ES Preview: Michigan State Spartans vs That Other Catholic School

Michigan State Spartans (3-0) at Boston College Eagles (3-0)

Alumni Stadium, Chester Hill, Massachusetts

September 21, 2024.  8:00 pm ET.

TV: ACC Network

Weather:  59 degrees, RAIN.  

Sagarin Ratings: Boston College #55, Michigan State #69

Line Outta Vegas:  The Other Catholics by 5.5

BC Stadium Capacity 44,500. Yikes, that's ACC tiny. 

Yes, it will rain today in Boston.  Rain, rain, rain.

 Big Bob and the ES saw these boys sing this live in EL about 20 years ago.  Let it rain rain rain in Boston.

The ES is up at Mackinac Island for the weekend and will watch the game from the City.  A bit distracted from football today, but will pop in to catch scores during the game around lunch, bicycling, the Grand Hotel, and fudge.   72 and sunny today here up north; better than the pouring rain expected during the game today in Boston.  

First of all, BC has has two significant contests on the road:  a win at wannabees Florida State and BC pushed #6 Mizzou to the limit last week. The Other Catholics have a great rushing attack, with a mobile QB with Nick Castellanos who also has 9 TD passes.  The Boston College running game has been the key for the Eagles. Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward has 153 yards through three games, and the Eagles are averaging 205 yards per game on the ground and 5 yards per carry. The Spartan defense is 23rd in FBS in rushing defense, allowing 78 yards per game.  This is key, especially in a rain storm.

Spartan QB Aidan Chiles has all the talent in the world, with wheels to boot. However, the young man has lots of coaching in front as he must learn to settle down and set his feet before he throws instead of behaving like Patrick Mahomes.  Each time, this gets him into trouble resulting in overthrows and INTs. If he can settle in and MSU can find a way to use its run game, it should have a chance.  But, MSU needs to stop the Other Catholic rushing attack.  Watch Chiles try to lengthen the field to standout 17-year old Nick Marsh.  One or two hits on this could be tremendous.  Can the MSU defense hold up and create a few turnovers in the rain?  Pray and find out. 

This will be a challenging contest for the newbie, undefeated Spartan coach Jonathan Smith, who has MSU undefeated and sitting atop the Big Ten through three games. 

Prognostications:

Big Bob: BC 28-24 MSU
Amsterdam CHock: My original pick was what Bob said. To be different,  I'll say BC 27 - MSU 20
Keith:  MSU 24-23

Australian Paul:  MSU 41-0. We're talking scalps. 

Pittsburgh Sloth:  I predict beer. 

ES sez, MSU 27, BC 23.  

Michigan State's offense requires new teeth

I have all 32 teeth. Let's see how many remain after this Spartan fall.

I am not going to Spartan Stadium on Saturday's this fall for tooth extractions.  I won't do it. 

It was disappointing.  Too many mistakes everywhere by Michigan State, especially playing against a sub-par opponent in Florida Atlantic.  We’re 1-0, but here are some of my thoughts.

About last night’s game.  It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out MSU is in trouble on the offensive line.  Three yards and a cloud of dust?"  We fed the ball to Carter 19 times for 2.5 yards a carry.  That sucks.  And, many of the plays were telegraphed.  I'm sitting up in Section 121 with Sloth, the God Deieter, and the rest of the section, yelling "My God, stop running it up the middle!!!!  It doesn't work!"  Unfortunately, the coaches didn't listen and kept at it, with little result to show.  Funny how I got cheers from the crowd: the thought being if we struggle to beat FAU, what the hell is gonna happen when Ohio State comes to town?  Michigan State has lots of problems on the offensive interior.  The offensive line could use my dead grandma to open up some holes.  Everything between the tackles was inconsistent and for the most part unproductive.  Let’s look.  

MSU had 179 yards on the ground: that’s pretty good, but what is the problem is looking at efficiency:

https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/stats\

Though MSU averaged 4.8 yards per carry, the issue is that 63 was on one TD run by Lynch-Adams (who should clearly be the starter).  Those are real yards and they count; if this is a consistent trend, I would pleasure it and sell the barn. But the problem is the rest of the game, and when you take out the run, MSU was 36 rushes for just 116 yards or a 3.2 average.  That’s not good.  

If you were at the game, as was I, the game was not fun to watch. Fairly boring, mistakes, poor tackling, and bad blocking.  But what became apparent as the game wore on, was the ineffectiveness of the interior offensive line of MSU.  It seemed like much of the time, QB Aidan Chiles was running for his life.  That’s not a good sign.  

