ijohnb

December 10th, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^

is worth watching again just to see how much of an "act of god" it was. It is said by novelists that at some point "fate" takes over writing and an inevitable conclusion unfolds. That play was less players taking action to cause a result and more a preordained occurrence taking shape. It you watch it it strikes you how improbable, nearly impossible, it actually was. Unlike any sports play I have ever seen. Watching it actually helps because you realize that we were just standing on a fault line at the exact moment of an earthquake.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

ST3

December 10th, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^

sort of like the Lions getting called for a face mask penalty when the tip of a defender's thumb nicks Rodger's mask, allowing the Packers one untimed play that of course turns out to be a completed Hail Mary for a nearly impossible comeback win.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52476

CompleteLunacy

December 10th, 2015 at 11:57 AM ^

And I couldn't help but feel just...off...the whole game. The refs were conspiring against michigan all day, MSU was hitting improbable plays, everything about the game felt wrong. And despite the fact that Lewis (I think? Or maybe it was Peppers.) came up with what should have been a game-sealing pass breakup on 4th down, and I made a celebratory scream as the tension of the whole game was release on that play...it still felt off. I knew we might have to punt again, and until we punted the game wasn't over. even though it basically was.

MSU did not earn that win. I will go to my grave thinking that. And you know what? IF MSU fans want to rub it in a bit, that's fine...that's what rivals do. That doesn;t bother me one bit. But, if any Sparty says "Dantonio coached his way to that victory" or that there wasn't just 99% complete flukey luck in it, just...no. Stop. You're wrong. Punter catches it and game over. Punter falls on botched snap and game is still probably game over. I know I know they win and lose as a team, and we can all point to dozens of plays that could have switched it to a win (that MSU FB touchdown pass comes to mind). But still, a game that is won 99.9% of the time on that play is about as certain as you'll ever get in life. But sometimes the seemingly impossible happens. It did to us. Just don't tell me you "earned" that BS.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

ijohnb

December 10th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^

won't go into whether state earned it or not, but it did feel "off" in numerous ways. By my count, 1) The Magic spray paint felt wrong, 2) The spread was absurd, 3) Game day at Ann Arbor but McDonaugh calling the game is unusual, 4) The team wasn't shown running out of the tunnel, 5) The PI on Lewis on State's second drive was completely wrong and killed what would have been a "statement" stop. 6) Dantonio was oddly shown far more than Harbaugh. 7) The clock seemed to move in slow motion in the 4th. Things just did not add up that day from the jump.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

ConcretePillow

December 10th, 2015 at 4:33 PM ^

...they were pretty much calling the game over, showing Michigan's upcoming schedule, etc. and the whole time I was thinking "stop jinxing it, it isn't over yet..." 

Joined: 05/11/2012

MGoPoints: 181

Michology 101

December 10th, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^

You guys must not watch much Espn to have never seen a replay of that disaster because Espn was showing it on lots of different broadcasts. I would be sitting in front of the TV chilling and relaxing, then all of a sudden a guy would say. "And that reminds us of that Michigan MSU finish. Here take a look." I'd start fucking scrambling to try and get the remote control, but after awhile I just said the heck with it.

Joined: 06/02/2014

MGoPoints: 3799

Tater

December 10th, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^

I have never watched the Sparty player actually get into the end zone.  I changed the channel when they started running the "other way."  I have never watched a replay.  I turn off the TV or change the channel every time I see it start to be replayed.  

So far, I haven't thrown anything at my TV.  They aren't as durable as they used to be and my arm is old.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

BlueinLansing

December 10th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^

with a split end having no one to block.  We made it 11 vs 6 on the line.  MSU overloaded to one side and the inevitable happened once the ball was dropped.

 

In my recurring dream, O'Neil gets the snap clean and lofts a beautiful spiral in the flat to the wide open end who waltzes the final 55 yards backwards for the stake in heart TD.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23520

LJ

December 10th, 2015 at 10:19 AM ^

I guess one plus of getting hammered by OSU is that this play haunts me much less.  All it is now is a horrible way to lose a big rivalry game, instead of a play that cost us a chance at the B1G title and possibly the playoffs.

Worst silver lining ever?

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 18306

FauxMo

December 10th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^

You know that scene in Fight Club where Ed Norton goes off on Jared Leto because he is "too pretty," and continues to bash his face into a bloody pulp long after he was unconscious, in just a hateful gratuitous fashion? I hope Saban does that to MSU. Afterwards, I hope Lane Kiffin runs up to Dantonio and laughs in his face.

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137563

The Mad Hatter

December 10th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^

I needed a reason to be irrationally angry today and you did an excellent job providing it.

Saban had better pound those East Lansing shitbirds into a fine power of couch ashes and snow penies.

You have one job Nick.  ONE JOB!  Urban failed at his, I expect you to do better.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

kevin holt

December 10th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^

I mean, isn't it kind of true? It's "important" in the sense that one of the playoff teams would not be in the playoffs if the play had not happened (not to mention we would be in a lot better position but...). That doesn't necessarily mean it was the "best" play of the year or the "most deserved" play. If MSU had been a 6-6 team this year, it wouldn't be nearly as important or season-altering.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 17447

Avon Barksdale

December 10th, 2015 at 10:48 AM ^

I was basing that prediction off the fact that Ohio State would have beat Iowa 42-10 in all all likelihood. Either game and 10-2 would have been fantastic. Hopefully we can beat Florida and get to 10-3 (which would still be a great first season).

Schedule sets up nicely to get out to a 7-0 start next season heading into East Lansing.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

The Mad Hatter

December 10th, 2015 at 10:50 AM ^

If MSU lost that game, as they should have, they might not have beaten OSU.  OSU comes into A2 overconfident and lazy without the wake-up call from MSU.

We beat OSU and then Iowa and make the playoff.  That fucking punt was like a butterfly flapping its wings in South America.  It changed everything.

I hope we hang 60 on D'Antoni next year.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

lilpenny1316

December 10th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^

They lose to Indiana because they haven't recovered yet from the loss.

Nebraska still happens because their secondary is horrendous.

They lose to OSU because there's nothing to play for except spoiler.

I'm good with hanging 20 on them next year if it means they have zero.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

Smoothitron

December 10th, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^

The important thing to remember about this play is that, in addition to the obvious, it accomplished two things:

1. It inspired the good folks over at Eleven Warriors to launch http://mgo.fail to celebrate the play. The site's tagline reads: "When Institutional Arrogance Goes Wrong"

2. It prevented MSU from getting a 2nd conference loss.  As we all know, MSU and OSU actually finished tied for 1st in the B1G East, with MSU winning the tiebreaker with the head-to-head win.  Thus, the play quite literally kept OSU out of the B1G Championship game and the CFP.

Institutional arrogance indeed. 

Joined: 05/15/2012

MGoPoints: 3575