Jack Ebling on Sparty - The Painful Reality
http://www.spartantailgate.com/2009/09/27/the-painful-reality/
Ebling was a long time sports writer for the Lansing State Journal and now write for Spartantailgate.com
Interesting piece on MSU - Here's a snippet:
"Starting in 1980, a stretch of 30 falls and far fewer rises, seven coaches have gone 168-172-5 (.494). They’re 112-132-4 (.481) in league play and 5-10 (.333) in bowl games, the dictionary definition of sub-mediocrity."
Discuss
September 27th, 2009 at 6:00 PM ^
Just sometimes (2008), the crap will cause less of a smear.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:19 PM ^
He mentions Iowa and Kirk Ferentz...am I the only one not overly impressed with Iowa or Ferentz? He seems to have Penn State's number for whatever reason, but I just don't see them as that great a team or program. How many Rose Bowls have they been to? How many Big Ten titles? I'm not saying they suck, but #13 seems too high and I think they'll get exposed big-time at some point this season.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:26 PM ^
His decision to punt on 4th and 3 from the Penn State 36 in the first half last night was a decision that should have resulted in an immediate pink slip.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^
I noticed that lack of agressiveness, I'm hoping that if our offense is clicking, that'll make the difference. Plus he loves his running game, I'm thinking Gerg might be able to do something about that. I hope.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:38 PM ^
Got them 2 points with a safety. Iowa is for real.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
That safety was as much PSU's error as it was a great stategic decision. Safety's aren't usually something you can bank on/implement in to your strategy. I'm still not buying into Iowa.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
The expected value of punting on 4th and 3 from your opponent's 36 is MUCH lower than going for it. That's a stupid decision no matter what happened in this case.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
At the time of that 4th down, Iowa's offense hadn't done anything all game. How likely were they, at that point, to gain three yards in a single play? Not all that likely, I'd say. (Later in the game, when their OL started to take over, I might have argued differently.) Throw in the fact that their punter is apparently very good at pooch-punting, and I think it was a defensible decision.
As it was, they executed the punt perfectly and pinned PSU deep, leading to the safety.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
So we should ignore the fact that he beat a top 5 team on the road and zero in on a single coaching decision he made during said game?
September 28th, 2009 at 4:47 AM ^
That call was NOTHING in comparison to Purdue's timeout in the 4th against ND.
That's one of those headscratchers that no one ever forgets about.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^
Iowa is 4-0 and has just beaten a (then-)top 5 opponent on the road. I think they have as claim to being a top 15 team as anyone else. Maybe they'll be exposed down the road, but that's speculation. As of right now, they've earned the right to a good ranking.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:02 PM ^
2 Big Ten titles in 10 years ... oh, rhetorical question? ... eh, since I've already headed down the path ...
He's had a couple of really good seasons by Iowa standards. That 2002 team was 11-1 and beat Michigan about as badly as I ever seen them get beat. Then, as you probably recall, USC hammered Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Hasn't quite had a team or season like that since ... so, yeah, not overly impressive, but I get the impression most of his peers think he's excellent.
Anyway, I've always kind of liked Ferentz. He's never had a bunch of talent but often gets a lot out of what he has. His career has kind of run along a poor man's Barry Alvarez course. I've always wondered what he might have done at a big time program and had a lot of top recruits, but I get the feeling that Iowa's his final stop.
This is another typical Ferentz type team to me. Not a ton of superstars but well coached and tough. Agree they don't seem like a top 15 team, but a lot of top 15 teams this year feel like de facto placements. I think they probably end up winning 8 or 9--likely all of their 5 remaining home games, which includes M, unfortunately and 1 of 3 road games at Madison, Columbus and East Lansing. 2 of 3 there seems unlikely, but who knows. They just left Happy Valley with a W...
September 27th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
Won't be the first team this year thats been exposed in the polls.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:23 PM ^
That column didn't need to be written. State fans are already more than aware of their mediocrity. It's why so many of their fans say their favorite team is "whoever is playing Michigan" and "State", in that order.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:36 PM ^
You've repeated that multiple times here. It's still false. The UM fans I know all cheer for OSU, MSU, and ND to lose and UM to win, in that order.
I suppose with a winless team, you've got to stick to your bandwagon. You're a Patriots and Red Sox fan too, I'll bet.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
root for 1)UM, 2)Against OSU, 3)Against ND, 4)Against MSU...In that order.
But the UM fans you know associate with you, so they're probably fucked up to begin with.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
root for 1)MSU 2)Against UM 3)against ND... in that order.
But some bandwagon UM fan like the above Wahoo is going to call me a liar.
The UM fans I know are rational and think this place is the Michigan equivalent of tRCMB. They're right.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^
All the MSU fans I know
root for 1)MSU 2)Against UM 3)against ND... in that order.
Too bad your coach seems to root in a different way.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
Bandwagon. Huh. Did you notice my join date? It would be very hard to be a bandwagon fan that way.
I'm calling you a liar because you are a liar. I hope you're not considered one of the brighter members of your own fanbase.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:53 PM ^
own fanbase.
Trust me, he's not. I've met smart (HA!) State fans before. One he is not.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:02 PM ^
I don't think you want to go there.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:04 PM ^
me either way. I find you to be funnier than DoctorWorm.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
Okay, I'll go there. Please inform how you are the pinnacle of intelligence in the State community. I do hope you're pre-vet.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:59 PM ^
You clearly know more about MSU fans than an actual MSU fan.
I'm an anonymous internet poster. Making generalizations to an entire fanbase would be stupid (but right up your alley). I don't think my opinions are important enough to blog about them, if that's what you mean.
