Bleeding Green

Rather Hall Brawl

I've always thought that violence had one core intention:  destruction.  24/7 TV and video-game violence pretty well confirm that many, many people will wallow in orgiastic violence half their waking hours.  And, for the truly committed it seems like an all-day-every-day addiction. 

But, I'm an outsider; just not that interested in it.  Ultimatetly, watching college football is about as violent a thing as I experience in life.  Besides, I've never seen anything in pro sports that approximates the quality of most people who show up in Spartan Stadium, so I leave pro football and pro sports in general to those who like things a little angrier, a little more violent, and too often a lot more egophrenic , i.e., "It's all about me all the time no matter what the cost to you." 

College football and college sports in general focus on lots of goals and aspirations that go beyond our most base and violent curiosities and obsessions.  For me it's a place where a person consciously climbing Maslow's hierarchy can make a little sense of the world, whether or not you're an athlete. 

But, here's the deal:  How is it that so many young men on the MSU football team are so ill-prepared to spend four years in an environment where violence has long been a rare blip on the radar?  Why MSU footbball players over and over? Do we simply not know who these recruits are at any level when they arrive?  Or, are we  failing to transition them into functional levels of adulthood despite massive resources in the football program? 

Maybe inner-city deprevation, violence and marginalization make the bridge to East Lansing just too big to cross.  Or, are college football programs just one-dimensional you're-a-stud-now-go-destroy stupid boxes these kids crawl into for four years, just as the old stereotype always suggested?  Help me out here.  I just don't get it.

EYE TEST, UNC vs. MSU

Sometimes you cannot get a complete picture of a team by looking at wins and losses, and other numbers.  A good team also needs to pass the eye test.

So, without diving into the numbers and without dissecting Tom Izzo's remarks about the game I'd like to share a few thoughts about how it looks to me.

Specifically about the game last night:

1.  The length of UNC really bothered the Spartan perimeter players when shooting from the outside.  The UNC defenders were able to get their hands and fingertips on a few shots early and it seemed obvious to me that it caused MSU shooters to think twice before every perimeter jump shot, and hesitation rarely produces great shooting percentages.

2. MSU was surprisingly close to winning that game late because of their full court pressure and a costly UNC turnover under the basket.  My heart sunk when Lucas and Morgan collided on the steal in the back court.  That four point swing almost put it out of reach, but another turnover and a few Lucas drives kept them within striking distance.  The real nail in the coffin was the two offensive rebounds off of missed free throws after Roe and Green fouled out.

  Side question for debate...  Knowing that UNC has young, turnover prone guards should Izzo have unleashed a little full court pressure earlier than desperation time?  It looked like the Tarheels really had a hard time with it.

3. Delvon Roe and Draymond Green have excellent ball skills and handled those very large post players quite well.  Even though UNC scored in the post both of those defenders forced some very difficult shots. It was Ed Davis' and Deon Thompson's night.  Garrick Sherman is not quite strong enough to  handle those two guys.  I was shouting at the tv "Help, help, help" every time they caught the ball in the post with him defending and they scored on him repeatedly.

As far as the season goes so far:

1. Delvon Roe is quite the athlete, a nice improvement from last year.

2. Raymar is playing desperate and I love it.  He is determined to leave a positive mark on this program.

3. This years version is not as tough defensively as last years.  They are more athletic.

4. This years version does not execute that well in the half court compared to typical Izzo teams.  The fast break is better.

5. They are incredibly fun to watch.

This is what my eyes see, what do yours?

Hoops and "Sports Therapy"

I'm glad hoops season is about to take over MSU sports headlines after a tough senior day in Spartan Stadium.  That "Ouch!" feeling -- with a light case of "What next?" paranoia -- from the second-half debacle with PSU is starting to recede with help from a rock-solid Izzo team set to overtake Jud Heathcoat's MSU total-wins record this weekend.  Great therapy for an improved attitude and confidence regained in the Spartans.

Moving on to one fantastically promising hoops season, Florida this Friday will probably be nearly as challenging as Gonzaga last week.  Then on Saturday MSU will play either UMASS or Rutgers.  The four teams' records are (with opposing teams' current records in parentheses for some clue about the quality of competition):

MSU (4-0) - MSU v. Florida Gulf Coast (0-3) W 97-58, v. Gonzaga (3-1) W 75-71, v. Toledo (0-3) W 75-62, v. Valpo (1-3) W 90-60

Florida (3-0) - UF v. Stetson (1-3) W 74-46, v. Georgia Southern (1-3) W 69-49, v. Troy (2-1) W 80-58

