Magic Johnson vs John Cougar Mellancamp

#25 MSU Spartans (3-1/1-0) host Indiana Hoosiers (3-1/0-1)
Sept. 28, 2019.  3:30 pm ET.
East Lansing, MI - Spartan Stadium

TV:  BTN
Weather:  65 cloudy, wind NNE 8.

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #19, Indy #60
Line outta Vegas: MSU by 14

What the hell is going on?  MSU scores a phenomenal 7 points against Arizona State, despite the coaches doing everything to pitch a shut out.  Then, they come out and rip Northwestern 31-10?  ?? This is one up-and-down team.  At least we know the Spartan defense will show up...  hopefully they can score.

Luckily for the Hoosiers, the MSU Homecoming Parade was cancelled due to a thunderbolt storm last night - and the skies are clear today to have the game.

Predictions:

J Rand (Nashville): MSU 42-17
Big Bob (Kzoo): MSU 21-20
Sloth (Pittsburgh): MSU 6-3
CHock (San Fran): MSU 17-16
GVSU Gregger (GVSU): MSU 21-14
RGM3 (metro D): MSU 28-10
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 28-3
The Queen of Scotland (Jackson): Who gives a shit? Indiana 17-13

ES sez... MSU 20, Indiana 10.

Post Indiana vomit

MSU vs Indiana.  You watch it.

I am about to jump off a building.  We were screwed.  We played terrible.  Crap.  So much for the playoff.

To answer the questions posted by the ES last week:

• Which team will show up? The 2012 Spartans showed up.  Can't finish. 
• Will Tyler O'Connor show up? His real self did.  Tyler O'Connor just is not a playmaker.  It ain't gonna happen with him at the controls.  It does not help being handcuffed by the referees.
• Will Dave Warner show up? Not in overtime he didn't - the questioning leading to a time-out (and visible frustration from Coach D), followed by a pair of sacks and a missed FG left a big turd.  O'Connor has GOT to throw the ball on third down - get rid of it, don't take the sack; and, well, Geiger - he Geigered it.  Warner had GREAT play calling on the final drive to put MSU in position to go to OT.  But, overall, fairly unimaginative. 
• Will the defensive line show up? Not in the second half when it mattered
• Who will show up? WHAT IS WITH ALL THE PENALTIES!!!!! I give up.  Look below.  

                                    MSU      IND
FIRST DOWNS...................       21       19
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   41-175   39-156
PASSING YDS (NET).............      263      281
Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  35-21-0  28-17-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   76-438   67-437
Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............      1-1     2-31
Kickoff Returns-Yards.........     1-23     3-90
Interception Returns-Yards....      1-0      0-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............   5-39.4   3-38.7
Fumbles-Lost..................      2-1      1-0
Penalties-Yards...............    11-98     7-60
Possession Time...............    33:34    26:26
Third-Down Conversions........  4 of 15  9 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   2 of 2   0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      1-1      3-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards........      0-0      2-9

#17 Michigan State at Indiana: A Whirling Dervish

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #46, Indiana #66

#17 MSU 2-1/0-1. Indiana 2-1/0-0
Saturday, October 1, 2016.
8:00 pm ET.
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

Line: MSU by 6 (vegasinsider.com)
TV: BTN
Weather: 63 degrees, 50% chance of showers

Depth Chart - MSU - Indiana

Which team will show up? Will Tyler O'Connor show up?  Will Dave Warner show up?  Will the defensive line show up?  Will the RBs block?  Who will show up?  Reschke is OUT, Bullough didn't even dress last week... wha????

After Wisky lit up MSU because of our MISTAKES, I don't know where to go or what to expect.  Indiana has, as typical, struggled against the sisters-of-the poor all year.  This time, let's wing this prediction like a Whirling Dervish

Da ES will be up in Mt Pleasant to tailgate and witness the End of the World, CMU vs WMU... but tuning in via B1G2Go, the ES will see the Spartan O-Line getting back to basics to dictate the game, and opening up holes for LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes.  Expect 175+ yards out of the two backs combined.  Also, expect the maligned d-line to push up front and stop the run.  Indiana has a prolific offense, as usual, but it is also prolifically mistake-prone.  Who is MSU?  Too tough to tell at this point.

