Bleeding Green

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?

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

Coming at 4 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 Illinois and last week's game against Michigan on this week's episode of Talkin' Spartans. 

Live video broadcast will begin at 4 p.m. Eastern, with an interactive live chat running during the show.

Season Springboard or Pinnacle?

As I sat contently after the game enjoying a victory beverage, I had to ponder, where the team goes next?