing Defense is averaging giving up 67 yards a carry and has surrendered three touchdowns on the year so far. They have yet to play a rushing offense as strong as Wisconsin's and won't play one again this year. Again, this is a match-up of strength on strength.

Last year MSU held Wisconsin 80 yards below their average on the year for rushing. This year they held Michigan 150 yards below season average, OSU 140 yards below average and even in their loss held ND 80 yards below season average.

Advantage: Push

MSU Passing Attack vs Wisconsin Pass Defense

Wisconsin brings in the fourth ranked pass defense allowing only 146 yards per game with seven interceptions on the year. They have 14 sacks on the year and are absolutely for real. That's stingy.

Cousins has his work cut out for him this week. Last year he played one of the best games of the season going 20 of 29 for 269, 3 TD's and 2 picks. He will need to play that sort of game this week and probably even better for MSU to have a chance at winning. Keshawn Martin will need to build on the success he had during the Michigan game(maybe even avoid fumbling in the open field). It might even be nice to start working our TE's back into the passing game. Cousins will need lots of receiving options on easy routes to take advantage of this Wisconsin pass defense.

Advantage: Wisconsin

MSU Rushing Attack vs Wisconsin Rush Defense

Wisconsin brings in the 42nd ranked rushing defense which is decent, but not impressive. If you consider their best rushing opponent Nebraska tossed up 159 yards on them that looks impressive, until you realize that's 95 yards below their season average.

On the other hand MSU's rushing attack was pretty anemic until last week. They'll need to play another pitch perfect game to take advantage of the Wisconsin defense. Like Michigan, Wisconsin has looked softer on the edges than in the middle which means expect heavy doses of Baker with a bit of Bell sprinkled in for good measure.

Advantage: Wisconsin

Coaching

You didn't think I walked through all the Bielema road-fail so that I could pick him in this section did you?

Advantage: MSU

Overall: Wisconsin is heavily favored in this game and they should be on paper. Statistically, they have the upper hand in almost every category. Still Wisconsin has not yet played an away game and the only quality opponent they've played is a Nebraska team that in my opinion is overrated. They look like Tarzan, but they've only played Jane so far. The Evidence says: 38-21 Wisconsin. THe What-If-Bielema-Choke-You-Always-Play-Cupcakes-And-Have-A-Crappy-Career-Road-Record says: 20-17 MSU.

Let's go with the What-If-Bielema-Choke-You-Always-Play-Cupcakes-And-Have-A-Crappy-Career-Road-Record on this one.

20-17 MSU.

Bonus: Ty and I have been invited to attend a meet and greet with the GameDay crew on Friday afternoon. If you have any questions you want us to ask, leave them in the comments and we will demand answers or #OccupyHerbstreit.

MSU Defense: The Fountain of Youth

There's a second part coming to this post. When, you ask, well I guess you'll just have to wonder about that. Probably next week.

As I was driving home from Saturday's game, I got Chris Vannini's tweet saying that the D-Line two games into the conference season has sacked the opponent's QB a total of 16 times. That's more than most of the NCAA has for the whole season in case you're keeping track at home. They held another strong offense 200 yards below their season average and had a pick six. Simply put, they are good. Like the first time you saw Jurassic Park good.

What was absolutely kicks me in the junk about this defense is how young they are. As Jamie Mac of the Just Cover Blog pointed out, seven of our defensive starters this year are from the class of 2010. (I would argue that Pickelman is more of a starter than Rashad White, but that doesn't really detract from the point.) The point is our defense is stupid young.

After a seasonal defensive performance the likes of which I haven't ever seen, at the end of 2011 we will definitely lose Trenton Robinson, Kevin Pickelman and more than likely lose Jerel Worthy. At the end of 2012 we'll get dinged some more when we lose Johnny Adams, Rashad White and Chris Norman. Here's the amazing thing folks, in 2013, the following players will still be at the positions they're playing today: Marcus Rush, Will Gholston, Denicos Allen, Max Bullough, Darqueze Dennard and Isaiah Lewis. Gholston may go pro, but eh, he's has to settle down some first.

In the class of 2010 we have a few other players who are seeing significant minutes. Kurtis Drummond has been seeing lots of time as our nickel back in our third down package. Tony Lippett has been tabbed as the next two-way player at MSU. Jeremy Langford seems to have found a home at corner grabbing a pick-six against FAU and looks to try and move up the depth chart from there.

