Today was media day and Michigan State certainly stole the show. Baylor was up first though and Art Briles, Shawn Oakman and Michigan native Gus Penning all shared their thoughts on the game and shed some light on the differences between Texas and everywhere else. However, between Shilique Calhoun’s responses and the impromptu impersonation session by Matt Macksood, the Spartans won the day. Before the antics began, Coach Dantonio was posed with a question regarding a hot topic from back in the Mitten State.
In case you haven’t heard, Michigan named Coach Harbaugh the new head coach of the football team. With this dominating the airwaves and social media, Coach D was asked about his thoughts on the matter. True to form, he quickly batted away the question and made it clear he only wanted to talk about Michigan State and the Cotton Bowl.
Baylor Head Coach Art Briles had a little more candid approach to the situation.
“Maybe your perception of what’s happening in Texas isn’t the same as what is happening in Texas… when one of us sneezes someone is going to say gesundheit… and we say thank you”.
There is one player on Baylor’s team that is from Michigan though, and he is actually a transfer from the recently dismantled Grand Rapids Community College. Gus Penning, a tight end who attended Jennison and played linebacker as well as tight end, found his home after stops at Grand Rapids and Riverside Community College in California. The 6’6 Junior shared his story and talked about being one only 12 players on the Baylor roster who do not hail from the Lone Star State. “there’s no love for Michigan State anymore even though I was a fan growing up…I’ve got friends back home and I told them I’d get them tickets to the game but they have to wear Baylor stuff…there is a few things that go on that me and the other non-Texas guys look at and say that only happens down here.” Penning has played in 11 games this year and does not have any receptions.
When asked about the difference between Texas and Michigan high school football he had this to say:
“It’s just different here, there is the stereotype that Texas is the best state for football and I’d have to say it is true”.
Shawn Oakman, who recently announced he would be returning to Baylor for his senior year, appeared dismissive to most media as he spent the early parts of his interview on the phone and facetiming with his alleged girlfriend back in Philly.
Once he put the phone down though, he did open up and broke down the family roles that his fellow defensive lineman would have if they were in fact a family unit. “Billings would be the Grandaddy, Jamaal would be the cool Uncle, Bo would be the daddy…
“and me? I’d be the kid, I’d be the wild kid out of the group”.
Spartan defensive end Shilque Calhoun fielded the same question and it lead to him actually calling some backup to help him hammer out the details. “I’m Dad automatically, actually I’m Great-Granddad since I’m the oldest. I’ll give Dad to Heath” he responded emphatically. He then called up fellow lineman Demetrius Cooper who helped him clear up the matter:
“Marcus Rush is Mom… Grandson is Malik, Great-Grandson is Sweat, Great-Great-Grandson is Craig Evans and we gave him a little too much porridge so he is getting a little chunky”
Afterwards there was a crowd gathered around one of the Cotton Bowl media teams who ended up getting Matt Macksood to do his best impressions of members of his team and Coaching staff.
As hard as everyone tried, no one could get him to do his best Narduzzi impression with the cameras on. To this he simply stated:
“I just can’t capture his intensity without using some words that are not TV friendly”
Analysis was in short supply today but after 3 days of the same old questions, the players were all ready to cut loose a little bit and have some fun.
We are still several days out from the big game but the players and coaches from both sides are already getting their shots in. The Bears offensive players and coaches were open for breakout interviews and there were a few running themes that became present.
Baylor has not forgotten about last season. Bryce Petty was adamant that this team cannot rest upon what it has already accomplished and every other Bear seemed to be on the same page.
“It does not matter if you went 12-0 if you don’t finish, we didn’t do that last year and that has been a focus going into this game”.
The Bears have risen to prominence over the past few seasons and the players are proud of the product they are building. Those players that are now leaders and playmakers for the Bears knew little to nothing about the upstart school from Waco, Texas. When asked what they knew about the university before they got there, responses were all along the lines of: “ I knew they were green” or “I didn’t know much but I could tell that the Coach was committed to making the program better and he had the plan in place to do so”. Antwan Goodley wasn’t even aware that RGIII was the quarterback until he arrived on campus. This team is quickly becoming a perennial contender and the players at the core of that climb are proud of where they are at.
With the Big 12 self destructing and eliminating ITSELF from the playoff picture, players are excited to be at the Cotton Bowl but they are keenly aware of how close they were to competing in the 4-team playoff. Had TCU and Baylor met again in a conference championship, it would be hard to not put the winner of that game into one of the 4 slots.
