The fall has come
Senior linebacker Brandon Denson holds up the Paul Bunyan Trophy after the Spartans defeated Michigan in overtime 26-20 Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
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Matt Bishop
More than four hours after the game ended Saturday afternoon, the Spartan Stadium scoreboard still lit up the night sky.
Spartans 26, Michigan 20.
With one incredible Larry Caper touchdown run, a season on the brink was saved and a rivalry officially became competitive again.
Indeed, pride comes before the fall.
Mark Dantonio uttered those now-famous words days after losing to U-M in 2007, a crushing loss during which the Spartans surrendered a 10-point lead in the final seven minutes and extended U-M’s series winning streak to six.
Since, the same old Spartans have been nowhere to be found against the Wolverines.
Saturday, MSU showed the fire, intensity and will to win that was missing in losses to Central Michigan and Wisconsin. And the Spartans clearly were more driven and motivated than the Wolverines, who played like they thought they could walk into Spartan Stadium and win without a fight.
Simply put, the Spartans wanted it more. And they set the tone before the game even started.
Junior safety Roderick Jenrette and a U-M player bumped into each other in the north end zone as Jenrette ran onto the field. The two exchanged words, foreshadowing what was to come — the Spartans punching the Wolverines right in the mouth.
MSU controlled the action at the line of scrimmage, rushing for 197 yards, including 75 from sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins, as he threw his body all over the field in a gutsy effort.
Cousins helped engineer a tone-setting first quarter drive that spanned 17 plays, 80 yards and more than 10 minutes. Officially, the drive went down as 80 yards, but because of four penalties (some of which I found to be illegitimate), MSU gained 130 yards of total offense during the possession. The drive was a sign of things to come, as MSU nearly doubled the Wolverines in time of possession, allowing the defense to remain well-rested.
Helped by the offense dominating the clock, the defense, which has been less than stellar this season, held U-M to 28 yards on the ground, 212.2 yards below its season average. Even after struggling in the final minutes as U-M frantically scrambled to tie the game, the defense redeemed itself in overtime as senior safety Danny Fortener and junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker combined to intercept U-M quarterback Tate Forcier in the end zone, allowing the Spartans to simply kick a field goal if need be to win the game.
Instead, Caper, a freshman from Battle Creek, broke through the Wolverines defense, escaped two tackles and ran into the end zone, giving MSU a season-saving 26-20 win.
With the win, the Spartans definitively have set a new tone for the rivalry — one of potential MSU dominance — under Dantonio by playing with unmatched focus and intensity.
To U-M head coach Rich Rodriguez, playing MSU is just another game on the schedule. To Dantonio, his staff and players, this game means everything.
The play of both teams Saturday reflected this and probably will continue to do so in the future.
More importantly for the immediate future, the Spartans showed major signs of life heading into games with hapless Illinois and Northwestern and a third straight trip to a bowl game doesn’t appear to be as out of sight as it did this time last week.
While the season marches on, there’s nothing wrong in taking a little more time to bask in the light of a 26-20 victory.
_Matt Bishop is a State News football reporter. He can be reached at bishop20@msu.edu
Commentary
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student
(10/04/09 11:20pm)Report
Great article.
alumnus
(10/04/09 11:26pm)Report
Great game. Let’s see more of the same effort next week, and again next year against Michigan.
Mike
(10/04/09 11:46pm)Report
I’m sorry Matt, but you have proven time and time again that you are a terrible writer. This article is almost as poorly written and redundant as your Wolverine satire earlier in the week.
Can’t State News find somebody who can write? This guy is a joke!
Josh
(10/04/09 11:55pm)Report
This was a good game and a good article! Thank you Spartans, Coach D and staff, and State News!
Go Green!
Go White!
Go Spartans!
Big Blue!
(10/05/09 1:29am)Report
As a UM fan, again I have no problem congratulating you on a hard fought win. But let me give you some perspective. When you win a game 26 – 20 it silly to say you pounced us in the mouth. Let’s be clear, this could have been another heart break loss so I would temper that kind of talk. Caper made a great play to seal the win but don’t forget that this oppourtunity came after a gutty performance by UM to get this game to overtime led by a freshman QB in his first road game which he came close to winning. As for potential dominance… You caught us in transition last year and you a got a close win this year. Are you aware that out of the last 8 games you only won two games.God forbid I bring up the overall win-loss stats of this rivaly. So let’s wait a few more years before we. Speak of MSU dominance. If you looking to talk about dominance you can talk to Notre Dame fans about that. Again congrats on the win Saturday. We will be waiting for you in the Big House next season. Go Blue!
