How much have Michigan's struggles helped MSU? A lot?
We all know that MSU got SOME benefit on the recruiting trail when Michigan recruited a different type of player under RichRod and then had transition troubles. How much benefit can be debated.
And, we all know that being able to beat Michigan when Michigan was beatbale by many teams was a source of pride for MSU.
But, MSU has done well against other Big Ten teams. They have found a way to win some other big games. How much does MSU's success against UM really contribute to their team's confidence?
Wojo's article in the DetNews today shed some light on how important being able to beat weak Michigan teams has been to the Spartan psyche:
“The way the culture is here, Coach D always has the constant reminder — don’t forget where we came from, don’t forget when we were little brother,” safety Demetrious Cox said. “We kind of take it personally, just knowing they always do kind of put us in the backseat.”
The edge doesn’t get rounded off, certainly not among the wild-mannered, wild-maned linebackers. And they make no apologies for the focus of their fire.
“I had a great teacher, Max Bullough, showing me the ropes,” Reschke said. “He quickly got me to understand it’s a mental game, and you gotta be the craziest person on the field playing linebacker. … Coach D keeps that fuel going, and (strength coach Ken Mannie) does a great job too. They have different tactics and sayings, but the bottom line is, they teach us to hate Michigan, and it brings our play to another level.”
Did anyone really think that would go away just because the Spartans have delivered vicious vengeance upon the Wolverines seven times in the past eight meetings? They mention their rival and their driving force without any prompting, and that’s how they keep the heat on. It’s not complicated, really.
There has been some question about what will happen to MSU when Michigan starts to win big on a regular basis. Will others who filled the power vaccum, like MSU, still be solid? Yes. Will MSU drop off if they can't build off beating RichRod/Hoke teams? Yeah, it seems it would affect their whole identity.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
I dont think they "shoved them around like rag dolls." I think MSU won a sloppy game and was down until a final desperation moments. DO you think they do that if they lose to Michigan? Do you think they do that if they don't blieve they are a "team of destiny" that wins on last second miracles?
I don't know.
I do know that, based on their teams last year, that OSU wins that game 9 times out of 10. Of course, UM wins the MSU game last year too..... if not for the improbable.
I get it that MSU will always be good. They will not always be lucky though and you pointing to last year as evidence otherwise is misplaced.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
August 10th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
MSU pushed around OSU all game last season with inferior talent in Columbus. Dantonio is a great coach, and MSU isn't going anywhere. They will be good for years to come.
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August 10th, 2016 at 11:26 AM ^
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Michigan's decline brought about the strenghening and expansion of the B1G. Iowa and Minnesota are getting good again. Illinois just hired that really good coach, cant remember the name. Brought in the legendary powerhouse Nebraska, expanded all the way to the east coast and into the Big East and ACC territory, allowed the spartans and bucs to regain their self dignity in the rivalaries and build self confidence again. Somewhere, someone behind the scenes orchestrated the whole thing and is sitting back with their feet up watching the whole thing playout. When Michigan is back on top as the flagship program once again they will have a clear path into the playoff every year. No bullshit politics like back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Best talent with the best coaches. Only thing stopping them are the bought out and biased refs and their own mistakes on the field. A perfect storm for the leaders and best. Go Blue!!
August 10th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
August 10th, 2016 at 7:44 PM ^
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August 10th, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
You can put a booster seat in the front seat.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^
August 10th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
August 10th, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
I'm sure it helped them immensely in the beginning. Dantonio came in right as UM was beginning to tank, and that allowed his program to much more easily get settled vs. having to start a program while the instate rival is at the top of its game. Instate kids are more likely going to look at the program that looks like its going somewhere vs. the program that can't seem to get out of its own way.
But let's not pretend like MSU is going to fade back into irrelevance now that we're getting good again. They went into Columbus last year with a backup QB and smacked around the defending national champions. With a bunch of undervalued, overlooked players that schools like OSU, UM, ND and Alabama didn't want.
Dantonio has proven that his success is sustainable whether we're good or not. Us being bad when he first started out helped, I'm sure, but his program is to a point where that doesn't matter anymore.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
Urban called one of the worst games I've ever seen a coach call. That was Borges level of incompetance. The Spartan secondary was woeful and to not attack it was criminal.
Bama showed the level of Sparty. I wouldnt take the Ohio State game as any barometer that they were anything more than a good team, as we were just a good team last year. They survived by the skin of their teeth all year and their true level was showed in that Bama game. Any one of the playoff teams wouldve done a similar job on them as well
August 10th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^
It was rainy and windy as all hell. No one was throwing. O'Connor had 91 yards, Barrett had 46 yards. Yeah, play calling sucked, but so what?
People are just ashamed to give anyone props for doing things well that aren't named Michigan.
August 10th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
Thats the reason why they won. If Urban had called a competant game they would not have. Same way Bama blew them off the field, even with the rainy conditions there was no reason for Urban to not attack their secondary. Ohio State was far and away the more talented team, its not like State showed their stripes when they beat a mediocre Iowa team by the skin of their teeth either.
Maybe it helps you mentally to over inflate their success last year, but they lost to a terrible Nebraska team and were extremely fortunate not to lose to a bad purdue team and a bad rutgers team as well.
Put some steel in your spine pal
August 10th, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
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August 10th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
The notion that MSU will suddenly fall off the face of the earth when Michigan gets good again is archiac and not founded in anything other than complete blind homerism.
Believe it or not, it's possible to have two very strong football programs in one state.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^
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August 11th, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^
That's because the two programs have never consistently had good coaches at the same time. When Bo got here Duffy was on his way out. Then they hired crap for 20 years until Perles who was okay and then Saban who bolted after a few years. Then two more idiots until Dantonio. Now that we have Harbaugh and they have Dantonio both will be consistently good for the foreseable future. I don't know why people can't admit this.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^
With recruiting, not having to compete with Michigan directly especially during the Rich Rod years certainly swayed it in there favor; however the pool of solid to good/great potential players has been richer over the last ten years for the second tier Big Ten teams, with the traditional Midwest powers being down or having weird stuff happen.
Now the annual game against Michigan. If Michigan stays Michigan over the last 8 years, MSU wins a couple times, including the fluke/egregious call-fest last year. Which likely means no Big Ten championships, no multiple 11 win seasons, etc.
I'll let the rest of you speculate on how the potential for huge TV money required a tier 2 team like MSU to be elevated, and how the Big Ten did it.
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August 11th, 2016 at 1:23 AM ^