When asked about MSU the Bears constantly talked about how their tempo and speed would win them the game. Bryce Petty talked about the perception of his team and how spread teams are often seen as weak, or finesse based. “I don’t even know how to spell finesse… people think that because we are a spread team that means we don’t know how to run the ball of play physical… our offense keys of off the run and if we can we love to hand the ball off and let our big guys dominate up front” .
Prior to that, Baylor wideout Antwan Goodley was asked about what he sees from the heralded Spartan defense:
“They are tough physical team…they like to play a lot of man to man though and that is an ideal situation for our receivers to be in”.
Once the Bears offensive units had wrapped up it was time for the heralded Spartan defense to take the floor.
First up, was the new head coach of Pitt, Pat Narduzzi. When asked why he chose to coach this game and forgo an early start with his new team he was very clear on why he stayed.
“it’s important to me because these guys are my guys, pretty soon I’ll have new guys but these guys will be my guys forever”
. Not only was the personal relationships with his player important, he knows that he has built something with coach Dantonio over his tenure “I’ve been with coach D for 11 years and 8 years here at Michigan State, if I just walked before I finished the job…you know what kind of guy am I”. Once the obvious Pitt questions had been answered he moved on to the upcoming game with his current team.
Baylor’s offense is nothing to be trifled with and the Spartans have not taken preparation lightly, as they have been running three different offenses at their #1 defense to get them ready for the breakneck pace and tempo of Art Briles attack. Coach Narduzzi went on to talk about the conditioning of his squad “They were ready before Christmas break, then they got all fat and sloppy at home eating turkey and pasta or whatever and that’s why we got to get them back down here and make sure they are in shape”.
Trae Waynes is looking forward to the matchup with Baylor’s wideouts “they’ve got a high tempo offense… it should be fun”. Despite the one on one matchups, he is excited to have his longtime friend playing alongside him in the defensive backfield, Tony Lippett. “It’s fun, him and I always go back and forth and he just finds a way to do well wherever he is at”.
MSU’s Shilique Calhoun was fielding questions as well. One thing that has meant a lot to the NFL prospect is the role he has played in turning MSU into a contender. This growth has been personal, as well as team based.
” It’s been a miracle and a blessing… I didn’t think I would be able to go D1 and be able to run out on that field”
Coming off a tremendously unexpected season the Spartans are using their momentum to make sure that their success is not a fluke. The morning kicked off with a press conference featuring MSU Spartan and long time NFLer Flozell Adams. Athletic Director Mark Hollis announced that there would be a donation to the program totaling 1.5 million dollars for a new locker room in Spartan Stadium coming from Adams and his Mother.
With college football being the arms race it is, a move like this is only going to give the Spartans more fuel to move forward. Coach Dantonio commented on the impact of donation: “It’s what you do with what you have…this locker room, is a locker room for the future…what’s important to me is the people we put inside the locker room”. With all of the recent success of the program it is reasonable to expect that the caliber of player in East Lansing is going to be steadily improving.
As of late Universities have been dumping millions into locker rooms and facilities (Oregon is said to have a functioning barber shop area within the locker room) Coach Dantonio acknowledged this trend: “it puts us on par with the best facilities in the country and in this area”.
Michigan State continued to reinforce the trendy aspects of their program and allowed the players to select the members of the Green and White squads. White squad Coaches were Ron Burton and DC Pat Narduzzi. Some notable players included TE Josiah Price, DE Marcus Rush, S Kurtis Drummond, QB Connor Cook, and WR DeAnthony Arnett. Green Squad Coach was Jim Bollman and some notable players included DL Lawrence Thomas, WR Tony Lippett, TB Jeremy Langford, MLB Taiwan Jones, and DE Shilique Calhoun. Both teams featured touted redshirt freshman Damion Terry.
Many programs are trying to take out any nonsense and distractions that may cause players to lose focus. While this may be a good thing it is important to note that at the end of the day, football is a game played by 20 something year old college students. MSU doesn’t let their players run wild by any means but they did add in an element of surprise and competition that helped cause an obvious spark on both sides of the ball. Basically, they made something productive into something fun and engaging which is something that every program can and should take note of. Sparty (yes, the Mascot) even managed to score a touchdown on a stretch play. If I were a recruit in today’s football landscape, a program that is progressive and exciting to play for on a day to day basis is going to outweigh a perennial powerhouse that may lean to the more professional way of thinking.
