Flexing, putting and props to John L.

The most interesting sight of Sunday in Orlando came at Disney's mini golf course, when the Spartans got off their buses and walked past the waiting Bulldogs. No speaking. Very little eye contact. Some flexing and tension. "Glaring eyes," as MSU's Brandon Long put it.

   Essentially, a bunch of huge 18- to 22-year-olds in shorts and jerseys sizing each other up. But then they all got paired together with some kids from the Orlando area and had some fun. It was all very cordial and peaceful. Hopefully the Spartans and Dawgs can avoid the silly behavior displayed by Wisconsin and Florida State here this week. And by MSU and Nebraska in '03, and MSU and Florida in the 2000 Citrus Bowl. And, it seems, in a lot of bowl games when a series of social events before a game inevitably leads to some woofing or worse.
    Later, MSU had its final practice in pads before the big game, in sunny, 80-degree weather. As it was starting up, Mark Dantonio talked to the media on a variety of subjects, including the credit John L. Smith is owed for doing some good things with the MSU program before being removed.
    "I think he brought some great players in here. He was a great person, he did a good job. ... Sometimes things unravel, and when they unravel it's hard to stop it."
    For as much as John L. gets ripped, it should be remembered that key members of this team such as Javon Ringer, Otis Wiley, Brian Hoyer, Justin Kershaw, Rocco Cironi, Joel Nitchman, Brandon Long, Eric Gordon and Ross Weaver were his recruits.
    Obviously, it also takes good coaching to win, and Dantonio has already peppered the roster with key contributors in two recruiting classes: Greg Jones, Chris L. Rucker, Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin, Joel Foreman, Trevor Anderson, Oren Wilson among them.
    On the flip side of that, Cincinnati had a great year under Brian Kelly and will play Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. It should be noted that 21 of Cincy's 22 starters were Dantonio recruits. Of the Bearcats, he said "I'm very proud and happy for them."

Comments

[Rob Parker]

My moles are telling me that Kurt Cousins is up to some tomfoolery and tried to fight the entire Georgia team.

[Tanfan]

What??? no mention of Kirk Cousins in the great recruits paragraph?

[Tanfan]

Dantonio certainly has gotten the most out of John L Smith's MAC level recruits.

[Stan]

good for coach d to give JLS some props for this. further validates those that see him as a a class act and great ambassador for the school.

as far as the trash-talking among the teams, who cares. like you said joe, it's a bunch of jacked up 18-22 year-olds, nothing too serious should be taken from what they do.

[bubba]

Joe, please, you got to be joking? We are suppose to thank JLS for mediocre talent like Wiley and Hoyer? Excuse me while I go barf!!

Thank god the rest of the big ten has sucked as bad as JLS and allowed MD to manage a 9 win season with his crop of subpar talent.

[Rob Parker, Drew Sharp, Jerry Green, Mitch Albom and the Ghost of Jall Falls]

Bubba....are you being serious, or sarcastic?

If you are being serious, we agree.

If you are being sarcastic, typical MSU fan.

UM will rise again!

[Stone]

The Dawgs have had such a bad year off the field it would be surprising if they did anything this week. Their lack of Sr. leadership is the #1 reason they came up short this year, injuries #2. The Dawgs were a mess from the day after the Sugar Bowl last year, but a wounded dawg is sometimes the most dangerous.

If MSU isn't careful, a 45-17 waxing is possible.

[Jesse Palmer]

The Dawgs will be ready to play this game. Far too much offensive firepower for an average MSU defense. MSU's offensive line will make the Georgia defense (an average to poor SEC defense) look like the Steel Curtain.

I would be surprised to see MSU stay within 35.

[Joe Rexrode]

Bubba, I have no interest in a Hoyer discussion. But you should know that NFL scouts see Wiley as a first-day guy. He was having a heck of a season before getting hurt in that Iowa game, you may recall.

[xwing]

yeah,

jls recruited ok but couldn't do anything with the talent. the 04' michigan game and the 06' notre dame game were pretty much the two signature games of his coaching career at msu.

that and the fact that he was so unstable: "the players are playing their tails off and the coaches are screwing it up!!"

[Steve in KY]

Hey Joe, Any word on a "game watch" location in Orlando for the basketball game on Dec 31st? I'd rather not watch alone in my hotel room if you know what I mean. Maybe a bar at the Peabody? Please let me know....

[Stone]

Otis...My Man Wiley has NFL written all over him. Has the size, the speed, etc. Hopefully has the combine #s, a good Sr. Bowl, and a good Citrus Bowl to boot.

