Oooooh baby boy! This one is always huge. One of the biggest rivalries in all of college football dating back to "The Greatest Game of All Time." The Spartans have not maintained a terrific program like both schools had when the rivalry began, but the Spartans have kept this a rivalry for one reason: The Spartans own Notre Dame.

The Spartans have won 7 of the last 9 meetings versus Notre Dame. Michigan State has the best record in the entire nation versus ND. But, that isn't going to have any impact on this game. New players, new year.

The rivalry intensified last year with the unbelievable OT shocker that the Spartans pulled off. Following the game, the Spartan seniors stuck the Spartan flag in the turf at mid field and celebrated.

Charlie Weis took the rivalry one step further when he said, "We will never lose to Michigan State again." Wow. Bold. Especially considering their record against MSU over the past decade.

I see this one as a 50-50 matchup. Both offenses should go off. It'll probably be very much like last year's game. Let's just hope the Spartans get the ball last.

Go State!

http://www.mlive.com/images/spartans/s_060920_throwback_1966_helmet.jpg

the Sparties will be wearing throwback gear.......ND will wear a patch (one of these programs thinks this bigger than it really is)

If a game is going to be the "game of the century", it damn well better not be a tie

oooh you are mistaken. The Irish hate the Spartans. I'm not going to get into a history lesson with this rivalry, but I guarantee it is just as big to them if not more after last year's events. Ask Weis and their players how big it is.

I absolutely feel the throwback helmets. Those are tight.

I actually taught with the dude that was just inducted to the Saginaw Hall of Fame a few weeks ago and played in the 10-10 tie (retired teacher, former MSU National Champion-yeah, real old school haha). The stories he told me about the game were amazing. 1 versus 2, ND played for the tie fearing MSU's D which featured 4 of the Top 7 Players in the NFL Draft. Damn, wish things were still that way for my boys.

I realized there were TONS of unbelievable moments in this series, not until reading this did I realize just how amazing these games have been. This is long, but check it out. Unbelievable.

Great Plays In MSU v. Notre Dame series


By Kevin Thomas& Mike Fowler
GoSpartans.net
Posted Sep 21, 2006

Over the past ten years, Michigan State has really taken over this series, winning seven of the last nine meetings and five straight in South Bend. The series has produced some great plays and memorable moments that have a lasting memory on Michigan State fans.

OKEMOS, MI - Over the past ten years, Michigan State has really taken over this series, winning seven of the last nine meetings and five straight in South Bend. The series has produced some great plays and memorable moments that have a lasting memory on Michigan State fans.
Think back to these classic moments:

1997:Marc Renaud set the tone in a 23-7 win with a 55-yard kickoff return to open the game, and the Spartans had two early 1st-quarter touchdowns before the Irish knew what had hit them enroute to a 23-7 victory.

1998:The Spartans Sean Banks blocked a punt early in the game and Richard Newsome carried it in from 25-yards for six points. Gari Scott had a 86-yard touchdown reception, and Julian Peterson had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in building a 45-3 halftme lead that would lead to a 45-23 victory.

1999:Wide receiver Gari Scott of the Spartans took a third and ten pass reception 80-yards on what should have been a short gainer late in the game in a 23-13 victory.

2000:Jeff Smoker hit Herb Haygood on a slant pass on fourth down as Haygood's man blitzed Smoker, leaving Haygood all alone for a 68-yard scoring pass with just 1:48 left in the game to lift the Spartans to a 27-21 victory. 2001:This game was eerily similar to the 2000 game as the Spartans won when Charles Rogers took a 3rd and 6 pass, spun out of the arms of Vontez Duff's attempted tackle, and raced 47-yards for the game winner in a 17-10 victory.

2002:The Spartans appeared to have this game won when Charles Rogers made a spectacular leaping catch on a fourth and eleven play in the back of the endzone for a 21-yards touchdown pass from Jeff Smoker, to give the Spartans a temporary 17-14 lead with just 1:45 to go.

But back-up Irish quarterback Pat Dillingham hit Arnaz Battle with a 60-yard pass with 1:15 left for the game winner. Rogers also made caught another 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to get the Spartans back in the game but Rogers heroics simply weren't enough.