Once the dog-and-pony show for the donation was finished and the players were warmed up, the game finally kicked off with great weather and around 35 thousand fans in attendance. Only 15 hundred less than the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles. (And 20 thousand more than B1G Brother UofM, for all you keeping score)
With a final score of 20-13 for the winning White Squad, there were impressive performances from someone at every level from almost every position that the Spartans were looking to fill. First off, returning starter Connor Cook was his typical gun slinging self, tossing a few picks along with playing a relatively solid game given his adjustments to a new group(11-21 2tds 2ints). One drastic improvement was his presence on the field; everyone seems to know that he is the guy the Spartans are going to roll with moving forward. Given some of his statements and takes on his attitude though, hopefully he does not think this is the time to get complacent or content with where he is at. The young man is no doubt talented but airs on the side of cocky. Meanwhile, Cook was spotted riding an offensive lineman after a touchdown. So while some may not like his attitude, it’s clear the team is ready to rally around him once more.
Lots of contributions were had across the board with some of the skill position players. Some players, such as Langford, O’Connor, had lackluster games but with O’Connor as an apparent backup and Langford coming off the 2013 campaign he had, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about. Even though Langford’s 1-2 ypc stat was a little jarring on paper. To counter his lack of production though, the white team did have Senior Running Back Nick Hill ripping off almost 7 yards a carry on ten touches and catching several passes out of the backfield.
While the running game may have been a bit out of sorts, the receivers and tight ends were on full display. White team member Josiah Price was hands down the most surprising player of the day outside of Sparty himself. Price, a 6-4 244lb Sophomore Tight End racked up 5 catches for 81 yards and a TD. Josiah’s longest reception of the day came from in the seam where he trucked a DB and rumbled for 34 yards. If MSU had an ideal playmaker to come out of nowhere, a tight end like Price appears to be would be the ideal fit for the their old school offensive approach. His athletic ability and hands scream play-action mismatch. Coaches after the game made note that his block as well as his receiving skills are vastly improved from last year.
Wide Receiver Tony Lippett was the main focus on the Green team’s offensive game plan. He was targeted a number of times by each QB and managed to reel in 7 catches for 96 yards. Outside of a drop here or there the senior wideout looks primed for another year catching balls from Connor Cook. Keith Mumphery did have a splash play that featured him diving into the end zone via a corner route thrown by backup QB Tyler O’Connor.
The long awaited arrival of Damion Terry was a large focus of both teams offensive game plan as he was a member of both squads. On his very first play, Terry lined up at wideout and took an end around 24 yards for a TD. Terry was virtually untouched on the play and made it clear that he should be a part of the offense in some fashion. He would finish the day rushing 5 times, for 23 yards and 2 for 5 passing with 30 yards through the air while playing for both squads. Early in the scrimmage he did take a solid hit that sidelined him long enough to throw on a no contact jersey. When asked about any injuries after the game the coaches all claimed that it was simply a precautionary measure.
Defense in a spring game with a format like this one puts them in an advantage since the offensive line and skill players are expected to gel right away and function normally. Regardless of the circumstance, the defense racked up 5 INTs and 6 sacks which is a great day by anyone’s standards. The first INT coming on the first play of the game by Sophomore Corner Jermaine Edmondson via an errant pass from Tyler O’Connor. Shilique Calhoun and Lawrence Thomas both managed to find the QB and Calhoun was quoted after the game saying that he was a little disappointed there was no contact on the QBs.
All in all the Spartans appear to be primed for another run at a second consecutive B1G Title. The offense will be almost exactly the same as last year personnel wise, but should be more fluid now that the players have had time to gel. The defense looks to be stifling but there are huge gaps that need to be filled at DB, DL, and LB, with the departures of a Thorpe winner, a team captain and a number of other players who played key roles in the defense being what it was last year. Taiwan Jones will be the lone returning starter at linebacker and has beefed up to 255+ lbs for his new role as the Mike linebacker in Pat Narduzzi’s adjustment heavy defense.
Outside of the coaches and the roster, MSU is the trendy pick right now in the Midwest and with another year of national spotlight there is no reason to think they couldn’t be the next perennial powerhouse out of the B1G. When you take a charismatic coach, a rabid fan base, hip-hop star-mascots, the best party/tailgating scene in the state, Sparty taking carries in the spring game, donations for new facilities, a Rose Bowl win, and a winning record against your rivals, you get the Michigan State Spartans… the coolest team around.
Clear skies, parades, and flowers everywhere may sound like a place of tranquility to most. However, all of the the formalities and pageantry will give way to arguably the most intriguing matchup in this years slate BCS games. Championships often come down to the classic “speed versus power” storyline. Today though, we see a matchup that pits power against power. Both of these teams are nasty, both of these teams place a premium on blocking, both of these teams would rather knock you on your ass and go through you versus going around. With that said, both of these teams demonstrate a level of class and focus that is second to none.
