December 4th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
I really don't care what this does to what bowl we land in - we'll get a good one, far better than in the last 3 years, and a really good chance to win, no matter what. I'm just so happy to see Sparty go down . . . due to stupid penalties no less. I grit my teeth and curse under breath watching MSU. Honestly, I hate OSU and ND (but generally respect them - okay, maybe not OSU so much) but I despise, revile, abhor MSU.
ON WISCONSIN!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
I enjoyed that Sparty moment immensely.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
That was the mother of all Sparty No plays. You're going to get the ball back in decent field position with nearly two minutes and only needing a field goal to tie. You don't even THINK about rushing the punter on 4th and 3 in that situation. That may have been the single dumbest penalty I've ever seen any team take, and I vividly remember the 2001 MSU and 2006 OSU games.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:29 AM ^
That was what went through my head as I watched Sparty do what they do best--implode.
The Spartans of centuries past were known for their discipline. These Spartans are known for their lack thereof. Oh, the delicious irony.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
Bourbon Street is so much sweeter than Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa - GO BLUE!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^
Attempting to block that punt was almost as stupid as tsiO trying to block the punt against LSU in the 2008 MNC. The only difference was the LSU punter got leveled and the Badger punter kind of World Cup'd it. But still funny to see Sparty implode so close to grabbing the brass ring.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
The only thing that bothered me about the game was the final score. Brought back some tough memories.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
Noooooo!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
I am going to sleep like a little kid tonight with gum drops and sugar plumbs dancing in my dreams with Isaiah Lewis (ss- #9) crying in the background. Lol. Priceless!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
I just love how they're bitching about the officiating when they constantly call us out on bitching about officiating.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
at The Only Colors are calling it a legitimate call. Some from other fan bases are sympathizing w/ them saying they got screwed. But credit to the Sparty fan base as most weren't whining.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
I'm reading RCMB, and there's only a few who are saying it was legit.
My favorite: "watching the replay...UW fans should thank the UW player who blocked/pushed Lewis a little bit.....Lewis would not have run into the punter if he had not been pushed."
God forbid an offensive lineman pushes a player who's trying to block a punt. The Wisconsin player wasn't even beat on that play, he shoved him to the outside, but Lewis's momentum carried him right into the punter. There's at least a 2 second delay from the block to the penalty.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
He was fairly close to being blocked into the punter. The blocker changed his path. That said, too bad Sparty, enjoy watching Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
What makes this even more priceless is they are bitching about the overrule following instant replay of Keyshawn Martin's catch, where he probably came down out of bounds and certainly bobbled and dropped the ball.
On the other hand, they supported the overrule following instant replay of Fitz's touchdown against Ohio.
Huh, right?
December 4th, 2011 at 12:37 AM ^
Sparty No! - but a Sparty's gotta be what a Sparty's gonna be. I thought they had broken the Same Old Sparty routine of boneheaded penalties. I was wrong - SOS returns!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
Is East Lansing on fire yet???? Probably some cars and couches at least?
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
Anyone taking bets on how many couches are burning in EL right now?
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
I was literally just thinking today after Dantonio went for 2 in the first that the downfall of this team would be his cocky ass "no one can touch me" attitude when making play calls...I love that he got exactly what he deserved---not going to lie though, I feel bad for that poor kid.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
Is East Lansing on fire yet???? Probably some cars and couches at least?
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
in my mind I had written a nice post about how this team of sparties was different, how it was time to acknowledge that Dantonio can coach, and he has changed the attitude around the MSU program. How they weren't going away and would probably be our biggest challenger to future Division titles (still will be esp with their f'd up Big Ten schedule in 2013 and 2014).
Then this
I mean I'm really starting to believe we are back and MSU is back to being 'thats why your Michigan State'.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
why my Michigan State is what? Ugh.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
State's dirty play all year has caught up with them. Karma is a bitch
December 4th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
Also, I'm calling complete bullshit that Sam the Eagle called for the punt block. He's just protecting his player. It's a good gesture but it doesn't make him any less of a turd.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
I see others are thinking the same thing. I would not want to be in EL tonight (or ever really for that matter)
December 4th, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
The difference between Sparty and Michigan is that Michigan fans can be unbiased when we need to. Sparty got jobbed by the refs tonight, on that bogus call. But, Sparty won the first meeting on pure luck, and Wisconsin won this one on something very similar. At first I thought Wisconsin didn't play well, then I realized Wisconsin really isn't very good, especially on defense. Sparty is good on D, no doubt, and looked great on O against a very bad Wisconsin D. Keshawn Martin is LEGIT, and I'm glad Cunningham is gone.
