1) That show is completely unlistenable.
2) Ray Bentley has brain damage.
Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
1) That show is completely unlistenable.
2) Ray Bentley has brain damage.
Jerry's comments emulate the reality State fans hate to hear. They seem to focus more on "getting slighted by Michigan" rather than actually winning vs Wisconsin this weekend. I got tired of hearing this over and over this weekend.
I had a similar impression from this weekend. MSU beat Northwestern, finished 10-2, and is playing for the Big 10 championship this weekend and all the Sparty faithful could focus on was:
- Michigan almost lost to a bad OSU team
- Michigan is not a BCS caliber team
- Michigan is not "back"
I'm really starting to think you have to have some kind of neurotic defeat of the mind to be a Spartan fan.
Interesting. MSU beat OSU by 3. And that was with the Tatgate players still suspended. Using the "Michigan almost lost to OSU" reason seems rather foolish.
that they lost to another sucky Notre Dame team and Nebraska (both of whom we beat). So if they loose to Wisconsin (and thus have 3 losses), they deserve to be passed by a two loss Michigan for a BCS berth.
As stated - really, they should be focused on beating Wisconsin again. They're path to the Rose Bowl or out of the BCS is a clear one, based all on their own wins and losses.
OSU played Bauserman half the game and didn't have Posey. Nuff said.
I mean, not really from a personal perspective, but I get fan angst. The part I was amazed by (and probably shouldn't have been) was in the papers all the PLAYERS on MSU talking after the game how big beating Northwestern was so they didn't have to share the Legends title (like that means jack shit without winning the Big Ten title) with Michigan, and how it's better to be in the title game instead of Michigan. Whereas I don't think there was a single Michigan person thinking after we beat OSU "wow, I wonder how this relates to what MSU is doing". We didn't care. They lose to Northwestern, and it's like "ha-ha", but that's about it. They use it as motivation to win a game.
http://www.wbbl.com/FlashPlayer/default.asp?SPID=23371&ID=2322908
about 3:40
edit: it's also pretty funny he says they could fall below Nebraska for the capital one bowl- "again that's kind of unfortunate but they're Nebraska"
for including the link.
Another good reason is that if you aren't ranked in the top 14, you can't get selected for a BCS at-large spot. It's the rules, and I don't understand what Spartans don't get about that.
Doesn't the simple fact that they're Sparty fans explain why they can't comprehend that idea?
Touché
Math = Spartan Kryptonite
Tear gas = Spartan kryptonite.
I don't think you're being fair. To count to 14, you've got to take your shoe off and that takes a while. You gotta give Sparty some time to figure this one out.
Or unzip your pants. And that still leaves them, um, short.
He is no Michigan fan, for sure, but he is a MAC guy and was the first one I knew on board the Brady Hoke bandwagon.
True, Ray Bentley played linebacker at Central Michigan, but his father played football for Michigan State. In fact, little Ray Bentley spent his toddler years in Michigan State's family housing as his father already had at least two children before his years at Michigan State. So, yeah, Bentley is a Michigan State slappy.
The other "personality" on the show, Bret Bakita, also attended Central Michigan, but is a Michigan State season ticket holder, for reasons that escape me...
wait, state fans that didnt go to state? Isnt their fanbase all MSU grads??
It is a pretty screwy system that playing for the BCS championship can screw you (if you lose) relative to other teams in your division whom you supposedly bettered. Not that I have tons of sympathy for Sparty and its weak-ass fans on any other score.
It doesn't screw you if you lose. You're not entitled to a BCS game for finishing 2nd in the Big Ten. If you win the Big Ten you get your BCS game- if you don't, you might have to be the winningest team in CFB history and have a massive, travelling fan base that likes to spend money to get selected for a game but that's the nature of the beast. Sparty needs to beat Wisconsin and prove they're the best if they want to go and then they won't have anything to complain about.
Seems to me we'd rather be in their position than ours but apparently they'd rather turn that into being inferior to Michigan as well.
If you loose any game, regular season, conference championship, bowl game, NC game, it impacts your rankings, and your prospects. They have lost two already. If they had beat either ND or the Huskers, and then lost the B1G championship game, then they would would have a platform to argue from. They - not Michigan - controlled, and still control their BCS or bust destiny.
I actually hate the BCS for this reason. It tends to reward the teams that have been rewarded in the past instead of the teams that are showing up this year. Now admittedly, MSU can take matters into their hands and beat Wisconsin and end up in the Rose Bowl.
Completely money answer! Plus, he had to know how much that would drive the State fans nuts...even monier!
The BCS is a system designed to do one thing, match #1 vs. #2 and make money in the process. The rest of the BCS system is collateral damage.
