It's Alabama
by LVS on Dec 5, 2010 10:05 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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Michigan State will play in the Citrus Bowl Stadium for the third time in four years, this time against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Capital One Bowl. It's a New Year's Day game, so set your DVRs for a 1 P.M. kickoff on ESPN. Or, hey, if sunny weather, Mickey Mouse, and chain restaurants are more your thing, head down to Orlando and see it in person.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Your Spartans and the Crimson Tide, and there certainly is no shortage of storylines surrounding this game: MSU being the highest-rated team left out of the BCS, the Big Ten's uphill climb toward respectability vis-a-vis the SEC, Alabama rebounding from a devastating Iron Bowl loss, Mark Ingram playing against his father's school (and the school he very nearly attended . . . sigh.). Nick Saban facing his old school is certainly the biggest story of the bunch. There are many MSU fans who harbor plenty of resentment toward Saban (or $aban, as they would no doubt say). Personally, I'm not one of them; it's been more than a decade since he left East Lansing, and I was only a casual MSU fan when it happened. But, it's the story that the media will be focusing on, and it does add a bit of additional intrigue to the game.
In four years, Mark Dantonio has won a Big Ten title, compiled an enviable record in rivalry games, and moved MSU toward the upper echelon of the Big Ten. The only major accomplishment still left unchecked is a bowl win; given that MSU has been matched up against one of the sport's highest-profile teams, Dantonio has an opportunity to get that monkey off his back in a highly-emphatic fashion. But it won't be easy. Alabama's three losses have all come against good teams (South Carolina, LSU, and Auburn), and in their only Big Ten matchup this season, tthey easily handled Penn State, 24-3. Alabama has a highly athletic defense, two of the best running backs in all of college football (Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson), a big-play wide receiver (Julio Jones), and a highly efficient quarterback (Greg McElroy). MSU is likely to be at least a touchdown underdog in this game -- a role they're familiar with, as they have been significant bowl underdogs in each of the past three seasons.
We'll have much more about the game over the next few weeks. For now, visit our sister site Roll Bama Roll for more on the Crimson Tide, vote in the poll below, and share your thoughts in the comments.
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I should clarify
I voted disappointed. Not because it’s Bama, but because we’re not facing another BCS team.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Sounds good.
In a vacuum, great season and all that, but looking at the other Big Ten teams that kick off between Noon and 130 Eastern on New Year’s Day…
grumblegrumblegrumble…
Still, as stated in the preview, quite an opportunity to take down a storied program and coach.
Hey! I'm tryin' to eat lunch here!
I presently live in Alabama.
I may buy an MSU football jersey just for this occasion.
I’m hoping MSU can shut the mouth breathers up for a year. (To clarify: mouthbreathers = the bama “fans” who couldn’t spell college is you spotted them the K-A-W-L…)
(To clarify: mouthbreathers = the bama "fans" who couldn’t spell college is you spotted them the K-A-W-L…)
If you’re going to insult someone for their lack of ability to spell, at least form a grammatically correct sentence in the process.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 6, 2010 7:34 PM CST up reply actions
Did I strike a little to close to home, bammer fan?
It was a parenthetical aside, but bammer grammar troll, you are correct.
Here is the sentence as it should have read:
I’m hoping MSU can shut the mouth breathers up for a year (to clarify, mouthbreathers are the bama "fans" who couldn’t spell college is you spotted them the K-A-W-L).
I was using the internet and speaking colloquially. Generally, as I’m sure you are aware, parenthetical asides are used for information that is used to complete the main idea of a sentence without regard to the grammar of said sentence.
It was my intention to insult those fans of the University of Alabama without any tie to the university (i.e. not an alumnus or alumna) not the graduates of that fine institution of higher learning.
I know a lot of this is supposed to be "All in good fun"
But considering the outrage on this site over MGoBlog’s characterization of MSU fans as juggalos, my view is it would be best to avoid taking shots at opposing fan bases in general.
