Why the Spartans will Overcome Doubters in 2011

With the Spartan football season under a month away, I can personally feel a positive buzz in the air, an excitement in my heart, and with no surprise, a belittling attitude coming from the large number of critics that surround me. And, in their defense, I cannot blame them as our program has seen its share of ups and downs in the previous few years. From beating in-state rival Michigan Wolverines 3 consecutive years to being defeated by the Chippewas of Central Michigan, we've seen just about everything. Now, with another season looming in the near future, we hear the doubts once again from fans, critics, analysts, etc. However, the Spartans have enough pieces and potential to once again prove critics wrong in 2011.

The #1 uncertainty going into this season could be one of the team's strong suits if history repeats itself: the offensive line. Anchored by all-Big Ten left guard Joel Foreman, the line needs to fill in 3 important spots on the starting lineup. For many, this is considered a problem. For the Spartans, this is just another task to check off the to-do list as they had this same "issue" going into last season. Look what happened with that inexperienced, young offensive line. They played a large role in forming the team into one of the better rushing teams in the country.

In thinking back a year, you may remember the "log-jam" of personnel in the backfield. Larry Caper led the coalition of tailbacks; however, an injury shot him down the depth chart. Then, Edwin Baker came out of nowhere as the Spartan "back-up running back" to emerge as one of the elite running backs in the conference and in the country. Not to mention, Le'Veon Bell gave the squad a big bruiser to compliment Baker's fluent running style. Now, with Larry Caper back to 100% healthy and with Bell and Baker returning, this 3-headed monster at tailback will give opposing defenses a nightmare to deal with.

The Spartans return a strong defensive line headed by Jerel Worthy, a very talented junior tackle whom many believe will be a first round draft pick in the NFL draft after this season. The linebackers are young as they are filling the void of Greg Jones and Eric Gordon; however, a nice mixture of experience and talent will be filling those responsibilities. The secondary is led by junior cornerback Johnny Adams and senior free safety Trenton Robinson, the Spartans' leading returning tackler.

Last but not least, the Spartans have a very experienced quarterback returning in Kirk Cousins. He has played in the big games, he knows how to win, and he wants to make this team the best team the school has put on the football field. With a number of different weapons to work with (Cunningham, Martin, Nichol, Linthicum, Celek, Lippett, Fowler, and Sims), Cousins should put up some impressive numbers this season and lead a talented team to a very special season.

With all these factors working together, critics will be scratching their heads again wondering how the Spartans keep winning games. It's about time to realize that this team is going to be a special one and they will surely overcome the doubters once again. Go Green!

Transformers 4: Spartan Remix

Transformers 4: Good football team to bad football team. Starring: Kirk Cousins (replacing Megan Fox).>

As hard as it is for me to say, the Michigan State Spartans are good at football...when did that happen? It seems like just yesterday Big Brother was destroying them by 40 points, they were losing to Central Michigan, and Coach John L. Smith was roaming the beaten and battered sidelines. When did the change take place? When will it end? The trend-proven answer to the second question is (drumroll please)...this year!

If we look at the past few seasons, it seems that every year Sparty has a good season (how that miraculously happens is a whole new question in itself), they turn around and have a completely shitty one. When I say shitty, I mean the infamous Sparty statue is in dire need of a pair of Depends.

To start off mildly, in 2001 the Spartans completed the season with a 7-5 record (and lost to Michigan, I might add). In 2002, they went 4-8 (lost to Michigan 49-3).

In 2003, they went 8-5 and made an appearance in the Alamo Bowl (however, another loss to UM). They turned around with a record of 5-7 the next year ( loss to Big Bro). Their only wins were against a weak MAC school in Central Michigan, 3 of the bottom teams of the Big Ten, and one solid victory against a good Wisconsin squad.

2008 turned out to be a good season for the MSU team and the East Lansing faithfuls: a 9-4 record, the first win against their Big Brother in 7 years, and a close loss in the Capital One Bowl to a 10-3 SEC powerhouse Georgia Bulldog team. 2008 was followed up with a disappointing 2009 season that included another loss to Central Michigan (does anyone else see a trend here?). Their only wins, except versus Northwestern, came against teams that were below .500. Some idiot did however place them in the Alamo Bowl; he must have been an alumnus of MSU.

This past 2010 season was the best season in school history for the bastards in green and white. Behind pretty boy Kirk Cousins, the Spartans sported an 11-1 regular season record, leading to their first share of the Big Ten Title in the history of this agricultural school. They also landed a spot in the Capital One Bowl, just shy of a BCS Bowl Game. I'd say their 2011 season started on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, where they were DESTROYED by an Alabama squad led by Flint-native Mark Ingram.

