SPARTANS BEAT BADGERS 37-31 KEITH NICHOL HAIL MARY OMG
by Pete Rossman on Oct 22, 2011 10:34 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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Stream of consciousness: I am so, so happy for Keith Nichol right now. Thank you for Kirk Cousins. Thank everyone our conservative play calling didn't cost MSU. Our special teams were awesome. I'm not forgetting about Kyler Ellsworth, you sir were clutch. I am SO SO HAPPY. I thought Mark Dantonio almost cried. Remember that one play where Jerel Worthy stuffed a Wisconsin RB, helping lead to a safety. AWESOME. NO PENALTIES FOR THE HATERS. Keshawn Martin is a golden god. Isaiah Lewis had a couple mistakes, but had an intecerpetion that made up for it. Russell Wilson -- much respect. Montee Ball -- even more respect. Mike Sadler -- you are a good punter. Thank everyone that didn't come down to a field goal, even though I trust Dan Conroy a lot.
THE DANCE OF JOY WILL BE UP IN A BIT BUT I CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS HOW HAPPY I AM OMG
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Congrats guys
Helluva game
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
KEITH NICHOL FOR HEISMAN!
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
by Spartan D on Oct 22, 2011 10:36 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
makes sense
since any opposing Heisman hopeful has those dreams shattered.
by tomax powers on Oct 22, 2011 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you Beilema
for using timeouts for us!
he got the unsportsmanlike penalty for our last second FG a few years back
then he calls the timeout that lets us have the time to score
No, it was a timeout.
We were rushing our FG team out there on 4th down with the clock running and he called timeout for us. I remember it because it was the dumbest timeout I’d ever seen. This one wasn’t quite as dumb (because hey, 2nd and 20, I’d try to get the ball back too), but it backfired horribly.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
I Look At Bielema
And think there’s a man who knows what he’s doing.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 22, 2011 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Almost worked
Thin line between goat and hero.
The way Wilson moved the ball we can’t blame him.
by msuduster on Oct 22, 2011 11:02 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Agree-ish, it almost worked
However, to me it seemed like we were in trouble if that game goes to over-time…
Now how dumb was that. irogantsnce!
Great game. The Duck fans loved it.
Go Ducks 2011-2012
by dzwizzard on Oct 23, 2011 1:30 AM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
YESYESYESYESYESYES
Even better than Swenson’s last second FG kick in ’08 to beat them!
"The open threads on game days are like fevered dreams: Everyone is hammered and then shit gets burned." - Truffle Shuffle
by The Ghost of John Hannah on Oct 22, 2011 10:39 PM CDT reply actions
Wow
Looked like we couldn’t lose, then looked like we sure weren’t going to win… then Keith Nichols rode into town.
by RoninX on Oct 22, 2011 10:40 PM CDT reply actions 10 recs
I wouldn't even think about it.
Wisconsin had to like their chances in OT, the way the momentum was going. Why stake everything on one play? You only do that if you’re a big underdog who had to do everything possible just to get to that point, or if you’re thinking that the chances of the 2-pointer working are, for whatever reason, greater than your chances of winning in OT.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
Boom
Spartan Defense: Ender of heisman campaigns.
To be fair
Russell Wilson did a damn good job of bringing the Badgers back. Luckily, MSU had the ball last.
by Pete Rossman on Oct 22, 2011 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
He had a few unforced errors
That you can get away with against the ACC and UNLV, but not Michigan State.
He got helped by a lot of holds that were simply not called.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 22, 2011 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Absolutely
Sooo much holding by Wiscy that went uncalled. Lots of grabbing arms as Ball went through the LOS too
Delany needs to go
I can’t remember when the officials called a fair game in the BigTen, they rarely call holding even when a running team like UW is trying to come backand has to hold on every play because the defense knows they have to pass to win. The instant replay had no business being needed to overturn an easy call like the one at the end of the game. It a battle of a (ex-)running QB from a yard and half out versus a couple of defensive backs: the (ex-)running QB wins those all the time. These officials must have been told to make the game exciting.