Is the Big Green the brute that ran a 25-play drive over Iowa like a 26-wheeler over a Mac Truck?  Or, is this the Big Green playing like a scared kitten in a box with a rabies-infested Rottweiler?  This is more on Dave Warner and the offense.  Stat to remember: MSU is 13-2 since 2010 after a loss; ain't too shabby.

ES sez:  MSU 27-21 over Indy.

Peanut Barrel: Tom, MSU 36-24; Feather, MSU 35-17; Brad, Indiana, 31-17; Brock, MSU 21-17; Rick, MSU 35-21
LSJ: MSU 37-31
Freep: Solari,  MSU 27-21
The Spun:  MSU 31-23
Det News: Charboneau, MSU 30-21; Chengelis, MSU 24-17; Wojo, MSU 38-31; Niyo, MSU 34-21
SpartyMSU:  MSU 35-17
MLive: MSU 41-28
Athlon:  MSU 27-23
CFN:  MSU 34-23
Campus Insiders:  MSU 31-20
Winners And Whiners:  MSU by 7.5+
CBSSports.com:  5 of 7 pick MSU

Best points of pavement-grading win by Spartans over Frigging Irish

My, oh my, there are few things better in life than watching the Michigan State Spartans destroy the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  Under the arms of Touchdown Jesus.  Yes.

That's an Irish road we paved-graded
last Saturday

There was the ES at the altar, the Peanut Barrell, as he watched Madre London run straight through a gaping hole in the Irish defense, 73 yards to paydirt.  Jumping in the air with the rest of the Spartan brethren, screaming "run it down their troats."  Up 36-7, up by 29 points. In South Bend.  Jesus?  Yes. Or, for that matter, LJ Scott running 5 yards here, 6 yards there, etc..  Tyler O'Conner, as predicted, will be just fine.  An impressive, 19-for-26 with 241 yards in the air, 2 TDs, including several downfield 25+ yarders to RJ Shelton (8-80), Madaris(2-40) and incredible play by Corley (4-88).  Third down conversions?  MSU 9-of-18 (50%).  Wow.  Get the pavement grader ready this year.  We're back. 

Guinness can get you to 100, but it
won't help you beat the Spartans

Now, let's talk smack.  The Irish came into the game with their typical swagger, 80,000 under the open arms of God, expecting to revamp their failed crappy play at Texas (who lost at Cal 50-44 by the way). Well, Brian Kelly has his Irish boys consuming the Guinness instead of paying attention to the O-Line gap blocks that left wide open holes for the Big Green all day.  

Defensively, the Spartans played GREAT ALL DAY until they took the foot off the gas.  When you got a pig cornered, put a leg on the throat and stick the knife in real good - let the blood squirt all over.  Prevent defense NEVER works, surprised to see it out of Coach D. He should know better.  Still MSU amassed a huge lead on the road that was difficult to Fk-up. 

MSU's defense and offense combination was dominant enough for a 37-23 time advantage.  A 260-57 rushing advantage.  Dominant.

Although giving up 401 yards, most of those were after the Spartans were kicking ass by 29+ points.  The defensive line controlled scrimmage, and the LBs were lights out.  The secondary is rounding into shape, and the ES digs Darian Hicks and Chris Frey.  

Damn, we're fine. We've moved up to #8, and rightfully so.  MSU kicked ass! Bring on Wisky. 

Team Statistics (Final) 
2016 Michigan State Football 
#12 Michigan State vs #18 Notre Dame (Sep 17, 2016 at Notre Dame, Ind.)

Team Totals	MSU	ND
FIRST DOWNS	22	19
Rushing	9	3
Passing	12	14
Penalty	1	2
NET YARDS RUSHING	260	57
Rushing Attempts	52	25
Average Per Rush	5.0	2.3
Rushing Touchdowns	3	2
Yards Gained Rushing	277	74
Yards Lost Rushing	17	17
NET YARDS PASSING	241	344
Completions-Attempts-Int	19-26-1	20-37-1
Average Per Attempt	9.3	9.3
Average Per Completion	12.7	17.2
Passing Touchdowns	2	2
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	501	401
Total offense plays	78	62
Average Gain Per Play	6.4	6.5
Fumbles: Number-Lost	0-0	2-2
Penalties: Number-Yards	3-45	4-51
PUNTS-YARDS	7-266	6-302
Average Yards Per Punt	38.0	50.3
Net Yards Per Punt	37.0	50.3
Inside 20	2	3
50+ Yards	0	3
Touchbacks	0	0
Fair catch	1	3
KICKOFFS-YARDS	6-383	5-276
Average Yards Per Kickoff	63.8	55.2
Net Yards Per Kickoff	45.5	36.8
Touchbacks	2	2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	0-0-0	3-7-0
Average Per Return	0.0	2.3
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	3-42-0	3-60-0
Average Per Return	14.0	20.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	1-0-0	1-30-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	37:57	22:03
1st Quarter	8:46	6:14
2nd Quarter	9:15	5:45
3rd Quarter	9:52	5:08
4th Quarter	10:04	4:56
Third-Down Conversions	9 of 18	4 of 11
Fourth-Down Conversions	1 of 1	1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	3-3	4-4
Touchdowns	3-3	4-4
Field goals	0-3	0-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards	2-11	0-0
PAT Kicks	4-4	4-4
Field Goals	0-0	0-0
Points off turnovers	15	0