2003:Jaren Hayes scored on a 71-yard touchdown run, and Greg Taplin had a big 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 22-16 Spartan victory.

2004:Notre Dame's Tom Zibikowski had a 75-yard yard fumble return for touchdown as he wrestled the ball out of the hands of Jason Teague. Zbikowksi also added another interception that led to a Irish touchdown. Marshall Campbell blocked a punt for MSU that was recovered by Jerramy Scott for a touchdown, and DeAndra Cobb had a 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but Notre Dame had more big plays in their 31-24 victory.

2005:Jason Teague got revenge for his costly fumble from the year before by going 19-yards for a touchdown in overtime to pull out a 44-41 victory that saw the Irish push the game to an extra session by scoring 21 unanswered points after trailing 38-17.

SirDarean Adams had a "pick six" going 30 yards with an interception return early in the second quarter to send the Spartans soaring in the right direction. Matt Trannon also had a 65-yard touchdown reception.

Again, this is the type of game where the "stars" rise and make big time plays. The Spartans have no time feeling comfortable and cozy with their 3-0 start. They need to keep the 'pedal to the metal' if they are planning to have the season they want to achieve.

But if nothing else, count on this contest to produce some more dazzling

lmao

Just found out I'm going to the game.....

Go Green!! http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4642/msuflag6jnrl7.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoaX1CU5DKQ

CfMLQgA1hfw

I like this guy. He does a pre and post game vid every week for Notre Dame. This week is a little long and he starts out a bit off topic with the ND loss and rankings and all (its also two parts when its usually just one so the kid is clearly rambling a bit this time around) but usually he's pretty tight. In other words, it might not be the best example of what he usually puts forth, but here's his ND/MSU pregame.

The 2nd half is here.Pj_2bHaylpo&NR

That's awesome Nick! I strongly considered going to the game. I usually go to the big dog games. But, I've dropped a lot of loot lately and the premium ticket price of $70 a ticket is really pissing me off. For me and my girl to go:

$140-Tickets
$20- Food
$10- Gas

So were lookin' at a grand total of 170 bucks. YIKES

You could probably throw the words "Seeing Stanton work Notre Dame again...priceless" but I think I'm gonna watch at home.

BTW, I totally feel the Spartan emoticons planting the flag! haha

I've got the Irish in a shootout in this one. They'll be pissed after losing to Meeechigan and they won't forget the http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4642/msuflag6jnrl7.gif incident and bounce back.

Irish-41
Sparties-34

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Jabba_3.jpg
"I will never lose to Michigan State ever again. Mwwaaah ha ha!"

Awesome picture of Weiss, Mood.

I would love nothing more than to see Weiss lose again. I think MSU can pull this out. Go State - save your bad game when you come to Ann Arbor.

Many of the Wolverines tend to think that MSU sticking a flag in Notre Dame's turf is going to magically fuel them to victory. I'm sorry, but if Notre Dame needs that to motivate them, they suck. They should already be fueled by losing last year and losing to Michigan.

At the same time, if ND is fueled by MSU planting the flag...shouldn't MSU be just as motivated by Weis' arrogant statement "We will never lose to Michigan State again!" ???

If the weather report holds and it rains all day and during the game, then I see the Spartans running game giving them an advantage. They ran for
300+ against a Pitt D that has 2 All-American candidates (Blades and their stud DB) and I don't think ND could put up that type of ground game.

Ringer + Jehuu + Jimmerson + Stanton =

MSU - 37

Notre Dame - 31

I hope you are right SpartyNick, but I'm real worried all of a sudden. It is raining extremely hard here right now (18 min. til kickoff) and I'm in Saginaw. I don't think rain helps the Spartans at all. I think it hurts their chances big time. Michigan State runs a spread offense as we all know, I think rain hurts their offense tremendously. They rely on their speed and ability to pass alot. ND would be at an advantage in my opinion running a pro style offense. I think they will power run inside and State willl have trouble stopping that. Then they'll throw over the top to their receivers. I actually see ND running a Michigan type of offense in the rain and I think that would be more effective than State's spread.