We have managed to redshirt the entire class of 2011 save one, Taiwan Jones. Taiwan Jones is a manchild at 6'3" and 234 and has spent his freshman year so far destroying people on kick returns. So in 2011, we're redshirting three LB's, two CB's, 3-4 DT's depending on what position Brandon Clemons ends up at and 2 DE's. It's difficult to expound on how GOOD they'll all be because we haven't seen any of them play. However, ratings, we got 'em. All three and four star kids. I really thought coming into this season that redshirting all but one member of the 2011 class meant that our class needed seasoning, but what's obvious only now is that why bother burning eligibility when you can sit everyone and have them gain more experience?

It's beyond difficult to look at this current defense and not start thinking about if Dantonio has finally got his pieces into place to build the Championship Defense Dantonio has wanted since he came to town in 2006. We are young, we are kicking ass and with redshirting almost our entire defensive class we are going to be as good or better next year. If in 2012 we find ourselves in a position to ask ourselves if our defense is any good or not, it should be a pretty simple question to answer. We can just ask any of the nine returning starters from 2011.

MSU - Michigan: Saturday Night Takeaway

Well, I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this game. The game could have turned on so many points. If Mattison gets the blitz home, if Denard can Denard us, if Cousins shows up as 18 of 22 for 240 and 2 TD's or if Cousins shows up as 11 of 29 for a TD and 3 picks, if our O-Line is crap, if they can't stop the run. Nothing about either team seemed definite enough to base a real solid prediction, but, we tried anyway, because that's what you do when you have a football blog.

The Good

- Our defense is outstanding. They have made sixteen sacks in the first two games of the Big Ten season. MSU still has to face a real solid passing quarterback yet, but this defense has IT. Whatever the hell IT is.

- No sacks surrendered by our Offensive Line. This seems like it's one part adjusting the playbook for quick passes, one part that our Offensive Line is improving. The Offensive Line deserves a shout-out for this. Yes, they need work, but jeez they've stepped up to the challenge so far.

- Sadler may not have the booming leg or the Hagerup coffin corner thing down, but damn if he isn't efficient and he is already playing heady football. The Craig Jarrett Supertoe will come.

- Edwin Baker was found in East Lansing today. Apparently, he had been suiting up for MSU all along? His rushing total of 167 was more than his last four games put together. He did a great job busting the outside runs.

- Keshawn Martin got 3 catches for 31 yards and had some killer blocks in this game. I don't remember him ever being a run blocker of any import, but apparently, he can get the job done when it's time.

- Congrats to Keshawn Martin and Trenton Robinson. These two players will never know the sting of a loss to Michigan. Congrats to the rest of the redshirt senior class.

- I thought that Brady Hoke and his players comments were classy. In a game where we had a lot of thug-ish type penalties, Hoke and his players were complimentary of MSU, each other and gracious in defeat.

The Bad

- Seriously, WTF with the penalties? I understand they're might be a tiny element of intimidation with all of the roughness and I want to see big hits too, but if we were playing a team that was successful in captalizing on those sorts of errors, we'd have lost big. We're VERY lucky those penalties didn't come back to haunt us.

- It was very windy today, so obviously that's the reason we had two open-field fumbles and no interceptions. Baker had one and I think Martin had the other, I had a bad line of sight on that one. To assume Martin had an end around though is generally considered acceptable practice. I have no idea what that was about though.

The Ugly

- Kirk Cousins, 13/24 for 120 and 2 TDs with no picks. That's ugly.

The Takeaway

Our defense is talented, young and kind of stupid. I really hope we can hang onto Narduzzi after this year although, I'm mildly skeptical at this point. This defense is stupid good and Duzzer is gonna get some phone calls. Young and talented will help us vs. Wisky. Stupid will kill us. As obvious as the sun will come up tomorrow something has to be done about those penalties.

Michigan's defense was improved and will continue to improve. I think they will be a bit in flux for the next couple of seasons their D will continue to improve, their O will probably tail off a bit and then build back up. The D will improve because they will continue to get better players each year in the positions. The O will struggle as they make the transition from spread and shred over to MANBALL. I think in 2-4 years they'll be consistently back to playing pro-style offense and power defense.

While I'm enjoying this run of victory and will certainly have these words thrown back in my face the first time we lose, I look forward to making sure Hoke has his pieces in place and that we have ours. When our rivalry game can be about who played the best game and not who limited mistakes most effectively, those should be games that will fuel the rivalry for years to come.

Finally, HOLY SHIT THAT WAS AN AWESOME WIN!

Michigan: Friday Morning Youtubin'!