This Saturday's matchup between the Michigan Sate Spartans (9-2) and the Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1) resembles another huge test of time and perseverance — the recent presidential election.
Like that fight, Penn State offers a heavily lauded team led by Joe Paterno, the elder statesman of college football. A man that, like John McCain to the Republicans and America, has unquestionable integrity and commitment to his chosen profession.
On the other sideline stands Mark Dantonio, scarcely two seasons into his tenure as head coach of MSU, leading a group of Spartans that have received only the slightest of backhanded praise, parceled out by tight-lipped "pros" of in-state publications and national news giants throughout the past three months.
These Spartans were not expected to be here, just like Barack Obama was not supposed to be on the presidential ballot, let alone win 'the big game'.
Surely the other teams normally perched atop the Big Ten may be asking, "who invited them?" to this final championship-deciding weekend.
But guess what, they are here, and they have a great chance of shaking up the world of college football Saturday by beating Penn State.
How did Barack do it? Go to CNN to find that out.
How will Michigan State do it? Read on...
Freedom.
MSU has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Just like Barack Obama, Michigan State is not SUPPOSED to be in the position they are in. Nobody expected they would be playing to win the Big Ten and go to The Rose Bowl. Nobody.
Not even I could have dreamt nor hoped for this opportunity. Penn State will be playing in front of 100,000 people who expect them to win but who are truly heartbroken about how the Lions blew their chance at a national title.
The pressure on them will be huge. Win one for JoePa. Make up for Iowa. Don't fall apart any further. Sure, everybody will be asking "can Michigan State win the big games?" as they have before the Northwestern game, the Michigan game, the Wisconsin game, the Notre Dame game, etc.
Now, I'm lying by saying MSU has nothing to lose, if Javon Ringer goes off and runs wild, he will be on the Heisman stage. That alone will give added momentum.
Also, look for Mark Dantonio to take chances, run some odd plays. He knows the truth that you cannot win big unless you bet big.
Unity
Just like the Democrats ran a focused, finely-tuned message-machine, Michigan State's football team is the ultimate example of a coalesced team. The German school of psychology calls this "Gestalt."
According to Webster, Gestalt is defined as: "a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a functional unit with properties not derivable by summation of its parts."
You may look at Michigan State on a position-by-position basis and think they don't match up with Penn State. Watch some game film.
Note how when Javon Ringer scores any of his 20 touchdowns this season, he doesn't pound his chest and prance around like a fool in heat. He hands the ball to the official and greets his linemen with thanks and class.
Watch how just when you think Mark Dell is the only option to make a first down grab, some unknown receiver streaks across the middle and burns the opposing defense for a 60-yard TD. The power of team unity is often preached, but seldom attained or harvested as it has been on the field this year by MSU.
Rest
The Spartans have enjoyed their bye week at exactly the right moment in the season. As Penn State was beating up on Indiana to make up for their less-than top-5 showing at Iowa, The Spartans were resting and watching the Nittany Lions' every move.
MSU will have its full complement of offensive and defensive weapons to choose from come game time.
Let it snow
Inclement weather is always the great equalizer in football. With the nation's leading rusher in the backfield, who has not fumbled once in 350+ rushes, The Spartans should fare just fine on the ground and open it up when needed. (Refer to QB Brian Hoyer's 60-yard connection through the air with Blair White between two receivers in last week's Purdue game). The weather is forecast to be 30 degrees and snowing.
No doubt
One of the weirdest looking written words in our fine English language is the downfall of any sportsman. Now that Penn State has been beaten, they have that incessant, creeping, clawing demon of doubt rooted in their minds. It may not be big, it may not be overwhelming, but once you know how to lose, you will lose again.
If MSU can score first or take a two-score lead, look in the Penn State players' eyes as they search the scoreboard for more time and an answer.
Key stat: Penn State was only leading 10-7 at halftime at home last week against Indiana, a team that is dead-last in the Big Ten standings, as well as defense (along with probably every other stat).
Underdog?
