MSU injuries NOT an excuse
According to Mark Dantonio, MSU injuries are not going to be used as a crutch (i.e., excuse) for their poor play. To paraphrase:
"Injuries are not an excuse. To be clear though, we do have a lot of injuries. So if we were to lose this week, we should be allowed to claim injuries as the main reason, but we won't, because that would be excusing the loss because of injuries, which we don't or won't do, becuase we don't use injuries as excuses...but we have tons of injuries."
Link below; It's Drew Sharp and its drivel. FL;DR (freep link; didn't click): Michigan State is very injured but not going to use injuries as an excuse (Spoiler: They are setting up the injury excuse).
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/drew-sharp/2015/10/12/drew…
This has been the common narrative throughout the last two weeks. Not an excuse, but we are super injured. Just to pull some quotes from the linked to drivel:
"Pardon the pun," coach Mark Dantonio said Saturday night following the Spartans' 31-24 win, "but we can't use it as a crutch."
"He was hurting out there, and everybody recognized it," Dantonio said about Kieler's determination. "We tried to get him out a little bit, but I know that he wound up playing at the end as well. He's a tough guy, and he just kept playing."
"You keep thinking to yourself that it can't get any worse, and then it does," said middle linebacker Riley Bullough.
IMO I can see it getting worse next week. But to be clear, if it does, it has nothing to do with injuries.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
To be fair, the blackhole of michigan football over the past few years has warped space-time.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
Teeing up excuses before the game. No one cares, Mark. Just go out and play with the guys you have, the same way everyone else does.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
Of the three schools (OSU, MSU & UM), Michigan is playing the best football at the most consistent level and it's not even close.
Unless something comes undone in the heads of the Michigan squad (and I seriously doubt that will happen with Harbaugh in charge), Saturday's game is ours to lose. MSU's injury situation is a non-factor.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
They do have a rash of injuries, but at the same time it's not like their flaws as a team are simply because a freshman DB is hurt or their "best LB" - who I read numerous places they thought was expendable - went down to start the year. They are a good team, but that defense has been taking a step back for 2 years now, and none of their RBs look particularly good regardless of the blocking ahead of them.
They are a good team, but their top ranking always felt based on pass performance, not how they've actually looked this whole season.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
Just wondering when Wheatly Jr. is projected to be back? I would love to see him in there as a block/pass option...what is he, like 6'6" 280? OT in the future?
October 12th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
Just wondering when Wheatly Jr. is projected to be back? I would love to see him in there as a block/pass option...what is he, like 6'6" 280? OT in the future?
October 12th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
"Injuries and Strange Calls, that's what MIchigan State Does!!!"
- Tom bIzzo
October 12th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
One might also point out that Michigan is injured too. Maybe not as much, but I am sure none of us can say we wouldn't like to have Ojemudia and Mone in there. It's looking like Smith might be a bit dinged, and who knows who else is a little banged up at this point. Obvious point being that no team is 100% healthy and that their mentality ought to just be "next man up". I remember when MSU was in the Rose Bowl and Bullough I think got knocked out. The backup came in and did just fine.
No...there is something else in the air...and it smells like sparty fear. And I can smell it from Alabama.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
"Its not an excuse! But I'm just saying... we COULD use it as an excuse! But we won't! We're super injured, but we wont use it as an excuse."
"Did I mention we are super injured? Ok, just making sure. But its not an excuse."
"Have a nice week yourself. cough*Super injured*cough."
October 12th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
Yes, I realize this. The result is still the same, no?
October 12th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
First game. Fun fact: Connor Cook also has a streak of two and a half years of throwing right at opposing defenders and having them drop the interception. He also is on pace for his fourth straight season with a sub 60% completion percentage.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
Now let's injure their pride.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
So it's not the injuries but they do have a lot of them? That soulds like a crutch right there.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
We won't blame injuries for a loss. There aren't an excuse. But we have a lot of injuries. Everyone is injured. But, as I said, injuries are not an excuse. But we do have a lot of injuries. Just sayin...
Wasn't this in a movie somewhere?
October 12th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
Fuck Mark Dantonio. He knows the beginning of the end is near. Get ready for the return of MSU excuse makers. Seems like yesterday that Harbaugh was overrated and UM would be lucky to win 5 games. I hope they like the crow they're about to be fed, because it doesn't smell good from the oven right now.....
October 12th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
He sounds like Izzo..
October 12th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
Pretty remarkable that Michigan projected by many experts and many here, myself included, as a 7-5/8-4 team for 2015 and unranked preseason is now favored over MSU. Michigan ranked 12/14 is favored over 7/4 ranked (and undefeated) MSU.
Much as I'd like to believe the stats and the "experts", it's my considered expectation that Saturday's game is going to be an all out war. MSU's performance in its first six games is not predictive of what to expect on Saturday. Michigan's performance in 2013 provided no insight into its performance against OSU. Rivalry games fall outside normal expectations. MSU considers Michigan its ultimate rival, and they will bring a level of intensity unlike any game this season.
Harbaugh and staff will have Michigan ready to play, and can be counted on to call a game to surprise Dantonio. MSU may be playing ugly, but an ugly win is still a win and they are six for six.
Michigan's performance has demonstrated that they can win this game, and I very much want this win, but Saturday will start off as pick em.
October 12th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
We ought to beat their ass so bad that their only excuse for losing is that we beat their ass so bad.
October 12th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
Typical of Izzo pressers before playing Michigan in basketball. Between injuries and losses to the NFL it's a wonder they win any games.
October 12th, 2015 at 6:09 PM ^
True Spartan fans won't make excuses, their record speaks for itself.
If we lose, I don't want ot hear excuses either. "Well, first year coach, or Hoke left the cupboard bare" crap.
Lets just play the game, and leave it out on the field.