Stanford comes into the game at a respectable 7-2 record. (6-0 versus ranked teams). While the Cardinal did drop two games to Utah and a resurgent USC squad, they also beat teams like Oregon at home, Washington, and a very explosive Brett Hundley lead UCLA Bruins team. Most importantly this team has been to Rose Bowls before so the festivities of the week are much less apt to jade and distract the Cardinal players. Be it the legendary “Beef Bowl” or simply the bright lights of LA it is plain to see that the Cardinal players are focused on the task at hand. That task, is beating one of the most surprisingly dominant teams in recent memory, the Michigan State Spartans.
Sparty rolls into Pasadena riding a 9-game winning streak and boasting a nearly unblemished 12-1 record. The Spartans’ sole loss came at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish early in the season. Over the course of the media week all of the players and coaches for Michigan State cited that game as the turning point in the season. Early in the year the Spartans offense was laughable at best, however after a few personnel changes the team found their groove and Sparty began to roll. Dominating rivals like the University of Michigan (the alleged “Big Brother” to the Spartans) and an Ohio State Buckeye team that had not lost in almost two years prior to that game. The Spartans have a warrior-esque mentality and even though this trip is new to them, they have no intentions of smelling the roses until they win the battle.
When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, something has to give. Here is my key player matchup and my key unit matchup for the 100th Rose Bowl.
1. Ty Montgomery versus Darqueze Dennard.
– All week long this talk has been about the line of scrimmage and who is going to hit the other team in the mouth the hardest. However with both teams putting such a premium on pounding the rock and stopping the run, there will be times during the game today were they will simply cancel each other out. #7 Ty Montgomery is arguably one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country and acts as the spark plug for the Stanford offense. #31 Darqueze Dennard is the Thorpe award winner (the nation’s best defensive back) and one of the spiritual leaders for the Spartans. Look for these two players to be matched up in every passing situation and on key 3rd downs. If Dennard can keep the speedy 6’2 215lb Junior under control and eliminate splash plays I believe that the Spartans will have no trouble bottling up the Cardinal offense. If Montgomery is able to get loose a few times, it may be difficult for State to keep up.
2. Stanford offensive line and Michigan State front seven.
– These two teams records are very misleading. While MSU has came up in big games and answered every call they have had to make, they boast about having the #1 defense in the nation while only playing a slate of teams who went 70-78. (Insert B1G comments here) The Cardinal, has dropped two games to teams that they could have very easily beaten, but on that same token they handled some of the PAC-12’s most dominant teams. Stanford’s combined opponents record this season is 87-67. So while MSU’s dominance has been undeniable, outside of an overrated Ohio State team they have not really beaten anyone worth mention with the B1G having such a down year. Add to the fact that the Spartans have lost “The Computer” (MLB #40 Max Bullough) to a very untimely suspension just a week before the game. Moreover, Stanford loves to bring in extra lineman to seal the edges on their power run plays. Without Max in the middle to make those adjustments it is going to be up to reserve linebacker #41 Kyler Elsworth and his counterpart #45 Darien Harris to make those calls at the line. If those young men can put their teammates in the right spots at the right time, Michigan State will prove that their #1 Defensive ranking is not a product of weak schedule. If Stanford is able to move the ball early on the ground look for the Cardinal to grind away the clock and the Spartan defense for the remainder of the contest.
My Prediction:
Stanford has been here before and they have reflected that with all of their responses over the past month. Michigan State, has not been here in a very long time and is at the cusp of moving their program to a level that they have not ever been at before. Provided MSU can maintain their defensive consistency without Bullough, I believe that Sparty’s hunger will overcome the Cardinal’s experience. In addition, Darqueze Dennard is not only the best defensive back in the country but he makes a strong case for the best defensive player in the nation. Today he will put all his skills on display and the nation will get a chance to just how dominant this young man is. Sparty’s defense will stumble in the first quarter, but will gain their footing with some adjustments and will shut down the Cardinal’s power attack for the remainder of the contest. Spartans win an exciting one 21-17.
This morning the media events featured Michigan State head Coach Mark Dantonio and Stanford Head Coach David Shaw. Coach Shaw did show up fashionably late but eventually showed up and the press, pressed on. Over the coarse of the conference each of the coaches fielded questions from various media outlets, and each one had his own type of story to tell.