I’ve been guilty of it in the past, I’ve dropped my share of Walmart Wolverines references, but in thinking about it I believe I’m going to retire that reference. It’s sort of illogical. As an MSU fan and graduate am I that much of an elitist that I’m going to imply that if you didn’t go to school here you don’t have the right to cheer for us? What is that? I say the more the merrier. How is it a bad thing that a University has a huge following in its state, even among those with no affiliation with the university?
I guess my hope is that we’ll avoid the stereotypes about illiterate, overweight southerners on the shelf for the next month. We’ve got plenty of football to talk about, and if you really want to be critical of something with Bama, there’s plenty of questionable practices by Saban with medical scholarships/ oversigning that we could focus on.
by trivialstuff16 on Dec 7, 2010 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
It's cool!
I was just giving him a hard time. The stereotypes are just something we have to live with down here in the south. Just as you guys up north have to live with your elitist stereotype. Not to mention that awful yankee accent.
Bama, as well as most other schools, has a huge following of fans that did not graduate from the university, myself included. I received my education from a small private college in Nashville. I’ve been a fan of the Tide ever since I was old enough to say the words “Roll Tide”. If someone thinks that makes me less of a fan, that’s cool, doesn’t bother me!
I’m looking forward to this game. Obviously, both fan bases are probably a little disappointed by our teams not making it to a BCS bowl, but I find this to be an interesting matchup, particularly because Bama and MSU have never played before.
So, now that weve established that I am a mouthbreathing (although, sometimes I do breath through my nose) non-alumni of the University of Alabama, anyone care to tell me about some of MSU’s traditions?
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 7, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
Ok. It appears you are one of the literate ones. Articulate even.
I was referring more to the Finebaumanistas. Quite frankly I have never understood the whole “go to school A but I’m a diehard school B fan” thing. Whateves.
As I mentioned, I live in Alabama currently. Recently I had the “pleasure” of conversing with a gentleman during the SEC championship game who was bedecked in an Alabama 2009 NC shirt with matching hat. He was also missing three fingers on his left hand (I didn’t ask).
He insisted that when Cal faked injuries against Oregon to slow down the Ducks offense that this was not cheating. I and one of my friends intimated that if this was not blatantly against the rules it was at the very least highly unethical and unsportsmanlike. “Nubby” would have none of it, going so far as to insist that Oregon was cheating by using less of the play clock than we are used to. He said that while he “hated Auburn” he thought this was a good game plan for them as well.
This is the “fan” that I dread having anything to do with over the next month. You live in Nashville, which can be quite cosmopolitan. Rural Alabama is not. It is tough to have a discussion about the relative merits of either football program with the majority of the “fans” I come in contact with. The only thing that will shut them up is a decisive, uncontroversial victory by MSU.
Curious though. Duke during basketball season? Lakers? Yankee fan in baseball (or I guess if you are southern – the Cardinals)? How ’bout them Cowboys? Or did you have a family member who liked Alabama? What caused you to learn to say “Roll Tide” at such a young age?
I completely understand your sentiments. The Finebaumanistas, as you called them, are a rather annoying and obnoxious bunch.
To answer your questions, the only team I truly root for is the Tide in football and basketball. I dont care for NBA or MLB. I tried to get into rooting for the Titans since I live in Nashville with little success. I do enjoy watching the NFL in general, though.
My entire family are die-hard Bama fans, you know, except for the few barners that married in. My dad, in particular, is a Bama fanatic. He watched the games every week as I was growing up, so I guess it is just something that I was taught from a very young age. To be honest, I really wanted to attend the University of Alabama, but I decided to major in beer drinking and other activities rather than attend college directly out of high school. I didn’t slow down until I met my wife, and before you know it, we had a child on the way. So, once I decided to become an educated man, Tuscaloosa didn’t seem like the appropriate town to raise a family in. Hence the move to Nashville in big orange (gag) country. Anyways, maybe that’s a little too much information, but that’s it in a nutshell. Also, my alma mater, Lipscomb University, plays the Tide in hoops this year. I will be pulling for the Tide…twisted, I know.
