Michigan State 34, Michigan 17: Lloydballed
by LVS on Oct 10, 2010 10:04 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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Michigan State's 2008 and 2009 victories against Michigan, while sweet, didn't feel quite whole. The victory in Ann Arbor two years ago came against the worst Michigan team in memory. Last year's triumph in East Lansing came only after a furious comeback by the Wolverines, and may not have been a victory at all had it not been for one terrible decision by Tate Forcier. The storyline after those two games revolved at least as much around the losing Wolverines as the victorious Spartans.
There are no such reservations about yesterday's victory. Michigan State faced up against a massively hyped Wolverine team--a team led by Michigan's second consecutive winner of the widely coveted September Heisman Trophy--and MSU perfectly executed a fantastic gameplan to win in amazingly convincing fashion. State won by getting into the backfield, tackling soundly, and preventing big plays on defense, and through an offensive attack which ran and passed with ease. MSU's secondary didn't totally stifle Michigan's receivers, but the coverage was close enough to seize upon Denard Robinson's mistakes. The offense was explosive without making its own mistakes. And most stunningly, after an evenly-fought first quarter, Your Spartans dominated Michigan's offensive and defensive lines. MSU was stronger and better in every meaningful facet of this game.
In short, MSU played brilliant Lloydball: the brand of tough, confident, physical football which Lloyd Carr's Michigan teams specialized in. The same brand of football which which obliterated MSU's fundamentally unsound, milquetoast teams 10 times in 13 tries. The same brand of football I envied for years and years. And, amazingly, the same brand of football which MSU is now becoming more and more proficient in, while Michigan flounders playing John L. Smith football with better talent, but stunningly similar results. (We'll see about the rest of this year, I suppose -- but even Smith had some decent seasons in East Lansing.)
I won't belabor the point too much, because it's been made in several other places in the hours since yesterday's game. But yesterday's performance was the realization of everything we've hoped for since the press conference after Mark Dantonio's hiring, when he promised a competitive, winning football, and a return to the physically tough teams of the past.
MSU lined up against an overmatched Michigan defense and did exactly what we hoped they'd do: scored on more than half of its offensive drives (6/10, excluding the final run-out-the-clock series), gained a ton of yards through the air (287 yards on 26 attempts) and on the ground (249 yards, 5.9 per rush, 3 touchdowns), and didn't turn the ball over a single time. The defense didn't totally shut down Michigan's prolific attack, but they came closer to doing it than anyone else has this year, and in forcing 3 turnovers, they provided the big plays MSU needed to win the game comfortably. Remember when Mike Valenti implored MSU to "MAKE PLAYS"? Our guys made plays. In spades. Needless to say, there were many outstanding individual performances, for which we'll happily award Biggies later this week.
So, yes, this one felt better than the last two games, because there's no arguing who the better team was on Saturday. MSU won in a place where so many dreams have been crushed in the past, in front of a Maized-Out crowd loudly seeking revenge for the indignities of the previous two seasons, in full view of a national media falling over themselves to proclaim the renaissance of the Victors Valiant, and against a team which had actually looked pretty damned good this season. And our guys won. Oh, they won. And now even bigger prizes loom.
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Actually.
I suppose — but even Smith had a some decent seasons in East Lansing. His first at 8-5. He followed that up with 5-7, 5-6 and 4-8 debacles.
Interesting, fun, great times and all...
… but let’s agree to have this be the last time we compare anything MSU football to Lllllloyd, please. I don’t want the Michigan of 1990’s, I want the Michigan State of the 2010’s.
Fun Stat
Coach Dantonio has as many Big Ten wins in Ann Arbor as Rich Rod does. Both have 2 wins in AA.
Nice September Heisman dig
My favorite part was the announcers jumping off the Denard bandwagon, finally. Matt Millen sounded pretty smart, for an imbecile (3 Stooges).
Told my friends that Heisman line
They literally applauded LVS, great line.
Es gibt keine Freude wie Schadenfreude
I think it's official
We can start referring to him as “Rich L Rodriguez” – the similarities with JLS are just too uncanny.
Like
Tonight's going to be a good night.
by Spartalytical on Oct 11, 2010 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions
(LAUGHING)
I don’t actually agree with the notion, but this is hilarious, so perfect QED.
Poor JLS
I made this comparison in RichRod’s first year… but now it feels like a bigger insult to JLS.
He took the keys to the kingdom from a national championship coach and the winningest (or whiningest?) program in college football history and turned that program into a yakety-sax sideshow with a QB who can’t tie his shoes.
Rich W. Rodriguez might be more accurate.
