Michigan State-Purdue Game Journal: Thoughts As They Occured Live

First quarter:

15:00- This looks like it’s going to be an easy win for the Spartans! The minute a player does something good for Purdue he immediately gets injured.

14:03- Greg Jones won’t let this game go south. It’s senior day!

9:05- Mark Dell isn’t particularly fast. But boy is he a playmaker. I think he fits in really well with B.J. Cunningham, Martin, and Keith Nichol. MSU-7, Purdue-0

8:05- *Brief flashback to every single sports pundit of the last weekend saying this team is the “same old Spartans”.* MSU-7, Purdue-7

6:29- I like Kirk Cousins a lot, but watching that interception made me think of Derek Anderson. It was one of those picks where of think, “He had to see that guy, why did he throw that?” MSU-7, Purdue-14

3:14- I didn’t mean anything by the Derek Anderson comparison Kirk! Please come back! Though redshirt freshman Andrew Maxwell looked good for a guy with 16 passes all season.

Second quarter

11:48- Baker reminds me of Maurice Jones-Drew. Short guy, low center of gravity. He never goes down after one hit. I think this guy will be a good NFL back one day. Remember, he’s only a sophomore.

11:49- Dan Conroy was one of those guys who this team could trust. Was one of those guys. He was 38-38 previously in extra points, why does this one feel really, really significant? Missed extra points tend to stick in the minds of young kickers and find their way into affecting the entire kicking game. MSU-13, Purdue-14

8:00- It’s frustrating to watch a team self destruct because of penalties. Even when I’m rooting for MSU it’s disappointing for any football fan because I know the state of Indiana was reeling after Purdue failed to pick up that third down.

7:00- I’m hearing more injury rumors surrounding Cousins. I worried about this with Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan coming to town. He plays through the whistle, which means that even when he fails to sack the quarterback, he hits him. Cousins can’t take much more, assuming he can come back in this game.

3:24- This game was running along so smoothly, penalties will quickly turn it into an afternoon at the DMV.

2:30- Defense is back-peddling

1:30- Back-peddling further.

:14- Coach Dantonio is almost as good as Tom Izzo in making use out of timeouts.

:09- I think Michigan State needs to remember that Purdue is as desperate as them. They need this game to stay potentially bowl-eligible. MSU-13, Purdue-21

Halftime note: I think the Big Ten is really on the upswing in competitiveness. I know Penn State and Michigan are down on their luck.

But both teams are still playing entertaining, competitive football. Wisconsin and MSU are on the brink of being consistent in the Big Ten championship hunt each season. Iowa may be the team of the future that consistently battles Ohio State for conference prestige and supremacy.

I think Northwestern is maybe the fastest improving team across the board, and will be a wildcard team capable of upsetting anyone in the conference. It will also be interesting to see who steps up as the next young successful team between Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana.

With the addition of at least Nebraska this conference should continue to get more and more respect nationally.

Third quarter

13:55- I’m thinking we are going to need a spark to win this game. Whether that comes from the offense, defense, special teams, or the fans, I don’t know. Wouldn’t it be something if Greg Jones made a huge turnover play on senior day?

9:33- I don’t dislike MSU’s effort. But I see a considerably better effort out of an over-matched Purdue team. I will say that MSU’s defense looks sluggish getting off of their blocks. They need a rest.

8:40- Greg Jones had a guy lined up and slipped, completely missing the tackle. This is feeling more and more like a cursed game.

7:40- This game seems to be flying by. That’s not good for Sparty.

7:20- And cue Purdue killing themselves with penalties, hopefully.

6:50- As much as it hurts, that was a pretty pass from Rob Henry. He’s not overly fast on the scramble. He’s not overly talented in passing ability. He’s just a well-grounded kid with a well rounded game. MSU-13, Purdue 28

4:11-  Oh no. No points and the defense gets only a little rest. This is almost the worst thing that could happen.

4:00- You know you’re team is in trouble when a good punt is the only thing that got the fans cheering all quarter.

3:04- Just my thoughts, so nobody ridicule me about this. That pass play for Purdue is the kind of “back-breaker” that just took the air out of the stadium. Of course it is early, but you just have to have a sinking feeling after that play.

: 50- I did a little research, the Spartans actually did suit up some other wide-outs for the game. They’ve just neglected to show up so far.

Fourth quarter

13:28- Am I crazy, or is it these announcers? The so-called interception was not fully possessed. It could have warranted a review, so good job to MSU for getting up to the line and running a play.

13:03- At some point the Spartans will need to do something more than the check-down pass play. Purdue is locked in on a win here and isn’t going to miss their tackles.

12:12- You talk about giving away ball games. This interception has potential to do just that. The fans didn’t even react that enthusiastically, mostly because nobody could believe it.

11:04- Almost the greatest touchdown catch of the season for State.

10:55- I expected a big game out of all of our receivers, partly because of Purdue needing to focus on our run game. Also, the size and physical dominance of our receivers was thought to be a determining factor. Here in the final quarter, we see some of that dominance. MSU-20, Purdue-28

8:42- Big return, good defensive stand, even better kick. Hmm, I can’t be mad at MSU because of a great defensive stand. You just wish they could have held it to a one possession game. MSU-20, Purdue-31

7:50- Looking more and more like MSU offense

7:25- If you call the interception by Purdue incomplete earlier due to not ever having total possession, then I don’t know if B.J. Cunningham’s great effort can be called a catch.

6:54- Momentum seems to be on our side. Good time to go for two.

5:59- Watching a young team self destruct.

5:19-Pure adrenaline. That punt block pushes the Spartan’s momentum to sky high level.

4:32- How Purdue didn’t recover that fumble, I couldn’t tell you.

3:18- Greg Jones makes a great play. Purdue’s Henry makes a better one. Two teams putting everything on the line. You have to love this game.

:44- A great ending to a great game. We learned a lot about both teams. Greg Jones was the Kobe Bryant of the defense. He took over in the fourth quarter and wouldn’t let his team lose.