“We have to have more poise and more discipline as a football team,” Head Coach Mel Tucker said after Saturday’s win. “Every hundred yards is pretty much seven points.”

As a head coach, Tucker likes two separate penalties into two categories: “dumb, stupid” ones and those that are simply the result of an aggressive team.

It is safe to assume that Tucker sorted a majority of the penalties committed against Wisconsin into the “dumb, stupid” pile. Unsportsmanlike conduct, targeting and unnecessary roughness were just a few of the calls that went against the Spartans Saturday afternoon. 

Perhaps the worst of the bunch was redshirt junior defensive end Michael Fletcher’s targeting. Senior linebacker Jacoby Windmon had just notched an impressive TFL on Wisconsin’s elusive running back Braelon Allen, putting the Badgers’ offense behind the sticks on first down. However, as the play was winding down, Fletcher came in late and made helmet-to-helmet contact with Allen. He was promptly disqualified for the rest of the game, and Wisconsin was handed 15 free yards. 

Plays like this piled up throughout the afternoon, consistently wiping off good plays, starting off drives on a bad note or handing Wisconsin’s offense free first downs. 

Another frustrating penalty came in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Michigan State’s defense had just forced Wisconsin’s offense to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half. Sending out the punt unit, the Badgers were about to put the ball in the hands of one of the most dangerous punt returners in the league, redshirt senior wide receiver Jayden Reed. Sure enough, showing off his signature speed and elusiveness, Reed raced an impressive 81 yards to the end zone. However, a block below the waist committed by freshman wide receiver Germie Bernard took away Reed’s touchdown return and brought the ball all the way back to MSU’s 20-yard line. 

Again, a potentially massive swing in momentum was wiped off the board due to a needless penalty. 

With a disappointing 3-4 record more than halfway through the season, the Spartans have found all sorts of ways to shoot themselves in the foot. The team cannot introduce discipline issues to the laundry list of struggles. The offense cannot afford to start off a drive behind the sticks or with bad field position. The defense cannot give opposing offenses free yards and first downs.

“Penalties, especially undisciplined penalties and stupid penalties, will absolutely get you beat,” Tucker said.

Luckily, the Spartans haven’t been an especially undisciplined team for the majority of the season. As it stands, MSU averages 53 penalty yards per game, which ranks 52nd in the nation. 

Heading forward, Michigan State needs to ensure that last Saturday’s lack of discipline was an aberration. With a struggling defense and an inconsistent offense, the Spartans need all the help they can get on both sides of the ball — needless penalties that waste downs and yardage have to be eliminated.