Winding down, starting up

November will see the end of the Spartan football regular season and the beginning of the basketball season.

On Saturday the Boilermakers will roll into town fresh off of a win against Michigan.  They'll be as confident as a win over Michigan can make a team (Toledo hasn't beat anyone since their triumph in Ann Arbor).  Then the team gets a bye week before a possible shot at the Big Ten title at Happy Valley against a team that will likely be ranked in the BCS top 3.

Izzo's boys will get started officially on the 16th at home against Idaho.  The Spartan schedule, like their roster, is stacked and should make for an interesting season, hopefully ending in Detroit.

Don't forget about the ladies.  The Spartan women tip off two days earlier against Niagara.

How do you feel about this transitional time of year?  Are there other sports you're looking forward to following?

P.S.  MSU Hockey is 4-2-2 with a trip to Columbus coming up this week (I remembered).

Comments

[Doug]

Thanks for remembering the hockey team. This is one of the best times of year as football, basketball, and hockey are all active and have news to talk about. I can't wait for Wednesday's exhibition opener for the men's basketball team. It'll be nice to see them against strange competition instead of just playing against each other.

[Spartan4Life]

As I read, "Are there other sports you're looking forward to?" I'm thinking, well yes, hockey. Then I scrolled down and BAM! You had it covered, nice.

Also, I am pumped for the Big 10 and NCAA soccer tourneys. This afternoon the #25 Spartans beat #6 Northwestern to win the regular season Big 10 title for the first time in MSU history. It was also Coach Baum's last regular season game as head coach. He has been with the team for 32 years. What a way to go out!

[Debbie in Tucson]

What are the details on the Wednesday exhibition??? Will it be on BTN?

Debbie Castillo (Zumwalt)

MSU '96

[vnflcards]

I'm waiting for Basketball season and Gears of War 2.

[rexrode (evil Twin)]

its bittersweet for me because as much as i love basketball, my fav is football. it always seems to just go by in a blur (white). sorry. it feels like just yesterday i was clamoring for the kickoff to the Cal game, and i could have never imagined the season would be going this well. we started with a tough loss and odds are we will end on a sour loss (in the regular season) but my hopes are high and as soon as our Jan 1st bowl game is over and the tourney has finished up. i will have a fresh case of football fever all summer long awaiting the kick off against Montana State.

[Lycurgus]

Well, the nice thing is that we still have football to look forward to. Don't get me wrong; I frequently attend MSU men's basketball games, women's basketball games & hockey games. {One sport you didn't mention was volleyball, and MSU has a great team this yr; I'm going to try & make it to their game after the football game Saturday}

Point is, typically this time of year it's ONLY the other sports which are on MSU fans' minds. Normally, football season has been shot to hell & they're just going thru the motions to play out the string. Thankfully, Dantonio is changing that trend the past 2 seasons. Not only that, but it's nice to know they ARE going to a Bowl game, no matter what, and a prestigious one @ that. No reason this team shouldn't reach 9 wins this season for the first time in 10yrs. No more "Gee, if they win 4 straight games to finish out the season, they could go to the Motor City Bowl" nonsense.

Purdue is the weakest team MSU has faced in EL since Eastern Michigan. Painter is banged up, and if he can't go they'll have to start the youngster in his 1st start on the road. Granted, his performance vs. the wolvies was commendable, but you have to also remember that U-M's defense is awful. I think many of them have thrown in the towel - something many MSU teams in the past were accused of.

Anyway, with any luck the score will allow Cousins, Anderson, Jimmerson, Legget & other back-ups to get on the field. The bye week comes at a good time as MSU has a lot of players who are dinged up. A win over Purdue and a good showing against Penn State & I'll be one satisfied Spartan fan!

Thus spake Lycurgus

[susanne]

BB season only reminds me that football is winding down.....

[thebomb]

Don't look past Purdue. While their defense didn't show up against Michigan, it held Ohio State to 16 and Penn State to only 20. And look out for Justin Siller too, that was a very impressive start that he had against the Wolverines. Purdue's record could have easily been reversed if Painter hadn't choked this year, or if they had put in Siller earlier. Purdue still has some teeth and they will be fighting hard as they mathematically haven't been eliminated from bowl contention.

[Michael Motta]

I follow all MSU sports now that we can via the internet and the BTN. In addition to men's soccer, field hockey is very strong nationally (as usual) and along with women's soccer will be starting the Big Ten Tournament very soon. The BTN will be televising a lot of this action. MSU is a four seed in women's soccer and a three seed in field hockey. My guess is that the field hockey team should be in the NCAAs already, but women's soccer may have to win a match or two in the Big Ten tourney in order to qualify.

Cross-country is strong nationally (particularly the women) and heading for the NCAAs. Obviously football is going bowling. Volleyball has been inconsistent, but is brimming with young talent. Rathje's season-ending injury may prove to be too much to overcome for the youthful team that shows promise for the future. Fortunately, I believe she just barely (in terms of games played) qualified for a medical redshirt.