Besides, if Michigan State has any complaint, it would be that they are the only Big Ten team this season with one conference loss, which, any other year, would have been enough to win the conference outright and head to Pasadena. But because the Big Ten wanted the money that comes from a championship game, well, this is one of the byproducts.
The cut to when Brady Hoke says, "This is Michigan fergodsakes." Is great everytime.
I love the Hutch, Hart and Brady cameos in this one.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but I don't think we'll ever see a more talented an offense ever take the field at Michigan than the 2000 team.
Sick sick sick team. Brady, Hutch, Backus, Terrell, A-Train, Walker, Shea....
That was a killer opening video.
...but Henson was the QB. Brady's senior year was '99.
'97 was actually ridic talented on O:
Oh, and that Woodson guy played some offense.
I get goose bumps every time but when Woodson came on the screen and those who followed....damn. That was a great day.
Mother of God that jacks me up. 900th win next year? Yes please!!
"This is Michigan fergodsakes" needs to be on every pregame video every year from now on as long as he's coach
the FERGODSAKES! part that should follow "Michigan is Michigan and you're not"!
Here is an idea for MSU
1.Beat Wisconsin.
2.Go to Rose Bowl.
3. Stop complaining about what will happen if you lose.
You have complete control of where you are going to play on January 2nd. Just win baby. Just win. Why are you so concerned about where UM might be going?
Asking why a Spartan fan is obsessed with Michigan is like asking why Ohio fans are classless. It's just the facts of life
Sparty fans know that they needed a miracle to beat Wiscy at home. Now, they have to play a thorougly motivated Wiscy team with a QB who has more experience in their system at a neutral site. They are complaining because, despite their braggadocio, they know deep in their souls that they should lose on Saturday before a national audience.
I detest Ohio, but I respect them. OTOH, I have absolutely no respect for Sparty and would love to see Wiscy hang 50 on them on national TV just to make sure they drop in the rankings. I want to see Sparty crushed like a bug. Then, their whining will be extremely entertaining.
Plus if MSU loses close they could stay above us the rankings since we lost by 2 touchdowns to them. But a blowout win for Wisconsin would definitely make it easier for us
three losses, one of them at the end of the season, they drop below us with a loss regardless of how 'close' it is.
aren't going toput a 3 loss MSU ahead of a 2 loss Michigan. The fact is that the top 4 Big Ten teams all beat eachother (Michigan and Wisconsin didn't play) so trying to rank them based on who beat who doesn't work.
The Big 12 is our main concern right now. Need either Texas to step up to take out Baylor or Okie State to beat up Oklahoma enough for the voters to drop them behind us.
EDIT: Also, don't count out Southern Miss. If they can take out Houston, that should send Houston below us in the rankings.
Sparty, why are you looking backwards instead of forwards? You beat us (probably for the last time in a long time!) so enjoy it and go play for the Rose Bowl. I have to say though, I LOVE that we're always in your head like that! GO BLUE! And as for Sparty. . .whatever.
Another thing that was mentioned on the show that would really add insult to injury is that he projected Nebraska to get a bowl offer before State. MSU is not relevant!
I live in GR, and listen to bakita and bently most mornings. Brett Bakita (spelling) has season tickets to state and blatantly shows a bias on his show. Ray Bently is also a huge fan........can't wait til the Monday morning show after the bcs selection to hear the whining. This post made my morning.
HOW CAN THEY PICK THE HIGHER-RANKED TEAM WITH THE BETTER RECORD??? THIS IS OUTRAGE!!!
That show was bad enough when it was Bakita and Gray, but was at least listenable because Gray would keep Bakita's slappiness in check. Now that it's two hardcore homers (Bentley being the other) it's just a constant stream of Sparty jocksniffing. I mean, come on, at least occasionally pretend to be objective. Even worse is when Bentley is gone for games (he's a color guy for ESPN), they get Ty Hallock, yet another Sparty slappy, as the fill-in.
This should tell you all you need to know about where the general allegiances fall in Grand Rapids, and the lakeshore area as a whole.
Stupid packet shaper killing my outbound Internet connection right now.
I can see why it's frustrating that you could be ranked lower than a team you beat convincingly and with the same number of losses, but this is a system where a team playing in the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP didn't win their DIVISION, so, yeah.
...what he thought of the BCS: "I think it has one too many letters in it."
