Following No. 7 MSU’s 49-7 loss to No. 15 Alabama in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., head coach Mark Dantonio talks about some of the factors that contributed to the blowout. Junior quarterback Kirk Cousins and Dantonio also talk about about how the defeat doesn’t run the Spartans’ special season and discuss already preparing for next season.
Orlando, Fla. — In sunny Florida, Saturday was a tropical disaster for MSU.
The No. 7 Spartans desired to put a stamp on their Big Ten championship-winning season and earn a major program victory, but it was No. 15 Alabama who schooled them in playing tough-nosed, championship-level football, breezing past MSU, 49-7, at the Capital One Bowl on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide shook, rattled and rolled all over the Spartans, who wanted to finish strong and start 2011 on a good note. But MSU did not have an answer for Alabama’s heavy pressure and offensive playmaking ability at Florida Citrus Bowl.
“Sometimes there’s an avalanche that comes up on you, and that’s what happened,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “They won up front. That’s the difference. You know, you have to win up front if you’re going to play football.”
Last year’s National Champion Crimson Tide proved its defensive line was for real, generating constant pressure on junior quarterback Kirk Cousins and forcing MSU’s running backward.
The Spartans gained 55 yards on the ground, but five Alabama sacks and consistent penetration in the backfield produced 103 negative rushing yards, which created a net of minus-48 yards on the ground and offered no way for the Spartans to have a chance Saturday.
Alabama’s rushing attack also was on display, as it rolled up 275 yards behind last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram’s 59 yards and two-touchdown performance and reserve Eddie Lacy’s 86 yards and two touchdowns.
When Alabama’s running game wasn’t making a big play, quarterback Greg McElroy was hitting one of the Crimson Tide’s talented wide receivers, as Alabama finished with 271 passing yards to compound the Spartans’ problems.
“I think it was a first-class performance from start to finish,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said of his team’s performance. “We asked players to focus on taking advantage of their talent today and have enough poise to do it for 60 minutes in the game regardless of what they had to overcome.”
The Spartans have been considered underdogs in most of their big games this season, but on Saturday they certainly looked an outmanned team, as Alabama pressured the Spartans and didn’t allow them to develop a rhythm.
Junior quarterback Kirk Cousins routinely was hit and left the game in the third quarter with back pain and a throbbing headache. Cousins was relieved by redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Maxwell, who also left the game because of injury, leaving junior receiver Keith Nichol to finish the game behind center.
With sunny skies and a warm temperature, Alabama scored on its first drive on an Ingram one-yard run before Cousins was intercepted on the Alabama 16-yard line on the Spartans’ first drive.
That set up a touchdown run for Alabama running back Trent Richardson to put Alabama ahead 14-0 just 27 seconds into the second quarter. And after Cousins’ fumble on the Alabama 15-yard line took the Spartans out of field-goal range on the next drive, the Crimson Tide scored on its next two drives to take a 28-0 halftime lead.
They continued to wear down the Spartans’ offensive and defensive lines and scored three more times in the second half.
“We’re a program that used to establish a run,” Cousins said. “That’s when we’re working best is when we can get the running game going. You can’t just drop back and allow the Alabama defense to just pin their ears back every play.”
Maxwell took over midway through the third quarter before leaving the game with a headache midway through the fourth quarter, completing 2-for-6 passes. Nichol finished the game and provided the Spartans’ only touchdown, completing two of five passes for 56 yards.
Cousins was 10-of-18 for 120 yards, but had two costly turnovers and couldn’t provide an early spark to keep the Spartans in the game.
The Spartans won 11 games this season by stopping the run and playing hard-nosed football, but couldn’t get much going Saturday.
“I’m proud of the team,” Cousins said. “We’re obviously disappointed in today, but we’re not disappointed in the product we put on the field and fall and the entire season’s work.”
MSU won 11 games for the first time in school history, and finished 11-2 on the season, while Alabama ended the season 10-3 and should vault up the rankings after Saturday’s dominant performance.
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Now, MSU will try to prepare for next season and hope 2011 will be a far cry from the disappointment of Saturday.
“It’s tough to take when you win 11 games,” Dantonio said. “There’s no other way to sugar coat this one.”