UM's Gerry Faust era
What a time to be alive. I am going to sincerely enjoy every one of these victories while simultaneously pulling for UM to win enough games to keep Harbaugh the hell away.
Hate to poop in the punchbowl....
….but Trenton Robinson is a serious issue at safety.
While he did kill UM’s opening drive with a pick (that was thrown right to him), he had a couple blown coverages that could have been big plays.
On the UM pass before halftime, Robinson let a receiver get behind him for a 40+ yard gain. How the hell do you let a guy get behind you in that situation???
Towards the end of the game, he let another UM receiver get behind him, and Rucker bailed him out by picking off a badly underthrown ball.
Other than Robinson, I am very happy with the way the team dominated in the trenches and kicked “Big brother’s” arse once again!
Ha, the conference disagrees
Robinson was just named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
Did they actually watch the game or just look at the stats?
Robinson is still more Slappie than Biggie in my book this week.
And how does Clay get Offensive POW over Baker? Going for 100 yards against Minne should be a given
Because people might have seen just how dreadful Michigan's run defense is?
I have no idea, really. Let them split the award…
Fake Adam Weber after a 41-23 loss to Wisconsin made him 0-4 against the Badgers in his career: "I don't even want to play football anymore."
No longer using Yahoo! Sports for anything besides stat checking since 9/29/2010...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 11, 2010 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Having read the latest word diarrhea at MGoBlog
A sincere note of thanks and respect to the writers/contributors on this site for maintaining class at all times. Win, lose, or draw, I have every faith that the postgame analysis here will never consist of “OMG yr fans are totally stupid white trash, and they drink too much, and you’re all reetardz, and here’s a Juggalo, cuz yr all stupid lik Juggalos!!” It’s really sad to see what is usually a pretty well done site degenerate into the random verbal swipes of a tantrumic five-year-old.
by theRPS on Oct 11, 2010 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
agreed
several of the comments in the post started out with “I know a good MSU fan” and ended with, “but, all of their fans are raging racist moron frat boys.” I understand being upset over losing to a rival. I’ve been dealing with it for the better part of my football watching career. But to stereotype and generalize about an entire teams fan base because of one or two MSU fans doesn’t make you seem anymore intelligent. The author of the MGoBlog post based practically his entire post (which ran MSU fans into the ground) on one idiots blog.
It's a combination of...
….playing to the audience, and also artistic license in describing his own disappointment.
He’s not called Brian Emo for nothing.
Remember, he held up that other Sparty blog that even I got sick of (and, I admit, I helped get him kicked off of the Blogpoll). But then he threw a compliment to The Only Colors, so there’s that.
Plus don’t even read the comments. The reasonableness is long gone from MGoBlog, sadly. Especially on the board. It’s become the Red Cedar MGoBoard. Both are different (school) colors of the same internet crazy. [Self-plagiarism FTW]
Here is the first thing that came to mind when reading that blog...
Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by MooTheKow on Oct 11, 2010 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
um...
there’s no arguing who the better team was on Saturday? I’ll argue: UM left 21 points on the field and lost by 17. We got lucky. Anybody who knows football could see it.
you've got to be kidding right?
A 17 point physical domination of UM at the Big House had very little to do with luck. If you are talking about the missed throws by Robinson, MSU’s defense had quite a lot to do with that.
Why would they leave them on the field?
I’m sure someone had a really tall ladder that they could have been shoved into the scoreboard with. If there were just points out there, gliding in the wind gusts, and no one even tried to catch them? Poor coaching.
by theRPS on Oct 11, 2010 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
And the counterpoint
Good teams don’t leave points on the field. Michigan did. MSU didn’t.
The obvious deduction is left as an exercise for the reader.
ok...
maybe “lucky” is the wrong word. i appologize. good luck the rest of the year and don’t waste this win.
Oh wait, I just realized!
By “we” just got lucky, you meant “Michigan” got lucky in only losing by 17.
Helpful hint: next time you register a troll account, make it a lot more differenter than your MGoBlog account name.
Idiots
Tonight's going to be a good night.
by Spartalytical on Oct 11, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Go Green, Go White
Hey all!
Just wanted to bounce in here and say Go Green, Go White. They truly were The Only Colors ready to wear on Saturday. You have an excellent team and coaching staff. I could not agree more with what LVS wrote above about this being the realization of what Dantonio promised to bring to State. I think its great for the Big 10 and the rivalry. I’ll take some Green and White atop the Big 10 standings than Red And White, Black and Gold or Scarlett Gray any fucking day of the week.