It won't be the same number of losses. No one is saying that Iowa should go a BCS game ahead of us because they beat us. Or Iowa State playing for the National title instead of Okie State. If everyone in the "Leaders" was 4-4, and the 2nd place team in the "Legends" was 7-1, (and the 8-0 team beats the 4-4 team to makes them 4-5 in conference) should the team with the worse record go just because they were in the Championship Game? Those things are not locked in any order, because schedules can vary wildly. The truth of the matter is if they win the game, they will have as many losses as Michigan, and WILL go to a better Bowl game/win title/etc. If they lose, they'll be another 3 loss team. Head to head never trumps overall record. It's always been that way. Not sure why it's so hard to understand now.
Now, in 1999, they had a complaint....
Is the system, not Michigan. How do you think Oregon feels if they lose to UCLA and miss a BCS bowl while Stanford gets an autobid?
Also, Sparty, you don't like the situation you're in? We will trade you places. We are not afraid to play in a big game because we will lose and our instate rival will pass us. We embrace the challenge. What you do has no impact on how we view or play football.
Yeah some Spartans are pathetic. Even Valenti was crying 2 weeks ago before the Nebraska game saying stuff like, Man I hope Michigan loses its last 2 games so MSU doesn't get passed up after losing in the B1G championship game...
It's like, what kind of attitude is that? As a fan I would expect my team to win the championship. It's like they are admitting they will lose and are pissed off about it because they know a 2 loss Michigan team will pass them up. Get over it! Maybe you shouldn't have lost to an inferior ND and Nebraska team.
This is completely in line with the David Mayo (another hack) article in the Grand Rapids Press yesterday talking about the "tough spot" the Spartans are in, just preparing their fanbase for the eventual Dantonio head explosion that will happen if (when) they lose to the Badgers on Saturday night.
Maybe it's not fair, but that's the way it is: the BCS has its rules and after #1 vs. #2, it's all about creating interesting matchups and, more importantly, $$$$$$$$$$.
And it's not like this hasn't happened before. Remember in 2001 when Nebraska got to play for the national championship despite not even winning its division? Playing a conference championship game can be a blessing or a curse. The Big 12 made statements to the effect of "we won't miss it."
Agree with other posters: focus on what you can control, Sparty. Take care of business, and you can earn your resounding defeat at the hands of Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
Wouldn't it be great to see a "This is Michigan State" football video -- 1 BCS bowl appearance in 45 years, no bowl wins in 10 years, 49-7, with clips of Braylon in OT, CMU's onside kick and game-winning field goal, and Mike Hart's Little Brother blast. Go Badgers!
MGoVideo this...it must happen.
Sparty's obsession with Michigan is overpowering them, and will ultimately cause them to lose this Saturday. personally, I think our chances of getting a BCS bowl are pretty slim but it would be the icing on the cake of this AWESOME season. GO BLUE!!!
MSU grad here and I am new to this board. I was on "tailgate" but it is so bad that for any real football info I actually came here. First off, I am really impressed with UM this year and they are about two years ahead of where I thought they would be. Robinson is actually starting to resemble a real QB. That being said, UM takes a step back next year due to the schedule (every big game is on the road except MSU).
At the end of the day, all MSU has to do is win against UW. Unlike many of the MSU "fans" out there, personally I think that there is no better place to be...in total control of your own destiny...Should MSU lose, they are at the mercy of the BCS and will probably be passed over by UM due to fan following and money (advertising, etc.) if UM can get into the top 14 in the BCS rankings. I don't like it, but that is the reality. As I tell my MSU bretheran...string together 8-10 years of 9 and 10 win seasons in a row then people will take notice. Until then we have nothing to talk about since every team in the B1G has been to a Rose Bowl (except Indiana and Minn) since MSU last went on 1/1/88.
Here is where I differ from a lot fo you on here. You can bang your chest all you want about ND, but remember that it took basically a miracle to beat a "bad" ND team at home. MSU played them the next week on the road with ND's entire season at stake. When you combine that with Cousins playing like he was a freshman in HS and Rousher calling one of the worst games of his life, they had no chance. Nebraska...Score says it all...again on the road. MSU went to Iowa and took care of business and not to mention that little game in East Lansing. My point is that if you want to talk about teams that MSU lost to and UM beat, you need to talk about the teams that UM lost to that MSU beat. This on top of the fact that you don't play UW this year.
I know I am going to get flamed and killed for this post, but I just wanted you to know that like UM's fan base, not all MSU fans are homer idiots and can be objective.
Both teams won at home and lost on the road, which IMO makes them pretty even. So why are Sparty fans so convinced they are so much better than us? They won head-to-head at home in a wind storm. A two loss team beats a three loss team. It's that simple. It shouldn't be shocking that BCS bowls want a 10-2 Michigan team.
