Saturday’s game had many MSU fans bringing a phrase that many thought was dead and buried back to life — “Same Old Spartans.” The 29-27 loss to Central Michigan, which featured eight MSU penalties and included a crucial offsides call in the final seconds, was too eerily reminiscent of the days of Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, where the team lacked discipline and frequently melted down in crucial situations.
Sophomore Kirk Cousins appeared to emerge as the front-runner in MSU’s ongoing quarterback competition Saturday, completing 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown.
For junior linebacker Greg Jones, something wasn’t right before the game started.
The MSU football team’s defense couldn’t find an answer for Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour when it mattered most, as LeFevour led his team on two big drives in the final minutes, the first earning the Chippewas a touchdown and the final resulting in a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left, leading Central Michigan to a 29-27 win over the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
In-state rival Central Michigan rolls into Spartan Stadium this Saturday, where they have beaten MSU twice in the last 20 years.
This is an interesting game for the Spartans. Central Michigan brings a talented team into Spartan Stadium but struggled in its season opener against Arizona, losing 19-6. Quarterback Dan LeFevour has proven himself to be the real deal for the Chippewas, but MSU’s defense is hungry and ready to go following last week’s game against Montana State in which it only allowed three points.
It’s a fan’s worst nightmare: Seeing a starter go down and having an unproven backup take the field. But for coaches and players, it’s business as usual. Coaches constantly tell players to practice as if they are going to start for that exact reason.
What stands out to MSU head coach Mark Dantonio about Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is his experience, mobility and toughness.
It was the complete opposite of what typically goes on behind the scenes of the MSU athletics department. Mark Hollis — MSU athletics director, mastermind behind the “Basketbowl” and “Cold War” and the man who wants to play basketball on an aircraft carrier — raised his eyebrows at an unconventional idea.
For the first time in more than three decades, “Hockey Cheer” is gone from the Spartan Marching Band’s song sheet. Traditionally a fixture in its pregame show and on third downs during football games, the band did not play the cheer during this past week’s pregame show, but it did play it sparingly in the game.
After a season opener that went mostly according to plan, the MSU football team is preparing for a much tougher opponent in Central Michigan this week. The Chippewas, coming off a 19-6 loss at Arizona, are expected to be plenty motivated against an in-state rival.
In Saturday’s season-opening game against Montana State, 68 of 100 dressed players saw the field for the MSU football team.
All of the talk in the offseason was how the Big Ten would respond to a 1-6 bowl record last season and an increasingly poor national reputation.
Through one game, MSU’s “quarterback controversy” is just as muddled as it was in January. And April. And August.
Caulton Ray had never taken a handoff in a college game before, so he was understandably nervous. “The adrenaline was pumping but as soon as I got on the sidelines and the Star Spangled banner came on, I felt good,” he said. “I was a little nervous but after I got the ball a few times I felt very good.”
The MSU football team kicked off its season in victorious fashion Saturday, knocking off Montana State 44-3 in front of 74,518 at Spartan Stadium. “It was a good first step,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We’re going to have to play better as we continue on and the next challenge is Central Michigan.”
Mark Dantonio’s highly regarded 2009 recruiting class potentially could pay immediate dividends when the Spartans open the 2009 season against Montana State tomorrow at Spartan Stadium.
The East Lansing Police Department hopes to decrease alcohol-related traffic accidents on football Saturdays by teaming with the Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to increase road patrols on game days.
Preseason depth charts for Montana State and Michigan State football.