Minnesota-MSU: Debacle in Gopher Country Forces Spartan Fans To Analyze Team

After nearly handing the Iowa Hawkeyes their first loss of this college football season, the Michigan State Spartans knew they could beat some of the best competition in the country.

Or so they thought.

The Minnesota Gophers’ 42-34 victory over the Spartans was not really as close as the final score indicates. In fact, Minnesota scored two quick touchdowns in the opening minutes of the game to jump ahead.

I don’t think the Spartans’ defense got the memo that there was a game being played on Halloween night.

Their defense was more of a trick than a treat all night. Adam Weber, Minnesota’s quarterback, was looking like that other guy in Minnesota who wears purple and white.

Michigan State did not even run one offensive play until it was already down 14-0.

The officiating was once again quite murky, but Spartan fans can not put the majority of the blame on the officials. There were some bad calls, most notably in the second half, but there was still time to overcome them.

As a Spartans fan, I waited and waited for them to overcome those calls, but it never happened. The game was sort of a microcosm of the Spartans’ season—glimmers of success, defensive breakdowns, and not taking advantage of their opportunities.

And then there is the coaching. Time and time again I have tried to calm the naysayers who don’t believe in Mark Dantonio, but even he said after the game that his team was outcoached—and he was speaking the truth.

Minnesota knew where the weaknesses were, attacked them on the first play and got a touchdown. Just like that, the Spartans were once again playing from behind, a position their in which they are not built to thrive.

Oh, and starting quarterback Kirk Cousins was once again pulled after leading the team on a touchdown-scoring drive.

Huh?

Maybe yesterday’s game just proved what many of us have thought: Michigan State is an average football team.

Or perhaps it further exposed the futility and mediocrity of the Big Ten in general.

Whatever it is, time is running out to fix all the errors and mistakes which have lead to painful defeats like these.

With a MAC team in Western Michigan coming into Spartan Stadium next weekend, it should be a great opportunity for the Spartans to once again build some confidence.

But then again, that could just be more wishful thinking.