And since the conference officials reprehensible behavior and the failure to penalize OSU before last years bowl games with BigTen forfeits are the responsibility of the commissioner, Delany needs to resign.
by James Rinkevich on Oct 23, 2011 2:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Delany makes people a lot of money
So I’d say he’s commissioner for life if he so chooses.
Perhaps we have no leg to stand on considering our squad was whistled for zero penalties, but hearing Wisconsin fans being outrage over how they got shafted by the refs is pretty funny. You got hit for 6-40, and if anything, both fans can agree that the game was called loose and poorly.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions
I would say Wisky's 6 flags were pretty indisputable
Grounding in the end zone? Yup, nobody was anywhere near that pass, & Wilson was definitely still in the tackle box.
3 false starts? Those are pretty obvious too.
The holding on the LT? Very obvious, I could see him tackle Adams & called it before I saw a flag. And the personal foul on the kick return? Yeah he was late, like 2 + steps late.
Frankly, I felt like they missed a second grounding call on RW in the 4th. Andyou know what? I watched the entire game live, then a second time on DVR, and there wasn’t one instance the entire game when the announcers said MSU should have been flagged – not one holding, face mask, PF or PI, and obviously no objective calls either. We’ve all watched mre than enough college football to know that the tv team will bring perceived missed calls to attention.
Allegations of face mask grabbing? Come on, a hand will touch helmets, its only a flag if the player actually grabs the mask. And saying that MSU players hit Ball helmet to helmet is absurd, too – it’s a penalty when the player leads with his helmet, as in, the defender’s head is the tip of the spear. The defenders were wrapping Ball up by the body, and helmets knocked, on that play. To allege deliberate misconduct there is just grasping at non-existent straws.
Clarification
I agree, the penalties to Wisconsin were obvious calls. My contention was that Wisconsin was lucky to not get thrice that amount, so any calls of an unfair penalty situation are pretty empty.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
The refs were awful.
They missed an obvious clip right at the point of attack on Wisky’s big punt return, missed an offensive PI when Wisky’s receiver was drive-blocking our DB 10 yards down the field while the ball was in the air, and Wisky was holding on literally every damn play and getting away with it.
Bucky fans are butthurt over the refereeing, but their incompetence was going both ways.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
by Spartan D on Oct 23, 2011 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear ya
But must respectfully disagree.
I think ref’ing in any sport is worst when the officials aren’t consistent. For example, a changing strike zone every half inning, or inconsistency between charging & blocking calls.
Like I mentioned, most of the flags thrown last night were objective calls (3x false start & the grounding) – and the two that are subjective, the holding & PF, both seemed pretty apparent.
Was there holding at the line by both teams? Probably – you can pretty much call holding on any play. But officials were consistent & only called the egregious plays, keeping it at the same level the entire game.
As for MSU’s lack of composure (I’m a lifelong Spartans & Lions fan – I’m not used to being able to type the word “composure” without prefacing it with “lack of”), I think it’s a prime example of the coaching staff being able to drive home the point of the team keeping it’s cool. I only saw two or three instances of our defenders jawing at Badgers after a play, and our guys always walked away pretty quickly instead of escalating it. Frankly, I’m proud of them for showing that they can keep their cool, and hope this is the turning over of a new leaf as this team & program continue to climb up the ladder of national relevance.
I absolutely agree
And I’m not trying to discredit Wilson at all. I haven’t looked at the numbers exactly, but I think they will show a severe drop compared with the rest of his opponents, including Nebraska.
I’m also about as big of a Denard Robinson fan as you can find wearing green and white, it just makes me more proud of how we handled him two years in a row.
Just checked the stats...
And this game was below his average in every single statistic category. It’s most easily seen in his passer rating, which was 168.2 compared with a season average of 210.9! Again, nothing to take away from Wilson, he played as well as anyone for his team and I expect him to do great things the rest of the season, but it really says a lot about our defense to be able to contain two of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Did you just imply that Denard Robinson is one of the best qb's in college football?
