Adam Rittenberg chat on ESPN regarding MSU/UM
I'm sure you guys will like this quote from Rittenberg's chat today:
Corey (East Lansing, Mi)
Adam, Michigan State went to a bowl game last year and brought back the majority of its offensive skill and standout defensive players. Yet, somehow, Michigan is a few votes away from getting into the AP top 25 and MSU is at the very bottom? I understand Michigan played well, but still. Tell me how this is possible because UM's 8-16 record the past few seasons proves otherwise.Adam Rittenberg
(12:07 PM)
September 8th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^
they are going to be limping out of the Big House when were through with them on October 9th.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^
Adam also predicted both UM and MSU will be undefeated in October when they stop for a little revenge. That would be an amazing game.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:04 AM ^
This is what drives me crazy about Michigan State fans. They beat Michigan two years in a row, still go under .500 and think that their team will contend for the Big Ten title. You guys went 6-7 last year!! You won one more game than Michigan did. What the heck?
Michigan State doesn't have nearly the tradition Michigan has. Two years in the grand scheme things is nothing but a hiccup on the otherwise illustrious football program. Compared to a Michigan State football "tradition" that involves beatdowns on the field and off the field, starting out hot and then fizzling at the end. Michigan State will never be on the same page as Michigan. Ever.
I dislike Michigan State fans more than I do the team.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:12 AM ^
It is about what you're gonna do this year, right now. Michigan has had a wonderful run. Who knows what the next page will bring?
At the same time no sane Spartan fan is doing cartwheels over last year... or guaranteeing anything. They were not as good as their record indicated two years ago, and not as bad as last year... but the trend in East Lansing is up. The schedule this year is in their favor for a good season, record wise. Next year... pretty brutal.
Another reference to "beatdowns", very nice. Should I bring up holding up cabbies at gunpoint, recruits caught involved in multiple B&E's... masturbating on someone's front porch? Need I go on???
Win two games in a row and Meeeeechigan fan seems to get a bit testy! Sparty is better than you think.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
Hey! I knew the girl whose porch it was and she's an exaggerator!
September 9th, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^
on this thread and have one question: This is a Michigan blog, what do you expect people to be saying? You seem to be very sure that MSU is going to "be good this year" and that UM is not and that UM fans are arrogant because they're saying UM will "be good this year."
September 9th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
Believe me, I'm not "very sure" about anything when it comes to MSU football. That's the truth. But there does seem to be reason for optimism, but it has to translate on the field.
A lot of UM fans are arrogant... sorry. A lot of Spartan fans can be jerks... I get it. Rivals.
But my only point as I read various threads, and yes I know this is a Michigan blog, is that one win over UCONN (while gratifying) is being overblown. Last year at this time, or shortly thereafter, Tate was a Heisman candidate. So as MSU is getting trashed... just thought I'd throw that out there.
I like this board... read it, and a number of others. Not always trying to flame...
September 9th, 2010 at 9:36 AM ^
......with the distinction between "players committing crimes while being on the roster" and "players who are not on the roster"?
Is this really such a tough concept to wrap your mind around?
September 9th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
State friends I have were indeed pleased with last season. One of them actually said "We beat Michigan, that's all that matters"
September 9th, 2010 at 1:02 AM ^
September 9th, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
I love how Michigan's 8-16 record over the past TWO seasons "proves otherwise" to that guy but Sparty's losing record last year isn't even relevant.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:42 AM ^
...and as I've said, MSU fans were disappointed that State didn't run with it last year while you guys were really down.
But the reality too is a Soph QB, Freshman RBs and a defense that still hasn't solved its pass rush (or lack of) and secondary problems. Add in that what went our way in "breaks" in 2008 didn't last year, and yea,... a Spartan fan can rationalize somewhat, yet again.
But after one UCONN game, I would submit don't think 8-16 is completely in your rear view mirror either.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
But after one UCONN game, I would submit don't think 8-16 is completely in your rear view mirror either.
LOL, thanks for your concern, sport. The truth is, it doesn't matter what you think or what you think we think. We'll all find out what this team is about this weekend.
As for October 9th, I really don't think it's looking good for you. You guys struggled at home last year against a kid playing in his first ever road game, and you won the game through his freshman mistake (throwing an INT in overtime). Well, that guy is our 3rd stringer now, and Cousins, who has showed a tendancy to choke on the road, has never had to play at the Big House before. If we aren't favored by 4-5 by the time that game rolls around, I will be very surprised.