Mike
(10/05/09 2:19am)Report
Big Blue – if you are going to write on the State News website and tear apart an article, please spell check and look over your comment so you don’t look like a complete idiot! Second, you want to bring up the overall record, that’s great, it really is…you weren’t alive for 80% of them, and even more so, Rich Rod is now 0-2 against an in-state rival!! Yes, State is a rival whether U of M fans want to believe it, you can’t just simply say that these two teams are only rivals when you win. Also, it is fair to say that the Spartans punched (with an “h”) the Wolverines in the mouth. U of M was the No. 1 ranked rushing offense in the Big Ten, and the Spartan D held them to 28 yards. And that was even generous considering Tate had 37 with less than 4 minutes to go.
U of M Football is a tradition that will live on forever. It is a program that claims the most wins in College Football history and my hat goes off to the team and the school. I respect everything that they have done in the past. But what is really a shame is the fact that the majority (not all) of Michigan fans don’t know how to simply lose gracefully. You can’t keep making excuses and downplaying the game. So lets keep the trash talking – “we still dominate the series, we don’t even care about this game, blah blah blah” crap to a minimum.
Thanks. And go back to reading the joke of a paper that Michigan puts out.
Tim
(10/05/09 6:59am)Report
Close one that could have gone their way. The three stooges on the MSU coaching staff: Moe (MD), Larry (Treadwell), Curly (Narduzzi) nearly cost the kids this game. It has been said before that this group is really over their collective heads. Saturday they prooved it. Lucky that Forcier was gassed or this game would be one of the many that UofM has snatched away from other teams. We got lucky..pure and simple..and if not for a gutsy performance by the players the score would be turned around. That is THE STORY: The players wanted this one much more than the coaching staff, and played beyond the foolish playcalling.
Hope this marks a season turn-around and we can keep the momentum going into Champaigne next week. Illionis is not “hapless.” They are dangerous at home, another spread team, well- schooled and well-coached. The secondary will be tested again.
Treadwell and MD need to re-visit the basics of this game:
1. Running game
2. Control the clock
3. Down and distance
4. Field position
It only gets more difficult from here on out. While it does taste good to beat UofM, for all their arrogance, the season is for naught if we don’t continue to improve and start resting on laurels. The UofM game is over..in the books. We go to Champaigne where we don’t always play that well.
Look out!
Andy
(10/05/09 9:53am)Report
The saddest part is there was absolutely no Sunday morning coverage of this game on ESPN… had Michigan won, it would have dominated coverage “Wolverines destroy Spartans!” or some such nonsense.
As usual, no love for MSU from the “mainstream” sports media. Same happens every year with basketball.
Section 16
(10/05/09 10:11am)Report
Well, here is some news from off the field: Two UM fans escorted out by police and they looked like they were on drugs. Did any other UM fans get escorted out and did you see what they did wrong?
MSU High
(10/05/09 10:22am)Report
i suppose i should know this, but is MSU a 4 year accredited university or a continuing high school educational institution?
Scoreboard photo?
(10/05/09 10:32am)Report
Speaking of the scoreboard lighting up the night sky, where’s the photo of it?
student
(10/05/09 11:12am)Report
MSU High,
I am sorry that your hate for MSU has come to the point of making that comment.
I will not lower myself to such standards that are certainly equivalent to those of a high school student.
MSU and its fans hope that you find help soon because you need it.
We hope you get better.
Sincerely,
Spartan Nation
Rob
(10/05/09 11:31am)Report
Is it just me or is everybody from UM obsessing on Tate Forcier’s wonderfulness in the last 4 minutes of the game while forgetting his total ineptitude (thanks mostly to the Spartan defense) in the first 56 minutes of the game?
Rachel
(10/05/09 11:43am)Report
Great game State! As a UM fan, I was sad to see my wolverines loose, but what an exciting game! You guys looked great out there. Can’t wait until next year! GO BLUE!
Mark
(10/05/09 12:02pm)Report
Rob- totally agree. This amazing quarterback….right! The kid showed great athleticism in the final minutes while a tired MSU defense was on its heels. But as an overall quarterback, not great.
AK
(10/05/09 12:02pm)Report
Your reporting of facts are so biased and absolutely terrible.
I am a state fan, but seriously it was just a good game, no one was “punched in the face” and it was simply strong play by each team.
State news should really get someone unbiased to write the news because if his is how he writes his articles he will never in his life become an real journalist.
HAM
(10/05/09 12:06pm)Report
Wow, it seems like comments on both sides neither go to their school OR can spell-check their articles.
Good job kids.
KJ Green
(10/05/09 12:37pm)Report
Quote from big mouth UM football player after UM win in 2007:
“Sometimes it’s just like when you’re playing your little brother in basketball,” Hart said. “You let him get a lead and let him get excited, but then you take it back from him.”
While we didn’t let them get the lead, they sure got excited. Who’s the little brother now?
PS. How’s that NFL career going Hart? (2008: 5 games, 27 yards; 2009: 1 game, 0 yards). Looks like you are the little brother on the Colts.
