Profiles of the Big 10: Michigan State

by Jon Johnston on May 19, 2010 8:00 AM CDT in Conference Realignment

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That's the total sum of how I view Michigan State. Not with disdain, nor with any level of affection, but instead a high level of ignorance. Every time I make a list of Big 10 teams, I come up with ten and then have to look up who I've forgotten (oh, the irony). Every time, it's Michigan State.

I've been to Lansing, Michigan. My Mom and I went there when I was about seven or eight years old. We had relatives there, if I remember right, my uncle John. About the only thing I really remember was this black guy coming out to pump our gas, and having a short conversation with Mom. She told him that she'd driven all the way from Nebraska. He responded with:

"You drove all the way from Nebraska? You and that little kid? Lady, you crazy."

Crazy is the key to understanding Michigan State. They know crazy because they are crazy. You never know what you're going to get when you play the Spartans. You might get the team that scores 38 points in a quarter and a half to beat Northwestern in 2006 (setting a record for the biggest FBS comeback in history) or the team that collapses in the fourth quarter, giving up 16 points to lose to Notre Dame.

I've worked with tons of alums from schools all across the nation, and I really can't remember anyone I've worked with from Michigan State. I have to wonder if they ever tell anyone, they stay in Michigan and never leave, or there just aren't many of them around.

The Spartans have had a revolving door at head coach in recent years, ever since Nick Saban left for LSU. They even tried to lure Tom Osborne out of retirement, but Nancy thought Tom would look like a giant piece of broccoli in green. So the revolving door of coaches. The John L. Smith era was most notable for this memorable halftime interview:

If history is any indication, Nebraska would own Sparty. Nebraska has played Michigan State five times and won all five. The first game was in 1914, a 24-0 win. Then in 1920 it was 35-7 Huskers. Then Sparty had the misfortune of playing us in '95 and '96, which resulted in 50-10 and 55-14 wins, respectively. The last game between the two was the 2003 Alamo Bowl which Nebraska won 17-3. Must have been something wrong with the offense that day.

The Spartans have three Big 10 trophies they play for - The Paul Bunyan Trophy in the rivalry against Michigan, the Old Brass Spitoon against Indiana, and the Land Grant Trophy against Penn State. The Land Grant Trophy was started when Penn State joined the Big 10, so it's probably proper that some type of trophy be established for a potential Nebraska - Michigan State match up.

You're welcome to suggest your own trophy in the comments section.

If there is one thing that has salvaged Michigan State athletics, it's their basketball program. Tom Izzo has taken the Spartans to six Final Four's, winning the 2000 National Championship. Sounds kind of like the Kansas of the rust belt.

Nebraska owes a dept of gratitude to Michigan State. Husker coaching legend Bob Devaney got his start in college coaching under Michigan State's Duffy Daugherty. Daugherty was offered the Nebraska job, but turned it down. If I remember correctly, Daugherty recommended to Devaney that he take the job (as well as recommending him for the job) and leave Wyoming, where he was the head coach.

One of Daugherty's most famous games was in 1966, in which the Spartans were ranked #2 and faced #1 Notre Dame. The game ended in a 10-10 tie when Irish coach Ara Parseghian played for the tie to preserve Notre Dame's national title bid. Parseghian was accused of being a coward and never lived it down.

Given the intervention that lead Devaney to Nebraska, it's hard to hate on Michigan State all that much, although I'm sure we could come up with some reasons were we to play them on a regular basis.

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My sole trip to East Lansing

was one long ride, followed by a few cold hours of sleep. Gameday consisted of driving onto a pretty nice campus, parking in a sea of tailgaters with little trouble finding parking. We were treated well walking through Spartan-land, and I was impressed with both the size and condition of the stadium.
As we’ve discussed, there are always a few bastards that ruin it for everyone else. I was cursed at several times out of the blue while getting a hotdog or taking a piss. ( I was attending an Iowa game wearing a Hawkeye shirt that ws a gift from in-laws)
Mostly, the fans were decent though. I remember a few hostile glances at kickoff, but those same people turned rather friendly after MSU had the game in hand. Actually, the lady behind us was far more vocal about her own QB. “GOD DAMN YOU SMOKER!!!!” and " THROW THE BALL SMOKER!!!" Somehow, I think that my experience would have been worse if Iowa had won, but I could be wrong…
All that green is pretty impressive in person, and actually kind of reminded me of Lincoln in a way.

"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"

GO BIG RED!

by Brian Speers on May 19, 2010 8:27 AM CDT reply actions

This

That’s the total sum of how I view Michigan State. Not with disdain, nor with any level of affection, but instead a high level of ignorance. Every time I make a list of Big 10 teams, I come up with ten and then have to look up who I’ve forgotten (oh, the irony). Every time, it’s Michigan State.

That’s how fans of the teams already in the conference feel about them, too. Them and Purdue.

Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.

by Patrick Vint on May 19, 2010 8:57 AM CDT reply actions

Now there are some Spatan fans out there

In fact even own a hat because have a friend that is a DIE HARD fan. Even Has sparty tattoed on his back. After spending years hanging out with him became a fan by just feeling sorry for him. The only comparision that I can give you is this, the fans are like cub’s fans without the world knowing about them. If you want more about MSU let me know and will do a fanpost. The Head coach is actually a pretty interesting guy.

by huskermic on May 19, 2010 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

add it

to the comments section… i would think, rather than a fanpost on this one. that way the information will stay together for the rest of time (or as long as this web site exists)

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on May 19, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

O lord I ment to spell it Spartan

Sorry just woke up

by huskermic on May 19, 2010 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

Their head coach is to put it nicely

OLD SCHOOL. For instance the first year that he was the head coach there after the green and white game they have a banquet to honer the players. The winners got a steak dinner and the losers got hot dogs. He said that it will install a will to win and to be better and it has shown. Every year that he has been the head coach they have improve on all spectors of the game and they should be in my mind. The third best team in the big 10 this year.

by huskermic on May 20, 2010 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

I really doubt that Mich St will be the 3rd best Big 10 team this year.

Dantonio has toughened them up and they are no longer as schizophrenic as they used to be, however I think at best they’ll be the 5th best B10 team this year. Cousins is a fun qb to watch though.

by HawkeyeRecon on May 21, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions