Michigan State Spartans 10-2? Here's How It Can Happen...

It hurts to be a Spartan fan a lot of the time. We've learned the hard way to not hope and dream too big.

Case in point, I sat in the stands of the 2006 Monsoon Bowl versus Notre Dame, barely able to watch the game because of horizontal rain, gale force gusts and John L. Smith's retreat-into-your-turtle-shell play calling in the fourth quarter.

But the first three quarters were some of the most beautiful moments in Spartan football history. If you get a chance, watch the game and turn it off at the end of 3 quarters.

Being a State fan is kind of like dating Paris Hilton as a teenager, only to find out she's waiting until marriage to give it up.

On the outside, they look great and get you excited but sometimes the love only ends in frustration. Here's why this year us Spartan fans will get our collective rocks off.

Many will say it's too early.

Ringer is taking too much of the load, Hoyer isn't playing as he should be, but I say nuts to that, I'll shimmy out on that beautifully leaved limb over the Red Cedar and detail how MSU can go 10-2 in Dantonio's second season.

Beyond individual player accolade speak of Ringer for Heisman, or Otis Wiley for whatever little statue they give out for the most ass-kicking beast of an intercepting defensive back, let's look closely at the schedule.

State was supposed to have the toughest schedule in The Big Ten and the 13th toughest Overall in the entire NCAA, but I think we are primed to do better than anyone expects...

The MSU 2008 Football Schedule :

	Date	Opponent	Time/Result
	Sat, Aug 30	at California	L 31-38
	Sat, Sep 6	Eastern Michigan	W 42-10
	Sat, Sep 13	Florida Atlantic	W 17-0
	Sat, Sep 20	Notre Dame	W 23-7
	Sat, Sep 27	at Indiana	12:00 pm
	Sat, Oct 4	Iowa	12:00 pm
	Sat, Oct 11	at Northwestern	TBA
	Sat, Oct 18	(14) Ohio State	TBA
	Sat, Oct 25	at Michigan	TBA
	Sat, Nov 1	(9) Wisconsin	TBA
	Sat, Nov 8	Purdue	TBA
	Sat, Nov 22	at (12) Penn State	TBA

I see three possible losses, but I think we'll chalk up at least one of these in the W column, and if all goes well we'll win two and finish 10-2 :

1. Ohio State = In East Lansing, Beenie may be out or not 100%

2. Wisconsin = In East Lansing, we owe these cheeseballs big time after last year

3. Penn State = This game will be huge in many ways, no win expected here, and it's actually the toughest one I see on the schedule. Penn State may be playing for the Big Ten title which means knocking them off, handing them a loss in their final game at home and final game for JoePa would be truly sweet.

If we do win any of those games, we all know what big media will say about afterwards. It's never about how well MSU played, it's always about how poorly ND (Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, etc.) played.

As for Ringer, great running backs grind it out for a few yards, score TDs on unmatched second effort, take it around the corner for 8, and also break a couple of long runs during the game.

Ringer can handle 35+ touches and still be ready for more. Do not forget that the only reason Ringer didn't have more touchdowns last year was because the #5 overall touchdown leader in NCAA football came in at the end of every drive to take it in for the 2-3 yard score (Caulcrick - 21 TDs in 2007).

All this focus on the running game will only help MSU score more in the end. Brian Hoyer entered the season a pre-season Unitas award pick so any defense that keys too much on Ringer will be burned by Dell and BJ.

Can it happen? Maybe.

Is it time for it to happen? Yes.

I've got to go consult the Ephors...

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