Just read the first sentence of Detroit Freep Press columnist Shannon Shelton latest article on the Michigan State Spartans. When someone writes that, it is just a feeble attempt at looking for the silver lining.
Michigan State is not finding themselves in these losses. They are inventing new ways to lose close games, but not growing from them. If MSU was growing from them, they wouldn’t have lost another game by less than 4 points this season. Their biggest loss all season is only 8 points. Besides the blowout losses to Ohio State and Penn State last year, Dantonio teams have averaged only losing by less than a TD in all their other losses. Don’t try to fool us Spartan fans and give us hope that we are suddenly going to start winning every single tight game we are in. The track record isn’t good.
I will say that Saturday night’s game against Iowa was probably the most excruciating loss in recent years for Spartan players, coaches, and fans. One of the most memorable plays in Spartan history is now just a footnote. We would have been talking about the hook and lateral on 3rd and 18 for years had it not been for Iowa’s last second score. A last second score that was just too easy. I blame this one mostly on the coaches. I understand that they wanted to pressure Ricky Stanzi into a bad decision, but they also helped make his decision before he snapped the ball. How you line up 8 guys on the line of scrimmage and leave open the entire middle of the field is just stupid. As soon as I saw the alignment, I just knew that it was going to be a simple pitch and catch. Same ol’ Spartans.
A talent differential might not be the deciding factor, but experience could be the issue. Last year, the Spartans won games with late-game heroics (Iowa, Wisconsin most notably), but had veteran leaders to execute those crucial moments. Essentially, MSU is in the midst of a rebuilding campaign, and an inability to close out close games is characteristic of a young team.
You want to use the inexperience factor against Notre Dame, go ahead. But the Spartans have lost two games late this year because of the defense which had 8 returning players this season. Not only is the talent on defense, but so is the experience. Bad play-calling and bad execution has hurt this team. It is on the coaches job to figure that out watching film and pointing things out to the players, and then having them correct it in practice, flawlessly. Michigan State’s defense just has not looked prepared to play shutdown defense late in games.
This is a .500 team this year. Why? Because that is what they are. That is what their record shows. I refuse to believe that this team will ever take the next step…
Until August of next year.
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the breaks did not go the way they wanted to go. at least you know it is what it is now rather than later. jpmanahan(Quote)
fuck the breaks. bad defensive play call. sparty(Quote)
saw the highlight. yeah. he was open. undid the last three good defensive plays before that. jpmanahan(Quote)
I respectfully disagree.
Coach Dantonio is building a program from scratch and this team is progressing. Our defense performed nearly flawlessly on Saturday against what is now the number 4 team in the country. Kirk is still not perfect but is getting more confidence with each game. We still had missed opportunities on offense but you know that Coach D will be sure we learn from them. And the terrible officiating didn’t help. In a game of equals, that was, in the opinion of some, the deciding factor.
If you watched Saturday’s performance and didn’t know anything about the past history of the Spartan football program, you would conclude that two tough, worthy teams fought it out to the bitter end. My friends in Iowa know that they were lucky to escape this one. And if you’re on a bowl committee, looking for a team that can bring a stadium full of fans and put on a great game… you’re looking at the Spartans.
We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out. But from where I sit, this is a program that is on the way up. I’m proud of these kids, proud that we’ve got Coach D in the house, and proud to be a Spartan.
Scott Westerman
Albuquerque, NM
Scott@spartanology.com MSUScottW(Quote)
Don’t get me wrong, i still love these boys, especially Dantonio. but you can’t leave your d-backs on an island like that. i think Dantonio is doing something there much better than anyone else was doing, and that includes Saban. However, 2 of the 3 times this year the defense hasn’t stepped up at the end. let’s not blame it on lack of leadership. also, let’s not write another article about how this is a learning experience for them. there are 3 types of articles that come out each year about the spartans.
1. Dark Horse to win the Big 10
2. Same ol’ Spartans
3. They will learn from this and be better…next year.
Until i see consistent change for the better, i will remain reserved about their future success. sparty(Quote)
There was one other non-call that from my vantage point on Saturday (Sports Book at MGM in Vegas!!!) was critical – the fumble that was blown dead at the MSU 3. For some reason, everyone seems to forget that ridiculous play. State even called a TO to get the play reviewed, but the refs were having none of it.
This year has been really hard to be an Alum. 3 losses like this. It feels like Bobby Williams and John L. are haunting the team this year. How many more ways can they invent to lose a close game??? Milk Money(Quote)
Remainder of Sparty sked:
October 31 at Minnesota
November 7 Western Michigan
November 14 at Purdue
November 21 No. 12 Penn State jpmanahan(Quote)