Football is a game of inches, Al Pacino said in the 1999 film, “Any Given Sunday.” MSU gridders learned this firsthand Saturday when they defeated themselves in a game where last-second salvation, and damnation cursed the Spartans. Penalties and continued poor special teams play mortally wounded the Spartans.

Certainly the fourth quarter held a glimmer of hope for those like me who know how well the Spartans can play. Immediately following Herb Haygood’s amazing return, David Schaefer had his extra-point attempt blocked by poor special teams play. This doesn’t even take into account the three other field-goal attempts that were botched throughout the game.