Spartan Football is still on the Rise....

Spartans  (2-3, 1-1) played 2 teams today.. 1) Michigan Wolverines, and 2) The Spartans played themselves… Finally beating both.. The Spartan penalties, and turn overs  we close to allowing  it to slip  away… but not quite.

Not only did this game pump up a rivalry between the 2 Michigan schools, but it ended the any Spartan QB controversy.

We were in line for the lot by 6:15.. Cracking the first beer by 7:05 while putting up a couple rain canopies.. As a group having left Reno’s East only 5 hours before, a little Hair of the Dog was a good idea... gotta start early for a Michigan State – Michigan day.



There was a strong sense determination, no panic or desperation about the game....Funny how the mood/feeling  of the tailgates is a indicator for not only crowd engagement, and the teams focus.. weird but true… It like we're one big Karma Spartan connection thing...

Anyways... Andy’s Chef skills were put to the test in the rain.. but like a Spartan.. he pulled through switching from a B’fast menu at 10 to Lunch (Lamp chops, Brats, Shrimp: Thank you GFS , better food than Meijer’s for a Tailgate !)

 As I stood in the stands for the entire 4Qs plus OT.. Nervous.. Soaked from the on/off Drizzle since 6am… to about Over time… And soaked inside form the last 18 hours of beers…  We, meaning everyone, were 100% all into the game. The 12th man did their Job today.. Got to hand to the crowd.. Spartan Fans were at our collective best since the Last years beating of UofM in AnnArbor..  The entire stadium stayed though OT, and through Post game Go Green Go White Cheers. Very proud of the  Fan Bas in the Stands today !  A++ for the Fans..

The Spartan “D’ was impressive today.. they won the game.. They were every bit as strong as we thought them to be in the preseason.. glad they chose this game to pull it together in a unified fashion.

That OT Interception Sang in the End Zone by Rucker was pant pissing perfect!  Followed up by the Caper run into the end zone..  made the M Zone leave our section quickly.. and thank God.. they were insufferable dicks.

SpartyMSU player of the Game is the entire Defensive Unit.  They stood tall to day..  Kicked the Wolverine’s butt.. We noted that before the game the Spartans lead the Wolverines in most every stat category… we still do…

Oh by the WTF was Rich Rod Thinking ?  Fake punt, in there own Red Zone… and get caught behind the line.. for a turn over.. I’m just glad he was hired as the Michigan Coach… All that extra non NCAA sanction practice time helped..  yeah.. right..

Photo from SpartanTailgate.com

When Kirk got hurt in the first quarter, I knew we would be seeing Keith.  Sure Cousins is the Starting QB, but to have a back up as Team oriented, supportive and skilled as Nichol.. it doesn’t get any better than that.  Got to hand it to both QBs to react professionally when Cousins pulled himself out of the game due to the ankle injury in OT, showing confidence in Nichol.. that was huge as well.

This was a Big lesson learning day for the Freshman on the team.. Now they know.. realize.. what this is all about.. 

The Stats of the game tell a good story.. Actually explain how it went..at least this week they do..

Holding Michigan to a season low net Rushing yards of 28. Spartans help them to only 2 minutes of passion in the first quarter…I’m Loving it !!

 
 Team Totals                MICH   MSU 
FIRST DOWNS                   14   20 
   Rushing                     4   11 
   Passing                     8   9 
   Penalty                     2   0 
NET YARDS RUSHING             28   197 
   Rushing Attempts           28   49 
   Average Per Rush           1.0   4.0 
   Rushing Touchdowns          0   3 
   Yards Gained Rushing       83   230 
   Yards Lost Rushing         55   33 
NET YARDS PASSING            223   220 
   Completions-Attempts-Int   17-32-1  20-29-2 
   Average Per Attempt       7.0   7.6 
   Average Per Completion   13.1   11.0 
   Passing Touchdowns          2   0   
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS          251   417 
   Total offense plays        60   78 
   Average Gain Per Play     4.2   5.3 
Fumbles: Number-Lost          3-1   2-1 
Penalties: Number-Yards       2-15   8-94 
PUNTS-YARDS                  5-215   3-129 
   Average Yards Per Punt     43.0   43.0 
   Net Yards Per Punt         41.6   43.3 
   Inside 20                    1   2 
   50+ Yards                    1   1 
   Touchbacks                   0   0 
   Fair catch                   2   2 
KICKOFFS-YARDS                5-302   4-253 
   Average Yards Per Kickoff   60.4   63.2 
   Net Yards Per Kickoff       41.0   43.2 
   Touchbacks                   2   1 
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD   1--1-0 2-7-0 
   Average Per Return    -1.0   3.5 
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD  3-60-0 2-57-0 
   Average Per Return    20.0   28.5 
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD   2-20-0  1-0-0 
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD   0-0-0  1-15-0 
Miscellaneous Yards                0   0 
Possession Time                20:14   39:46 
   1st Quarter                  2:12   12:48 
   2nd Quarter                  5:08    9:52 
   3rd Quarter                  5:58    9:02 
   4th Quarter                  6:56    8:04 
   OT Quarter                   0:00    0:00 
Third-Down Conversions        7 of 16  8 of 18 
Fourth-Down Conversions       0 of 1   1 of 2 
Red-Zone Scores-Chances          3-4   4-4 
Sacks By: Number-Yards           2-12  3-33 
PAT Kicks                        2-2   2-2 
Field Goals                      2-2   2-2 

God its Good to be a Spartan today !

Sparty On !!!