Both golf teams continue to rank in the Top 25, which may make us overall the best northern golf school.

Obviously, hockey has started, and the hockey team is in a similar youth situation to the volleyball team (fortunately without a devastating injury to a key player). I've been impressed that we've started so well without any cupcakes on the schedule and playing seemingly endless freshmen.

I have to admit that while I look at tennis results on occasion, it seems to be a difficult college sport to figure out exactly what's what. I'm pretty weak on swimming too. Both sports have been going on though.

Women's basketball is a preseason #3 pick in the Big Ten. Men's basketball seems to be getting more play nationally (I've seen #6 and #7 preseason rankings) than it is for the Big Ten title. Maybe that's because Izzo is such a good NCAA's coach.

The future is as bright as it's ever been for Sparty!

[Sparty in Columbus]

Is the MSU bball game on Wed going to be on BTN?? I checked the BTN schedule online and it says they're going to show volleyball. I need to see our boys play!

[Stan]

I would agree the sentiments of all who are just happy we're not hoping to win out in football to make the motor city bowl. i love detroit, i have friends and family there and defend it constantly to people who say what a dump it is ... but there shouldn't be a bowl there. I'm just going to be happy w/ our minimal expectations this year before we expect to win the conference every year (like hoops).

also, i would love to see other sports, but really only volleyball plays out well on tv. many others are fun, but usually only in person (unless you played them).

[Mike M]

I don't have the time or energy to follow women's sports, although I'm glad MSU has good teams. I think I'm more turned off by them as a result of them being force fed to me via CBS and ESPN, particularly during the NCAA basketball tournament.

Anyway, the current "experts" have us in the Capital One bowl against Georgia or LSU. I guess the downside of overacheiving this season is a bowl game that is perhaps a bit over our heads.

That being said we COULD beat a Georgia or LSU, but we'd have to play a near perfect game and catch them napping. There is still a talent gap between us and the nation's top teams. Looking at next sesaon's recruits we're closing that gap, but we're still at least 2 years away from seeing the depth and top talent needed to compete for a national championship.

Coach D has done an incredible job getting this team to 8-2 in just his second season. I hope he's as committed to staying here and building a program as he seems to be.

I agree that the bye week is coming at a great time for us. Let's take care of business with Purdue this weekend and get prepared and healthy for a shot at the Big Ten championship!

GO GREEN!

[Rooster]

thebomb
You are 'right on' in your post..we should be very focused this Saturday as Purdue has a good football team and Stiiler may be a freshman, but he throws like a senior! Add to it Cory Sheets at RB and we will have to play our best to win...and have a chance at the BT title.
I watched the M-Purdue game on replay last night, and they are a solid team. This is no time to talk about playing the bench!
BBall and football for me...looking forward to the BBall game at Ford Field.

[spartan fan]

Another one for "the Bomb." Right on. Purdue must not be over looked. One game at a time; PSU will take csre of itself. We are 9-2 going into Happy Valley if the O line shows up and the D can contain Shiller this Saturday.

FOCUS ON PURDUE

[richard anthony]

This is a time of the year for Spartan sports fans that eyes usually are riveted on the upcoming basketball season (Izzo & company). But, Coach Dantonio's squad, this year, has changed our focus. The savvy Green & White fan will not split our rooting loyalties so early as a result. Our football team could find itself, very high on the BCS final standing [much higher than people may believe: Penn State can be beat! Look at how the top teams are falling - case in point Texas Tech taking out Texas. Don't be surprised if LSU beats 'Bama, too, this weekend.]. The basketball team has a daunting (but potentially rewarding nonconference schedule). I see five of the eight games, before the Big Ten schedule begins, that are no push over games, folks. Bradley, Maryland and the Tar Heels are the toughest, in my opinion. The good news in this is, generally, the team with the most courage to schedule such tough games usually benefits at March Madness time. Blaze through the nonconference schedule and the team gains confidence for the regular season and even more for March Madness time. [Why? Because your freshman and sophomores gain confidence that our team can "really compete" with the storied programs around the country. The upper classmen already know the routine. They just need help from the underclassmen to make a stellar team). Lose a few in nonconference play and you can (potentially) still benefit. It exposes areas of your team game that need improvement [realizing how rough and tumble the Big Ten season can be! Look how many loses, generally, the champion has in the Big Ten. Our league may get bad mouthed, here, on the east coast -- I live in Washington D.C. -- but, trust me, the ACC is no better then our league. As a matter of fact, many ACC teams would not be able to compete effectively in the Big Ten. But... you can't tell these easterners that.. so the heck with 'em!]. The Spartan women have had a solid presence in the NCAA's and I believe they will get better. Our hockey team has always had a solid reputation. In conclusion, the GREEN AND THE WHITE, is in good hands. [Please, would someone shake Coach Dantonio's hand for me. My arms aren't long enough to reach East Lansing. Thank you.].