So, what part of Bama do you currently live in? I was born and raised in Hazel Green, a small town just north of Huntsville close to the TN state line.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 7, 2010 4:37 PM CST up reply actions
My folks have a place in Meridianville...but I'm outside of Anniston.
My brother graduated from Hazel Green HS in ’99.
Small world. And as you yourself know, Huntsville isn’t the “south”. C’mon, they have a hockey team that’s won NCAA titles (DII but still).
Game theory probably has an explanation for being a Lipscomb alum but rooting for the UA when they play head to head.
Wow.
It is a small world. I graduated from Hazel Green in ’96. My mom and sis still live in Meridianville. Also, I had a great aunt that lived in Anniston that we used to visit on quite often.
I agree, Huntsville isn’t the “south”. I like to refer to it as yuppyville. It was a decent enough area to grow up in I guess, but I couldn’t wait to leave.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 8, 2010 9:35 AM CST up reply actions
Oh by the way....
except for the few barners that married in
This is the shit that I’m talking about. You went to freaking Lipscomb. A private bible college yet you’re going to make fun of Auburn.
Just rediculous PAWWL.
Just rediculous
Dude, seriously? A self-proclaimed elitist can’t even spell the word ridiculous correctly? Oh wait, as you pointed out above, it’s just the internet. It doesn’t matter, right? You were obviously just speaking colloquially. Your insinuation is absolutely correct though. It is ridiculous. I get it. I just don’t care.
Get this, it gets worse. The barners that married in, they didnt go to Auburn either. It gets even more interesting than that. I married a barner. She didn’t go to Auburn as well. She also makes fun of Bama. We’re all ridiculous, mouthbreathing, sidewalk alumni (as the gentlemen below pointed out), that’s fair enough!
You want to talk some football or what? Because your opinion of my fandom is of absolutely no consequence to me.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 9, 2010 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
No worries. I'm off the ledge.
You’re right. It doesn’t matter.
It’s to be expected in a state without professional sports teams. I’m beginning to understand that.
The comment “it’s rediculous PAWWL” was referencing how someone calling into Finebaum’s show might say it. Joke died.
I think that this should be a close, hard hitting game. It truly depends on which Bammer team shows up. If it’s the one (defense anyway) that played the first half of the SECCG, well probably game, set, match Alabama.
Still, our defense was decent this year. Strong enough to hold UW’s backs to (I believe) their worst output of the season. Maybe we have a chance against Ingram (grrrr) and Richardson.
Offensively, we boast three good backs (although Bell has hit the freshman “wall”). Our QB will have time to heal a bit from his shoulder and ankle sprains. Our all world punt/kick returner Martin will have a chance to heal up as well. Our TE’s and WR’s are solid.
It could be a really good game.
As far as our traditions:
Generally if someone says “Go Green” the proper response is “Go White”. We tend to jangle the keys on 3rd down. I haven’t been to a State game since ND (ugh) in 2006 so I’m not sure what the latest thing is.
On campus traditions include the team walking from the Kellogg Center (where they stay the night before games) to the stadium passing and touching the Spartan statue on the way. We have a fan named “Johnny Spirit” who paints his entire body (except face and where his green/white striped boxers cover (I think?!)) green and he goes through the stands cheering on the team. He’s been doing that since at least ’94 I believe.
After reading some of the comments below, I’m beginning to feel like this is a really good matchup. It appears that many of our teams strengths and weaknesses will be matched up well against each other. Ive seen a few comments regarding MSU’s ability to stop the run, which is a little concerning because Alabama has struggled to run the ball with any consistency at all this year. How about the pass defense?
Tell me a little more about the punt/kick returner. Has he taken any to the house this year? Alabama has been pretty solid on defending punt/kicks this year, although we did give up a kickoff return to Georgia State. Yes, you read that right, Georgia State. Aside from that, Bama has been pretty solid, though I must admit I cringe everytime we do kickoff or punt because the last two seasons the Tide was pretty woeful in this area.
