Bloomington, Ind. — It could have been the back breaker that brought out those dreaded words: Same Old Spartans. MSU had pinned the Indiana Hoosiers inside their own five. The down was third-and-seven. The Spartan defense was hungry for a safety, already leading 34-29 late in the third quarter.
Bailiff: All rise for the Honorable Jacob Carpenter, chief judge of the Football Supreme Court. (Everyone stands, some bow down)
It’s not the way any athlete wants to get on the field. But when a teammate goes down with an injury and is unable to perform, it provides an opportunity for someone else to step in and prove to teammates, coaches and fans that all is not lost.
With the conference schedule set to begin, State News football reporters Jacob Carpenter and Cash Kruth evaluate and predict how each team will fare.
MSU isn’t the only team over the decades who’s looked forward to playing the Hoosiers. Read on to learn more about Indiana’s futile history in conference play.
From recording the program’s first shutout in nine years against Eastern Michigan to shutting down Notre Dame’s running game, MSU’s defense has made significant strides with each passing week.
Lewis is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the Big Ten, boasting the ability to beat the opposition with both his arm and legs.
Don’t expect to see building-sized billboards or YouTube.com campaigns featuring MSU running back Javon Ringer for the Heisman Trophy from the university any time soon.
One by one, the MSU offensive line walked into the media trailer following Saturday’s 23-7 win against Notre Dame. The fullbacks and tight ends followed the linemen. The front of each player’s jersey was soaked with sweat and each had beads of perspiration rolling down their foreheads.
For two straight weeks, the MSU defense laid low and pressured the quarterback solely with a four-man rush, dropping linebackers and the secondary back into coverage. The Notre Dame offensive line and quarterback Jimmy Clausen learned Saturday what can happen when the Spartans’ linebackers and cornerbacks are let loose at the line of scrimmage.
MSU’s dominance over Notre Dame in the trenches played an integral role in the Spartans’ 23-7 victory over the Fighting Irish on Saturday in which MSU’s linemen imposed their will on the Irish.
After the MSU football team defeated Notre Dame 23-7 on Saturday, the trailer behind the north endzone of Spartan Stadium where postgame interviews are held started filling up. One by one, members of MSU’s offensive line took the stage before senior running back Javon Ringer finally entered and stood at the podium. “Like I said before, I can do nothing without these guys standing next to me,” said Ringer, who rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. “It was a great team win and we were very, very dominant up front on both sides of the ball.”
Unless you’re a member of the MSU football program, on his family tree or part of his Fave Five, Brian Hoyer probably doesn’t care what you think about the way he plays football.
As if there weren’t enough hype for the Spartans’ battle with Notre Dame this weekend, the Big Ten Network wants to add one more to that lengthy list — dedicated to the days leading up to kickoff.
BFew rivalries across the nation carry as much history as the one between MSU and Notre Dame. Wild comebacks, colossal upsets and breathtaking finishes have been normal in a rivalry that has been anything but.
There’s little doubt MSU’s rivalry with Notre Dame has become one of the most interesting in college football.
Step right up! Step right up! Watch in awe as the prognosticators pull out magical predictions out of their prognosticatin’ hats! And then saw those predictions in half! And then put them back together again!
After Saturday’s game between Purdue and Central Michigan, the third meeting between the teams in 370 days, both sides will probably know each other like brothers.
In his less than two years at the helm of the MSU football program, Mark Dantonio has said two characteristics he wanted to see his football team embody are toughness and overcoming adversity.