Coach D took the podium and the first question he had to field was in regards to the suspension of Captain Max Bullough. “Right now Darien Harris and Kyler Elsworth are the two guys that will play that position. We’ll probably go with Kyler initially, but they’re both going to play” So while the position still sounds unsettled, it is clear that the team is not dwelling on the absence of the man referred to as the “Computer”. Coach D went on to say that the Middle Linebacker position will still function the same as far as making checks at the line “It’s our system. It’s not one individual, It’s our system”
One reporter attempted to draw out the coach by asking him about the Mike Hart comments regarding MSU’s status as the “little brother” in the state of Michigan. Dantonio promptly fired back with a slight grin “No, that really has nothing to do with this today. Next question, please”
When asked about the Big Ten’s lack of bowl game success and the pressures that come with representing the conference in the Granddaddy of them all, Coach went on to say “Our guys have handled this week very, very well…You need to step out there and dream big. Our dreams didn’t end with a championship and coming to the Rose Bowl. We wanted to win it, and that’s our intentions” He then added further that pressure is something you put on yourself, and this team is not focusing on the pressure, they are focused on winning the game for Michigan State and no one else.
Once Coach Shaw finally decided to bless the media with his presence, he was asked about his defensive coordinator Derek Mason and what makes him the coach that he is “I think the sign of any good football coach…is the ability to have a philosophy…and be able to fit that scheme around the players that you have” Coach Mason spoke passionately earlier this week talking about how he finds a way for players to contribute.
Even Shaw was asked questions about the suspension of the Spartan Linebacker, he appeared to share a very similar philosophy to his counterpart “I applaud Coach Dantonio for that because it doesn’t happen everywhere, and there are a lot of places where you get a slap on the wrist and they bench you for a practice then let you play in the game…It’s a sign of who Coach Dantonio is”
Now that all the formalities are done, I am interested to see where the Coaches both go from here. All week long it is a constant drone of “we respect the other team, they are very talented…” Blah. Blah. Blah. While both teams are keeping it professional in the meantime, these are two teams who will smack you in the mouth and ask you if you would like another. The Spartans and Cardinal are at the epicenter of class in college football, but anyone who has played this game knows that when you strap on those pads and walk in between those lines, it is war. Now that the politics are all but over, I cannot wait to see how these two teams go about trying to beat each other.
At the beginning of the week I had MSU winning by 7, after the team pressers I had the Cardinal winning by 10, now that it is all said and done I believe that the Spartans tenacity and hunger will be the thing that gets them the win in Pasadena. Prediction for the game: Spartan Dogs win a close one, 21-17.
Sparty has not always been at the forefront of the Big Ten and prior to the last 5 years they were nothing more than just another team in s struggling conference of old school teams and playing styles. However throughout the last few years the team has began building a brand, an identity, and a reputation. The times are changing in East Lansing, MSU is starting to look like they are now the Big Brother in the mitten state.
This mornings media festivities featured the entire team and a select few members of the coaching staffs for both teams. Over 140 players piled in to the LA Hotel and fielded questions from various outlets across the nation. Sparty was the first to arrive and several players were available for interviews. Darqueze Dennard was the first one I spoke with, and we lead off the conversation talking about the Thorpe award and what it means to him and the program. “It was a privilege to be the first one to win it at Michigan State and I think there are going to be more recipients at the school” I then asked him when it was that he felt like he turned the corner and became that “next-level” type of player. “It was the offseason. I put in extra work…I knew that there were plays on the field that I could have made. So I locked in all season, put the work in, put the time in…and I came out every Saturday and played my game”
When a player gets honored with individual awards such as the Maxwell, Thorpe, and the Heisman it is the culmination of a tremendous amount of focus and work. I asked Dennard if this was something that he had set his sights on or if it just happened. “…I was sitting at home last year and the award shows were going on and I was telling coach I wanted to be at the award show and win the award. I made a picture to put in my locker, and I believed and prayed and worked hard and it actually came true.” That constant reminder is what drove him every day to try and improve his game, body, and mind.
At the media event the prior morning, members of the Spartans were asked who was a spiritual leader in the lockerroom. Outside of Max Bullough, Dennard’s name was the unanimous decision. Players spoke about how Dennard really took charge this season and kept beating it into their heads that this season was going to be special, that all the teams they were playing were simply in the way of Sparty achieving it’s goals of a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl bid. When I asked him where that mentality came from he responded promptly with ” I think it was the kind of mentality I grew into… I appointed myself for my teammates this year to do that…I felt like it was my honor and being the senior and captain of the team to remind us we can overlook this team, we can’t overlook nobody. Everybody is trying to stop our goal”
That type of leadership is rare when you take Dennard’s unique blend of size, speed, and talent. He is in a class of his own as far as college defenders are concerned and I am a firm believer that whatever team is lucky enough to draft him will have a perennial pro-bowler and a long time captain on their team. Look for Darqueze to make an impact on sundays right out of the gate.
CertifiedChance 