I couldn’t tell you which Bama will show up, because we’ve been pretty schizo this year. I think you meant the first half of the Iron Bowl, right? You’re right, if that team shows up Bama can be very difficult to beat, especially on defense. The fact that team has shown up sporadically throughout the season and then completely disappeared at times testifies to the youth we have on defense. I’m hoping the extra practice time can bring the defense together a little better. From what I understand, a Nick Saban-ran defense is one of the most difficult to learn. And, we’ve had several mental breakdowns throughout the year with several of our young, first-time starters. Many of which have cost us dearly.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 9, 2010 5:51 PM CST up reply actions
I have never shied away from the fact that I am an elitist.
I am proud of the fact that I graduated from Michigan State University. You should be proud (not arrogant – you’re worthless if you didn’t go here, there or wherever) of this fact. From the figures I have found, 34% of the US population have their Baccalaureate. Root for us, sure. Represent us, god no.
I voted meh
That answer would have been very different if I’d been asked before the season, or if we were 10-2 (at which point I’d think the Citrus was a fair reward for the season we had).
As for handling Penn State: so did we, really, on the road and when they had a functional offense. This is absolutely a winnable game. (For what it’s worth, the Bradley-Terry ratings have us a 54.3% favorite if you ignore margin, but Bama’s a 76.6%, -7.5 favorite by the margin-aware ratings. The Tide had two very close losses and one not-really-a-blowout-but-not-really-close-either loss, one narrow escape, a few semi-comfortable wins, and four or five blowouts depending on whether you count Penn State.)
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
I voted excited.
A win over Alabama would be a helluva an accomplishment for this team, and likely seats us in the top 5 depending on what happens with the other Bowl games. Obviously, it’s not the BCS but it’s definitely a BCS-tested team.
Terrence J. is feeling a bit fishy...
Terrified!
Disappointed we didn’t get the BCS bowl, and I think we got the worst opponent of those we were most likely to play.
Why am I terrified? IT’S ALABAMA!
1) Nick Saban is going to be very, very, very angry since he, y’know, actually lost games this year
2) Greg McElroy is an impressive QB with a pass completion of 70.6%. He’s like Dan Persa, except with an Alabama-quality O-line protecting him. Bama is rated 28th in the nation in passing yards. I question how much we’ll even be able to get into the backfield to have a good pass rush, let alone get the sack. Our secondary might need a career day.
3) Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson have actually scored fewer touchdowns combined than Baker and Bell combined, but this is still going to be like playing against another set of Bell and Baker, except one is a former heisman winner on top of it. Their team is ranked 36th in rushing yards, we’re 39th.
4) Alabama’s opponents have averaged only 14 points against them, good for 5th in the nation in PA. The closest we’ve come to playing something like that was Iowa, and, well, we all know how that game went.
"This is an easy choice- feral pigs plus land mines equals random, airborne bacon." - blanx73
by The Ghost of John Hannah on Dec 6, 2010 6:22 AM CST reply actions
I'm excited
It’s Alabama – if we beat them everyone will have to admit we belonged in a BCS bowl. If you’re going to be relegated to a non-BCS bowl after the season we had, the best case is that you get matched up against a high profile, quality opponent that will draw good ratings. The upside if you win is more national respect.
As far as the Saban angle – I held a grudge for a while over the way he left. I’m over that but I don’t like him because he’s a total carpet bagger. He didn’t just leave MSU in the lurch – he did the same thing to LSU and the Dolphins. No doubt when the NFL comes sniffing around again he’ll do the same thing to Alabama – then come back to college after 1 and a half lackluster NFL seasons.
I think it’s unconscionable that the Big East Champ, with four losses on the season, gets to leapfrog a bunch of better teams, but I guess we have the system we have. I would hope that, in the future, at least until there is a playoff, they will change the rules so that a BCS conference champion with 3 or more losses does not get an automatic berth if there are other BCS teams that have 2 or fewer losses who clearly have had a better season. That would result in the Big East getting snubbed this year. Some years the Big 10 might get snubbed. So be it. Nobody who loses 4 games should get an automatic BCS bowl berth.