I don't even think there's anything unfair about it. In the situation most are assuming, the only ones that have any argument about it being unfair are KState and Boise. Nobody, wants to see KState in a BCS Bowl and Boise should know that they have to go undefeated or join a real conference if they want a seat at the big boy table.
As others above have said, Michigan would gladly trade places with MSU, so the whining is ridiculous.
I think your post is pretty spot on, however, my retort is that the ND game for UM and the UW game for Sparty are pretty much the same in that they were won at the end with huge plays.
Also, I don't think you're trying to flame here, but the "UM doesn't play UW" argument, which Sparties have been really trying to use as an argument, could just as easily apply to last year when MSU didn't play the Tat 5...
Otherwise, well reasoned.
Every Michigan person would trade places (Big Ten positioning wise) with MSU right now. Because they get a chance to play for the Big Ten title this weekend. We would relish the opportunity to play a game for the trophy and to go to the Rose Bowl. And we wouldn't care who passed up who if we lost, because the goal isn't to back into a BCS bowl with a 10-3 record...it's to win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl. I'd think after more than 20 years, the chance to go to the Rose Bowl would be all that matters for Spartans. Michigan isn't excited to go to the Sugar or whatever because it might be better than MSU's bowl game, or because it's better than the Rose; but because we feel like we earned a shot at it by winning big games down the stretch. Win a big game against a team you've punked the last couple of years, and you win the big prize. Lose, and what's to complain about?
With MSU playing Wisconsin in Indianapolis, I wondered, "What golf tournament is on tv, the first weekend in December?"
I had to post because while driving to the airport on Sunday morning, I was listening to 97.1. Some guy named Pat something or other was pulling the same Sparty line about MSu getting screwed over a BCS game. Well Sparty, then go on the field and EARN IT. You have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl, so show up and play.
On another note, this same brainiac also said something about how Dantonio should win B1G coach of the year over Hoke because his team beat Michigan in a head to head. No mention that he lost almost no one to graduation last year (LB or two) and essentially finished with the same numbers. How about turning around the worst defense in the B1G to one of the best in the nation with the same players? Doesn't count for anything?
Second dumb thing he kept hounding on was that he felt that the MSU-UM rivalry was more important to Michigan than the Ohio rivarly. It was at this point I realized he was beyond all hope of rational thought.
Sparty deserves the little brother moniker.
That's Pat Caputo. He's a notorious Sparty and essentially popularized the "Walmart Wolverine" thing. He's been bitter, like most Spartan fans, for years. Like even Dantonio, he's so emotional about it, he can't see the forest from the trees.
"Because they're Michigan and you are not." Perfect!
This is going to be really killer if it does go down. Sparty having their dream season, beating Michigan, and then being passed over by the BCS BY Michigan! What's great is that they are constantly screwing themselves into a frenzy trying to explain to US that they are relevant. Now the completely objective BCS voters and bowl hosts will be the ones passing up on Sparty to take Michigan. It's the ultimate snub in their minds! Oh, please, please, please let this happen!
On a side note, I finally came upon the ultimate Sparty put-down this week when I told a buddy, "Even when State is good, their boring." Which is a crushing truth.
"...they're boring."
And I was an English major, fergodsakes!
I'm no Sparty, but that "put down" is lousy. Did you have fun last year when we were "exciting" but losing?? Or did you have more fun under Lloyd when we had excellent defenses and a strong running game??
Not to mention their game against Wisconsin this year wasn't exactly boring. Nor are they probably bored as they gear up for the BTCG.
I hope you haven't used that at all - it's embarrassing.
If this all happens and State fans put up 10-12 billboards to complain about the BCS:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/21140/spartans-fans-resort-to-billboard-material
the BCS will lose a lot of respect for MSU.
The BCS losing respect for MSU requires the BCS to respect MSU in the first place.
Speaking of no respect......Va Tech is 5th and NOBODY is talking about them.
I wonder if Texas Tech fans are complaining that Oklahoma will probably get a BCS bid and Texas Tech won't, despite the fact that Texas Tech beat Oklahoma in Norman.
Sound reasonable, Sparty?
Little bit different here. TT is what 7-5? OU is 10-2? If you are going to go after a fan base or a school, at least make a reasonable arguement...
You're correct, it is just a little bit different. If Michigan State loses to Wisconsin, Michigan State will have three losses and Michigan just two.
Furthermore, Michigan losses are by just two scores (14 points) and one score (8 points). Michigan State's losses are by three scores (18 points) and three scores (17 points).
1. Dantonio has done a very nice job at MSU with what he was given, so Sparty fans do have a right to be proud and feel entitled.
2. However, Hoke did an even better job with what he was given this year. His staff's first year, and even though the cupboard wasn't bare, it was obvious for weeks that Borges was struggling fitting the square parts into the round holes, but finally solved it down the stretch, long after the MSU game.
