MSU Football: “Little Brother” All Grown Up

Over the years when you thought about college football in the state of Michigan, you probably always thought first about the University of Michigan. When you think about former Michigan State University sports greats, you think basketball. Names such as Ervin “Magic” Johnson, Greg Kelser, Scott Skiles, and Mateem Cleaves may come to mind.

When I was growing up, the big college football game in town was always Michigan and Ohio State and it seemed year after year it was these two schools that would always fight for an invitation to the Rose Bowl. It was always the Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes going at it with each other in front of a sold out crowds. Michigan’s dominance continued well though the early 2000s until Head Coach Lloyd Carr retired in 2007.

These days however, college football fans are hearing more noise from the team wearing the green and white instead of maize and blue.  Yes, it appears the college football pendulum has swung to East Lansing, meaning the Wolverines can no longer refer to the Spartans as “little brother.”

Coach Mark Dantonio, who in his 8^th season, has turned around the Michigan State football program into one of respectably and success. His team defeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl last year 24-20, which was their first appearance in The Granddaddy of Them All since 1988. This season, the #8^th ranked Spartans have not slowed and will be taking their 7-1 record (4-0 in the Big Ten) into tonight’s game against the #13^th ranked Buckeyes who will also come in with a 7-1 record and 4 Big Ten wins. Mike Griffith of M Live Sports breaks down the game, giving the Spartan’s the edge in most of the categories. If the Spartan’s can win, Connor Cook would be the first quarterback to beat Ohio State twice (he beat them last year in the Big Ten Championship game) in 13 years.

This game should be bring plenty of excitement as both teams look to gain an advantage in the Big Ten East Division standings. Another good contest could signify a new rivalry that could last years down the road, especially with Wolverines now on the decline.

My prediction: Michigan State 28 - Ohio State 23. 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bowl_Game

http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/umosu/woodyvbo.htm

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/11/michigan_states_connor_cook_co.html

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/11/position_breakdown_michigan_st_6.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Dantonio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Carr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connor_Cook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6455_8FsJOM