As I type this, our buddy Spencer is going ape shit over at Major League Jerk.  He is probably writing a scathing piece about how bad the Michigan State football program is. That they do not even belong on the football field this weekend against the Ohio State University.  He has to keep reassuring himself that the Buckeyes are a really good football team. That they are still nationally relevant after getting smoked by USC earlier in the year.  The same USC team that got humiliated by Oregon State in front of the whole entire nation.  Sure, State lost to Cal the first game of the year, which was on the road.  But we showed some balls by not playing the crappy competition first. (schedules are made years in advance, so I am full of crap anyway).

Michigan State is looking to show the nation they belong in New Years Day discussions,  time for them to prove it.

For weeks I have been rattling Spencer’s cage with Ringer > Wells talk.  I believe this to be true.  Unfortunately we cannot look at stats alone this year, because Wells has not played the entire season.  However, nobody has more rushing TDs than Javon Ringer, or more rushing yards, or means more to their offense than Javon Ringer.  Everyone the Spartans has played since the Cal game puts 8 or 9 in the box in hopes of slowing him down.  It is not his fault that Beanie Wells is a pussy that missed time with a stubbed toe. It is not like Ringer ever blew out his ACL and still came back to play in the same season.  Seriously, a toe injury?  Oh, lets not forget to mention that the quality of the offensive line at Ohio State is supposedly much better than the Spartans, who did lose 4 starters from a year ago.  Also Michigan State lost their number 1(Devin Thomas) and 2 (Kellen Davis) receiving threats from last year as well.  The load is on Javon Ringer.  Don’t even try to knock the amount of times he needs to carry the ball to get his yards. It is him versus the defense, and he is winning.  There is bet involved with the perforamce of these backs.  Spencer has given me a 50 yard spread because he is an overconfident bastard. If Ringer finishes within 50 yards of Beanie Wells, he has to write a bunch of nice things about the greatness of Javon Ringer.  If the opposite happens, I am required to give Wells verbal fellatio.  So, for the last time before the game:

>>>>>

This story is slightly bigger than just the running backs, so lets move forward.

I a fully aware of our history with the Buckeyes. We do not have a sparkling record (Buckeyes lead the All-Time series 26-12, including 12-6 at Spartan Stadium).  I know we have not beat the Buckeyes since 1999.  I also know that they have the greatest freshman quarterback in the history of all of college football.*  I get all that. However,  this the best Michigan State Spartans football team since the 1999 team that finished 6th in the nation and pummeled Ohio State 23-7.  I am in no ways comparing this team to the TJ Duckett, Plaxico Burress, Robaire Smith, and Julian Peterson led squad, but they are hungry and are ready to compete with the big dogs.

There are some serious connections involved between the two schools, so there is a ton of pride involved in this contest, so try and stay with me:

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio spent three years as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State (2001-03) where he served under Jim Tressel. During Dantonio’s tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 32-6 (.842), including the 2002 National Championship. Dantonio previously worked for Coach Tressel at Youngstown State (1986-90) for five years, serving as secondary coach and defensive coordinator.

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel served as (Michigan State offensive coordinator) Don Treadwell’s position coach (wide receiver) at Miami-Ohio in 1979-80. Treadwell later spent six years on Tressel’s coaching staff at Youngstown State (1986-91). Treadwell worked with the wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks at Youngstown State, and served as offensive coordinator in 1991 as the Penguins won the NCAA I-AA National Championship.

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel served as (Michigan State quarterbacks coach) Dave Warner’s position coach (quarterbacks) at Syracuse in 1981. Warner spent the 1982 season as a graduate assistant for the Orange, working for Coach Tressel.

Michigan State linebackers/special teams coach Mike Tressel is the nephew of Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. Mike spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State, working for his uncle from 2002-03.

Michigan State tight ends/tackles coach Mark Staten served as a graduate assistant for Jim Tressel at Ohio State from 2002-03.

Ohio State offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman spent three years as offensive line coach at Michigan State (1995-97) under Nick Saban.

Ohio State safeties coach Paul Haynes spent two years as cornerbacks coach at Michigan State (2003-04).

That’s just the coaches.  Michigan State has several (24) players from Ohio on their roster, and next years incoming class has seen Coach Dantonio reach deep into the rich Ohio high school system.  Javon Ringer was heavily recruited by Ohio State while he was a star running back in Dayton, OH.  However, Ohio State claimed academic deficiencies caused them to not sign Ringer to a scholarship.  Everyone laughing?  The program that had Maurice Clarett lead them to a National Title turned their back on the God-fearing Ringer because he was not focused on his studies. HA!

As you can see, there is motivation involved deeper than just rankings and conference finish.  If Michigan State pulls the upset, there could be a huge climate change in the Big TelevEN.  There was a time that MSU was a national power (back in ‘52 as well), and there is no reason to believe that they can regain past glory.  Hmmm, Michigan State has more titles since 1950 than Michigan.  Recruiting violations in the the 1970’s kicked Michigan State off TV for 3 years (a huge recruting tool), and the program never really recovered.  Anyway, Dantonio has started something special in East Lansing, and it is about time they take the next step.

There is no reason to use this as “measuring stick.” Go out there and knock the big bully on his ass.  You have the talent to do so now. They are not as good as everyone thought they were, protect the house. Make Spartan Stadium a place nobody wants to visit.

The biggest key to this game is going to be Brian Hoyer and the passing game. Most undoubtedly, the Buckeyes are going to force the Spartans to be a passing team, and the Ohio native must be able to get the ball to his wide receivers.  Mark Dell and BJ Cunningham(another player from Ohio) can not drop the ball this week. Lapses like that will be unacceptable.  You two have as much talent as any WR’s in the conference and need to be at the top of  your games.  You get open and make plays, that forces the LBs and safeties to drop a little and open up holes for Javon.

Defensively, the Spartans need to find away to make Pryor a passer, keep him in the pocket.  The Buckeye faithful would like to point to Pryor’s accuracy, but those are mostly short to intermediate routes by his receivers.  He is not as effective when he is forced into being just a passer. Not sure how a team does this, but I am sure that Pat Narduzzi will make put a spy (Otis Wiley or Greg Jones) on Pryor to try and keep him from running past the line of scrimmage.

The Detroit News today has an article pleading with the Spartans to beat the Buckeyes, and give some pride back to the state, since Michigan and Michigan State have beaten them a combined 1 time out of 13 tries.  They were able to intercept a conversation that took place between Mark Dantonio and Jim Tressel:

Dantonio: “Big game, Jim. I told my team to embrace the moment. Does that work?”

Tressel: “Yes, Mark. I told my defense to embrace your ballcarrier.”

Dantonio: “Good one.”

Tressel: “Thank you.”

Dantonio: “Welcome.”

(Pause).

(Continuing to pause).

(Faint crackle of phone line).

Tressel: “So (cough, cough) how about Toledo?!”

Dantonio (spitting out ginger ale): “(Uncontrollable laughter)!!”

Well at least we agree on one thing, Muck Fichigan.

Look, we are not going to kid ourselves, we are the underdogs.  We have been in this position before, we can overcome.  Spencer claims the most talented team ever at tOSU was the 1998 team.  Somebody did beat them:

Fealess Score Prediction: We will not need 4th quarter heroics like we did 10 years ago, Michigan State 27 - Ohio State 23

Fearless Bet Predicition: Ringer 134 Yards on 34 carries and 2 TDs, Wells 121 yards on 27 carries and 1 TD

BTW, Aren’t we all tired of Joe the Plumber?

*That title actually belongs to Jeff Smoker.**

**Not really

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