A little while ago it didn't look like it was raining in EL, I hope it somehow misses them.

Go State!

I pull for MSU a couple of times a year, vs ND and Ohio State.

Go MSU!

Good start 24-14. They aren't intimidated at all, thank goodness.

No offense, but everyone realizes that wasn't a late hit, don't they? On DVR I stopped it and Stanton was at least 2 feet in bounds when the ND guy left his feet. With someone that scrambles with Stanton, you CANNOT assume he was going out.

Ah shit! Son of a bitch that was a shitty punt. We need to stop their Mo right now.

But they turn it over on downs. SWEET!

Now the wind and rain...bring it on. Hold this game scoreless the rest of the way.

But the diesel brings it for a nice gain on first down.

YES YES YES.....Can you believe this? ND must have been one the MOST OVERATTED TEAMS IN NCAA HISTORY

Yeah, vastly overrated. Their defense is slow and absolutely horrendous. Preseason polls don't mean shiiiiiiiiit. Sparty is looking solid though too.

Next week will be a tough one going to Minni to get the jug, then come home to face the Sparties, but then we should cruise till we face the team to the south on Nov 18th.

No defense, no surprise gimmicks on offense and i called them overrated 2 weeks ago. LOL@the late bloomers on catching the obvious. Some guy even swore they had better players than michigan. Oh hype how you eat at the brain and destroy football knowledge. [smilie=sayitaintso:

I still say they are overrated but I may be eating some crow.

who?

LOL@the Riddler

What a choke job.

WOW! Michigan State is a mentally weak football team. Getting outscored 19-0 in the fourth quarter? A return man taking a knee at the 15 yard line? 3 turnovers for Stanton in the 4th? The greatest QB in the country would not do that. WOW! Just WOW!

There will definitely be some couches burnt tonight.

Can you say *Boom*? I hope there are some riots in East Lansing tonight, this game deserves it.

lmao, collapse of the decade. where are you tre? lmao rofl rofl lol lol lol

I could be coaching a high school JV squad, be down 56-0 in the fourth quarter with 5:34 remaining and I'd still feel like I could beat the Spartans. I only root for these guys like twice and year, and they always seem to find the wackiest ways to lose.

I'm right here- and here to remind everyone of my 600 posts up to this point about Michigan State's mental collapse that was on the horizon. We all know it is coming, it doesn't matter the year, the players, the coaches. If you wear green and white, you are going to have an enormous mental collapse.

I hate to sound like a I told you so dink, but didn't I nail everything?

I said ND's confidence would be shaken big time after Michigan. Totally was. They didn't come out pissed like you guys claimed, they came out like a deer in headlights. MSU worked them. Only problem was that I had another prediction waiting in the wings...

Just as I predicted...MSU comes through with a mental collapse ala Michigan triple OT game in 04. I've been just annihilated as a fan my entire life watching this team and supporting them. That's why I took the negative approach for the first time ever this year. But, it doesn't change anything. I'm still going crazy watching them dominate the Irish and I'm still absolutely destroyed as a fan when they choke again.

I'm honestly on the ledge as a fan of MSU football. I don't know that I can take any more. Moodini and Jethro will vouch, I'm as die hard as they come and because of that I have the highest highs and the lowest of lows. But, I really don't know that I can take any more.

You predicted a MSU win. and they lost. Dont overcomplicate it. Its fairly simple my friend. [smilie=blaha.gif] Word to the alpaca![smilie=paca.gif]

Your avatar expresses some level of fustration. So i doubt you predicted a fall off this big. This was magically bad.


With that said, U of M and OSU gotta be careful in dealing with MSU.

Wow. What a game. Instant classic for sure. State fans will hate watching this for years, kinda like every time I see that the Michigan-Northwestern untouched fumble shootout is going to be on.
Absolutely insane that such a blowout could end like this.
It will be interesting to see if State can shake this off and finish a season unlike past years. They obviously have the ability to play with almost anyone, but what happens between their ears is killing them.
Meanwhile, I say they play Hoyer at QB and Stanton at RB. Ok, so I'm kidding, but I couldn't help it. I'm trying to go easy on Tre. All other Spartan fans can just suck my balls.