How rare is a top 3 ranking in football and basketball; Couches ablaze

Spartan Nation... When was the last time any school was ranked #1 in men's hoops and in the top 3 in football in the same week during the season?   The ES wuz trying to figure this out with Joe, Scooz, and Rod at the Peanut Barrel.  Hmmm.   Florida in its last year of football under Oscar Meyer?  Maybe Oklahoma in early 2000's (that's a stretch with basketball); potentially Michigan (Cheating Five; Remedial Robinson title) in the late 80s/early 90s?  Ohio State (Greg Oden and the sweater)?  Outside of these schools, one might have to go back to the mid 60s with the UCLA hoops teams that were #1 forever under John Wooden and went to a Rose Bowl or more.     

COUCHES ABLAZE

The ES wuz in Indy and was in his own blazing glory of beer and victory, so didn't get to see the fires and partying in East Lansing after the B1G Ten Title victory over Iowa.  However, after returning later on Sunday and walking through town... Linden Street seemed to be ablaze with couches early Sunday morning.  

Corner of Linden and Division

Further down on Linden

Damn straight it is GREAT TO BE A SPARTAN.  

BIG TEN CHAMPS! BRING ON $ATAN AND 'BAMA CAN HAVE ITS 9 POINTS

The ES was in Indianapolis, in Lucas Oil Stadium, on his hands and knees, once again in tears of joy, as our Michigan State Spartan football team won its second Big Ten title in three years and advance as the #3 seed to the Cotton Bowl in the National Playoff to take on the Great Satan - Nick $aban and Alabama.  We're a 9-pt underdog.

I have lived my life for 47 years and have dreamed of this moment - to have a shot of getting to the Promised Land.  Our moment is at hand.

If you are a football purist, for all those purveyors of good old-fashioned football, then this Michigan State Spartan team is your dream, it is an early Christmas gift that keeps on giving - we get to continue to watch this team as it pounds its way to Glory.  The Big Ten Championship win was dominated by MSU up front in tough, ugly fashion, in a bare-knuckles fight against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The football gods once again shined on MSU at Lucas Oil Stadium

State seemed to move the ball between the twenties but poor play calling on third downs and tight defense by Iowa kept the Big Green from doing nothing but kick field goals.  Michael Geiger, who kicked the winner at Ohio State, hit three but missed a 45-yarder wide and hit the crossbar on a 53-yarder.

Iowa - give them credit - they are a DAMN FINE TEAM.  They are playing in the Rose Bowl... and they should.  That's the best team Michigan State faced all year.

GREATEST DRIVE IN HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

What was pure beauty to watch - what makes MSU the most fun team to watch in the country - was the final drive, the longest drive I've ever heard of or witnessed.  It has to be the drive with the most plays in Big Ten history.  A bone-crushing 22-play, 82 yard drive (just 3.7 yards per play) that took... get this... 9:04 out of the final 9:31 of the game.  The drive forced Iowa to burn all their time outs.  Connor Cook, who played OK for much of the game (16-31, 191 yards, and his usual boneheaded INT), played exceptionally well on the final drive, with a laser-beam toss to Aaron Burbridge on third down and the critical 3 yard gain to the 2 yard line on 4th down with 55 seconds left.




MVP WAS L.J. SCOTT... NOT CONNOR COOK

Not sure who made the MVP decision for the game, but they must be smoking crack.  Cook played fine, but not great.  However, LJ Scott played well whenever inserted into the game.  He ran 14 times on the final drive, and the winning TD was sheer brilliance - all Scott as he spun through three Hawkeyes and reached the ball into the end zone for the winning score.  THAT was an MVP performance.

