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Live blogging: Champs Sports Bowl

Final thoughts: Obviously, MSU went to Orlando to come back to East Lansing with the victory, but making a bowl game and going 7-5 during Dantonio’s first year overshot everyone’s expectations. If Thomas returns, the Spartans should have a dynamic offense with him, Ringer and Hoyer, and once Dantonio gets some of his recruits in his system, the 2008 Spartans should be just as fun to watch as the ’07 version.

Fourth quarter

00:00 – Boston College 24, Michigan State 21

00:49 – Hmm, QB sneak. Can’t say I agree with that call, but they get it. Kneel outs the rest of the way.

1:32 – Third and four, BC runs up the gut and doesn’t get it. They’ll kick the field goal with 49 seconds remaining.

2:29 – BC interception! Number four for Hoyer. That just might be the dagger, folks.

2:37 – Another muffed return by Thomas, what’s gotten into him? 2:37 remaining, on their own four yard line, with one timeout.

2:45 – FUMBLE! BC recovers, but they’ll have to punt to MSU.

3:18 – One yard run, third and one…

4:16 – Eight yard run by BC, clock’s ticking.

4:34 – Fourth and ten and MSU is punting. I don’t think I can legitimately go against any call Dantonio’s made this game.

4:48 – At first, I agreed with the original ruling, but I saw it happen in a similar situation with the New England Patriots earlier this year where it was overturned…Play stands, oh well.

4:48 – First down Spartans, Hoyer back, throws it up…caught out of bounds. Man, I did not like how Hoyer throw that up there Hail Mary-style. Play under review though…

5:34 – Who promptly loses the ball. Wow, these guys make your heart skip, that’s for sure. MSU ball on their own 7.

5:45 – Wow, thought that tipped pass was complete. Way to catch a break MSU, fourth down and kicking to Showtime.

5:51 – Nice play, KDC. The analysts are hitting the nail the on the head: Not having a running game is coming back to bite the Eagles.

6:04 – TOUCHDOWN MSU! Just as I’m yelling at the TV to tell Hoyer to throw it away, he finds Curry in the back of the endzone. Sorry I’ve been hard on you Brian, way to step up. Two point conversion…GOOD TO KELLEN DAVIS. 24-21, BC.

6:29 – Welcome to the Champs Sports Bowl Devin Thomas (WR version). Nice catch.

6:38 – FUMBLE! MSU BALL!

6:58 – I said if this came down to quarterback play, MSU would come up short and that’s what’s happening. I don’t like his talents, but Ryan does have some great leadership qualities.

9:22 – Touchdown, BC. Great catch, I’m not crying offensive pass interference, it’s clean in my book. 24-13, BC.

10:18 – I take back the “Jonal who?” comment I made earlier. Sure, without him MSU is putting great pressure on Ryan, but with another quicker lineman in there, who knows how Ryan could handle it because he doesn’t look comfortable in there.

10:33 – Hoyer may get confidence by completing these short passes, but it comes down to technique and the simple fact is that his eyes lock in on a receiver and never leave.

14:02 – Ringer’s healthy!

15:00 – I did not like that clip of Ringer limping, but at least we still have Caulcrick – whose running style fits this situation better, anyway.

Third quarter

Third quarter thoughts: Here we go Spartans! They’re heading into the last quarter with the game in reach. You’ve already shown MSU fans that you’re not the same old Spartans with your moxie throughout the year, but now it’s time to show the country. MSU will look to ride thunder and lightning in the fourth quarter, but the X-factor in my book is Devin Thomas. I understand Hoyer has to get the ball to him, but what Thomas can do after the catch (and on punt returns) will be key.

2:51 – 15-yard completion from Hoyer to Ringer, first down MSU. No, that’s not a misprint – Hoyer really did complete a pass to a guy in a green uniform.

4:26 – BC didn’t convert their fourth down try, MSU ball. If Hoyer throws another interception, I’m smashing my laptop against my face and this live blog experiment will be over.

4:33 – I’m still upset about that interception, I mean, I don’t see who he could have been possibly throwing the ball to.

4:56 – Seriously Brian Hoyer, another interception? Three interceptions and a fumble in the first bowl game in four years, way to see the quarterback/leader of the team choke in a key situation.

5:15 – First time all-drive Ryan had to move around in the pocket, no surprise it’s an incompletion and fourth down. Field goal good, BC adds to lead, 17-13.

6:38 – Wow! Yeah, I’m wearing a green ball cap right now, but that pass interference flag should have been a no-call.

7:03 – Are the Eagles’ wide receivers so much faster than the Spartans that the cornerback needs to give them six yards of cushion? I guess so. BC gets the first down and is driving.

8:09 – Classic example of the defense over-pursuing and forgetting about the run. Nice play call, BC.

8:24 – Hoyer was going to his main guy in Thomas and I get that, but there was absolutely no seam for that ball to go through. Terrible throw. Field goal is good though, 14-13, BC.

10:25 – FIRST DOWN STATE! Hey, that’s why Dantonio’s on the sideline and I’m behind the computer. The guy has guts.

11:13 – First off, decision? Take the points, it’s only the third quarter and a successful field goal would make it a one point game…

13:53/13:32/13:10 – Back to back to back runs by Ringer. Looks like Dantonio’s listening to the TV.

14:10 – Very nice start to the second half. I agree with the commentator completely: It’s time to get back to MSU bread and butter and run the ball more.

14:51 – Nice tackle, Ogemdi Nwagbuo! Uh, Jonal who?