Maybe, just maybe, the Spartan football program rises and falls with the crop success, since it is an agricultural school and all. It's been a damn hot summer, taking a toll on the farms. It's only about a month until it takes its post-good-season toll on the East Lansing football team.

Stay classy, little brothers!

Penn State on GQ's Top 10 Douchiest Colleges

See the full list

I'll say this: If I expected any Big 10 school to be on this list, I would've guessed Ohio State. Although I think GQ took snobbery and trust fund babies into account on this list, and we all know Ohio is povert as shit.
With that said, my only encounter with a PSU student was in college when my roommate's boy stayed with us. Kid was obnoxious drunk by 6am, which is welcomed, but the guy went for 24 hours straight just wil'in out. He ended up goin to our rival frat's house and throwing a beer mug right through the main window. A little over the top to say the least. A real doucher move. They still rep their teams like they're relevant. Let's be honest your program is mediocre on a good day and football will not be respectable in Happy Valley as long as the corpse of JoePa is done meandering the sidelines. It's just a novelty at this point, Joe. Everyone knows you have nothing to do with the decision making anymore because if you did, your team would be making a title bid year in and year out. Let it go, coach.

Michigan State Running Backs

Michigan State Football 2010 Big Ten Champs

You Raise Me Up: Looking Back On A Legend

A Tribute To Rich Rodriguez 

The Invincibility, The Magic Around the Michigan Program As It Relates To the Michigan State Spartans Is Dead

Hail?  Check.
Victor?  Check.
Valiant?  Check. Conquering Hero? Check.

Worst hire in Division 1-A history?  Check.

Former University of Michigan Head football coach, Rich Rodriguez, represents so many different things to so many different people.  To a West Virginia fan he is a winner turned traitor.  To a Michigan fan he is a terrible mistake.  To Pat White and Steve Slaton he is a genius.   To Tate Forcier he is a tease.  To Denard "Shoelace" Robinson he is a baby maker.  To his own defense he is a child.

So what exactly does Coach Rod represent to me?  I'll tell you what.  Hes a valiant victor.  Hes  my conquering hero.  He serves as an inspiration to me and anybody else who's been burdened with a few less brain cells than the kid next to him. He is a provider...of entertainment and endless trips to the end zone for just about every player lucky enough to stand opposite his defense.  All joking aside (truthfully this is not a joke), I want to take this moment right now and thank Dick for all he's done.  Thank you Dick...you will be missed.

It seems like only yesterday that Michigan was pounding little brother into submission year in and year out.  Legit verified ass whippings on the reg. In my 6 year college career at Michigan State we did not beat them once. Then along comes Coach.  Granted, I no longer call East Lansing my home but I'll forever call the Spartans my team and no one man did more for my team than Rich Rodriguez.  Like a thief in the night he took the reigns and started losing at break neck speed.  Michigan's losses started piling up like they have never piled up before...and to make my long point a little shorter, the end result of his first year was a 3-9 record, which kick started what would become the worst 3 year stretch in Michigan Football history.

Rich is the king of getting ESPN to give a kid a Heisman trophy after week 4.  Only to find out that they were really only pasting the cream puffs he would schedule every year non-conference.  See Tate and Denard.  Rich is also famous for his title as king of the post game pout, as evidence reveals in the 3 or 4 times he busted out into tears because his feelings got hurt.  I mean a grown, head football coaching man cried at press conferences.  A lot.  To top all this off, shortly after he knew he was getting canned he famously stood in front of his players, their families, and UM faithful alike and figured that all he had to do to win his job back was play a Groban track, start the sniffles, and shed a tear or two.  That must not have gone as he planned because instead of getting the job he got humiliated.  Whatever you want to call it...the facts remain, that was some of the most embarrassing and most bizzare behavior NCAA college football has ever seen.  Dick is like a train wreck and a treat all mixed into one.  He may disappoint his team and his fans, but this guy never disappointed me.  What an absolute joy it is just to know that hes a real person.   The only thing that could make this better would be Ohio State giving him the head coaching job due to his above average skill set in a.) breaking NCAA rules and b.) destroying dreams in Ann Arbor.

You know what else is kind of funny?  So now they hire Brady Hoke or as I like to call him "PLAN C".  Somehow this mid-major "Michigan Man" is only 47-50 playing against second rate squads and I can't help but feel eerily similair to the same way I felt at the start of the Rodriguez regime.  Not like it matters and not like I really care anyways.  As long as Michigan continues to lose...I continue to win, because if theres anything I like more than a Spartan W it's a Wolverine L.

Michigan Career Highlights Include:

0 - Wins against MSU
0 - Wins against OSU
Worst 3 stretch season Michigan has ever seen
A 52-14 loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl when his job was publicly on the line
Cries at football banquet