MSU running back Le’Veon Bell is tripped up at the line of scrimmage by Texas Christian’s Kevin White (25) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, December 29, 2012. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
Tempe, Ariz. – There are two types of wins, ones that are expected and might even lead to disappointment, and others that thrill, and give hope for the future of a football program.
The MSU football team’s 17-16 victory over Texas Christian University in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on Saturday night was definitely the latter.
Senior kicker Dan Conroy nailed a 47-yard field goal with just over a minute to play to give the Spartans their second straight bowl victory.
Still, the game left many questions in the hearts and minds of Spartan fans.
Who will start at quarterback for MSU in 2013? What does the future hold for junior running back Le’Veon Bell and junior defensive end William Gholston?
Head coach Mark Dantonio said it was planned to take out junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell and give redshirt freshman quarterback Connor Cook a series in the first half, but it wasn’t expected how well he would move the offense.
“What’s going through my mind?” Dantonio said. “I’m not quite sure. There’s a lot of different people that could deal with this. Andrew is a tremendous person. When I say ‘deal with it,’ there’s a lot of people that had to do with winning this football game.”
MSU gained just 104 passing yards, while Maxwell went 6 for 25 for 28 yards, and Cook went 4 for 11 for 47, but it was the season long 90-yard touchdown drive at the end of the third quarter that set Cook apart.
“He’s a good player, we all knew that,” Bell said of Cook. “We know what Connor can do. He got thrown in the fire today. He executed, did a great job.”
When Bell saw the freshman come on in place of the regular starter Maxwell, Bell said there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he was capable of leading the team to victory.
“I was always confident in him,” Bells said. “If he needed help in anything, I make sure I’m there to answer any questions. He handled himself good and led us to a game-winning drive.”
Who the starting quarterback will be is up for debate, and questions still remain about the future of MSU’s two talented juniors, Bell and Gholston.
Bell received offensive player of the game honors after gaining 145 yards and one touchdown on 32 rushes, and Gholston was named defensive player of the game after totaling 9 tackles, including one sack.
Both have submitted their names to the NFL Draft Advisory Board to see what their potential draft stock might be, and Bell lost weight to improve his speed, what many consider to be his biggest flaw.
Neither the Big Ten’s leading rusher or the man who ranks tenth overall in tackles for loss made a decision after the game, but Dantonio said good things come to those who wait.
“If you’re patient, things will always come back to you.”
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