UMASS(2-2) - UMASS v. UCF (4-1) L 84-67, v. Cornell (2-1) L  74-61, v. Arkansas-Fort Smith (no ESPN.com web page, campus web site shows 1-1 record) W 94-68

Rutgers (2-1) - RU v. Marist (0-2) W 74-67, v. Drexel (0-3) W 58-56, Vermont (2-1) L 77-71

It looks like all four team were scheduled to beat up on light early-season competition and only MSU-Gonzaga jumps out as a worthy challenge given the in-conference competition they'll all  face in January.  My guess is that MSU-Florida will parallel the Gonzaga game where Spartan depth outlasted a solid competitor.  UMASS looks wobbly on the surface with sizable losses to UCF and Cornell.  And, Rutgers seems to compare with IU or Iowa -- in rebuilding mode as they struggle against modest competition. 

How do you see the weekend unfolding?

Football, hoops & hockey

Grid iron: A 7-5 record was my minimum goal for the regular season. IF we have an A-game night against Penn State as with Michigan (till the last four minutes), then we win. The crowd is often awesome for MSU-PSU at night. But, if the sieve reemerges in the Spartan secondary, I may have to go find a big redwood to bang my head against, while I ponder if I’m ready to fly to Phoenix or San Antonio to play an Oklahoma or such in the Insight or Alamo Bowl. (That’s making the very reasonable assumption that UM doesn’t win against OSU and we’re not Detroit-bound.)

Hoops: Did you see that first half against Gonzaga? Coach Few must have modeled that start after UNC’s in the NCAA final: Punch the daylights out of MSU in the first half and hope they don’t wake up till deep in the second half. I thought I'd been teleported back to Ford Field. It came way too close to working for Gonzaga and I don’t doubt for a minute that Coach Izzo is pumping up our new centers with every resource he can find to stop the madness and make sure we're the ones hitting hard in the first half. It’s going to be interesting to watch this sort out prior to the Big Ten season.

Hockey: Hasn’t this been a timely and fun early season? My Spartan world was due for a big lift. And, I can hold a huge grin inside for a couple of months when we beat up on UM like last weekend…twice! Spartan fans, and now maybe even USC (football) and Duke (hoops), have learned to be cautious with their enthusiasm for the sake of their sanity. But, I am really happy as clams that this team has bounced back so astoundingly and quickly, after a 2008-2009 season we all want to forget.

Where among these possibilities are you putting your Spartanism these days? Got any high hopes you think are defendable?

Replacing Seniors

A while back we saw an article about how defense will keep this version of the Spartans from cutting down the nets.  Most of that talk as come along with how much we are actually losing from last year's seniors defensively.

Spartan basketball talk; Coble out

I remember listening to Kevin Coble give an interview after Northwestern beat MSU last year about how he practices "those shots."  Come on, you remember how every leaning circus bank shot fell on a night that Northwestern was obviously destined to win.

Coming out of a dark and deflating Halloween night…

This week I’ve watched some of the football recaps and commentaries on BTN regarding a dark night in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. I get the feeling that the BTN crew is as mystified by MSU’s strange, volatile, and often flat-footed night in Minneapolis as our fans and the coaching staff were. Then there was that rather full moon overhead, with a thousand ghouls in the bleachers, and suddenly Spartans everywhere are wondering if next year we can possibly get stabilized at the top of the Big Ten.

However, the dark side of things is always a slippery slope, so I’m going to try to look up a bit toward Izzo and hoops, as well as the future of the Dantonio era. And, there’s some very good early-season success on the hockey rink too with a 6-2-0 record and respectable ranking, so I actually do find myself breathing easier again.

Getting back to the grid-iron front, I’ve looked back at our recent trend in recruiting and saw that the Spartan class of 2010 is looking balanced and could still collect as much talent as the 2009 class. This means, building on the change of culture over the past three years, the future really could be very bright. Nonetheless, it’s apparent that we need to pick up some receivers and will continue to look for a four-star running back. I’m really happy with the class and its balance at this point and am confident we’ll have another top-25 class by early 2010. Still, I’m not so pie-in-the-sky that I’d suggest we’re where we need to be on pass defense. "Ouch!" for the season. That’s got to get fixed and fast, just like our first-and-goal "offense."  Double ouch!

On the hoops side of things, of course, we’ve had some injuries and flu, but nothing to take any of our richly talented guys out for long. Naturally, I’m getting ready to flip my Spartans switch over to the Brez’ by Thanksgiving. As with last year, even in an increasingly talented Big Ten, this looks like a very promising season filled with tough, but beatable, competition. It should be a gas to watch.