I've always taken the attitude
that, if he didn’t want to be here, why would I want him to have stayed?
But, yeah, he’s about as unsympathetic character as you’re going to find in the world of high-powered athletics—particularly now with the stuff about oversigning and forced medical redshirts.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 6, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
Correction: Medical scholarships, not redshirts
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Dec 6, 2010 10:55 AM CST up reply actions
I don't mind him leaving if he doesn't want to be here
but don’t take gratuitous shots at us on the way out the door. Overall though I think it’s the constant search for greener pastures/more money that makes him unlikeable. Then he has the nerve to call sports agents scuzzy – as if he weren’t perpetually searching for the next bigger paycheck.
by TheCrestedHelm on Dec 6, 2010 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
I voted confident
Alabama is going to come in more disappointed then we could ever be. They were the preseason Number 1 team in the country and poised to repeat as champs. Then they lost 3 games and don’t even make a BCS bowl. We matchup well to play physical. My one concern is that Dantonio has not fared well against his mentor Tressel and I would classify Saban as a mentor. Bama is very good, but remember MSU is 11-1 for a reason. They smashed Penn St in Tuscaloosa 24-3, if not for a some dumb plays at the end of the game we smashed a better Penn St team in Happy Valley.
Side note: MSU was the most screwed over team in the country except maybe Nebraska. We play a non-BCS bowl against ALABAMA and Ohio St gets a team Bama beat (Arkansas) and Wisconsin gets a non AQ team. Don’t tell me TCU beat Oregon St. they went 5-7.
And Nebraska loses the Big 12 title game and gets sent to a non-January bowl at 10-3 vs a 6-6 Washington team that THEY ALREADY SMASHED THIS SEASON. Yikes.
Excited, but a bit scared
I’m nervous as hell about this matchup. All season long, people have more or less been looking for excuses to downgrade MSU; they played Wisc before they went on a roll, didn’t have to play OSU, got curb-stomped by a mediocre Iowa team, etc. This game is a double-edged sword: We can either easily shut these critics up about this year once and for all, or we can easily prove them correct.
The problem is, I can see this going either way. I think our offense has struggled with mistakes at times, and I think our D has been fairly inconsistent. I think Alabama has the players on both sides of the ball to take major advantage of this. However, if we can play mistake-free (or at least keep them to a minimum), I think we should be able to get a victory here.
"It's a trap!"
I voted "excited"...
…This is a huge game for the team and the program. I remember the Citrus Bowl win against Florida in 2000, and how big that was for us. Of course, Bobby Williams went on to screw up any momentum we had after that (he’s on the bama staff now, so more “revenge” factor!)
Also, I met a hot girl from Alabama a couple months ago, and looking forward to meeting up with her again in Orlando.
Pre Game Tailgate Party
Anyone have an inside source on the pregame party outside the stadium? I’ve got tickets and attended the last time State played in the Capitol One. I remember the party going on and would like to get tickets to it this time. GO GREEN.
by Donald Southwell on Dec 6, 2010 3:14 PM CST reply actions
I don't know much about MSU....
but I would definately say you guys got hosed by being 11-1 and being left out of the BCS, especially considering a few of the other teams that got in. Anyways, your consolation prize is a matchup with my beloved Crimson Tide in a non-BCS bowl. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about your team and a good game.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
I think it will come down to...
…if the MSU D-line can stop the run, or can our O-line runblock MSU. If yes, its not going to be pretty for Sparty. If no, then roll the dice. We can throw, but we won’t blow you off the field with that advantage.(See 2010 Iron Bowl)
If I was Sparty, I would throw down the field on Bama. Our d-line is fair, put limited pass rush. QB should have some time. With our young corners and the loss of Mark Barron at safety, it could be wide open for your WRs. Fly and go routes could be a OC’s dream come true.