Speaking of Chiles, he missed many wide-open throws, a wide-open TD opportunity that went three rows into the seats, and threw a very bad INT in what should have been a pix-6 as State was driving deep in FAU territory: we were gonna score, and my g-friend and I expected as much, to go up 23-3 and head for the exits.  But, then the stupid throw by Chiles.  It wasn’t good.  Watch it on replay. He only completed 10 passes on 25 attempts, with 2 interceptions.  According to MSU, that's a terrible 62.9 QB rating for Chiles (FAU's QB had an 84.2 rating, and that's accurate as he was the better QB in this game). 

Look at this photo:

This is what you teach QBs NOT TO DO.  Throw off your back foot falling back and making your shoulder do all the work.  Hey, Chiles, your 18 years old, dude.  Step into your throws and stop thinking your talent is going to bail you out.  This is a big problem.  He needs much more coaching on his decision-making.  He did not throw well. 

However, it wasn't all his fault.  WR Montorie Foster dropped two passes, ran poor routes, and fumbled.  He did not play well. He should not be the top option for Chiles, because he is unreliable.  It's unfortunate, but the proof is in the play and not the potential. We need him to play better. 

We also learned that RB Nate Carter was busy eating too many Cheetos and Pizza Hut this summer.  19 carries for 52 yards, mostly up the middle into madness, that's a whopping 2.5 yards per carry.  Carter was completely useless in this game; and, while some of it was poor interior blocking and poor play calling, he had several opportunities to bounce outside.  Instead, Carter just plowed into the middle like Jehuu Caulcrik or Earl Campbell, but with less mass and brains, making Carter just fall down. You can't just plow into the middle when everyone expects it and have Carter get the yards; it's like running into a brick wall; many times, poor ingenuity and poor execution. It reminded me of the John L Smith years, constantly underperforming and making mistakes.  Luckily, we have an effective back in Lynch-Adams, and both his dashiness and his speed were clearly on display. He was the player of the game. 

On defense, they were asked to do more than they should have.  They held up pretty well, giving up just 248 total yards despite all the gifts from the MSU offense. And, they managed SEVEN sacks on a very mobile FAU quarterback.  The talent difference really showed on the defensive front.  MSU should be very tough here this season.  I was pretty surprised about the play of #7 Jordan Turner and #8 Anthony Jones.  They were all over the place and tackled well - it's a big positive for this team.  They played well, and bailed out the offense on several occasions.  

Bottom line, I really really REALLY do not want a season AGAIN where the defense is bailing out the offense.  It makes for ugly wins, gutwrenching games, making things harder than they should be, and just making you want to crap your pants every week.  It’s a lot more fun to watch the Detroit Lions than the MSU Spartans.  Maybe Jonathan should call Dan Campbell?  Hmmmm…..

MSU must beat Maryland next week.  It will not be easy. There are a lot problems that must get fixed. And, it all starts with that interior offensive line.  Tell Foster to catch the damn ball.  And tell Aidan to chill and make better decisions.  All of them have gotta play better.  

GO GREEN. 

Enlightened Spartan 2024 Preview

Is this the official song for Michigan State this year?  "Gouge Away"?...we can use a biblical performance by the Spartans this fall. 

Well, Spartan fans.  Here we are.  2024, bring it on.  The one thing we can all agree on:  we can only go UP.   This is the 24th year the ES has published a Michigan State preview.  I'm getting old. 

It's interesting bringing in a new coach for the umpteenth time in my life (Daugherty, Stoltz, Muddy Waters, Perles, $aban, Williams, John L Smith, Dantonio, Tucker, now John A. Smith).  I'm hopeful, and as the ES first predicted on October 6 of last year, Smith would leave his alma mater for greener pastures here in East Lansing.  He's the right guy with recruiting/embracing NIL, tough running game, dynamic QB play, and a rugged defense.  It fits the "tough guy" image of Michigan State that we can only hope pays off.  At $7 million a year, we hope it pays off.

What does the depth chart tell us?  

I'm very keen on watching the line play - on offense, we've plugged the holes with two transfer seniors (including Tanner Miller from Oregon State) joining returnee Brandon Baldwin, and two red-shirt sophomores.  What's the improvement?  From the weight room? Or is it better scheming?  Or just talent?  Our pass defense has been atrocious the past five years, in part because of poor ability to get to the quarterback putting sub-standard DBs on islands and getting burned time and again.

On defense, we have four transfers (Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Wisconsin, Georgia Tech).  Reminds me a bit back in the day when John "Loser" Smith would plug the losses with transfers on the way to 7-5 seasons.  We can do better, and watch #7 Jordan Turner, a senior out of Wisconsin playing linebacker.  He should be damn good. 

