The earliest memory of the MSU-Michigan rivalry for linebacker Max Bullough and guard Blake Treadwell is a shared one. The two were spectators at Spartan Stadium on Nov.
For nearly two decades, head coach Mark Dantonio has been surrounded by the Michigan rivalry — and he rarely backs down from the opportunity to talk about it. Whether it’s during his time at Ohio State, his coordinator days under head coach Nick Saban at MSU or his more than seven years as the head coach of the Spartans, Dantonio acknowledges the rivalry with the Wolverines is a part of who he, and by extension, his family have become.
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — Connor Cook was nearly perfect, and he penned his name in the Spartan football record book along the way.
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — Standing at the podium in a dank, hole-in-the-wall press room, complete with dingy ceiling tiles, florescent lights and a drooping Big Ten Network backdrop and buried in the depths of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium, head coach Mark Dantonio knew what his team had done.
After last week’s performance against Purdue, sophomore quarterback Connor Cook left many with more questions than answers. This week, it’s safe to say he’s hellbent on answering a few of them.
Bill Cubit was winless against MSU in three tries during his eight-year tenure as the head coach of Western Michigan. Since being fired at the end of last year in Kalamazoo, Cubit was hired by second-year Illinois head coach Tim Beckman to man the controls of his offense.
When it comes to measuring the MSU football team, there’s a growing distinction between perception and reality. Early season offensive demons reemerged last week as the Spartans (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) slinked away with a 14-0 victory against Big Ten bottom-dweller Purdue. Sophomore Connor Cook appeared more like a drunkard throwing darts than a Division I quarterback, seemingly regressing from a stellar stretch he had against Iowa and Indiana.
Death, taxes and answering questions about Lawrence “LT” Thomas. At this point, those are the certainties in the life of head coach Mark Dantonio. After answering at least one question about the sophomore defensive end almost weekly since the season began, it’s become a practice as steady and consistent as clockwork for Dantonio. Since Thomas suffered an undisclosed injury during summer workouts, there’s been an insatiable thirst to know the status of the former five-star prospect from Detroit.
With MSU past the halfway point of its season, head coach Mark Dantonio’s message Tuesday wasn’t unlike the one he delivered the previous week. After his team practiced poorly leading up to it and struggled to put away Purdue in a sloppy 14-0 win, Dantonio again emphasized testing his players’ ability to handle success as well as the increasingly difficult nature of the schedule as the season wears on. Despite their solid record, the Legends Division-leading Spartans (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) sit just outside the top-25 polls as they travel to Illinois (3-3, 0-2) for a 3:30 p.m.
Senior linebacker Max Bullough has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career for his team-high 10-tackle performance in MSU’s 14-0 win over Purdue.
There was a moment during Saturday’s game when the MSU offense proved how good it can be.
The Spartans played with fire Saturday and emerged unscathed. If the worst team in the Big Ten wasn’t on the opposing sideline, though, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t have been burned. MSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) dodged an embarrassing and likely dream-killing loss in its uninspiring 14-0 victory against lowly Purdue (1-6, 0-3).
Think back a few weeks about the MSU football team. A stagnant offense, struggling to find a rhythm at quarterback or wide receiver, diluting the ability to produce anything of substance.
Just when the Spartans began looking like a complete team and potential Legends Division frontrunner, they struggled to put away a flawed Purdue team and a wave of uncertainty comes crashing back. The MSU defense did the heavy lifting – producing a shutout and a touchdown – while its offense struggled to move the ball once again in a 14-0 win over the Boilermakers (1-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten). Leading up to Saturday, head coach Mark Dantonio talked about whether his team would be able to handle its recent success after back-to-back impressive wins against Iowa and Indiana.
Just when the Spartans began looking like a complete team, a potential Legends Division favorite, they struggle to put away a struggling Purdue team and the wave of uncertainty comes rushing back. The MSU defense did the heavy lifting while its offense seemed to regress in a 14-0 win over the Boilermakers (1-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten). The Spartans (6-1, 3-0) scored on a 45-yard fumble recovery from senior linebacker Denicos Allen in the first half, and hung on to keep Purdue out of the end zone before redshirt freshman tight end Josiah Price scored on a trick play in the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook threw for 107 yards and junior running back Jeremy Langford went over the century mark for the second straight game with 131 rushing yards.
After marked improvement the past two weeks offensively, MSU took a 7-0 lead into the locker room against Purdue in a half oddly reminiscent of the lackluster performances that opened the season. MSU was billed as a heavy favorite heading into the contest against the 1-5 Boilermakers. The Spartan offense came out revving its engine on the first drive, feeding junior running back Jeremy Langford three straight plays while employing unbalanced formations with multiple offensive linemen.
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
The 2013 football season is halfway over for MSU (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten), and things appear to be looking up for the Spartans heading into tomorrow’s matchup with Purdue (1-5, 0-2). Since its season opener reminded everyone another dismal season wasn’t out of the question, MSU has reshaped its image and emerged as a Legends Division favorite. Sophomore Connor Cook has taken the reins at quarterback and his supporting cast has improved each game while getting multiple players involved. Here are the most notable players and events from the season’s first half.