3. UM beat both opponents that beat MSU - ND and Nebby.
4. The MSU game was UM's worst, and UM has steadily improved every single week, to the point where any MSU fan claiming they'd once again convincingly win a rematch right now would be reaching.
5. UM's two losses were both close. Recall we were driving late for a tie when Denard threw pick six vs Sparty, and we got ref jobbed twice vs Iowa. On the other hand, Sparty was CRUSHED by mediocre Nebraska.
6. Most importantly, 3 losses, and close to four if not for a hail mary, is not much of a pedestal upon which to preach BCS worthiness.
I agree with parts of your post...but I do have to comment on some of it. Dantonio has done a great job of building the program after BW and JLS set it back 25 years. That said, Hoke should win the B10 COTY.
The UM-MSU may have been their worst game, however, maybe that had something to do with MSU being the best D UM faced all year. If you look at the game objectively, many of the mistakes were made due to the MSU D (though the 4th & 1 play call didn't help). I don't think you could reasonable make the arguement that had MSU played under control (a lot to ask, I been with this team for nearly 30 years) the game is out of control quickly. UM drives were extended due to RIGHTLY called PF's. Baker dropping the ball going around the corner for an 80 yd TD, Keyshawn Martin simply dropping the ball that at least would have been a huge gain (possibly a TD).
Remember the UW game was TIED when the hail mary pass was completed. The game goes to OT and anything can happen there. It was not a guaranteed loss as you stated.
I will say it again so nobody accuses me of being a homer sparty...UM will get the BCS bid if MSU loses, not because they earned it on the field, but because of money, fan following, increased advertisers, and ratings. That is the way the rules are written.
I will never complain about this...but I will complain about 2010 and 1999...but that is for another day.
I agree with parts of your post...but I do have to comment on some of it. Dantonio has done a great job of building the program after BW and JLS set it back 25 years. That said, Hoke should win the B10 COTY.
The UM-MSU may have been their worst game, however, maybe that had something to do with MSU being the best D UM faced all year. If you look at the game objectively, many of the mistakes were made due to the MSU D (though the 4th & 1 play call didn't help). I don't think you could reasonable make the arguement that had MSU played under control (a lot to ask, I been with this team for nearly 30 years) the game is out of control quickly. UM drives were extended due to RIGHTLY called PF's. Baker dropping the ball going around the corner for an 80 yd TD, Keyshawn Martin simply dropping the ball that at least would have been a huge gain (possibly a TD).
Remember the UW game was TIED when the hail mary pass was completed. The game goes to OT and anything can happen there. It was not a guaranteed loss as you stated.
I will say it again so nobody accuses me of being a homer sparty...UM will get the BCS bid if MSU loses, not because they earned it on the field, but because of money, fan following, increased advertisers, and ratings. That is the way the rules are written.
I will never complain about this...but I will complain about 2010 and 1999...but that is for another day.
"I will say it again so nobody accuses me of being a homer sparty...UM will get the BCS bid if MSU loses, not because they earned it on the field, but because of money, fan following, increased advertisers, and ratings. That is the way the rules are written."
Um, yeah - that doesn't sound anything like a Sparty homer. It's about the whole season, not 1 game. UM's victories in the B1G were all double digit margins (and yes, I am counting Fitzs TD). MSU got blown out in both losses, nearly lost at home to ... Wait for it... Minnesota, Played 1-AA YSU and a 1 win FAU team (who won their last game of the year) in non-conference. The reason Michigan will
get a BCS game and not the loser of the B1G championship is because a 10-2 team playing its best football of the year is a great pick over a team coming off a loss in their biggest game of the year.
The loser of a conference championship game always gets screwed on bowl selection. That's the way this system is. They wind up with an extra loss, a season-ending loss at that.
That hurts them in the rankings. It also hurts them with bowl selection committees since a disillusioned fan base that has just traveled to a conference championship game and lost is not as likely to now travel to a "lesser" bowl game than the one they had their sights set on.
This is true for all conferences. This was not set up to shaft Michigan State, they're just the first ones to experience it in the B1G. Next year, it will be someone else.
So what? You have a shot at the Rose Bowl. That's all anyone can ask for. Ya pays your money, ya takes your chances.
by this? No one cares about sparty. Their campus sux, they cant sell out 80,000 seats on a good day, they are below average in academics. The basketball run is over and the hockey is laughable. I wish they would go to the Big East so we can forget about them.
We are college football, we are America's team. Of course the BCS wants us, we deliver. A collective sigh went out after we beat ohio.