Shoelace is a decent 3rd down scatback ala Dave Megett. If you want a slight, shifty slot receiver/ tailback with a bad arm then sure…he is certainly one of the best in the game.
YayayuaayayayayahayahauahhhzhshzyYgayYayHhgh
That’s what happiness looksike on a phone
by StickyGreen on Oct 22, 2011 10:50 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Yes I know
Gay snuck in there. It was for nichol.
by StickyGreen on Oct 22, 2011 10:53 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
lol
"We were a little fat and sassy" -Tom Izzo
by itsalwaysunnyinEL on Oct 22, 2011 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
4 years of Sadler
We grow kickers on trees around here.
The quintessential Spartan victory: never easy, waiting until the utmost last second.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 22, 2011 10:52 PM CDT reply actions
With two...
…non-Wisconsin alum roommates looking on, cheering on Wisconsin and constantly calling MSU ‘Michigan’, thank you boys for pulling this out. I’m a little angry you squandered a two touchdown fourth quarter lead to make this more interesting than it had to be, but I’m so happy we pulled it out.
My next worry? An emotional letdown vs Nebraska. Play like I know we can, and I’ll be very happy indeed.
Go Green!
by injuredcyclist on Oct 22, 2011 10:59 PM CDT reply actions
Lol
I like football.
Also, that WI team is damn good. Wilson is legit and I hope to see them in Indy.
Can’t have a great game without great teams.
by msuduster on Oct 22, 2011 11:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Keith Nichol
Just listened to him on Spartan Radio, just gave credit to every other player and the coaches.
Great teammate, doesn’t sulk and keeps playing. Glad he’s a spartan
by msuduster on Oct 22, 2011 11:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 4 recs
only a great person would go from QB to #4 WR
by DarthSparty on Oct 22, 2011 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
+1 to all the above
please always remember where he came from and what he gave up to stay a Spartan.
Nichol understands the MSU Secret
Like Delvon Roe. Like Nix might be doing.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions
ZERO PENALTIES
Props to the coaching staff for getting that stuff under control, and for the team for responding.
Wisconsin played a heck of a game, and I am very much looking forward to seeing them again in Indy. Anyone got any Indianapolis travel tips? :D
I love how Coach D emphasized that on the sideline after the game.
take that MSU haters from last week.
by tomax powers on Oct 22, 2011 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Hell yea
While trying to climb out of the stadium, I looked at my buddy and said “zero penalties this game. Think that was a statement?”
His response:
“You’re damn right it was”
by SpartyFever on Oct 23, 2011 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions
I always feel bad
watching the opposing team at the interview podium after something like that. Geez, it has to feel so awful.
Back to football, I don’t know why we stopped using those spread sideline passes that opened up Wisconsin in the third quarter. Really don’t like winning in that “hold on” fashion.
ZERO penalties. Yes, Michigan, it’s just because you are so despised.
Keith Nichol
Just won himself an espy.
by Chitown Spartan on Oct 22, 2011 11:10 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
my screenname is relevant
I screamed this when Nichol caught the ball.
by AND HE GOT IT on Oct 22, 2011 11:10 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
YOU FOLKS GOT A TOWEL??!?!?!?!?!?!!?
"We were a little fat and sassy" -Tom Izzo
by itsalwaysunnyinEL on Oct 22, 2011 11:11 PM CDT reply actions
lemme think about it
head explodes
"We were a little fat and sassy" -Tom Izzo
by itsalwaysunnyinEL on Oct 22, 2011 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
The only thing in my mind that can compete
Is Korie making the three to send MSU to the Sweet 16.
by Pete Rossman on Oct 22, 2011 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Also
Abdelkader making the goal to win the NCAA title. Ashamed I forgot about that.
by Pete Rossman on Oct 22, 2011 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
As far as football wins
it is this and Herbie Haygood for me.
THIS.
