Election day

If you're eligible you're probably going to vote for president some time today (if you haven't already).  The event gave me an idea for a discussion.

At this stage of the Spartan football season who would you vote for?

National Awards - are there any legitimate contenders for these awards this year on our team? Who and why? (Don't forget coaches)

Conference Awards - Same as above.

Team Awards - Who is the MVP on offense/defense?  Best senior/junior/sophomore/freshman?

Let's see your votes.

Comments

[Kevin]

I say Swenson for the Lou Groza award!

[MSUSoph2011]

I would say Javon Ringer for Team MVP and Big Ten POY, but I am sure that Ringer, and quite a few others will vote Blair for Team MVP. Way to rep the "Nasty" Blair!
Javon should be invited for the hiesman voting, but probably in the bottom 2. It's a QB year in Texas!
Brett will be a finalist for Lou Groza.
Greg Jones could be talked about for best LB a little in the country, but def. in the Big Ten. And thats about it.

Go Green.

[mikewright]

I would say the refs, who penalized MSU right down the field twice for the winning scores, for the Spartan of the Week award. Never seen a team awarded a victory that deserved it less than the Spartans last Saturday. It's obviously State's year, when things like that happen.

[Spartan4life33]

It's funny to hear people complain about how State got lucky in the Wisconsin game, because the exact opposite has been happening to us for sooo long. It's about time we caught some breaks, all the good teams do. It's better to be lucky than good.

[LeeBee]

Dantonio has to be up for B10 coach of the year but may lose out to UMinn. Unless we beat PSU and then maybe in the running for national coach of Year.
Swenson and Ringer, that is about it for consistent game to game performances.

I noticed on TV that the announcers were surpised that Wiscy wan't called more for the obvious interference tactics. Their game plan was stop the run by playing up, and bump the receivers (even if illegally) when MSU tried to pass.

Spartam -- I agree. I remember too many times outplaying teams only to lose the game via a freak play or bit of luck at the end of the game. It was our turn, and about damn time.

[Stan]

Gotta be Ringer for everything offensive, at least teamwise. He may or may not get invited to New York, although Shonn Greene deserves it.

Defensive is interesting. Wiley has some amazing games, and some not so great. Jones is a pretty consistent force. Decker has to get some consideration for that play against Iowa alone.

Coach has done a great job, and if they win out, he's gotta be coach of the year in the conf, and get some props nationally ...

[bradford]

dantonio for big ten coach of the year. although minnesota's is also up there (brewster?). dont know about any other kickers, but swenson should be the groza winner.

[JT]

mikewright...I just watched the MSU-UW game on TV after seeing it live and I think all those calls and more should have been made. Also, I caught the Illinois-UW game on B10 today and saw quite a few maulings. As far as National awards, only Ringer and Swenson will be in that mix, but on a conference level Wiley, Jones, White, and a few O-Lineman could stake a claim to being noticed for their work.

[wc]

Since we have no mention of any specific lineman. I will give you 2 for all big ten. Nitchman and Martin. Cironi 2nd team Big Ten.

DB's Wiley 2nd team, Rucker 2nd team Adams honorable mention.

[TheOldestIzzoneMember]

Mikewright,
Are you under the impression that scUM has stopped all intercollegiate sports? It would be understandable considering their level of play, but I'm pretty sure they have a few more games to lose... Why don't you go comiserate with your fellow rodents.

GO GREEN!

[Big Joke]

As for the less than intelligent comment:

I would say the refs, who penalized MSU right down the field twice for the winning scores, for the Spartan of the Week award. Never seen a team awarded a victory that deserved it less than the Spartans last Saturday.

Just look how the ohio state luckeyes won their national title against Miami not too long ago--a horrible QB who is now relegated to narrator for used car ads on the radio, a felon running back named Maurice (team should have been stripped of the title for this situation but the NCAA must have been paid off) and LOTS of luck added up to a national title. YES, sometimes it is better to be "lucky" than good...

[SpartyOn]

At this stage in the MSU football season I would vote for Obama for President. Today is the only day of the year you'll ever hear the words 'Michigan' and 'go blue' in the same sentence.

[SpartyOn]

...from me

[spartanforever]

Ringer=MVP,period.defence player of year-co-Wiley,Jones,Rucker,Oren Wilson-Kershaw.

Special=Swenson

offensive player of the year:
The offensive line.

Players I admire for their special
play:the 2008/09 MSU football team.

[j.wag]

offence javon ringer special teams brett swenson defence jeremy ware

[LouisvilleSpartan]

For the team award, all 16 departing seniors should be given a group award for everything they did and went through.

They had to endure the JLS era, which was bad enough.
But on top of that, they had to adjust to a completely different system under MD from spread to power-running.

But they did one heck of job moving on from the JLS era and adjusting to MD's system.
And look at where they are right now. They are now in a position to control their destiny in Big10 title with 8-2 record!!!

Of course, all their achievements this season are all because of the team efforts.
But no one can deny the important leadership role the seniors must have played in the process.

So kudos to all departing seniors for the GREAT job they have done so far!!!

I am hoping the Purdue game will be a blowout win for MSU so all the seniors will have a chance to step on the field.

Go Green!!!

[rexrode(evil twin)]

i think Swenson for Lou Groza should be a lock. the Mich game was not even close to being his fault. i mean if you miss a 50 yarder by just an inch into the wind thats still pretty impressive. i loved watching that dope woolvy try to run it back and cost his team 20 yards!
if Brewster wasnt pulling off the biggest turnaround in CFB than i would put Dantonio up for coach of the year in a second. Minn is coasting through one of the easiest schedules in football. but like every other team giving a good effort in the big ten, its not thier fault its still an overall weak conference.

[Idaho Spartan]

I don't know about the Heisman but based on yarda and Touchdowns Ringer should be near the top of the Doak Walker award.

Also I noticed Wiley is a a finalist for the Thorpe Award

[Rooster]

MVP -Ringer/Swensen on O-Rucker/Jones on D
Best senior -Hoyer for holding the team together, and for his leadership!
Best Freshman-Adams
Best Junior -B. White

[Danny]

Team Awards
Offensive MVP: Ringer.. obviously
Defensive MVP: Ringer.. because he kept the ball away from the other teams offense all year
Special Teams MVP: Swenson obviously
Conference Awards
Big Ten Offensive POY: Ringer
Big Ten Special Teams POY: Swenson
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Dantonio
National Awards
Heisman Finalist: Ringer
Doak Walker: Ringer
Lou Groza: Swenson

[zing]

Swenson was snubbed by the Lou Groza committee. Let's do the right thing and let this guy (Charlie Dunn) know that his committee made a HUGE mistake by leaving Swenson of the list of 20 nominees.

cdunn@palmbeachsports.com

[MSULordyoda]

It's too bad according to Rexrode that they snubbed Swenson on the Groza because they're complete idiots. Go read Joe's Blog for the weak ass explanation why Swenson didn't make the cut.

[zing]

I read the blog...thus my posting on this blog.

[mikewright]

To Big Joke: Your response to my comment was excellent. Your remarks regarding the Buckeyes national title were accurate and precise. Good job, Big Joke. You know what you are talking about -- and being lucky IS better than being good! mike