Finally, on the recruiting front Izzo and staff have taken it to Calipari and Kentucky twice in a week and we’re off to the start of a great 2011 with Bandan Kearney committed to MSU. And, Adreian Payne’s commitment last week should put us in the top five nationally for 2010. So, I’m pulling out my Sparty cap for the gym again and thinking we’ll survive 10/31/09. I’m expecting the Spartans will look like they've come out of the stupor too on Saturday versus WMU and then get ready for a very, very volatile Purdue.

OK, after the darkness, is anyone else starting to catch a silver lining in the big picture here?

Bring Back the Cow!

Yes, I'm serious, I would like to see a big fat Spartan cow at football games at Spartan Stadium. Hear me out on this.

HIstorically, in the early days of Spartan football, it was customary to bring a cow to such spirited events as a victory party or maybe even a good bar mitzvah. Putting one on the ice during a hockey game would have been cool too, I think.

I'm almost finished reading Rexrode's book, which is quite good if I may say so. I''m surprised he doesn't plug it more. I would have liked to have reprinted the portion here, but I don't have Rexrode's permission and he could get mad at me. Anyway, in his book he describes the chaos of East Lansing after a big win against the Evil Empire (AKA U of M). At one point things got so out of hand that the joyous Spartans started setting things on fire, including the barn of some big wig on campus. The big concern came the next day when they couldn't find the cow after the barn had burned to the ground. It turned out that the cow was out with a bunch of other Spartans at the train station greeting the football team coming back from the game in Ann Arbor. I think a keg or two of beer might have been involved.

What a great tradition.

I think they had to let the cow stay at the Brody complex after that. In fact, she can probably still be found there, somewhere in the basement.

Consider the cow as a symbol of our true agrarian roots as the nation's first school of agriculture. Now I'm not saying get rid or Sparty, i just think he would look real good either riding a cow into Spartan Stadium or just running around the field with her.

I think that could have been even better entertainment than some of our football games under previous Coaches.

Come one, who's with me? If not a cow what else? I know we have cows somewhere on campus. I saw them just last week on a Big Ten Tailgate episode. They're just laying around on water beds doing nothing.

I say, let's get the cows busy. The economy needs them to pull their fair share. And besides, it would be way too cool.

Steve in Kentucky

Green Chutes

I figured after a game like that, Spartans everywhere could use a little pick-me-up. First though, let’s dispense the usual negative drivel everyone else is spewing.

Coach Izzo to shave head at Spartan Stadium before game with Iowa!

This is my prediction based on absolutely no inside information and just a small hunch based on some comments that appeared somewhere said by someone.

If this is not the "surprise" that has been hyped, then just what in the heck could it be?

I want to hear Spartan Nation thoughts on my prediction or perhaps other predictions on just what the "big surprise" could be.

GO GREEN!

Steve in Kentucky

Coach Izzo to shave head at Spartan Stadium before game with Iowa!

This is my prediction based on absolutely no inside information and just a small hunch based on some comments that appeared somewhere said by someone.

If this is not the "surprise" that has been hyped, then just what in the heck could it be?

I want to hear Spartan Nation thoughts on my prediction or perhaps other predictions on just what the "big surprise" could be.

GO GREEN!

Steve in Kentucky

Live chat with video: Talkin' Spartans with Barry Kiel & Joe Rexrode

Coming at 2 p.m. Eastern today on LSJ.com & GreenandWhite.com: LSJ.com Assistant Sports Editor, Barry Kiel and MSU beat reporter, Joe Rexrode discuss the upcoming match-up at home against Iowa and last week's win against Northwestern on this week's episode of Talkin' Spartans. 

Live video broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern, with an interactive live chat running during the show.

Where from here...

…with four home games and two winnable road games remaining?  Looking back I think MSU has the record it earned, but it’s making amends for its porous defense in games 2 through 4. 

Where we've been so far first, and then forward toward the second half of the season: 