The Hoyer mish mash continues to amaze me. The guy leads the team to back to back bowls, and the first Jan bowl since the peak of 99-00.

It's taken NINE YEARS to get back to this point, to pick up where we left off when Nick left. Check yourselves people. Hoyer = hero.

[Iowa Fans]

blah blah blah blah blah blah something about traveling

[gsparty]

Hey bubba,

Dont be hoeing on my boy wiley. I graduated with him at carman-ainsworth high school and let me tell you, that kid has heart. He had tremendous talent and could do whatever he was asked to do. This kid is not mediocre, he is a true fighter.

[Bingo]

Kudos to John L. It was his offensive coordinater that lead to the plunge. The agonizing "taking the foot of the accelerator" and losing leads and games that were won. Why why why?
Dead on Joe in that a lot of our success is due to his foundation of our team.

Make a wish for Spartans because while I know 21 men will come to play one man will stand frozen like the statue of liberty waiting for someone to take the ball (probably a defensive end or a blitzing safety) and set us up for another gut wrenching loss. That man is... well you all know who he is.

[Hammer]

Congrats to coach D and his staff. A total class act and watching the rebuilding from the inside out has been a pleasure (sometimes frustrating, but comes with the territory). More top athletes coming in 09.

[bfsparty]

joe, thanks for the stat of 21/22 for cincy. we know kelly is very solid, yet those are some fine players he inherited. Just shows the future looks very bright, and we already can see that in the MD contributors. He did not have to say that about JLS. But he did. That attitude always seems to pay a dividend down the road.
Go State!

[bubba]

I know there are some who think Wiley will have a NFL career, and I don't doubt he will be drafted (maybe the Lions will take him in the first round), however, I don't think he is going to be a player we see on Sundays. My take is that he is a very good college player, and his interception total brings him to the attention of scouts, but I would not risk taking him until about the 4th or 5th round. Most of the SEC teams have second string players who will be better NFL players than Wiley. The main reason I would not touch Wiley if I was an NFL GM is the issue of durability. If he can't hold up making plays against average college players for 12 games, what is he going to happen when he faces elite NFL players over a 16 game season?

[LeeBee]

I saw last week where rivals showed MSU getting 8 of the 10 top players in the state of Michigan. With one going to tOSU and the other undecided. Things are just getting better!

[MayoSpartan]

Man, this thread resembles the Michigan economy, it sucks. A bunch of negativity.

For all you bashers of this 9-3 MSU football team and t's roster; would you throw the baby out with the bath water like Rich Rod and prefer a 3-9 season?

JLS had a lot of of the field issues that effected his coaching.Fortunately, his recruits blossomed under Coach Dantonio. Be man enough to give credit wher credit is due.

Leave the duldrums of the states poor economy and outlook behind and enjoy a thread about a college football game played by kids that don't have to deal with the mess we do.

Perhaps a couple years in a country with no broadband or sat dish would do some good.

Go GREEN!

[sdp000]

JLS was close to being a good coach. MSU played Michigan and OSU very close in 2003, 2004, 2005. He had some bad luck and there were definitely coaching lapses. In 2004 MSU might have had a super season:

We really blasted Wisconsin and Minnesota in 2004. Drew Stanton was at his best.

Lost to UM in 3OT.

Then lost to OSU, due to injuries and turnovers.

Should have had 8 - 9 wins in 2004.

[Cal]

True that Glenn Winston didn't make the trip?

[JC in Orlando]

For those of you in Orlando for the bowl game looking for a decent place to watch the mens b-ball game the day before - I suggest the any of the Orlando Ale Houses. If you are in the I-drive area there is one located on Kirkman and just north of I-Drive. There are several others in orlando and the surrounding area too - in fact I think the local MSU alumni association meets at the Ale House in Altamonte (north of Orlando). The Ale House is one of my favorite places to watch games, good food and service, reasonable drink prices (not the cheaprest though), and tons of flat screen HD tv's.

Also, if you're staying in the I-Drive area ther is a Buffalo Wild Wings, it's not huge like the one in East Lansing, but it's a decent place to watch a game. I strongly recommend staying clear of Friday's Front Row on I-drive (which people usually recommend) - service is subpar, drinks are overpriced, and it's not a good place for game watching.

See you at the game! I'll be in the first row on the 35 yd line baby!

(FYI. I do not or have not worked for the Ale House)