September 29th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
"Angry" being the operative word. Both of them sounded like they would rather be anywhere else but in the booth announcing a game. Spielman still does.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:52 PM ^
Neither of these teams deserve to win this game. And this OSU defense looks horrible.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
Does it hurt anyone else to be rooting for the bucks?
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
Nope. But I'm probably in the minority that likes Ohio to win all their games until Michigan.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^
It seems like this backup center is holding up pretty well vs Hankins
September 29th, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^
Maxwell noooo
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
Hey, he threw the ball away instead of throwing an interception under pressure.
Can you do that?
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
Replacement refs would have called that "good".
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
Conroy...has been a downer for Sparty this year. Surprised by that one.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 4:55 PM ^
As bad as the Ohio pass defense is, it doesn't help the Spartans cause that Maxwell has a penchant for targeting graduate assistants on longer passes. Also, the ground also causes incompletions.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
This is kind of like last year's game between Sparty and OSU. Both of them playing awful, neither looking like a team that deserves to win.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
If we don't completely throttle this MSU offense at home it will be a disgrace. They are horrible. Now, their defense will cause us some trouble, and we saw what happens when Michigan gets pressured last week; but there's no way MSU should be able to be successful on offense.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
OSU has struggled to stop the run this season....and to counter that Dantonio has Maxwell throwing 25 times in the 1st half? I must be missing something in that.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Looking good for Tiger fans thus far, on both fronts. Tigers lead 2-0 and White Sox are trailing 3-0.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^
Knock on wood, please.
September 29th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Urban mentions that MSU is blitzing every down; helllooooooo max protect, Mr Borges. That means hellooooooo signle coverage. Helloooooo Mr. Funchess.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:02 PM ^
we all hoped it would be!
September 29th, 2012 at 5:03 PM ^
If this were the SEC they would call this a magnificent defensive spectacle.
But it's the B1G, and we know better.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
before we can get the ball to Funchess we must be able to handle the pressure with an accurate pass...not exactly our forte.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
True enough. It is well demonstrated that when Michigan sets its mind to it they are capable of protecting Denard and giving him time to throw; much of the dangerous pressure he endured in South Bend was from players the playcall deliberately left unblocked.
The UM-MSU key has been unusually consistent in the past decades--run for more yards, win the game. With Michigan's need to push the Spartans to their heels and the questionable passing offenses of both teams, that is just as true as ever this year. Michigan needs to get something done up front.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
Defense is really optional in the Big 12.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^
Optional? You're generous. If nobody has taken the option, is it really an option?
September 29th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
Good point, but look at it this way as well - if you're in the Big XII and your team is wont to give up between 600-700 total yards in a game, the option is everywhere and everyone because obviously nobody is covering. The playbook is chock full of "just sort of run to this spot and stand there in case a receiver should come by" plays apparently, and "zone coverage" is measured in parsecs.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
Marshall has outgained Purdue, yet trails by four TDs. That's pretty amazing.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
Illinois lies down on its back and begs no more from a dangerous PSU bent on revenge AT Illinois. And the John L. Smith Razorburns just. . . keel over to hell and die against the Aggies.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
Can there be many people in a more miserable situation in life than John L L L L L Smith? (Excluding those with deaths in the family, homeless, other obvious things much worse, etc). You're bankrupt, you don't know what state you live in, you get a special opportunity to coach a good football team for one season, and... nobody will ever hire you again. The team is in full-on meltdown mode.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
His brother passed a few weeks ago. Bankruptcy, his brother's death, and this nightmare of a season.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
I laughed at his "smile" press conference. I felt really bad for him once I found out that his brother passed away earlier that week.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^
I must have forgotten that. Man, that's awful.
I mean, when he was an MSU coach he was fun to make fun of--but seriously, this is an awful set of circumstances, and other than investing unwisely (in a market that nobody realized would crater the way it did) he hasn't done anything to ask for this kind of disaster. It's not like he was the one hiring a mistress on his football staff, after all.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
That was some bad football.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
Before we speculate too much on how to beat Staee we better set our sights on beating a really good Purdue team away next week.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^
What is your definition of really good? Really good for Purdue or in general?
September 29th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
Really good for Purdue. Hope seems to get the maximum from his low ranked recruiting classes.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
...we have a brief piece on how Taylor Martinez has improved his arm punting skills this year, as well as Jesse Palmer squinting and looking off-camera, wondering what Lou Holtz is doing back there...
September 29th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^
I'd make fun of the Taylor Martinez throwing...but after last weekend I am going to try to hold off on ripping any other QB and throwing.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
Kawaan Short is terror.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
September 29th, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^
I love that our D had a great game against ND but we only have one other good game against UMASS (and we arguably had the worst defensive performance against them to that point). Aside from that we got blown off the ball by 'bama and cut to death by Air Force. I'm not trying to be super-negative but we shouldn't be anointing the D as great just yet
September 29th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
This is a thoroughly unimpressive game thus far.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
Georgia's really melting down here. An extra point will give Tennessee 20 unanswered.
September 29th, 2012 at 5:25 PM ^
Definitely Doesn't look like a top 5 team !
September 29th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
Richt gets on list of hot seat coaches, Georgia becomes highly overrated. Lather, rinse, repeat.