REFEREE INCOMPETENCE

The Spartans had far too many penalties (8 for 80), and the Big Ten referees remain incompetent. Once again, John O'Neill and his crew (which blew the call in the Nebraska game) remain inconsistent, blind, and questioning their own decisions. First, one can question a phantom defensive holding call on Hicks in the 4th quarter that added to an Iowa drive; second, consider the terrible offensive pass interference call on Burbridge for throwing a pick that didn't exist.

But... what really gets my ire is the puzzling decision by O'Neill to review the video on the Burbridge out-of-bounds catch that resulted in a penalty AFTER THE REFS ALREADY RULED IN-BOUNDS.  Even O'Neill didn't know what to do and called up to the conference office to see if they could even review the play...  What?  How can you not use video to overturn the stupidity in the Nebraska game, but you can to overturn and penalize MSU for its out-of-bounds catch by Burbridge on the final drive.  This once again leads the Spartan Nation to believe MSU is targeted by the Big Ten conference as a team the conference office really doesn't want to win and will use the referees as a way to try and impose its way.

The refereeing in the Big Ten Conference is a national embarrassment and must be overhauled.  Jim Delaney... wake up.  This stinks like bad fish.

MSU STATISTICAL DOMINATION

When you do look at the stats, you can see that the Big Green dominated Iowa along the front lines (MSU 174 yards rushing, Iowa 52 yards rushing).  Look at this gem:

                                    MSU     IOWA

FIRST DOWNS...................       20       13
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   46-174    24-52
PASSING YDS (NET).............      191      216
Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  33-16-1  27-18-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   79-365   51-268
Fumbles-Lost..................      0-0      4-2
Penalties-Yards...............     8-80     5-45
Possession Time...............    36:38    23:22
Third-Down Conversions........ 10 of 20  3 of 12
Sacks By: Number-Yards........     3-20     2-10

Other than the blown coverage by Darian Hicks on a very well thrown, 85-yard TD bomb by Iowa QB CJ Beathard that gave Iowa a 13-9 lead into the fourth quarter... Iowa was basically shut down all game long.

The ES to $atan:  You better get ready... Bring it, you traitor!

THE GREAT SATAN - $ABAN

Yes, #2 Alabama is a 9-point favorite over #3 Michigan State.  Perfect, we have them right where we want them - come join the ES in Dallas as the Spartans ruin the Great $atan's season.

Enlightened Spartan Preview: #9 Mich State vs #2 Ohio State

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #21, *uckeyes #4

MSU: 9-1/5-1. Ohio St:  10-0/6-0
Saturday, November 21, 2015. 3:30 pm ET.

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy

Line:  Ohio State favored by 13

TV:  ABC

This is Game Day, the third time this year for the Spartans... yet MSU is getting zero love or respect from the national media.  This plays right into our hands.  With 2 inches of snow falling here in EL, it's nice to see the weather better down in Columbus for the game today.  Ohio State has yet to play a quality opponent - wait until they get a load of us!

Coach Dantonio always has his teams prepared and the Spartans play to the level of their competition.  It's nice to be as healthy as we have been all year, with Darien Hicks returning to the defensive backfield to add depth.  Key to the game:  the Spartan defensive line vs the Buckeye offensive line.  MSU needs to limit the OSU rushing game and put pressure on QB TJ Barrett to keep some pressure off the secondary.  

Sorry no video this week - just no time!  But the prediction:  Sparty will win, the ES is as confident today as he was 2 years ago heading into the Big Ten Title game.  MSU 27, Ohio State 26.  

Bring on the Buckeyes! 5 Things We Learned From the Spartans' 24-7 Win over Maryland:

1.  We learned we moved up 5 spots to #9 in the AP Poll, and we still control our own destiny.  It's kind of a shock that we zoomed up as much as we did, but we needed the injection. Damn it feels good to be back where we belong.  Because we won and belong with the elite, ESPN Game Day is going to that crap town in Ohio to cover the Spartans for the THIRD TIME this year.  Wow - three times in one year?  We're 2-0 on Game Day this year, baby.  Bring on the Bucks.

2.  Tailgates are awesome.  We're playing the Turtles for Godssakes, let's concentrate on the party.  Kudos to my neighbors, Rick and Joe, who invited me and my new bud, Brock, to a killer tailgate by the Auditorium - great, spicy, sausages while we brought our travelers from the Peanut Barrel.  Sunny, warm, toasty, tasty, and spicy.   What a grand day for playing the sisters of the poor.

