The 2011 Favorite Spartan Athlete Bracket: The Play-In Poll
by Pete Rossman on May 16, 2011 8:46 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans News Roundup
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PrintSorry about the long break y'all. However, work was done in this blog's brief silence -- I have 63 of the finest to wear the Green and White ready to rumble in the 2011 favorite Spartan Athlete bracket! One note before we proceed any further:
Nevertheless, 63 spots are taken, which means one spot is left. Since I couldn't decide, I figure I'd leave it up to you, fair readers, to decide who should get the last spot. Here are the four athletes I have in mind, in alphabetical order:
I'm not sure he belongs in a top 64 favorite Spartans list but I've always found him to be one of the most underrated. Night in and night out, that guy was the most productive player and leader on a Final Four team, played out of position basically his whole career, was described by Izzo as having one of the best first steps he's ever coached, and yet most people don't even put him on the bench of the All Izzo-Era team. A pet peeve of mine.
So what say ye? Who gets the final spot?
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Would have voted for Peko if...
….he actually landed on Mike Hart when he dove into the end zone on his touchdown. He could have “planted” him much like Burress did on Terrell a few years before.
Have to go with D Mason
I love AA but he was never even the best player on his own team in my opinion.
by That Guy Green on May 16, 2011 10:49 PM CDT reply actions
Good call
Leaving out the coaches. They can serve as honorary captains for each region.
Oh man
If this is any indication of how the rest of the bracket is going to look, this is gonna be a pain to try and fill out.
I was in school in 2005 when Alan Anderson helped to lead that team on it’s improbable Final Four run. We watched those games at the old Spartan Sports Den, great memories. Interestingly even his lowest moment, missing those free throws against Iowa contributed to some great times. My roomates and I were so depressed by the loss that we wanted to get out of town, so we put together an impromptu road trip and had a classic weekend. Also, Izzo then famously smashed the tape of that Iowa loss.
I had a friend that knew some kids on the MSU hockey team through his time playing Juniors. He was in town one summer, and we ended up meeting up with a bunch of guys from the team, including Drew Miller, and actually Ryan was there as well. We chilled at the bar with them for several hours. Great guys. Plus I am one of those who wants to vote for him because of his current performance on the Red Wings.
As I mentioned I was in school in 05, was at that game against Michigan, and that Peko rumbling down the field was maybe the best play I witnessed there live. The place was completely nuts.
So yea basically I have no idea who to pick.
I gotta with Mason...
…I met him a couple times at MSU and he was a class act. Plus his pro success has been remarkable, and he serves as a great example of what Spartan football is about.
Heute, Ich bin ein Kreuzschlüssel.
Uhhh... NO
Not such a class act… Case in point the day he threatened to kill me becasue I took away a bottle of champaign he brought to the IM West pool. It came complete with a “don’t you know who I am”.
Peko
was my favorite player on those teams. I can’t believe I didn’t nominate him already, totally forgot. Also, Anderson, Mason and Miller are all worthy in fact Im shocked that these three weren’t in the bracket already. Aside from his brother and Abdelkader I can’t think of a more liked hockey player than Miller (Lerg?). Also Mason I thought would get the older crowd but apparently didn’t and Anderson I think was THE best player on that team but he led by example and wasn’t flashy. Always suprised he didnt make it as a solid contributor in the NBA.
Anson Carter was pretty popular, too
But yeah, Abdelkader & the Miller brothers are far & away the most popular Spartan hockey legends of the most recent era that I can think of
Tough choice
I really loved watching Anderson and his teams in college. I agree that he is probably one of the more underrated Izzo-era players. But I had to go with Mason. I remember going to Football games in middle school with my best friend and every time we would force a punt or set up to receive a kick-off there was an excitement and electricity. We even coined it as “Mason time” as in, “here comes Mason time.” There was a feeling that every time he touched the ball as a returner something special could happen (not unlike Hester with the Bears). I do not recall any other player having that kind of special electricity as a returner before or after Mason.
by Chitown Spartan on May 17, 2011 11:57 AM CDT reply actions
Mason is just so much better then the other 3 I think
I like all of them but Masons way to good to keep out of this I think
"You think our war drill is something now. Next year is going to be fist fighting."- Tom Izzo
Go Spartans
tough call for me
between Mason and AA (which it looks like it’s a dead heat so tough call for everyone else too.)
I went with Anderson because I always felt like he was forced to play out of position and could’ve had a much better career were we not scrambling to fill in the holes left by early departure. I remember seeing him play anywhere from the 1 to the 4 at times.
Either way, that 2005 run was so magical and I was in school at the time so i had to give AA the slight edge over D Mason (whose punt return vs uofm in 95 will never be forgotten). BTW, if one of these 2 are left out of the 64 I can’t imagine how hard it will be to make my picks in the actual field.
How can you not love Anderson?
He almost single handedly broke the Wisconsin losing streak, played whatever position he was asked which usually was not his own, and had one of my favorite Spartan tourney quotes “coach smashed them tapes”. I agree that he has been consistently underrated and undervalued. Also, let’s not forget that we don’t know what would have happened in the NC game with a healthy Anderson.
Indeed to all the above
"And how much are intangibles worth? 10%? 20%?" - kj@theonlycolors
by intrpdtrvlr on May 18, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Gotta be AA
if only for the fact that he must still be waking up in the middle of the night hearing Izzo scream at him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player take more from Izzo with the possible exception of ’Quise.
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