Sometimes nothing works for nobody none of the times. That’s a triple-negative, and that’s still not enough negatives to describe how MSU played against Iowa. It was awful. It sucked. I am very glad it is over and done. Let the healing begin.
A few facts to consider:
- MSU rushed for 31 yards.
- MSU had three picks, one a pick-six, for 122 yards.
- MSU had seven penalties for 63 yards.
- MSU converted four of 14 third downs, and zero of two fourth downs.
Any one of these fun facts could be the nail in a game-losing coffin, but all of these… it’s a recipe for a serious old-school ass kickin’. And that is what happened. Iowa really played well and the home crowd kept the decible level up there. The Hawkeyes weren’t prefect, but they were dang good. They ran for 162 yards and threw for 190. Very balanced, kind of like MSU has the ability to be. They never turned the ball over and they kept the penalties in-check.
I’ve got to say, they almost looked confused by how easy it was to beat the Spartans. I know I was.
MSU did a few things well. Cousins had 227 yards in the air, including one for a TD. But three turnovers from a guy who has only had four on the season really takes the shine off that number. And Bates averaged 48.5 per punt. The sad note on that one is we punted six times. The only kicker that got more of a workout was Iowa’s place kicker who had to kick-off seven times. Conroy never got to kick. The only PAT for MSU was a failed two-point conversion.
Bottom line: We sucked last weekend. This can happen, even to great teams. It’s a stumble. It doesn’t mean that the Spartans aren’t a great team or can’t win the big game. It means that they lost the game on the bus ride to Iowa. They didn’t have their heads screwed on straight and it cost them. But’s it’s done. The pressure of being undefeated is done. So now can we just get back to playing some great Spartan football. Thank God.
One thing is for sure, I’d rather be Michigan State than Notre Dame or Michigan. Those guys are hurtin’.
Notre Dame is now 4-5 after losing to Tulsa. Dan Crist is out of the season and they host #8 Utah at home next weekend. And I’m not even getting in to the tragedy that occurred last week. Coach Kelly has his hands full.
Michigan seems to be doing there very best to imitate the 2009 season where they were undefeated, lost to State and then lost all but one game for the rest of the season. This year, they are 5-3 with back-to-back-to-back losses to MSU, Iowa and Penn State. Now the AD is not answering questions which makes me think RichRod is on eggshells. The winningest program in NCAA football is struggling again. They need one more win to be bowl eligible, and my money is on Purdue. They host a very good Illinois team next week which even at home is going to be a tough win. Then Purdue on the road, but Purdue is struggling after two big defeats in their last two games. Then they end with #10 Wisconisn and #11 Ohio State at The Shoe for The Game – No way Jose at winning either of these. In fact, Michigan’s psyche may be so screwed at this point, they may just lose out and miss bowling for a third year in a row.
Being 8-1 sounds pretty darn good compared to these sob stories.
So, next week the Spartans play the Golden Gophers in East Lansing. Minnesota is 1-8 this year, and hasn’t won a conference game. I hope to see the my Michigan State Spartans come out with fire in their eyes and steam coming out of their ears. We need a cleansing win. We need to get our confidence back. We need a win. So come on boys: Eyes forward, total focus, fire up. GO GREEN!