3.  We need Connor Cook to be healthy.  Sweet Jesus, we only gained 262 total yards against Maryland, and Tyler O'Connor was just 6-11 for 44 yards.  We need that prolific offense to be just that - prolific.  And, Cook is key.  It's only the third time in the past two years in the regular season we scored less than 30 points.

4.  "Break a bottle, clean up your own mess."  Just don't break a beer bottle in line to get into Spartan Stadium.  They ain't janitors.

5.  When Maryland comes to town, drink water.  Lots of it.  Helps with the beer.

I don't think I'm going to Ohio State game, despite the hype.  Buckeye fans are the WORST.

Enlightened Spartan Preview: Mich State vs the Turtles of Maryland

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #22, Turtles #79

MSU: 8-1/4-1. Maryland:  2-7/0-5
Saturday, November 14, 2015. 12 pm ET.

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

Weather: 51 degrees, clear skies.  C-c-c-cold.  

Line:  MSU favored by 16, wind 9 mph West

TV:  ESPN2

The ES is with April Jones at the Peanut Barrel, still hungover from the bullshit screwjob loss to Nebraska. We preview the Maryland game and have some picks from the locals... including a walkup to the bar with Joe!

Greatest ending in the history of sports

Coach Mark Dantonio said it best: "Football is a crazy, crazy game. I can't really explain it."  Dear God, the sheer joy of life and seeing scUM wallow in their misery.   I'm in tears of joy.  All day long.  Read this from Yahoo - Oh My.

We're #4 in the Coaches Poll. 

Yes.  It was a miracle, but Michigan State earned it.  As for the last play, it makes sense: Coach D put all 11 up to try to block the punt. Michigan f*cked it up, and it was a perfect storm.  ES was at the Peanut Barrel and wishes to God he had recorded the experience. Scintillating, pure joy. Wow.

The Big Green pushed Arrogant Arses all around the field all game long.  The ES noted in his preview the Spartan defensive line was the key to the game.  Sho 'nuff - D Line turned out to be key.  The little people only had 230 TOTAL YARDS - 62 on the ground, 168 through the air.  That's nothing.  Nada.

Big Green had two goal line stands, and not blowing the whistle for 11 seconds for lack of forward progress was bullshit.  Absolute terrible officiating.

The targeting penalty on UM's Bolden?  OK, it was a bad call - but it was confirmed in the booth.  The fact he circled the stadium charging up the crowd was uncalled for and should have been an extra 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The beauty of the game was how WE won. Improbable, live it, love it, and revel in it. It has to hurt, scUM in mourning.  For the AA Nation, this has to feel like getting your balls chopped off.  Welcome to our world - we've been living this for 30 years pre-Dantonio.  The ES LOVES IT.

We dodged a bullet with our kicking game, special teams.  ES is all over, totally agrees that MSU should have gone for each of the 4th downs, we were 0-for-4 but close on each of them.  Praise God scUM had no long kick returns.  The fact that our backup QB (Tyler O'Connor) had 4 punts that averaged longer than our regular punter, Hartbarger, well... sigh.

Love the reporter from Grand Rapids broadcasting the scUM victory.  LOL.

Here are the stats:

                                     MSU     MICH
FIRST DOWNS...................       20       10
NET YARDS RUSHING.............       58       62
  Average Per Rush............      1.8      1.9
NET YARDS PASSING.............      328      168
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  18-39-0  15-25-0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      386      230
  Total offense plays.........       72       58
  Average Gain Per Play.......      5.4      4.0
Penalties: Number-Yards.......     5-44     8-70
Possession Time...............    30:11    29:49
Third-Down Conversions........  3 of 12  4 of 15
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   0 of 4   0 of 1
Sacks By: Number-Yards........     3-10     3-29

Enlightened Spartan Preview: #4 Spartans at Rutgers

So, the ES had a meeting on the East Coast and decided to also use that time toward a visit to the birthplace of American college football: Rutgers University (1869).