The bonus seems we have a good kicking game (the way it used to be pre-Mel), with Eckley at punter and Jonathan Kim at FGs.  That should help the defense out.  But the offense needs to move the ball to do its part.  To that end, Aidan Chiles is an X-factor who has speed to burn and is a spot-on high level recruit who also transferred from Oregon State.  He's lucky he gets to hand the ball off to Nate Carter, who was easily Michigan State's best RB last year.  Fast, swifty, and with a punch: he reminds me of LJ Scott.  We just need the boys up front to keep the enemy at bay and open them holes.  

The first game against Florida Atlantic should be an interesting test.  Below, we have some prognostications for the season; there will be another brief post with a preview of FAU shortly.  But, this is what the pundits say about MSU this year:

1. What will be the MSU final record in 2024?

2. Will MSU go to a bowl game, and which one?

3. On a scale of 1-5 (1= bad, 5 = good), how do you think new QB Aidian Chiles will perform while making $1 Million in NIL money for the Spartans?

4. What will be the biggest win for MSU?

5. What will be the worst loss for MSU?

6. Are you going to an MSU away game? Which one and why?

7. Which musical act or song will best represent MSU football this year?

Aussie Paul:

1. 15-0

2. National Chamionship

3. 5

4. National Championship

5. N/A

6. No, too far

7. Slayer- "raining blood"

Pittsburgh Lee:

1. 6-6, maybe 7-5.  

2. Whatever the Pizza Bowl is called these days.  

3. Better than Noah Kim, worse than Connor Cook, but exciting to watch.  

4. Win: UM.  

5. Loss: OSU.  

6. Every MSU home game is an away game for me, lol.  

7. "My Erection is Over", a true punk classic.

Pontiac Keith:

I expect that we will be similar to what we were in sabans first year with us.

Mediocre or slightly above...

Lansing Cat:

We'll go 6-6, with our best win over Iowa. and our biggest loss against Michigan.  Song for the year?  "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" by Culture Club. 

Big Bob:

1) MSU goes 6-6 this season 

2) but no bowl game. The big jump in performance comes next year 

3) Aiden Chiles will be a 3.1417 on a 1-5 scale 

4) The biggest win in terms of points will be Prayery View but in terms of importance will be Iowa 

5) The biggest loss will once again be to Ohio State 

6) No away game this year but USC would be a great trip next season!

7) Without question, “I want my balls back” by The Exciting Sounds of Savo will best represent MSU this year

The ES:

1.  7-5.

2.  Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop

3.  4 out of 5.  Not his fault if he is running for his life. 

4.  Biggest win?  Iowa

5.  Biggest loss? Ohio State

6.  Oregon, to go see my mom in Port Angeles, WA.  

7.  "Waiting Room" by Fugazi

Aug. 30: Florida Atlantic.  W.  37-17.
Sep. 7. at Maryland.  L.  20-24.
Sep 14. Prairie View A&M.  W.  48-10.
Sep. 21. at Boston College.  W. 31-20.
Sep. 28.  Ohio State.  L.  10-42.
Oct. 4.  at Oregon.  L. 17-45.

Oct. 11. BYE
Oct. 19.  Iowa.  W.  8-4.
Oct. 26.  at Michigan.  L. 16-35.
Nov. 2.  Indiana. W.  32-27.

Nov. 9. BYE
Nov. 16. at Illinois. L.  20-26.
Nov. 22.  Purdue.  W.  35-14.
Nov. 30.  Rutgers.  W.  27-21. 

ENJOY THE SEASON!  GO BIG GREEN TOUCHDOWN MACHINE!!!

ES Preview: scUM week and a Trivia Quiz

She's gonna play on the OLine today for the scUMbuckets

Michigan State Spartans (3-4, 1-3) vs #4 Michigan Wolverines (7-0, 4-0)

Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbor, MI
October 29, 2022.  7:30 pm
TV: ABC
Weather: 50 clear skies. 

Sagarin Ratings:  scUM #4, Michigan State #48

Line Outta Vegas: scUM by 22

TIME FOR SOME TRIVIA

1. Who has won 10 of the last 14 in the MSU-scUM series?
2. Who won 3 of the last 4 in the MSU-scUM series played in Ann Arbor?
3. Which MSU coach is the only coach to be 2-0 in his first two games vs scUM?
4. How much was scUM favored by the last time the MSU played them in Ann Arbor?  Who won?
5. What is Jesus Habaugh's all-time record vs MSU?
6. Who won the last time scUM was favored by 22 in Ann Arbor?
   
