Levi, the jump pass and more

Unfortunately, the voting is over, but it's still worth your time to check out this feature on MSU's official site and look at the 50 plays Dave Ellis has put together as candidates for the top 10 plays of all time.

   Truly some awesome stuff there, and it must have taken a lot of time and work to compile. Lots of footage to pick through, and as I understand it Ellis has mountains of footage, including tailgate parties from the Prohibition era (kegs of apple juice) on file.
    There are probably some plays you might choose that didn't make the 50. Maybe one of John Miller's four picks in the 1987 Michigan game, or that Harlon Barnett de-cleating of a Notre Dame player in 1989. Or the Eddie Brown-Desmond Howard "encounter" in 1990.

    To me, a play means more if it helps win a game, even more if it's a big game, and if it comes in a desperate moment. And then if the play itself includes an extraordinary feat of athleticism, bonus. And although field goals are on Ellis' list (such as Dave Kaiser's to win the 1956 Rose Bowl), they aren't on mine. So here's my top 10 out of the 50.

    1. Levi Jackson vs. Ohio State, 1974. This has to top the list. It beat the No. 1 Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium, it includes an incredible burst of speed from a large player as his teammates spilled onto the field behind him, and the riotous end zone celebration with all those students in bell bottoms is something to behold.

    2. Bobby McAllister's jump pass vs. USC, 1988 Rose Bowl. It's not just that McAllister pulled out a trick from the single wing days, it's the fact that it was third-and-long, the momentum had shifted to USC, he was flying out of bounds and he somehow found Rison deep between two defenders. Akin to a halfcourt shot late in a tie game in basketball.

    3. Jeff Smoker to Herb Haygood, 2000. On a fourth-and-10, Smoker hit Haygood with a slant, and 68 yards later MSU had an improbable victory and eight seconds of immortalized footage.

    4. Ellis Duckett's punt block, 1954 Rose Bowl. Biggie Munn's Spartans were down 14-0 to UCLA when Ellis swooped in, blocked a punt and brought it home. That sparked a comeback victory in the school's first Rose Bowl appearance.

    5. Tony Banks to Nigea Carter, 1995. Preceded by Banks to Derrick Mason, off Charles Woodson (another top-50 candidate) to keep the drive alive. This was the winner in Nick Saban's first game vs. U-M as head coach, a roll right and strike to the corner.

    6. Bobby Morse punt return vs. Michigan, 1984. His burst of speed and sprint down the sideline was the key moment in George Perles' first victory over the Wolverines.

    7. Renaldo Hill's interception vs. Ohio State, 1998. This upset at No. 1 OSU was full of game-changing plays, but this one sealed it for MSU when it looked certain that the Buckeyes were going to pull it out.

    8. Smoker lob to Duckett, 2001. The last play of the game to beat Michigan. Some might argue the spike to set up the play was bigger. It came just in time, as you may recall.

    9. Hyland Hickson's spinning rumble vs. Michigan, 1990. The failed 2-point conversion is the play that, along with the Smoker spike, will keep MSU and U-M fans arguing forever. This was the game's best football play, though, and few things were more entertaining than Hickson touchdown celebrations.

    10. Andre Rison's ripped-jersey romp vs. Iowa, 1988. The first nine all were part of huge victories for MSU. Honestly, I don't know off the top of my head who won this game. But the play itself is amazing, with Rison changing directions, juking, then dragging a bunch of Hawkeyes to the end zone as they tear his jersey. It has to make the top 10.

    Honorable mention:

    Another Rison play, a third-and-44 bomb for a touchdown between two defenders in his final college game in the Gator Bowl vs. Georgia.

    Dick Panin's head-bobbing 88-yard run in a blowout of Notre Dame in 1951.

    Amp Campbell's fumble return to beat Oregon, a year after he broke a bone in his neck at Oregon.

    Lorenzo White hurdling a Wisconsin defender in 1985.

    Billy Wells' punt return for a touchdown to seal that 1954 Rose Bowl win.

    An Eric Allen run vs. Purdue in 1971 (his school-record 350-yard game) in which he spun both ways to evade defenders. Special.

    Javon Ringer's change of direction, escape from the sideline and sprint all the way to and down the other sideline vs. Michigan in 2007. He got 74 yards, ran 150, and special mention should go to Shawn Crable for missing Ringer at first, then eventually chasing him down inside the 10.

    Sedrick Irvin's spinning overtime TD run vs. Indiana in 1998, which turned out to be the game winner.

    A 1985 Mark Ingram touchdown pass in which McAllister rolled left and heaved it deep, then Ingram broke tackles and sort of leaped sideways into the end zone.

    The lunging, one-footed Charles Rogers TD catch in an eventual loss to Notre Dame in 2002.

    Gari Scott's short pass from Bill Burke turned into an 80-yard touchdown to beat Notre Dame in 1999.

    Another winner in South Bend, Jason Teague's OT sideline sprint on an option pitch from Drew Stanton.

    And of course, Adam Decker's stop of Shonn Greene to save the Spartans against Iowa last season.

    If you have your own top 10, let's have it.
    In exactly one week, more fresh plays will be available.