One Shining Sparty
(10/05/09 12:54pm)Report
A win over those weasels is a WIN!!! Hey
U of M fans,see you at Breslin in March for the Big Ten Title celebration!
'99 Alum
(10/05/09 1:11pm)Report
OK, I hate to rain on the parade here, but can we please get a hold of ourselves before we look foolish. There is nothing more I love in this world than sending those arrogant f***ers from AA packing, but let’s be honest with ourselves here…were it not for some gutsy D play coupled with a Freshmen QB on the goaline, and a strong run by what we all hope is another in a long line of punishing Spartan RBs, we would be hearing Same ol’ Spartans yet again.
Let me take you back…LA Tech, ND (at least twice), U-M (can’t count how many) and most recently CMU – all games we controlled up until the about the Fourth Quarter, where we decided to sit on our asses and hand the game to our opponent. Last Saturday’s game was yet another in a long line of miserable Fourth Quarter failures, and had we been up against a real football team (sorry, UM, but beating a few JV squads at home to start your season does, in now way, make you a Top 25 team), we would all be drowning ourselves in Scotch and wondering why we continue to hold on to hope with this program.
Here are the problems as I see them:
1) Conservative coaching – sorry, folks, but this hasn’t changed in 30 years. Ever wonder why we get smoked whenever we play out of conference. Word to the wise, better figure this out, or once Rich Rod has some seasoned vets in his program (if the UM douches let him stay that long) we are in deep doo-doo – he’s a coach that takes chances, and the payoffs are huge with an experienced squad.
2) Can we please pick a F***ing QB finally – I think everybody but Coach D and Narduzzi can see the clear choice.
3) Discipline and Killer Instinct (see #1) – never had it, wondering if we ever will. When Pete Carrol or Steve Spurrier are up by 28, do they let off the gas? Hells No!! Step on their throat until you crush that bitch, and stop playing to just not lose.
4) Emotion – the best thing about playing this game is the rush you get from being all jacked up on a crisp fall afternoon, and feeling that rush that comes from knowing you just hit somebody so hard their grandkids felt it. Let’s get jacked for the WHOLE game – heart and emotion go a long way in the Fourth Quarter.
Look, I am proud as hell that we’ve taken two in a row from U-M, but the way we finished that game on Saturday left me disappointed still. We are still the team that can’t finish strong, and continues to prove we aren’t capable of winning the games that count (OSU, PSU, and GA last year anyone?).
I am a Spartan, I bleed green…now can our athletes get as pissed off as I am about the reputation we’ve earned, and go out to rip somebody’s head off week in and week out to prove to the critics that we are the real deal.
Spartalum
(10/05/09 4:28pm)Report
Great post by ‘99 Alum
The Fall has not come yet. It has only been two years in a row, and only the seventh win since 1990. We were 7-2-1 from 1960-69. I am as happy as the next Spartan about the win, but how many of you saw that last drive end in a UM TD and thought, “Oh God. They have momentum, they have just moved the football 92 yards and are going for 2. We could lose this game by a point after dominating all afternoon.” That was a real possibility. Especially with a scrambling QB like Forcier. I was sick with the prospect of it.
We needed this win and fortunately we got it. The team has every reason to be proud because they deserved to win, but ’99 Alum’s analysis is spot-on. There is still a lot of change needed in the culture of Spartan Football. We are on the right path. Let’s enjoy this win, but stay focused on the long-term picture. For a bit more perspective, our record vs. Ohio State since 1975 is 4-20! That’s right! Only 4 wins against the Buckeyes in the last 34 years. I love the Spartans, but if we are going to dominate again (like the 50s & 60s) we need to “et jacked for the WHOLE game.“ Every week, every year. Just beating Michigan a couple of times does not a National Power make. We have to win against UM, ND, OSU & Penn State consistently year after year. That’s should be and must be the goal and the standard by which we measure our success as a program.
Go Green!
Bill
(10/05/09 6:30pm)Report
So the State news seems to think “The fall has come” for Michigan football. Now I like beating Michigan just as much as any other die-hard Spartan fan but this has got to be one of the biggest overstatements I’ve heard in a while. (2 wins in a row since 1967 = fall of Michigan football? I think not) Come up with a better headline/article next time please.
Joshua Vincent
(10/05/09 7:32pm)Report
As a reminder Coach D has set the first bar of accomplishment and that is a Big Ten championship. If it does not come this year, it’s on the event horizon.
2 years in a row doesn’t necessarily matter, if we can go 5, that sounds quite good! However, 2 in a row is an awesome accomplishment!
state fan
(10/05/09 8:38pm)Report
yeah pride does come before the fall, but lets not let that happen to ourselves here. we won two games in a row, but in both games we let Michigan come back. We always let people come back. If our secondary sucks as bad next year we may as well forfeit the game. I think RichRod is more or less a thug, but he is a good tactician and if we don’t improve our D he will be dropping bombs on us once all the pieces are in place.