Hail to the Victors: Michigan State Spartans Deliver the Goods in Ann Arbor

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, Ann Arbor, Michigan

This beautiful fall day in Michigan had many sights and sounds that will be remembered and resound for a very long time. Beating a 2-5 team normally doesn't mean a whole lot, but today was special. Here are the images that will bring many a Spartan joy and haunt Wolverine fans forever...

Sparty Gets a Huge Tackle

Brian Hoyer tagged Blair White and burned UM for a 61-yard touchdown that ended with White running directly into the clutch of Sparty, Michigan State's brut mascot. Against a sea of green and white, the Spartan Marching Band was in that corner of the end zone too and were so excited they rushed to gain composure and play the fight song in celebration.

Brandon Graham Eats Dirt and His Words

With about two minutes left in the first half, Javon Ringer jumped to the outside and jumped back in the Heisman race. Javon hit the line, spun outside, and ran away from the entire UM defense for a 64-yard burn to his 15th rushing TD of the season.

UM made an inept effort to chase him down, and guess who fell flat on his face, failing to catch Ringer as he crossed into the end zone? Mr. Brandon Graham, who guaranteed a Michigan win. I wonder who had a more enjoyable view of that play: Graham with a face full of turf, or Mike Hart, his brother in BS?

Sam McGuffie Gets Welcomed to the Big Ten

First of all, no one, including me, wants to see anyone get hurt. Sam "Hopalong" McGuffie was UM's leading rusher coming into the game, averaging like 65 yards. He had 10 yards rushing today.

One run ended in a crushing fashion between three MSU defenders. Very scary to watch, this clean attack was a great example of how violent the hits are delivered by the Spartan Defense. Sam, please report back to your brothers in the Big 12 how much you enjoyed your first rivalry game against State. Please post a response to let us know if this guy's OK.

Javon Ringer rips off 10-yarders late in the fourth

The Michigan defense is normally a force to be reckoned with. Michigan was supposed to have some voodoo conditioning system that would overwhelm opponents late in the game. Watch State's last two drives, and you will see a beautiful illustration of heart, soul, teamwork, and sheer power.

Mark Dantonio's Smile

Mr. D couldn't help it. However much he tried, however much he preached that the game isn't over until it's over, he cracked a huge smile with around a minute left in the game. Maybe it was converting a 4th-and-1 to seal the victory?

Whatever he was thinking about, he wasn't smug. He wasn't waving a fist in his opponent's face. In fact, he wasn't even looking at the other sideline. He was facing his players and his assistant coaches, knowing that his team of great young men came together and did what they were asked and supposed to do all day, up and down the field marked with a huge block M.

An observation...

Much has been made about how UM has many excuses as to why they are so pitiful this year—mainly that it's Rod's first year and that they lost so many players.

The next time you give UM a free pass on these grounds, remember a few of the Spartans who are missing from the roster this year, including Devin Thomas, SirDarean Adams, Mike Bacon, Ervin Baldwin, Jehuu Caulcrick, Peter Clifford, Kellen Davis, Kaleb Thornhill, etc.

Also reflect on where MSU's program was at the end of 2006 with John L. Smith, when a new coach walked onto campus at Michigan State, then in HIS first year went 7-6, took his team to a bowl in Florida, and barely lost to the No. 10-ranked team in the country.

The Bottom Line

- The game was the 101st meeting of the two schools.

- Final score = 35 to 14. Any questions about this, refer to this article.

- Javon Ringer rushed for 194 yards and scored two TDs, including a 64-yard run. Sam McGuffie, UM's leading rusher in 2008, had 10 yards total.

- MSU's Trevor Anderson had three sacks.

- Blair White, a walk-on at MSU, had 143 yards receiving on four receptions, including a 61-yard long TD catch and run on State's first possession.

- Brian Hoyer went 17 for 29 and 282 yards, with three TDs and no interceptions. UM's Threet completed 48.1 percent for 168 yards and was intercepted three times.

Good game Wolverines, victory for MSU!

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