[Pistol]

For those who asked about the BTN showing the Sparties Basketball Exhibition games - they will be streaming them live at: http://video.bigtennetwork.com/MSU/live

[Dan]

Hey guys, take a minute to vote for Ringer for Heisman

http://530553.myshoutbox.com/go/?u=http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/theheismanvote/

McCoy is about even with him in votes.

[Bill]

@ Dan I appreciate the sentiments but I don;t think Ringer is Heisman worthy.

If there was a abllot for Big Ten POY, Team MVP or best All-America RB, I would be voting early and often, but both McCoy and Harrell should rank ahead of him this year.

I realize there were extenuating circumstances, but he has had three bad (as in not Heisman worthy) games already this year (Iowa OSU UW) and it defies credibility to think he is deserving as they are.

[313Spartan]

I have been saying all fall, "It's a great day to be a Spartan!"

[Dan]

Bill, I'm not sure if he could win it, but I'd like to see him make the trip to N.Y. That's where my motivation lies. I think it's safe to say if he were on OSU or USC he would have 2000+ yards by now. It's too bad he could not run behind a great line. As far as I'm concerned he's as good as any kid in the country and has class as well.

He deserves to be in that room with all the rest of the great players in the country.

[Fred]

"Ladies"? Can you be more condescending and disrespectful?

As a former assistant coach of a Division I *women's* basketball team, I'm rather appalled you still don't understand your own idiocy in the year 2008.

[Michael Motta]

Fred, that's an interesting comment you made, especially considering how many schools nickname their women's teams separately from the men, calling them the Lady this or thats (Lady Vols, Lady Lions, etc.). I'm not a fan of this idea, because it seems unnecessary and sort of goes against Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, KS (maybe not in a legal way, but in a "separate but equal" way). However, to me, it's not the word "Lady" so much that smacks of trying the "separate but equal" doctrine, but the sheer fact that the nicknames are changed for the women, as if volunteers and lions are presumably male unless a distinction is made. Obviously there are about as many female lions in existence as male lions (in terms of actual lions), and I'm assuming Penn State's campus reflects that, and likewise with volunteers and Knoxville.

But again, I'm not so sure that "ladies" is necessarily worse than "women", in and of themselves. Jon didn't call them the "Lady Spartans" (which thankfully, MSU doesn't officially use anyway), rather he just called them "ladies" so as to distinguish them from the men's basketball team, and he also referred to them as "women". He called the men's team "Izzo's boys", which if someone wanted to get carried away, actually could be turned into more of a racist bit than the "ladies" nomenclature is a sexist bit. But I'm sure Jon had neither of those things in mind.

Now to play devil's advocate against my own argument, the argument could be made (and I'm sure has been) that the word "lady" is part of the language of patriarchy, since it's associated with oppressive gender roles (ladies as secondary, as submissive, as docile - reflected in old titles such as the title "Lady", and reflected in old fashioned ideas of the lady as a "refined", i.e. submissive, female). To an extent, I buy this, however, I don't think it applies to what Jon wrote nearly as much as the beef should be taken up with the schools that actually endorse separate nicknames (Lady so-and-so's) for their women's teams. Of course then we get into to the word "women" too, and for that matter "female" - both words are formed by adding on to male words. I remember for a time it was fashionable to spell "womyn".

Then there are schools like Oklahoma State and Wyoming, traditionally the "Cowboys", which call their women's teams the "Cowgirls". Are the women being done a favor or a disservice? Maybe the original name, "Cowboys" was the disservice and now the "Cowgirls" part is "better than nothing". Then there are the poor women who play sports for Bulldogs schools. Ouch! Okay, so there are plenty of female bulldogs . . . but I think the female saluki (Southern Illinois) might be a more attractive prospect, if there is any attractive prospect at all involving being labeled a female dog.

Finally, a school that I always get a kick out of in terms of nicknames - Centenary. Centenary College of Louisiana is in Division I for athletics and competes in the itinerant Summit League (along with Michigan's own Oakland Grizzlies). Their men's teams are called the Gentlemen (or "Gents" for short, judging by their basketball uniforms), and their women's teams? The Ladies. Not the Lady Gentlemen of course.http://www.gocentenary.com/SplashPage.dbml

[McSpar10]

Wow, MM, I didn't expect to read such a post on this blog this morning. Nice, well thought out, piece.

Fred, you think saying "ladies" is condescending and disrespectful??? I'd hate to be a resident on the planet you live on. LOL

[Man of Few Words]

Manny Harris says they can win the NCAA National Championship in a Big Ten Network interview...I guess that would make him "Manny of Many Words"...however misguided.

Stick with the NIT Dynasty Manny, Michigan has a postion to defend down there

[MSUSoph2011]

Haha, well said Manny! I will always remember pride comes before the fall. Therefore I will respect your comments until the end of the season...or until you play Harvard.

Go State!