The ND win was exciting, but ND wasn’t the team UW is. This has title-favorite implications. A win over ND was expected (I think).
by tomax powers on Oct 22, 2011 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Clockgate's up there
I might be showing my age.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 22, 2011 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions
close but not quite
as a freshman game employee for an oversold game, i sat on the east side northern 20 yard line, upper deck bottom of the stairs with my feet hanging over the edge of the upper deck for the second half… what a great view to see TJ score. I will never forget that moment.
Tonight was a bigger victory.
right click and "copy image url"
paste it into web browser of choice
Thanks!
I was just about to post that.
by Pete Rossman on Oct 22, 2011 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Amazing game!
Now it’s time to welcome Nebraska to a real conference.
Coach D in games AFTER um wins
2008: Beat um, lose to OSU
2009: Beat um, lose to Wiscy
2010: Beat um, beat Wiscy
2011: Beat um, beat Wiscy
So much better than years past when we were spent after um wins. I like the toughness our coaches are instilling in our team.
delayed response
Kinda a lot of drinks flowing in denver. Amazing finish. The game really deserved ot but the win is …wow. B1G champ game should be interesting. I am most proud of the absence of penalties.
Next week starts now! Let’s win @ Nebraska!
by Dano517 on Oct 22, 2011 11:22 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
East Lansing
Graveyard of Heisman hopefuls.
by Chitown Spartan on Oct 22, 2011 11:22 PM CDT reply actions
Some great offensive play call in tonight
The 4th & 2 pass to BJ, the double reverse TD for kmart, the two ST blocks, and now, the Rocket! Helluva game!!!
Offensive play calling was mixed
In particular we struggled to find a rythm in the 1st and 4th, those two three and outs in the fourth when we threw 4 times and ran twice nearly cost us the game.
That's why it was only some great
And not completely great. We couldn’t get Baker going at all, though Le’Veon did show up, the offense completely stalled out in the 4th until the final minute, and we seemed to abandon in the 2nd half what was working in the 1st, namely attacking them over the middle.
But there were enough great plays in there to pull it off!
Indeed.
Is it me or did Ball almost exclusively get the tosses and sweeps called for him?
Bucky's hating on us like crazy
Now that U-M and Wisky are burying the needle on rancor, and the Northwestern bloggers hate our dirty ways, let’s go toilet-paper Tom Osborne’s house.
Eff em
Blake would fire their ass(es) because a loser is a loser.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 22, 2011 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Not sure why they are hating on the timeout decisions
I thought they were the right calls for Bucky considering that they were running on us effectively, as well as defending us pretty well. They take the timeouts, get the ball, kick the field goal for the win.
Also, thought Bielma should have gone for the two when they made it 30-31. Ball was getting 4-5 yards on his carries – and if they didn’t make it, there was still time for Bucky to play D, get the ball, and go for the field goal.
But no. They say we got lucky (definitely on that last play) but that the refs giftwrapped the game for us.
I guess Haters gotta hate.
by tomax powers on Oct 23, 2011 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions
No fan of Bielema
But the timeout was the right call. His players just couldn’t make a stop.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Between their game thread & post game vent
There is a good chance we’ll see our pals from Madison in this week’s edition of Roll ‘Bama Roll’s Meltdown Time post.
No Kidding
At the moment after our insanely thrilling victory we have 65 post and they were at 169 two minutes ago. Mostly the same 3 guys flipping out about lack of penalties and the play that Ball was injured on.
I suspect they'll be headlining This Week in Schadenfreude.
Either that or Oklahoma (who lost at home to a decent, but unranked, Texas Tech team).
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
They're just frustrated
The attitudes on this blog we’re pretty dismal after the ND loss, so I can understand their frustration.
They played well, they lost a great game, and I think they’ll get their chance for revenge in Indy. Hat’s off to their effort. Lets enjoy the win and look forward to Nebraska!
Did you see the post game interview with Cousins?
He is freaking great, I think I would marry him.
And I’m married.