#4 Michigan State at Rutgers
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #34, Rutgers #89

Saturday, October 10, 2015. 8 pm ET.
High Point Stadium, New Brunswick, NJ.
Weather: 50 degrees.
Line: MSU favored by 17
TV: BTN

Predictions:  April, MSU 27-10;  ES, MSU 35-14; Shea, MSU 32-26

ES video preview from the Peanut Barrel: MSU vs Air Force

#4 Michigan State vs. Air Force

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #21, Air Force #62

Saturday, September 19, 2015.  12 pm ET.

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy, wind 16 mph

Line:  MSU favored by 27

TV:  ABC

The ES is with April Jones at the Peanut Barrel to discuss the ins and outs of Michigan State football team and its success defeating #7 Oregon last week.  The pair discuss the contest against Air Force Academy, and have guest appearances in studio from the locals.

ES thoughts on #5 MSU win at Western

Initial thoughts about the Big Green's 37-24 victory over WMU in Kalamazoo.  Before I look at the stats:

1.  Coach D brought vanilla, and it showed.  No wrinkles on offense (no trick plays, no reverses, etc), no wrinkles on defense (did we blitz?  ES couldn't tell).  He's keeping his cards close to his vest for the Oregon game.  So, what you saw basically was a high school scheme - line up, and play straight up.  The better talent won.  Nothing more.  Yawn.  ES should have stayed home and saved $150. 

2.  DB concern.  Re #1 above, WMU figured it out at half and adjusted.  The Broncos couldn't run the ball worth a crap (see #4 below), so they figured they had to pass to compete.  It worked.  Two wideouts one side, another on the other, and always someone in motion to isolate one-on-one coverage on a Spartan DB.  Zach Terrell, the WMU QB, (33-50, 365, 2-2) started to hurl the ball on isolation the entire second half.  MSU had no pass rush, so the DBs were on an island and... quite honestly... did not fare well.  This needs work

3.  MSU OL played great.  Noone laid a hand on Connor Cook, and we ran for 196 yards on 40 carries (4.9 ypc); as the ES said before the season, my dead grandma could run behind that line and make 5 yards a carry.  

4.  MSU DL awesome against the run (WMU: 23 carries for 18 yards) but the Big Green seemed to lack any emphasis (or interest?) as the game wore on with the Bronco's focus on the pass.  Spartans had 7 sacks, but the sacks were early and the Broncos were able to change their game plan (per #2 above) to make it work to close the gap vs Big Green (but not close it enough). 

5.  We have a RB.  LJ Scott ran very, very well when inserted later in the game.  While London (13-59) and Holmes (9-54) were serviceable and helped to move the chains... it was Scott (13-77) that really showed promise with some shiftiness and running over Broncos - the Spartan way.  You had to be there to see his impact; the dude is a big brick.  Scott = Pound Green Pound.  This is the other Delton Williams.  Scott is a Big Boy, with wheels, and he is a train wreck.  Love him, start him.  Period. 

Stat Crew!  Here are the basic stats from the game: 

                                    MSU      WMU
FIRST DOWNS...................       26       22
  Rushing.....................       11        2
  Passing.....................       13       18
  Penalty.....................        2        2
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      196       18
  Rushing Attempts............       40       23
  Average Per Rush............      4.9      0.8
NET YARDS PASSING.............      256      365
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  15-31-0  33-50-2
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      452      383
  Total offense plays.........       71       73
  Average Gain Per Play.......      6.4      5.2

The ES will embed some video from his experiences in this week's video episode... but, here are a few shots below:

Stadium thoughts?  Waldo Stadium is boring.  Rarely any PA to fire up the fans, the signage is terrible (same letters/numbers for rows as columns & seats...  what????), etc.  They shut off any wireless and cell phone service, which is anti-2015.  That's basically very, very stupid.   ES guesses Western wants nobody to learn or participate in their football experience?  It is very backward.  Unfortunate, because Waldo is just a beautiful stadium that is being minimized.  That's another conversation for another day.  At the end, it was an OK experience, not sure if it was worth my money either for the game experience or the town experience.  Ho hum.  

Enlightened Spartan season preview 2015-2016

ES Season Preview for 2015-2016:

Here you will find the official Enlightened Spartan season preview for the 15th straight year.  These are from your Big Green Touchdown Machine prognosticators... and you see lots of praise for the Staters!  Stay tuned for a Western Michigan VIDEO preview tomorrow morning!  Wahoo!  Season is upon us!

