KBLOW

January 2nd, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^

If any team can choke it away Oklahoma is definitely a contender.  A score to open the 2nd half would go a long way to keeping that from happening, but Alabama did hand Oklahoma many opportunities.  If the Sooners turn it over a few times, it's up for grabs. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 22545

UMxWolverines

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^

Think about this. Think about how good MSU is playing with their players that Alabama doesn't even consider. MSU could legitimately play with FSU, Auburn, and Alabama. What's stopping them from building on their game yesterday and winning a national title in the next few years? Our coaches have serious work to do. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65366

unWavering

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^

Dantonio didn't look all that great after his third year, going 6-7 after 7-6 and 8-5 seasons (actually, not bad for MSU standards).  He didn't start putting it together until the 4th season and beyond, and it remains to be seen what Hoke can do from here on out.  I don't think Hoke will have a 10 win season next year, but the trend will almost certainly be up.  We still have an extremely young team, and as it matures we *should* get a lot better with the talent level of the last few classes, if these coaches are worth half their salt.  Dantonio has a good thing going, obviously, with less than stellar recruiting classes, but that doesn't mean that Hoke is dead in the water.

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 22437

snarling wolverine

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^

MSU could legitimately play with FSU, Auburn, and Alabama.
Based on what, their game with Stanford? Do you think Stanford has FSU/Bama talent? Personally, I think FSU is on another level from everyone else. Bama is the only other team with that level of talent but they've gotten a little complacent from their success.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98199

B-Nut-GoBlue

January 3rd, 2014 at 12:32 AM ^

I think they can hang with the likes of them as well.  Maybe and probably they don't beat them but a few out of 10 I think they can.  It takes the likes of Bama and FSU this year to beat Sparty, they're defense is on that level and their offense has come a long way to becoming something of a good unit; but that defense man, it's great.  Stanford might not have Bama talent but OU just beat Bama and NOBODY in the country thought that was going to happen; I'm not sure they have Bama talent. But OU is coached damn well and so is Stanford and that makes them damn good teams that Sparty is capable of beating but at least playing a tough, competetive game with. 

I think FSU is good but not on another level.  They've seen nothing of the likes of a Sparty defense and I think that would be an interesting matchup (though FSU's defense would likely shut down any one else's offense as well).

I hate it but I'm one of the ones who think this Sparty team/coaching staff is capable of playing with anybody this particular year.

Joined: 09/30/2011

MGoPoints: 43652

umchicago

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:06 PM ^

UM is the last team to be shut out - 1984.  the next team is 1988 (Fla i think).

UM is also tied for first in giving their opponent their last shutout (i believe they are tied with bama with 6).

so we still have some good things...

Joined: 02/05/2009

MGoPoints: 33629

Victor Valiant

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^

I wonder if Oklahoma and their QB Trevor Knight are aware that he is in fact allowed to roll to his right. I have never seen a right handed QB roll to his left so frequently. 

Joined: 11/23/2013

MGoPoints: 4491

Mr. Yost

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^

And miss having any form of life on our coaching staff. Instead we have a bunch of old timers.

I don't mind some, I love GMat, but mix them in with the youth and guys who can relate to the players and generate passion and excitement.

Keep Heck, Mattison and Manning, and Mallory if he wants to stay. Everyone else can go. Especially Borges and Jackson, and get younger at each coaching position.

Mike Sanford at Stanford and Tyrone Wheatley.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

MJ14

January 2nd, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^

The funniest part of all of this is how much crap Stoops talks towards the SEC and Alabama. And here he is on a national stage showing everyone that basically what he says is essentially correct and he can back up his talk.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 16323