And I’m a man.
by MSUDersh on Oct 23, 2011 12:16 AM CDT reply actions 5 recs
Wow this game as incredible
From the stands, it was mayhem the ENTIRE game!
Hats off to the Badgers. They played one hell of a game, and are a very well rounded team.
Hats off to the Spartan defense. After a rough start, they really pulled it together.
Hats off to Keshawn Martin. We needed him this game, and he delivered
Hats off to Keith Nichol for his “WTF THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN” hail mary catch
See you Badgers in Indianapolis!!
What a game
incredible. Absolutely incredible. I’m finally coming down from my postgame high and can get to sleep.
What happened? I blacked out.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
still feels good the next morning!
a Michigan State and Michigan blog: http://onrivalries.blogspot.com/
Things I care about
6-1.
Being in the driver’s seat for a B1G title (again).
Kirk Cousins
Keith Nichol
The Defense
The entire team
Coach Dantonio.
0 Penalties
Things I don’t care about
Wisconsin fans bitching about penalties, luck, or anything else
Michigan fans bitching
MOLON LABE
Morning after, still utterly in awe
I can’t believe we won that game. When we were down 14-0 and only had a single offensive play that was a fumble, I was kind of numbed because I was being reminded of Iowa and Alabama last year. Then the rest of the game happened.
I’m expecting haters to continue hating, and probably citing that Ball wasn’t at his best after the head injury incident. But, to hell with the haters. That was about the most complete game I think we’ve seen from this team yet this year. Bring on Nebraska. I’m still worried about that and the Iowa game. I really really hope we don’t see them faltering from victory-hang over next week.
"The open threads on game days are like fevered dreams: Everyone is hammered and then shit gets burned." - Truffle Shuffle
by The Ghost of John Hannah on Oct 23, 2011 10:20 AM CDT reply actions
Ball's bell rung
on legal hits, The helmets did not lead the tackle and used like a weapon. So, naturally he’s not going to be at his best , but he still ran pretty well in the second half when he had space.
Serious Question
If i’m not mistaken, Bell got every possession in the 4th quarter- maybe the entire second half? Is Baker hurt? Or was it a result of the fumble? Just wondering if anyone heard anything.
Fumbles are bad, but over the last couple years the running back rotation has worked out pretty well. Just thought it was strange that Bell got all the time late.
by trivialstuff16 on Oct 23, 2011 10:56 AM CDT reply actions
They're going with the hot hand at RB.
Bell was running more effectively last night, and he also is a better pass catcher than Baker.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
Behold my mad Paint Skillz!!!
For any doubters…
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
by Spartan D on Oct 23, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
ESPN.com had a similar graphic last night
Which wasn’t available in Madison, apparently.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
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by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Watching the highlights, I'd like to change the narrative
It’s all been about Russell Wilson, because that’s how ESPN framed things and I think we, as a fan base, were a little miffed because our QB, and the only one of the two who has won a Big Ten Championship, seemed to be treated as Some Guy Named Kirk. How Wilson performed would be second, in my eyes, to the holes in the Wisconsin defense that were revealed by a real team and not some bottom-feeders. An inability to tackle in space and a soft defense are going to be major concerns going forward. Special teams was a nightmare, but those can be fixed more easily than the defense.
We are the Wearers Of The Belt going forward, and the mindset of the Wisconsin fanbase is that “well, it took a disputable Hail Mary TD on their home field with ALL that went against us to win, we’ll have no problem in Indianapolis” but some things I saw out of Wisconsin are going to be the same if they play in East Lansing, Madison, Indy or on the Moon. And by the way, going to Columbus next week is no easy task.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Oct 23, 2011 11:05 AM CDT reply actions
He meant the Badgers
They play OSU in the shoe next week
by SpartyFever on Oct 23, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I picked one awesome weekend to go back to campus.
At least, I think I did. I still haven’t ruled out the possibility that I hallucinated the whole thing, and probably won’t for a couple more days. Because that was completely unreal.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
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