   Answers below.

Yes, after the defensive-led performance by Michigan State in its W over Wisky two weeks ago, there is LIFE in them lungs of the Green and White.  Today: two weeks to prepare (for both teams).  The Jesus in khakis vs Tuck, the best-dressed man in college football. What better than to repost the ES' thoughts from two years ago, when #13 Michigan were favored by 22 (sound familiar, WalMart Wolverines?) in Ann Arbor :

---------

Ha Ha Ha, Harbaugh: You are on your KNEES!

OK, at first the ES was outraged.  Then, sitting next to Big Bob with mimosas and Bell’s Beer at the steady, we began to finally realize the brilliance of Mel Tucker.

This is all part of the master plan.  Let’s calm down, no worries Spartan Nation.  Getting your asses kicked is fun! Clearly we have the next $aban.  The 38 points allowed by MSU with a new coach (Tucker) in his first game was the most since his mentor, $aban, lost 50-10 to Nebraska in 1995. 

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”  

Wow, that exactly is what we saw today in Spartan Stadium.  No passion and execution to succeed was on display by the men in green.  Ahhhh, but then we turn to Sun Tzu and realize the genius of Mr. T as we lead into our annual throwdown against the Yellow Jackets from Ann Arbor. 

Sun Tzu – “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

We certainly deceived the enemy in Ann Arbor today.  It was pure genius; unable to attack, appearing inactive, far away from the action – that was Michigan State football in its greatest deception of the modern era.  Michigan – you have no idea the volume of destruction that is headed your way next Saturday.

Some of the action today was borderline confusing – QB Rocky Lombardi ambling along like a mentally deranged alcoholic on the gridiron, firing passes left and right for no reason.  The offensive line lacking any ability to block or “perceived” lack of ability to strike Rutgers’ iron wall defense. 

Brilliant. 

It is our ruse. Ha Ha Ha.  We got you right where we want you.  Thought you had us figured out, didn’t ya?

Next week, coach Tucker will release Armageddon.  

To quote Sun Tzu again, as is clearly coach Tucker’s strategy: “know yourself and you will win all battles.”  Oh, we Spartans know who we are.  We are proud and mighty, and a 11 point loss at home to mighty Rutgers is exactly the strategy that will bring your savior Jesus Harbaugh to his knees. 

See you next week.  Rest well, little people in Ann Arbor.  The time is ‘nigh. Grab your spears and pitchforks. We’re coming!

------

TRIVIA ANSWERS. 

1. Michigan State
2. Michigan State
3. Mel Tucker
4. 22. Michigan State
5. 3-4 vs Michigan State
6. Michigan State

ES sez.... MSU 24, UM 23. 

ES Preview: Pinstripe Bowl vs Wake Forest

Michigan State Spartans (6-6/4-5) vs 

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4/4-4)

December 27, 2019.  3:20 pm ET.
TV: ESPN
Pinstripe Bowl. Yankee Stadium, New York City
Weather: 52, cloudy.

Sagarin Rankings:  MSU #37, Wake Forest #58
Vegas Line:  MSU by 4

The Spartans rang the opening bell at the NYSE on Dec. 26. 
Their stock this year was disappointing.

Well before the bowl selection show on December 8, the Michigan State Spartans knew they would be slotted to play in a baseball stadium as their final game of the year.  MSU football's statistical rankings compare similarly to that of the Detroit Tigers - for instance, the Tigers losing 114 games in 2019, and the Spartans ranked 107th in scoring offense in the NCAA.

NY Yankee's Randy Levine

New York Yankee president Randy Levine expanded on why the Yankees fought hard to outbid other outstanding bowl competition from the Quick Lane Bowl, Cheeze-It Bowl, Camping World Bowl, and others: "We learned our mistakes back in the Gotham Bowl in 1962: too much offense," said Levine. "The New York Yankees now have a laser focus to find at least one team that best resembles the scoring output of our Yankee team - last year, the Yankees scored nearly six runs a game [5.8], and Michigan State's scoring output is a proper fit."

One particular bowl stood out in Levine's comments in trying to land the Spartans: "As a historically successful franchise, we used our tough negotiation tactics with the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl to land the Spartans," added Levine.  "As a compromise, Titus (O'Neill, the Gasparilla Bowl Chairman) said we'd have to also select an unknown basketball school.  Wake Forest was the obvious other choice."

The Yankee organization released information with further notes on why they worked so hard to select Michigan State, comparing the team with similarities to the Detroit Tigers: the Tigers being sued for wrongful termination, the Tigers finishing last in scoring in the AL, the Tigers sporting ugly uniforms; and, the Spartans being sued for wrongful termination, the Spartans finishing last in scoring among true Big Ten teams, the Spartans sporting ugly uniforms.

