Linking Laconically starts happy, ends bitter

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 22, 2009 10:36 PM CST in Michigan State Spartans News Roundup

Capping off a very busy MSU sports blogging weekend:

Larry Bird, Magic Johnson inducted into college Hall of Fame together - NCAA Basketball - SI.com
Jud, too. Magic: "We put the madness in March."
Parallels exist between this year's Spartans and MSU's 2000 national championship team | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
Is there going to be a 10-year reunion/celebration for the 2000 team some time this season?
Hoopraker " Blog Archive " A Conference Preamble
TD awakes from his long offseason slumber.
Villanova by the Numbers: The Big East -- Comparing BCS Records
Big Ten off to a slow start; 8 losses already. Bottom of the league (IU/Iowa/PSU) killing us.
Illini vs Presbyterian Open Thread: Its all predestined anyhow - Hail to the Orange
Best open thread headline ever.
Spartans balanced between good and bad | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
Like Anakin Skywalker was supposed to be?
2009 Bowl Projections - Post Week 12 - The Rivalry, Esq.
TRE still predicting we get Oklahoma in San Antonio. Works for me.
Brett Swenson becomes first kicker to be named Spartans' MVP by players, coaches | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
Deserving but mildly depressing.
MSU's Greg Jones has no plans for NFL but will decide soon | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Jones' dad: "We don't have any plans for the NFL right now. But we will talk about it next week."

Bonus Nonlaconical/Redundant/Uberbitter Commentary on That Last Link:

Postgame quote (emphasis added):

"It did happen fast," MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. "There were some short fields. We just didn’t get it done defensively. They made plays and we didn’t."

Really? After the way this season’s gone in terms of the overall performance of the three units, Narduzzi is going to imply that the offense/special teams created the defense’s problems yesterday? I'd dismiss this as a poorly-phrased off-the-cuff response, except that Narduzzi seems incapable of explaining why something went wrong without inserting a weak excuse halfway through--as initially noticed in this space after the CMU loss.

If your base defensive scheme consistently allows running backs to get open by 15 yards on wheel routes, it really doesn't matter how short the field is, now does it?

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Notre Dame = Pizza Pizza

As long as Stanford takes care of business against Notre Dame at home on Saturday Notre Dame is most likely going to the Pizza Pizza Bowl!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/11/23/bowl.projections/index.html

by Chris in Kzoo on Nov 23, 2009 12:27 PM CST reply actions

Also

ESPN and SI both show Texas Tech going to the Alamo to play us, instead of Oklahoma. That’s a less attractive match-up for us IMO—both in terms of the opposing pass offense and having an opponent with a national profile to give us one more chance to get a signature win this year.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 23, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

TT would demolish us.

I could at least construct a scenario where we could beat OU. I have a lot of trouble doing so with TT.

"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors

by LVS on Nov 23, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

Not good

I can see the headlines now: “Tech sets new bowl record with 873 pass yards”

I saw one projection somewhere that had us facing Missouri. I can deal with that (or even Nebraska). But please, not Tech.

After the BCS games, the Big XII picks go Cotton, Holiday, Alamo. If OkSt makes the BCS, we’re almost certain to avoid Tech (they won’t fall further than the Holiday, if the Cotton takes Nebraska). If not … well, hope the Holiday Bowl wants Tech instead of the Huskers.

by SpartanDan on Nov 23, 2009 7:46 PM CST up reply actions