The Spartans could teach Rodney Dangerfield something about "No Respect." It doesn't matter how many games we win, how many opponents go down, it's never enough.
It's always "this next game will prove the old demons are finally laid to rest," "this next test will really prove if the Spartans have changed."
Guess what sportscasters, that's old, stale, tired, done, kaput. This potential 11-2 season is way more than any Spartan could have hoped for, and if the team doesn't even show up for the game on Saturday, it's been a season to remember.
Someone please take that albatross from around our green-and-white necks and shove it up the next ESPN commentator that says it.
Sorry GramPa Joe, there's a new coach in town named Dantonio leading a team who wants it more, and they will take it on Saturday.
Calling all Spartans! Be sure to join www.SpartanZone.com and post your green-and-white heart out.
13 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Patrick Yore 7 months ago
P.S. Score Prediction = MSU 20 v PST 17
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Brett Lissenden 7 months ago
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/83146-penn-state-football-week-12-review-and-week-13-preview
Interesting take on the prediction. I can't say that I think the comparison to politics really has any relevance though. And I am fairly confident PSU will shut down Ringer, having watched the PSU defense a lot over the course of this season and the past 4 seasons. Should be an interesting game though and it has huge implications!
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Patrick Yore 7 months ago
Thanks Brett. I guess the simile is just a changing of the guard sorta thing. This will be great game and if Penn State wins, we'll all be glad to have them represent the Big Ten.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Its gonna snow? Yay, I love the snow!! :)
Anyway, 100,000 fans goes in our favor. We have the best team in the Big 10, its just a matter of winning, and we will win this one. We don't lose at home.
Bye weeks don't help offenses, they never did. Need a reference? PSU vs. Iowa, PSU was coming off of a bye.
Prediction: PSU 27, MSU 13
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Patrick Yore 7 months ago
I understand about teams getting out of sync on a bye week, but we really needed the rest. This is as big of test to see if Dantonio knows how to prep a team for such a big game with the bye figured in. If State does win, it will not be easy. I'm an optimist and these pre-game predictions proove that talk is cheap. One of my first articles on BR was about how State would go 10-2 this season written in September. Be careful what you wish for...
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Jeff Contizano 7 months ago
Dantonio rooted for OSU against Michigan, so the football gods will strike him down in his arrogance.
PSU 31, MSU 20.
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Patrick Yore 7 months ago
Hey Jeff - That's the first time I've ever heard a UM fan call anyone from MSU arrogant. It is an odd comment for Coach D to say "Go Bucks" - you know he really hopes you guys win and put us one step closer to Pasadena.
I've offered my brother and sister who both went to M that I will wear a UM jersey around my hometown in MI over Xmas if they can beat OSU. They are beatable and I really think you guys can do it. I'm hoping UMs D steps up and plays the way they are able and puts some hurt on Pryor in the cold weather early on. I know we've helped put UM in The Rose Bowl in the past by pulling a big win against higher ranked teams at the end of the season so hopefully what goes around will come around.
What do you think of Coach Richie Rich's comment for UM fans to "get a life"?
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Jeff Contizano 7 months ago
I was just joking with ya sir! Personally I'm rooting for State.
As for the OSU/UM game, Michigan has to play a near perfect game for the victory. But there's always hope my friend.
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Patrick Yore 7 months ago
That's cool man. It's funny how games like yours and ours that affect each other can bring us as fans closer together. Go Blue?
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Joe G 7 months ago
Dantonio also won a national title on Jim Tressel's staff. He couldn't bring himself to root for Michigan.
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Johnathon Gustin 7 months ago
Yeah I'm rooting for Michigan, (I always do in the post season anyway) but I never thought that MSU's greatest enemy could also become their greatest friend. I think that MSU will win if they can stop PSU from putting the game away early.
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David Geiss 7 months ago
Well.GramPa Joe gave Dantonio a spanking, bad hip and all.
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Lance Amstrong 7 months ago
I'd say "No you can't" pretty well describes the game.
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