I don't want this Championship game at an indoor, pro venue. Something about roses indoors doesn't feel right.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
I don't see what was bogus about the call. Dude ran into the kicker. It was a 5 yarder, not a 15 yarder. Legit call.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
Do you really think that wasn't a legitimate running into the kicker penalty?
December 4th, 2011 at 1:22 AM ^
Kid dove. Bigger problem is that they call it like they MUST.CALL.PENALTY. He wouldn't have gone down without diving. Those plays should draw an unsportsmanlike flag. Two flags cancel each other out and replay down.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:54 AM ^
Totally legitimite. Guy runs into kicker, it's an automatic penalty. That gets called 100 percent of the time.
December 4th, 2011 at 2:19 AM ^
actually, not true and this made it all the more hilarious: Oklahoma State had at least 3 running into the/roughing the kicker penalties and only one was called.
This was the absolute definition of Sparty No!!
December 4th, 2011 at 2:24 AM ^
Disagree. What happened in this game will get called 100% of the time, and a Sparty fan I was watching it with agreed. Bad way to end the game for them, but schadenfreude for us!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
I don't know what to tell you because it went uncalled twice in the OSU/OU game.
So you can disagree, but you'd be wrong.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
2 40 left, if you don't get it you've got to hope you stop them and they kick a field goal with a minute thirty left. Instead, you punt, and just hope you get them 3 and out. Amazing.
December 4th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
In good field position, with a great return, and lots of time, against a defense he's shredded, just needing to get into FG range.
Now thinking you need a punt block in that situation....
December 4th, 2011 at 12:53 AM ^
Can someone post a pic for me? Post your email and I'll send it to you
December 4th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
The best part is they lose almost their entire offense for when we play them next year.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Great success. High five!!!
December 4th, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
They lose most of their passing attack, with Cousins, Cunningham, Martin, Nichol, and even Linthicum all moving on. They return all 3 backs and 4 of 5 starting OL, but the OL had some issues this year.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:09 AM ^
(Partly anticipated by Eve_of_the_rivalry above) was the fact that prior to this the announcers just couldn't shut up about the "riverboat gambler" D'Antonio. "Does that look like the face of a riverboat gambler?" blah blah. After he went for two. After he did the roll out and pass on fourth and short, etc. etc.
Well, there's a reason why more people aren't riverboat gamblers. Sometimes when you take chances it will blow up in your face. The two point conversion worked, the punt block failed in the way that punt block attempts often do. The cautious play would have been to trust his offence, which had been moving the ball and had scored a lot of points. Tell your special teams players not to go near the punter under any circumstances. He rolled the dice, and learned why riverboat gamblers so often end up broke.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:16 AM ^
That. Was. Hilarious. After Wisconsin spends 58.5 minutes shooting themselves in the foot with sloppy play and terrible defense, Sparty manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The fact that there was any Spartan within 10 feet of the punter is a sure sign that Dantonio is an idiot. They didn't need a punt block, and the only focus of that play should have been getting the ball back into the hands of their offense that had moved the ball on Wisconsin all day long. Dantonio is a fucking arrogant prick, and got what he and his team deserved.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:27 AM ^
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=313370127
Video plays there that shows the penalty.
People complaining about it don't have a leg to stand on (HA!). Running into the kicker is a zero-tolerence penalty. You run into the kicker without touching the ball, it's a penalty. If you're lucky it's 5 instead of 15 but it's always something. Non-negotiable.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:29 AM ^
MSU is an irrelevant program!! GO BLUE!!!
December 4th, 2011 at 1:32 AM ^
"roughing" the kicker. so apropos. Rather Hall's on DEFCON 5.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:37 AM ^
Thank God for that Sparty loss. I'm not sure I could have handled any more of Mark D smugly proclaiming that "times have changed." Not so fast, my friend. Looking forward to seeing Michigan back where they belong in years to come under Hoke.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:47 AM ^
Yes - D'Antonio looked very proud after that 2 point conversion succeeded. And then, subsequent in time, he fell. I have this weird feeling that there's a saying in there somewhere.
December 4th, 2011 at 1:48 AM ^
The luck finally ran out on those criminals from EL hahaha. We wolverines get the last laugh as usual. Little brother, the dream is over lol. Dantonio can cry me a fucking river! SPARTY NOOOOO!!!
December 4th, 2011 at 1:49 AM ^
I wouldn't want to be a sofa in east Lansing tonight.