Montana State – the mismatch we would have expected,
Central Michigan – I was there for that game and on September 12 CMU was the better team.  Lot’s of problems:  We didn’t have a response on defense, setting up a loss where a one-in-100 perfect onside kick, a leaky Spartan secondary, and stupid MSU penalties all landed their way.   How on Earth does CMU get more discipline out of their sometimes academically-challenged recruits than MSU gets of some really smart kids?  I don’t get it.
Notre Dame - I think MSU is now the better team.  But, on September 19 it was more of a toss-up and our D wasn’t up to Claussen yet.  (Of course, ND is still a bit overrated, but that statement may be redundant somehow.)
Wisconsin – after the Badgers’ performance at OSU, despite the quirky loss on a few big plays, I think MSU would probably lose to Wiscy this year seven out of ten times. 
Michigan – I absolutely think MSU is the better team.  Iowa tried to give Michigan the game, but they tried much harder to give it back.  UM is unimpressive, despite a questionable win over “powerhouse” Indiana and a couple of late Forcier miracles.  The young QB is the key to their early success.  Without him saving them game after game, I doubt the remaining season goes as well as their first four games, especially in view of how teams have now learned to batter him flat at 185 pounds.
Illinois – not very telling, except for a very nice fast start for MSU in the first half.  But, then where did the Spartan finesse and intensity go?  Meanwhile, Illinois is a mess.  I actually wish Ron Zook could turn it around.  Still, more stupid Spartan penalties; simply not acceptable.
Northwestern – has proved nothing.  They weren’t too bad at home against Minnesota, but they’ve had a really hard time with a weak schedule.  I think this time MSU, in contrast with the past couple of E.L. game versus the Wildcats, will not show up flat and ill-prepared.  Erratic preparation under John L was a feast for them, but that’s gone. 
Iowa – anybody’s game.  It comes down to which Spartans and which Hawkeyes show up.  If it’s the Spartans who swarmed over Michigan and Illinois is the first halves of those games, this could become a very interesting season.  If it’s the D and the penalties of the CMU game, I'm going to contemplate tossing them off a local bridge. 
Minnesota – I see another down-to-the-wire shootout.  IF we can control penalties we’re definitely in the game.  If not, ouch!
Western Michigan – not what they were expected to be.  I think we will continue to grow the gap between this year’s Spartans and the non-CMU branch of the MAC.
Purdue – the trend is good looking toward the game in West Lafayette.  Purdue turnovers will likely override even a Spartan penchant for dorky, unwarranted penalties. 
Penn State – beatable, no question, they are beatable.

How do we end up?  With a couple of last-minute miracles against the right teams we’re 9-3.  If penalties continue to nullify our passing game, we’re 7-5.  But, I guess I’ll bet on 8-4 and maybe tying for third place with Iowa in the Big Ten, which assumes they lose at Wisconsin this weekend.  Bowl-wise, maybe it’s the Alamo or even the Insight, since we’re not the best candidate for Orlando/Champs after visiting two years in a row, and OSU, Wisconsin and Iowa may soak up the Rose, Capital One and Outback.  I’m ok with the Insight – a lot of fun and a short flight to Phoenix if I can work it in. 

OK, fellow prognosticators, how do you see this panning out? 

Live chat with video: Talkin' Spartans with Barry Kiel & Joe Rexrode

Coming at 2 p.m. Eastern today on LSJ.com & GreenandWhite.com: LSJ.com Assistant Sports Editor, Barry Kiel and MSU beat reporter, Joe Rexrode discuss the upcoming match-up against Northwestern and last week's game against Illinois on this week's episode of Talkin' Spartans. 

The week 7 live video broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern, with an interactive live chat running during the show.

Dantonio Gets It!

Early this week when I read that Coach Dantonio had redirected the same old boring UM conversation in an interview with WJR AA alums, ostensibly about MSU, back to the Spartans and away from UM I breathed a deep sigh of relief.  I believe it's time we grew up and decided as a fan community to live or die on our own merits.  Any willingness on our part to vie with UM's narcissistic sports culture will always be an exercise in futility.  There is no real self-respect in a culture of arrogance, therefore, to seek any element of respect there as an outsider grossly misses the point.

It's just a starling contrast.  While back there for the CMU game I was reminded again of what cool people Spartan fans and the campus community generally are.  When I'm around UM alums here, in MI, or I find myself in AA (holding my nose) I'm struck with the opposite response:  everything is about one-upping everyone else, seemingly at all times, in all contexts, and so pointlessly.  It is a sadistic habit of that local culture that is hardly reserved for Spartans.  I've had ND, OSU, ILL, IU, Cal, etc. fans and alums point it out too.  And, they comment about how likable and decent the Spartan fan base is, and how passionate.  

Getting back to Dantonio, he brilliantly stops it in its tracks:  "Pride before the fall," and (paraphrasing), "You're missing the point, dude:  What's all this about UM? I thought you invited me to talk about the Spartans' season."  If we all set out to dismiss all things AA-dysfunctional (i.e., their entire sports culture) just as they stonewall all things not AA-self-absorbed, we will certainly then be on the advantaged end of the playing field.  So, I propose we carefully and consciously put on that same bored look for them that they put forth toward the rest of the world.  That athletics program does nothing to warrant our attention or respect, so can we just bag the attachment and let that SE Michigan nightmare just collapse under its own stench?