Michigan State Defeats Notre Dame, Looks Ahead to Indiana
by grahamfiller10
on Sep 22, 2008 6:33 PM CDT
in Michigan State
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Michigan State Spartans 23, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7
In the midst of another rushing explosion, one Notre Dame blogger mentioned that if the ABC analysts continued praising Javon Ringer so effusively, the commentator might be engaged to the Spartan running back by the time the game was over. It has been that kind of season for Ringer and the Spartan offensive line, but there was an overlooked factor in this 23-7 MSU victory: the Spartans defense played a flawless game. The Irish were held to 16 yards rushing and QB Jimmy Clausen endured three sacks and two interceptions. Individual performances don't measure the Sparties dominance, although safety Otis Wiley (2 INT'S) and DE Brandon Long (2 sacks) padded their stats. The Spartan front 4 spent the entire game in Notre Dame's backfield, disrupting any ideas the Irish had about an upset. This performance, after shutting out Florida Atlantic, gives rise to the notion that maybe there is more to this Michigan State team than a Heisman candidate at tailback.
(Fun Fact: Wiley is tied for the NCAA lead in interceptions with 4)
No Heisman for these fellows, but they deserve some attention.
Saturday's Challenge: @ Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers
The Spartans scored 52 points last year against Indiana on a perfect fall night in East Lansing. Can this be repeated? Javon Ringer is the key to this years Spartan attack and Indiana will surely pack the box with defenders, daring Brian Hoyer to throw to Mark Dell and company. Advantages abound for the Spartans on offense; in the Hoosier's only challenging game, its defensive unit was hammered repeatedly by Ball State's running backs.
On defense, the Spartan's D-line will be under the spotlight because of talented QB Kellen Lewis. Lewis has proved that he can run the ball (5th in the Big 10 in rushing yards), so the Spartans will have to keep him in the pocket. If the Spartans can keep the Indiana QB contained, possibly by spying him with an extra linebacker, than Lewis will be forced to beat MSU with his erratic arm.
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A Spartans response
First of all Graham. It is Brian not Bobby Hoyer. Your blunder shows that you are only covering State because there something inside of you that tells you that you should. Don’t fret my friend, it took me a long time to fully warm to spartan football but once you realize what they represent under Dantonio, its hard to see any other team to back. If you grew up a Big Ten kid, which I know you did you can appreciate smash mouth, I push you harder than you push me football. That is what the sport was based on. MSU epitomizes this mentality. Just look at the post game comments from Charlie “Jabba” Weis. We beat them at the line. It’s not complicated. On both sides of the ball we pushed their line and had them on their heels the whole game. Ringer capitalizes on these games because he is conditioned to just keep running. Sooner or later the holes appear and thats when he explodes. Case in point, the 63 or so yard run in the fourth. Those don’t happen early for us. Anyway this post is all over the place as far as my thoughts on the game. Overall good win but as an experienced State fan I know we can’t get too high. This point in the season always has a nice flow to it. The big part is finishing. Which brings me to my most exciting point. I’ve heard a lot of talk from Dantonio and the rest of the team this year about getting better each week. That’s something Spartan fans are not used to. Under John L our teams seemed to peak and then expect that to carry over into each week, causing us to lose close ones in the fourth. If Dantonio can keep the troops grounded, which seems to be his speciality, things shape up nicely for us. This post is too long. Next time I’ll summarize better.
by byronfish on
Sep 23, 2008 7:28 PM CDT
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Thanks Fish
You can be my 2nd official Spartan correspondent…oddly enough, the other one is into TV production also.
I thought I would get nothing but plaudits from you for covering the Spartans in an unbiased and supportive way, but you had to bring your contradictory attitude to my blog. Your lucky I don’t ban you. I covered your beloved Spartans here also.
But the traditional Fish Filler trash talk aside, my compliments on your meandering, semi incoherent post. I think your key ideas (Dantonio has instilled a solid mentality, Spartan fans can’t get too high until you beat a real team) are both true and I hope the Spartans continue their exceptional play….instead of lapsing into the penalty plagued, assignment-missing team they have been the last five years. I’m excited for you to read my article from 2 months ago where I predicted Michigan State would beat UM this year…really
by grahamfiller10 on
Sep 23, 2008 8:30 PM CDT
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