I am a child of the 1980s. I remember 1987-1992. Fondly. An era where Michigan and MSU were the best teams in the league. I think we’ll get there again, my Wolverines just have some catching up to do in that regard. We’re just way too young and thin on D. The offense needs to play perfectly to win. Same as last year, but the road to a perfect—or perfect enough—performance by the offense is a little easier than a year ago, so I think they team will get three more wins and go to the Gator Bowl or something.
The fact not to lose sight of is that MSU kicked Michigan’s butt in a way that reminded me of 2002 Iowa. I dont think Michigan will play a tougher, better schooled or as talented team this year until the finale. Well done, folks.
Anyway, drinks are on me, especially after cashing the +5. I’ll buy Spartan Dan a second one since he was correct on the three turnovers; or let him write a guest post at the JCB!
I could go on and on here. Wanted to stop by earlier, but I am too old to party and needed a full day of rest yesterday and have been swamped at the office today. Only now am I really touring the web for post weekend analysis. MSU has always been one of my favorite teams as long as they arent playing Michigan or Indiana. Here’s hoping this was just a first step towards a dream season.
As always and in my heart, Go Blue
But, today, I have no problem offering up a hearty, throaty and loud VICTORY FOR MSU!!
www.justcoverblog.com
by jamiemac on Oct 11, 2010 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Nice job Jamiemac...
…appreciate the class. I’m sure cashing salves a lot of the hurt, but well done regardless.
Though you owe me 5 internets because I took your advice and took the UNDER on the Denard turnovers.
Sorry
I will buy you a couple rounds in addition to Spartan Dan
MICH and Denard should have run it on third and goal from the 3 on that first drive and if they came up short run it again. I’d love to have started that game off with a TD, but oh well.
Spartan Dan has no idea what my cell number is, but I checked it anyway for a text on Pick #3, lol.
www.justcoverblog.com
Thanks, but that wasn't me
My hyper-specific predictions had nothing to do with turnovers (I called 38-35, last-second 47 yard FG for the win, and at least one surprise onside kick).
Also
I have no idea if you all think he is a good player or not, or if he’s living up to whatever expectations you had for him……….
But as somebody who has been pushing Johnny Adams as a difference making ‘addition’ to the MSU D (I blogged back in the summer, he’d be All Big 10 before he leaves school), it both made me happy and sad panda to see him get a pick.
Also, I still believe Denard is going to have a huge Big 10 season.. He might still win offensive POY. Once the half dozen version of Chris L Rucker’s as a freshmen mature in the Michigan secondary, maybe the program can get back to championship level.
www.justcoverblog.com
Spot on analysis
Johnny Adams — I heart him so much. He is a huge difference in the secondary (though I laughed when Webb carried him into the end zone).
And I think you are right — Denard is a terrifically exciting player. He probably will win offensive POY; I don’t see anyone else being MVP-esque enough to surpass him. He may very well get his 2000/2000. He will be very scary to play against once he learns to make the reads that I suspect the RichRod offense requires.
Yeah
Denard has started 6 games. We expect something in the ball park of or close to 40 career starts. The level of perfection people expect out of him shocks me.
MIchigan just needs to grow this defense so by the time we reach the upper teens or low 20s of career starts for Denard, we have a more complete program. Some folks dont have the patience, but I’ve lived a lifetime of great times (that, sorry for this, but has included way more happy moments post-MSU game than not) following the program. We’ll be back.
If Michigan cant win the Big 10, I’d rather it be Sparty than anyone else
www.justcoverblog.com
I think you are right about needing to grow the defense...
…as long as the Michigan AD doesn’t lose his nerve and pull the plug on RR, thus sending the program back to square negative two. That would be potentially fatal.
I tell ya, I’d love to see both Michigan and Michigan State be successful with diametrically opposing strategies. It’d make for some exciting clashes every year.
Now that the last two weeks are behind us
I’m really hoping both UM and Wisconsin go on big tears in the Big Ten. Unlikely I know, but the more they win, the better these wins will look. Not to mention, we need somebody to beat Ohio State.
Wow: That "Genuinely Sarcastic" Blog you linked to...
…is something else. But the “borderline criminal negligence” part was great. Don’t read anything else if you’re a Spartan fan and faint of heart. The writer even finds reason to hate Dantonio because he had the gall to get kinda pissed at Mike Hart’s weird ideas of sibling rivalry.
Weird Coincidence
MSU’s first TDs in the 2008 and 2010 games @UM were 61-yard plays: Blair White’s slant in ‘08 and Baker’s run this year. And both started from the same end of the field (going left to right on TV). The only difference is which UM defenders were looking at the back of their jerseys.
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