End of the first half

First half thoughts: The good? MSU is not missing Saint-Dic. They are pressuring Matt Ryan and making him scramble darn near every time. He hasn’t owned the Spartan secondary as I expected him to do. Offensively, Caulcrick and Ringer are doing their normal things. The bad? Yes Brian Hoyer, I’m talking about you. He’s not a playmaker, and no one’s asking him to be, but for some reason, he’s taking chances when they don’t need to be taken. Brian, all you have to do is manage the game and high your check-down receivers, if you do that, MSU is golden.

00:23 – What was that? Blackout? What a joke, good thing it wasn’t at the end of the game.

1:24 – Interception. Hoyer to the Eagles, “Here you go, I decided I don’t want the ball.” God, I want to puke.

1:33 – FLAAAAAASH GORDON INTERCEPTION! We got the mo’ baby, let’s do it!

2:30 – Field goal attempt…it’s good! 14-10, BC.

3:56 – Six yard punt. I hope he’s not on scholarship…

Second quarter

5:41 – Look at the times on the left. That was an 11 second drive. AN 11 SECOND DRIVE!

5:48 – Or scramble around and throw an incomplete pass. I mean, whatever floats your boat.

5:52 – Good starting field position right here. If I’m MSU, I pound it to Caulcrick and do some swing passes to Thomas – he’s been very quiet on offense.

6:43 – Speaking of Brett Favre, talk about a stand up guy. Read an interesting column in Sports Illustrated about when the Packers played the Broncos in the Super Bowl a few years back and Favre played the whole game with a penny in his sock because a little girl gave it to him and said it would be lucky. He’s a class act.

7:14 – So much for that six minute drive. This is where the MSU defense has got to step up, you can’t go into halftime down 21-7 with BC coming out receiving in the second half. Well I suppose you could, but if you want to win, it’s probably not a good idea.

8:38 – Alright, I understand he’s a pro prospect but is this the Champs Sports Bowl or the Matt Ryan Bowl? Let’s talk about something else, fellas.

8:54 – Touchdown BC. Hey, this is what everyone was expecting right? Now MSU needs a nice six minute scoring drive to drain the clock and take us to halftime.

12:00 – When I made my pregame prediction, I was expecting Ryan to pick apart MSU’s secondary (this coming right after I rip on the guy…), but this is a hard-hitting, smashmouth football game. This is how football is supposed to be played.

12:20 – I really don’t understand the love for Matt Ryan. I mean, I don’t even consider him a great college quarterback and everyone’s talking about him being the first QB taken in the NFL Draft? Give me a break.

End of the first quarter

First quarter thoughts: This has the makings of a good game. BC’s rush defense is very solid, but MSU is the most physical team they’ve played all year. Early mistakes hurt, but that’s why they play 60 minutes.

00:36 – Touchdown BC. No shock here. Plain and simple: You can’t make bone-head plays during big games. I know it’s early, but if this game comes down to quarterback play, MSU is in trouble.

2:27 – Fumble on the snap. I’m not calling for his head because there’s plenty of time left, but Hoyer needs to forget about those last two plays quick.

3:58 – Come on Hoyer, my second grade basketball coach taught me about telegraphing passes. You’re a D-1 quarterback, step it up.

6:41 – BC said when Caulcrick was in the game they were going to look for plays up the middle and when Ringer was in they were going to look for plays on the outside. Well, it didn’t work so well for them that time. I’m really impressed with Caulcrick, not only is he big and strong but he’s also quick. Good luck on your quest to play at the next level, Jehuu.

7:35 – I just got done giving Dantonio a pat on the back, but now I have to rip on BC’s head coach Jeff Jagodzinski. On second and long I can see running the draw play in hopes of catching the defense off guard, but you don’t do it again on third down. The commentator said it perfectly: He was playing it safe. Playing safe doesn’t win you ball games, my friend.

8:25 – One player alone won’t make up for Saint-Dic’s absence – it’s going to take the whole team. Ervin Baldwin did his part with that sack right there.

9:39 – Fourth down, out of field goal range, players pumped up. Obvious time to go for it, good call Dantonio.

12:12 – Nice run by Ringer. Great vision, nice agility.

12:30 – BC three and out. I can definitely tell that BC has been in this environment before. Matt Ryan is calm, cool and collected, but the rest of the Eagles are playing kind of methodical. MSU on the other hand is just simply playing the game and having fun, which is working out quite nicely – you know, in the like, three minutes they’ve been out there.

Touchdown, MSU

I know I may be biased, but ESPN’s bottom line just showed that 91% of America picked BC to win. Talk about being an underdog.

Bringing the opening kick return back to the 18 yard line? Devin Thomas you are a god! I know he’s been thinking about going pro, and with that run back I’m already waving goodbye.

TOUCHDOWN MICHIGAN STATE! What a start! Beautiful throw by Hoyer, and that catch? Hey, Mel Kiper, Jr., make sure Kellen Davis is on your big board!

Beginning the live blog

With a big event such as this comes special coverage, and I’ll be chiming in over the course game to give my thoughts on whatever pops into my mind about football, the commentators or anything else, and I urge you to do the same thing. If you have a question or a comment, leave one at the bottom of the page or shoot me an e-mail at kruthcas@msu.edu and maybe we can get a MSU football mailbag going during halftime.

Now to the game itself. MSU hasn’t played a game in over 40 days but that doesn’t mean they haven’t gotten a lot of coverage. If you’ve opened a newspaper the past few days you know that Boston College has a stout rushing defense and the Eagles hope to contain Jehuu Caulcrick (Thunder) and Javon Ringer (Lightening). Likewise, we know that MSU is missing five players, including Jonal Saint-Dic and SirDarean Adams, due to suspensions.

Out of all the bowls, I believe the Champs Sports Bowl is the hardest to choose a winner – and I’m not saying that just because I’m a Spartan. Still, call me a homer, but I’m predicting an MSU victory by the score of 34-28.
Go Green!