ES:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 15-0 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: Oregon 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 10 
• MSU losses: none, but if any, @OSU 

Carter:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 12 - 1 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: @OSU 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 9.5 
• MSU losses: OSU @ OSU 

Chi-Spartan:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games) 15-0 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Playoff game 
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? Indiana. It will be late in October and the campus will be beautiful, and there will be no stress for the game.
•  On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): 8, or in my lifetime, 10 as this is probably as close as we could ever get 

Big Bob:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games): 11-2. 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Ohio State. 
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? Any home tailgate. 
• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): 1-10 Chance of winning national title: 6.937/10. 

Rufus Polanski:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games): 8 wins 4 losses, assuming 12 games, 1 bowl game win, cotton or gator. 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Offensive solidness and consistency, they lack it.
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? no idea 
• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): Odds are always against it, in general, and the act of predicting it, just serves to make the odds more against it. But I'll say, its maybe the best chance we've had in the last 25 years, so I'll go with a 7/10 national title odds.

April Jones:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 12-1 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: @Michigan 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 8.5 
• MSU losses: OSU 

Coaches rank BIG GREEN #6 preseason

So, the coaches' poll came out today, with only a few interesting blips for Spartan fans.  First off, we're ranked #6 - it has to be our highest pre-season ranking since 1966 - two years before the ES was shot out of his mommy's cannon.

The Ducks, the national runners-up, are ranked a spot ahead of Michigan State.  They are our season-opener, and we'll be ready.  Should be a fun game - the best non-conference game in the country for the preseason.  It's an 8 pm, ABC, prime-time game.  Weather should be great.  Can't wait.  A win, and we bump up a spot.

There are no other teams on our schedule (look at top right of the ES site) that are ranked until we hit Ohio State in the c-c-c-cold, second to last game of the season.  Nebraska has 27 preseason votes, and both Maryland and Michigan have 1 vote each.  Da ES sees a trip to the Corn as having potential, but the Spartans have tamed the Corn (remember the frigid 27-22 win last year with a valiant but short comeback by the Corn?) the past two years and the distances between the programs this year are far greater.  Maryland is irrelevant, and Harbone's Roadkill have been irrelevant for the better part of the past decade.

Shall the ES take a trip out to Columbus... methinks maybe, but the Buckeye faithful are mean and terrible fans.  I think I'll boycott the Ohio State game; would love to come to Columbus, but not to be treated like a piece of shit.

The season finale, hosting Penn State - well, the Spartans have owned this series the past several meetings and should do so again... especially with a stake in the national playoff on the line after its victory over the Buckeyes.  Many are predicting the Nittany Lions (20 nods in the poll) at 3rd in the division behind OSU and MSU - but far below those two.  Thoughts?

Here's the complete coaches poll:

USA Today Coaches Poll

RK	TEAM	REC	PTS	TREND
1	Ohio State (62)	14-1	1598	—
2	TCU (1)	12-1	1487	—
3	Alabama (1)	12-2	1452	—
4	Baylor	11-2	1365	—
5	Oregon	13-2	1260	—
6	Michigan State	11-2	1230	—
7	Auburn	8-5	1103	—
8	Florida State	13-1	1057	—
9	Georgia	10-3	1026	—
10	USC	9-4	1014	—
11	Notre Dame	8-5	883	—
12	Clemson	10-3	838	—
13	LSU	8-5	727	—
14	UCLA	10-3	697	—
15	Ole Miss	9-4	668	—
16	Arizona State	10-3	577	—
17	Georgia Tech	11-3	573	—
18	Wisconsin	11-3	470	—
19	Oklahoma	8-5	407	—
20	Arkansas	7-6	377	—
21	Stanford	8-5	365	—
22	Arizona	10-4	299	—
23	Missouri	11-3	229	—
24	Boise State	12-2	190	—
25	Tennessee	7-6	166	—
Complete Rankings

Dropped from rankings: Mississippi State 12, Kansas State 18, Utah 20, Marshall 22, Louisville 24 

Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 164, Texas A&M 149, Oklahoma State 89, Virginia Tech 70, Utah 40, Kansas State 37, Nebraska 27, Louisville 27, Minnesota 25, Penn State 20, South Carolina 18, Miami (FL) 16, Texas 8, Illinois 7, Duke 6, Air Force 5, Louisiana Tech 5, Marshall 4, Utah State 4, West Virginia 3, NC State 3, BYU 3, North Carolina 2, Florida 2, Georgia Southern 2, UCF 1, Cincinnati 1, Kentucky 1, Maryland 1, Michigan 1, Washington 1