YES YES YES.....Can you believe this? ND must have been one the MOST OVERATTED TEAMS IN NCAA HISTORY

You're right. But, um, well, where does that leave you?

Mr. Overhyped Quinn just bounced back from a horrendous first quarter and went 5 TD's on your ass. Meanwhile, Stanton for Heisman took a massive hit in the 2nd half.

You're right. But, um, well, where does that leave you?

Mr. Overhyped Quinn just bounced back from a horrendous first quarter and went 5 TD's on your ass. Meanwhile, Stanton for Heisman took a massive hit in the 2nd half.
Quinn is still overhyped. 5 td's that came late with MSU playing super conservative ball. Not impressive as it looks. He mildly sucks w/o Stanton's fall off.

But the ND ballwashing will reach a new high now. Thanks Mr Smith.

State fan, take note:

At least you didn't beat Arizona by ONLY 17.[smilie=blaha.gif]

Tre, where did you get that avatar playa? After the game, I thought of you looking just like that cat, and it's the same size as your "hired gun" tag. Pretty appropriate.

now THATS how you royally blow a game. LOL.

You predicted a MSU win. and they lost. Dont overcomplicate it. Its fairly simple my friend. [smilie=blaha.gif] Word to the alpaca![smilie=paca.gif]

Your avatar expresses some level of fustration. So i doubt you predicted a fall off this big. This was magically bad.


With that said, U of M and OSU gotta be careful in dealing with MSU.

OOOOOOOOOOOH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE! Why can't you guys read?!!!!!! I just fucking posted this days ago when Moodini claimed that I picked the Spartans! WHERE DID I PICK THE SPARTANS?! I DIDN'T PICK THE SPARTANS ANYWHERE, YET WOLVERINE FANS KEEP CLAIMING THAT I DID BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME. Hooked on Phonics! Go back, read my posts, and maybe you'll realize that I said, "I wouldn't bet on the Spartans in this one" My God...it's not that hard to read posts before you post yourself. Why are we having so many problems with this? I'm sorry to go off, but I'm really tired of people putting words in my mouth. I've been extremely objective regarding MSU, yet I still get crap. I said myself that MSU would have a catastrophic mental collapse and I also said I wouldn't be on the Spartans. 18 stinking min. before the game I posted that I was even more worried than before because of the weather. R E A D

Relax. It's not like the Spartans were a ranked team or anything.

So they lost. You've got nearly a full season left to prove to the world Michigan State ain't Choke State.

Unless you choke again.

Then, my friend, you are truly suicide material.[smilie=sayitaintso:

Relax. It's not like the Spartans were a ranked team or anything.

So they lost. You've got nearly a full season left to prove to the world Michigan State ain't Choke State.

Unless you choke again.

Then, my friend, you are truly suicide material.[smilie=sayitaintso:

It's not that they lost, its how they lost. The last three years MSU has blown huge victories that were in the bag.

04- Up 17 on Michigan with 6 minutes remaining, lost in Triple OT
05- Dominated OSU, up 7 with the ball on OSU 20 yd line with 7 min., lost
06- ND disaster

The game isn't that big in the grand scheme of things. State could still have a great season in theory. The thing that is frustrating is that they do this every year. They dominated ND, yet they find a way to lose. I still can't fathom it.

Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but has anyone figured out why The Riddler had his kick returner take a knee instead of returning the ball?

They had the hands team on the field expecting an onside kick. Typically, when that's the case and you get a regular kick off you protect the guy who gets the kick (because your hands team doesn't know how to block and essentially the whole kicking team gets an open shot at the dude) by having the returner take whatever free yardage he gets and run out of bounds or fall prior to being really challenged.

Clearly taking a knee on the 12 is poor execution of this principle.

I work with a guy that was a starting safety at a Big Ten school about 10 years ago. He was at the MSU/ND game this weekend (season ticket holder). It's his opinion that this "the hands team can't block if they are expecting the onside" theory is garbage.

He cites poor coaching/preparation as the cause, i.e. "If the ball gets kicked deep, everyone is responsible for getting back and blocking".

In his words, "are you a football player or not?"