I'm simply calling you out for repeating the same, tired lie.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
If you can't tell the difference between what I'm saying and what you're saying, maybe this whole Internet thing just isn't for you.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Stick to blogging the 0-3 ACC squad.
Your initial statement was false. I called it out and then got stuck in this endless debate with MaizeBlueBandWa(gon)Hoo.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
The UM fans I know are rational and think this place is the Michigan equivalent of tRCMB. They're right.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
You're absolutely right redcedar87, you're a rock of credibility in our tumultuous little internet sea.
Yes tRSMB is a supremely well respected college football blog . . for 8th graders.
They really rock those emoticons, bro.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
The mgoboard = RCMB, not mgoblog as a whole.
That should be obvious, but I'll spell it out.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
So, you keep coming here because......
September 27th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
#1- Entertainment.
#2- Refuting stupid things people say, like "durrr... all MSU fans cheer AGAINST michigan (best university, fight song, lack of mascot, and football team EVER!!) first and for MooU second!" for the purpose of continuing #1.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
saying things like "MSUcks" and "M$U" or "MooU!" are things that are generally discouraged here. On RCMB, saying things like "scUM" or "Meatchicken" are things that are met with laughter and smiley faces.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
Right. So if you can find where I said "all MSU fans cheer against Michigan first," let me know, I'd be interested to hear it. HINT: Reading comprehension is your friend, so look carefully.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
well sure, the parts where we let you post are RCMB worthy.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^
It's funny to hear you say that because there's only one other fanbase that devotes more energy to hating someone else than rooting for their own, which is the Red Sox. And I hate that team too.
Hope you're enjoying that Montana State win.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
that MSU is better than Dixie State.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
So you're a Yankees fan.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
and being a Yankees fan are not mutually exclusive:
mutually exclusive
–noun
of or pertaining to a situation involving two or more events, possibilities, etc., in which the occurrence of one precludes the occurrence of the other: mutually exclusive plans of action.
Origin:
1870–75
September 27th, 2009 at 10:50 PM ^
Yup, I hate the Red Sox and the Yankees. What does that make me? I think the answer might be rational.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:53 PM ^
I think you have this flipped. He's saying if you hate the Sox you must love the Yankees, and you're arguing back that hate the Red Sox and be a Yankees fan. I think you mean to argue back that they aren't perfectly correlated.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
Again...their focus is on Michigan...what Michigan is doing...comparing to Michigan etc. Some things never change. The writer is correct though, in that Sparty should try to reach the next level of Iowa etc. before thinking about being at the top.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^
never really cared for the guy as a writer.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:43 PM ^
Personally hated living in the Lansing area. Suffered through his LSJ sports writing.
Interesting what time and the freedom of the blog will do.
Honest, fair assessment. He put down the green and white pom-poms
September 27th, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^
Iowa is a decent team. They aren't truly elite yet, but a solid team, and probably better than UM this year. And they did take out one half of my projected title game on the road yesterday, not that it means squat.
I am not ready, though, to pronounce them one of the "big boys" yet. There is a "something" that is missing from them. I don't really know what it is, but it is enough that I won't hold my breath waiting for them to win in Columbus.
Iowa needs a splashy, signature victory to put them over the hump in my estimation.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:34 PM ^
on the road, at night, against a Top 5 team (in what is considered not only one of the toughest places in the country to play, but also considerably harder at night) doesn't qualify as a "splashy, signature victory" or what?
September 27th, 2009 at 7:47 PM ^
when they had to come from behind to beat Northern Iowa? What's the chance they could block that FG attempt twice again?
September 27th, 2009 at 8:47 PM ^
The rankings are supposed to reflect the state of college football at the time of the vote. After Iowa squeaked past UNI, it was unranked, and justly so. Now that they are 4-0 and have beaten PSU on the road (one of the most impressive victories any team has posted this season), they are ranked, and justly so. Their performance since the UNI game strongly suggests that that game was a fluke.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:54 PM ^
Iowa will reveal itself against Michigan (if we're healthy) and OSU. I think OSU will probably take the Big Ten, but the thought of another OSU/USC game isn't fun. If that happens though, I think you will see a much better Trojans team, assuming Barkley matures as the season progresses.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^
But although he cites many statistics from previous years, he offers little in the way of insight. He also comes up short in the way of suggestions. What was his point, other than to say, "Look how pathetic MSU football has been since Caesar played in the Coliseum?"
Moreover, who is he going after? It almost seems as though he is picking on the Spartan fan base, (not good, writing as he is in "spartantailgate.com"). It doesn't seem as though the coaches are the subject of his ire, nor the players. His lone suggestion seems to be, "We'll just have to cheer louder for our team next Saturday if we want them to win." Yeah, I'm sure that'll turn the tide.
Can someone give that guy a stuffed toy to pound on? Anger management books? A drink? Anything?
September 27th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
... and quite a piece of sportswriting. Only a someone who has seen Sparty up close and personal for years could write this--with credibility.
My favorite line:
>>U-M has been practicing overtime to make it 42 years of never losing back-to-back games to “Little Brother.”
Ouch!
September 27th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^
Really? And HOW many MSU threads appear here regularly and get 40 zillions of comments???
Personally, I CARE about our rivals. OSU, MSU, PSU and ND are Big Time rivals and Big Time games. I like discussing them because they are important victories (the most important) paving the path to success for UM.
But really, arguments over which fan base obsesses more, or obssesses about the obsessing is pretty damn stupid.