We'll see how your program holds up then, but I suspect the Spartans who went 3-7 against Michigan during the 2000s will start out the 2010s 0-1 against them, kicking off yet another decade of UM-dominated football within the state.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
...and don't mistake my comments for concern about you or UM's program. Go ahead, push all those chips to the middle of the table. "All in" for Rich Rod!
September 9th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
I hear you, but any program does that with any coach. Rodriguez has been a serious success everywhere he has been, so to look at this as some free wheeling gamble is incorrect. And the idea that this is some irrevocable journey down some revolutionary path that is doomed is also incorrect. Soon to be proven so. The guy is a really good to great football coach with some abnormally impressive knowledge on one particular side of the ball.
8-16 exists but if you want to spend more time studying the situation over the last two years, it isn't something to go off the deep end about. It probably was about where we should have been based on the level of EXPERIENCED talent available. The problem is so few people spend much time studying the situation in 08 during the transition. Listening to Valenti and Foster and reading Lynn Henning doesn't qualify as any level of study.
I have to tell you, I don't buy that OSU and MSU fans want Rodriguez here long term. I never did. They like to lay that line, but I think deep down they fear it. This bus isn't headed to 7-9 win and happy to be in a bowl land. I do think Coach Carr was slowly taking this there and it wasn't acceptable.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
...is Coach Harbaugh. I'm serious. There is a healthy amount of respect for Rich Rod and his offensive coaching capabilities, but even with WVU defense was often an afterthought.
I would also say, rightly or wrongly, many MSU fans want him to do just well enough to stay on. Again, fairly or unfairly, many MSU fans also feel as long as he is in Ann Arbor there will always be another shoe to fall... in terms of program integrity.
Not you personally Nate, but please save me the Rather Hall comments, or the Dantonio thug comments, or all of the other old bits... I'm just talking Rich Rod here for a second. My honest opinion is that MSU fans don't fear him at all... they fear who could be next that all of UM could rally around.
Face it, you have a somewhat split house... those who support him and those who don't really, but will always still support the program. I was just beginning tom follow football about the time Bo took over... and I've never seen anything like that at UM in my memory.
September 9th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
Well if you subscribe to the idea that there needs to be fan unity from day 1 for success, you have a point. But I don't subscribe to that idea. Why is it relevant that less informed fans like a coach fully at first? Or even ever?
There needs to be team unity. Which we have from everything I read.
The only other problem with your view is that the current AD won't allow semi good enough to linger. The standards and expectations are too high.
Rich has excellent integrity and I'll put the totality of his body of work including off the field conduct of himself and the players against Dantonio or any coach. He wasn't the only one of the two who told his players he was staying, only to take another job within hours. They all do it. The media cycle leaves them little choice.
He is charged first and foremost with winning, but the thing that is most admirable is he has enforced high expectations in the classroom. I also admire how he has stuck to his plan despite the unfair treatment from the shallow media and uninformed fans. The easy thing to do would have been to make excuses or promises.
He has done neither. To me, that refusal to resort to slick talking and to just keep plowing forward is the hallmark of grit. I'd want my kids playing for such a man.
The focus is on the field and that overblown stuff is done. Does the heart good.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
September 9th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
I was thinking in terms of the majority fo the season, but you are absolutely correct. Winston actually was ripping through the Illini before getting injured. He had talent.
You're reference to Dantonio (who is obsessed UM fans?) is noted,... and yea, he took a chance on Winston in large part because of his talent and the team's need on the field, and it blew up in his face.
September 9th, 2010 at 4:03 PM ^
So, given your apparent location in South Lyon, can we assume you'll be attending the titanic clash against FAU at Ford Field this weekend? I understand that as many as 25,000 Spartan fans may be in attendance!
September 9th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
The thing is, season ticket holders already have seven games in East Lansing, I'm going October 9th against you guys... not sure about $75 a seat for Florida Atlantic. A lot of people apparently feel the same way.
But, I know when kickoff comes I'll have the urge to be there. Could be an impromptu decision.
With the giveaways going today and tomorrow, and the walk up... you'll likely get 40,000-to-50,000 before it is over. Ticket prices were too high.
Personally, I think a UM-MSU match-up there one year would be a riot.