He confirmed what I thought I saw on TV, the kick returner had a ton of real estate to work with down the sideline.

He said the crowd was totally baffled as to what happened.

If by garbage you mean "a bad way to play" then perhaps, but its definately used. While I haven't seen a guy simply take a knee inside his own 15, I've definately seen guys just sprint diagonally toward the sideline taking what they can and getting out before getting hit.

Blaiming John L. for that is ridiculous. There is no way he told Williams to take a knee. It was a terrible decision by the player. You can't blaim coaches for everything.

So when a player makes a stupid mental mistake (if that's what you think it was, i.e. he was acting on his own) that is no reflection on the coaches?

Aren't the coaches responsible for preparing the players for what to do if/when the ball comes to them, especially if you are a KICK RETURNER?

So when a player makes a stupid mental mistake (if that's what you think it was, i.e. he was acting on his own) that is no reflection on the coaches?

Aren't the coaches responsible for preparing the players for what to do if/when the ball comes to them, especially if you are a KICK RETURNER?

This coming from a man with Wayne Fontes for his av.

STFU.

Sincerely,

Krista Latham Jahnke, devoted Barbaro hater and fan of delicious horse meat.

So when a player makes a stupid mental mistake (if that's what you think it was, i.e. he was acting on his own) that is no reflection on the coaches?

Aren't the coaches responsible for preparing the players for what to do if/when the ball comes to them, especially if you are a KICK RETURNER?

There is no way to prepare a kid for every single possible situation that can occur within a contest. Who would think you would have to tell the returner to get as many yards as possible?

I coach a bit myself (hs) and from my experiences I know that you can prepare kids very well, yet sometimes they are going to make stupid mistakes. If you don't understand that, you haven't coached before at any level. It's usually the fans that have never had the experience that blame coaches for everything.

I'm trying to go easy on Tre. All other Spartan fans can just suck my balls.

Thanks a lot.

I said MSU was gonna win. I said the rains would come and the MSU running game would lead them to victory...... And I was wrong.

The coaching staff fucked up, mostly by not giving the ball to Jehuu at all during the final 13 minutes of the game, and Drew choked the game away w/ the 3 turnovers.

One minute I was elated to be standing in the pouring rain and not long after I was just wet, cold, and pissed.

Another gut blow to Spartan fans, other than that...... Illinois on Saturday @ 12noon.

Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but has anyone figured out why The Riddler had his kick returner take a knee instead of returning the ball?

I love how he's referred to as "The Riddler" now. [smilie=rofl.gif]

I'm not saying John L. told the kid to take a knee, but if you put the hands team on the field in a situation where the other team might not kick onside, you have to have somewhat of a return set up and you gotta tell the kid if it's kicked deep, YOU STILL NEED TO RETURN THE KICK! Geez.[smilie=lmao.gif]

There is no way to prepare a kid for every single possible situation that can occur within a contest. Who would think you would have to tell the returner to get as many yards as possible?

I coach a bit myself (hs) and from my experiences I know that you can prepare kids very well, yet sometimes they are going to make stupid mistakes. If you don't understand that, you haven't coached before at any level. It's usually the fans that have never had the experience that blame coaches for everything.

Whoa, he played the "I guess you haven't coached before" card, effectively nullifying any opinion that I might have henceforth, lol.

I'm just telling you that if your kick returner doesn't realize what he needs to do if the ball is kicked to him, that's bad coaching/preparation, even from my novice, nonprofessional viewpoint.

If you want to mix in that a former BT starting safety is telling me the same thing, that might even trump you helping out the local high school team.

No biggie though, Tre.

I think you took my post wrong. I don't even coach football. I wasn't trying to play a coaching card. I was just saying that players are sometimes frustrating. I've told a kid directly to his face what not to do in a game, play resumes and he does the opposite.

I mean, does John L. have to tell Ringer to run when he gets the ball? Does he have to tell Reed to catch it when it is thrown to him? I wouldn't think he would have to tell the return guy to run forward.

I'm just saying coaches aren't always to blaim. With that being said, I hated a bunch of things the coaches did in this game. I just don't know if that perticular play was his fault.