Im sure Mark Ingram will be motivated and Saban, won’t admit it, would love to beat his old school and friend. Bama will be rested and recharges, so thats nice for us and injuries.
Opening line at Bellagio sports book last night:
MSU getting 11. I’ll take double digits against anybody.
That line seems a little high.
Especially given that we will be without Mark Barron for the game. Given the state of Bama’s secondary at this point, any halfway competant passing attack should be able to put up points against them. Not to mention the fact that we have been prone to giving up big plays all year long in the passing game even with Barron on the field. How is MSU’s defense against stopping the run?
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 9, 2010 11:12 AM CST up reply actions
Best part of our defense
MSU faced some very potent rushing attacks this season and came away with some very good numbers against the run. I’m not sure the exact statistics, but we held Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois (3 VERY good running games) well below their season average. We also only allowed 1 100 yard rusher all season and it wasn’t John Clay, Denard Robinson, Mikel Leshore, Evan Royster, or any of the top RB’s we played against. It was some punk from Purdue that busted an 80 yard TD run in the 1st quarter and still finished the game with only 106 rush yards I believe.
What I am really worried about is getting a decent pass rush on McElroy so we don’t let Chris L. Rucker cover Julio Jones for too long. If McElroy gets time, he and Jones will torch our secondary. How are your tight ends and short passing game? Will our LB’s be able to blitz or do we have to worry about TE and slot receiver routes over the middle?
That doesn’t bode well for us. We have struggled in the running game all year long. Whether it be to injuries to our runningbacks or on the offensive line, we just haven’t been able to get anything going consistently in the running game.
Alabama has a pretty potent passing attack, at times. At other times, it’s been fairly average at best. It’s like we’re either on fire or struggling. Like I mentioned above, the running game has fallen off this year, so we’ve had to rely on the pass a great deal this year. The only thing I can say about our offense is that it has been consistently inconsistent. McElroy has shown a tendency to hold on to the ball for too long at times, which has caused a lot of problems as far as giving up sacks. Most of the sacks we have given up have been a result of this, rather than a result of a blitz. We have a very good tight-end in Preston Dial. He has very good hands and is one of McElroys favorite targets. I would expect to see him get at least a handful of passes thrown his way. Alabama also likes to run a lot of WR and RB screens. Hanks is an excellent blocker on the WR screen and we have had a good bit of success running that play to Julio. The success that our offense will have is majorly dependent on Julio. He is far and away our biggest offensive threat at this point. I’ve seen him go up against the best in the SEC (Patrick Peterson, LSU) and make him look pretty silly. If he has a big day, our offense will be tough to stop.
How about MSU’s offense?
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Reply fail.
That was a response to SpartyMC. My bad.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
by nashvillebama on Dec 9, 2010 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
Offense has been pretty balanced
Early in the year the running game looked, very, very good. It has regressed to pretty average over the course of the season. Edwin Baker has taken over as the lead back after it was more of a committee approach early. He’s a true sophomore that I think will get some national hype before the end of his career.
The offensive line struggled some the second half of the season opening holes for the backs.
The receiving corps is deep and talented, but doesn’t have a player at the level of Julio Jones. The two outside guys Dell and Cunningham have been sort of interchangeable. Keyshawn martin is a big play threat on screens, reverses, and down field throws from the slot. He’s also a dangerous kick and punt returner. Tight ends have been very good dependable too.
Cousins has generally been pretty good. And he’s had several games, second halfs in particular when he was really, really good. The Iowa game was his only complete stinker. When pressured he will sometimes throw off his back foot into coverage, some folks on here have been more critical of him than I have been about this tendency. He was banged up the last month of the season. In my opinion he’s a very good college qb. Probably won’t play in the NFL, but he’s pretty steady and seems to play better when the game is tight in the 4th quarter, a trait i’ll take all day.
by trivialstuff16 on Dec 9, 2010 2:45 PM CST up reply actions
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