The Spartans' offense could only make up for a lackluster defense and special teams for so long this season, as MSU watched a 4-0 start evaporate into a 5-6 final record.
Senior offensive guard Gordon Niebylski just stood there, bewildered, tears welling up. He didn't want to leave. But he had to. He was surrounded by blue and white, as Penn State had just clinched a share of the Big Ten title. As he was heading into the tunnel, Niebylski turned around to give the field one last look before walking down the tunnel one last time.
After the final seconds ticked away in Saturday's contest at Spartan Stadium, Penn State's players summed up years of commitment and determination by euphorically running over to the numerous fans that traveled to watch them clinch a Big Ten Championship and BCS bowl bid. "Guys were just celebrating, carrying the Big Ten Championship thing around," Nittany Lions quarterback Michael Robinson said.
All the Spartans could do was watch as the final seconds ticked away in Saturday's 31-22 loss while No.
Last Saturday morning, my roommates and I were driving down Harrison when one of us wondered aloud why the flags at Kellogg Center were flying at half-mast. "It's because the Spartan football team is playing today," someone quipped. I laughed, but inside, I was crying. I mean, doesn't it seem like just weeks ago that MSU was undefeated and everyone thought they were the greatest thing since Facebook? (What's that?
After starting the season 4-0, many thought recruiting would become easy for MSU head coach John L. Smith. Since then, though, the team has fallen to 5-5 overall and the opposite is being said for the Spartans recruiting efforts. But has it really become harder? "It hasn't," Smith said.
Minneapolis, Minn. — The sun was shining brightly over East Lansing during the month of September for the MSU football team. The team started out 4-0 and was riding high after an overtime victory at Notre Dame followed by a 61-point effort at Illinois. Then, something happened.
Minneapolis, Minn. — Old demons continue to haunt MSU. Once again, drops by MSU's receivers and poor tackling by the MSU defense contributed heavily to the team's 41-18 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. Sophomore wide receiver Terry Love dropped the ball on two consecutive plays — one a deep bomb that would've put MSU inside the red zone, the next, a bubble screen. "The drops today were a nightmare," Love said.
Minneapolis, Minn. — With their heads down and expressions of frustration clearly evident, the Spartans slowly trotted off the Metrodome field Saturday following a one-sided, 41-18 loss to Minnesota. The Spartans have lost five of their last six games. "They kicked our tail," MSU head coach John L.
After another week, the Big Ten title picture is as muddy as it ever was. The game with the most importance in the title picture this week is Northwestern traveling to Ohio Stadium to face Ohio State. Both teams could still win a share of the Big Ten title, but will need help from MSU to do so. If the Spartans defeat Penn State on Nov.
After MSU's 28-21 loss at Purdue this past weekend, the last thing on head coach John L. Smith's mind was becoming eligible for a bowl berth following a victory. "It just bothers me when I hear us going out the door to play the game, to walk on the field, to, 'Let's go get a bowl game,'" Smith said.
West Lafayette, Ind. — All Drew Stanton could do was shake his head and shrug when asked about MSU's offensive struggles Saturday against Purdue's statistically awful defense. "I don't know," the junior quarterback said.
West Lafayette, Ind. Once again, MSU's vaunted offense failed to put up points against one of the worst defenses in the country. Ranked 116th defensively out 117 teams in Division 1-A, Purdue shut down the Spartans offense from the first quarter en route to its first Big Ten win, 28-21, at Ross-Ade Stadium. "We started out great," junior quarterback Drew Stanton said.
West Lafayette, Ind. — A common sight in Saturday's 28-21 loss at Purdue was the vision of uprooted chunks of grass on Ross-Ade Stadium following pivots, cuts and runs from players on both teams. The field conditions were so bad that stadium personnel and representatives from each team hurried onto the field during TV timeouts and stoppages in play in attempting to repair the divots on the field. "It was probably the worst field you've ever seen," MSU head coach John L.
I believe the MSU Spartans can beat any football team in the country. Let me back up for a moment and explain a harebrained statement like that. I watched a couple of games on television over the weekend.
With only three weeks left in the regular season, the Big Ten race is coming down to the wire. This week's game between No.
A struggling and inconsistent Spartan defensive unit may have gotten the turnaround it was looking for in Saturday's 46-15 win over Indiana. Using a more aggressive strategy, the defense intercepted three passes for the first time since 2003, recovered a fumble, recorded two sacks, and made six tackles for losses, all while holding the Hoosier offense to 369 total yards.
After throwing his second touchdown pass Saturday against Indiana, Drew Stanton exited the game to the ovation that he was accustomed to hearing when the Spartans started the season so sharply. "It's really nice to get back in the win column," Stanton said.
For the first time all season, MSU's special teams units were just that — special. After being called out Friday night by special teams coach Jim McElwain, the Spartans special teams responded with their best performance of the season.
It's been a while since MSU has tasted victory. The sweetness, though, returned on Saturday. After three straight losses, MSU picked up its first win since Sept.