"The bowl selection process worked as well as it ever has," concluded Levine.

Steely Dan is to perform "Deacon Blues" at halftime.

Baseball yes, football no? Yes, Yankee Stadium was meant to be for today's matchup.  Today's starting lineup:

P - Brian Lewerke
SS - Cody White
1B - Elijah Colins
2B - Jalen Nailor
3B - Matt Seybert
LF - Josiah Scott
CF - Kenny Willikes
RF - Tyriq Thompson
DH - Raequan Williams
Bullpen - Rocky Lombardi, Theo Day

Outlook:  The ES expects Brian Lewerke to have several wild pitches in this game, as he has for much of the season.  If Lewerke can get the ball over the plate on a regular basis, unfortunately we can expect many errors from Spartan fielding, with drops by Collins, Nailor, White, and Seybert leading the Big Ten this season.  At the plate, Raequan Williams and Kenny Willikes have also been a disappointment with few home runs in big games, registering just one sack each against nationally-ranked competition in 2019.  Godforbid the Spartans actually get to their Detroit Tiger-inspired bullpen, with incompetent pitching of backups Rocky Lombardi and Theo Day.  In sum,  expect an error-filled, offensively offensive game from the Spartans.

Predictions:

Smig:  Rutgers wins in the cold
Big Bob: Lewerke throws for 637 yards and the Spartans win 52-0.
Oakland Ronnie: Wake forest wins 45-24 all points coming from Theo day entry into the game in the third quarter on.
RGM3: MSU 24-21. Game winning fg as time expires.  Theo Day throws for 180 and 2 TDs.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 27-14
GVSU Gregger:  MSU 21-17
The Duchess of Kirkaldy:  Wake 27-14

ES sez:  Wake 27-17

ES Preview: Thank God This Season is Over

MSU Spartans (5-6/3-5) vs Maryland Terrapins (3-8/1-7)
November 30, 2019.  3:30 pm.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

TV:  FS1
Weather: 36 cloudy, wind 11 mph from the East

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #34, Maryland #99
Vegas Line: MSU by 22 1/2

Instead of watching this crap, the ES is will be at the theatre
watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Predictions:

MSU sucks.  Maryland sucks lots worse.  End of season. This season has been a waste of my time and energy.  Next loss: Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit, vs Central Michigan.  December 26.  8 pm ET.

ES sez:  Michigan State wins 21 - 10.

ES Preview: We don't need no stinkin' Badgers

Michigan State Spartans (4-2/2-1) at #8 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0/2-0)
Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
October 12, 2019.  3:30 pm ET.
TV:  BTN
Weather: 48/cloudy.  It's windy - 19 mph SW

We don't need no stinkin' Badgers!

Line outta Vegas:  Wisky by 10
Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #15, Wisky #6

Prognostications:

Well, it's going to be cold and windy.  So, expect the Big Green to give up the running game and start throwing the ball into the wind, to be picked off time and again by the nation's #1 defense in Wisky (179 ypg).  Which means the nation's #2 ground gainer, Wisky's Jonathan Taylor (149 ypg), may just dice up this Spartan defense which  struggled against the run against Ohio State.

Sigh.  Saw this game last year in the agonizing RedBox bowl game, a 7-6 loss.  At least the ES is going to the Big D (Ole Shellelagh) to witness the slaughter... and go check out a winner - the 3-1 Detroit Red Wings vs the Toronto Maple Leafs!

• Wisconsin State Journal: Wisky 21-13
• Australian Paul:  MSU 14-10.
• RGM3: Wisky 21-13.
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: Wisky 35-6
• GVSU Gregger: Wisky 28-10. 
• Chris Zech:  Wisky 37-24.  Whiskey in a Jar.
• Chef Tom (Glen Arbor): Straight Whiskey.
• Eric J-A (Madison): Wisconsin 24-10. I will be at the game cheering for Bucky and empathizing with State fans. MSU wins only via injury or turnovers.
• Doc: MSU 16-13. ES is so drunk by halftime, he misses Sparty pull it out.
• Oakland Ronnie: MSU 23-10.
• Keith: Wisky 24-10.
• Carter (Bay Area, Cali): Wisky 35-14.
• CHock (San Francisco): Wisky 12-6.
• Sloth (Pittsburgh): Wisky 31-0.
• Big Bob (Kzoo): Wisky 31-17.
• The Future Queen of Scotland, Brexit Deal Be Damned (Detroit): Wisky 31-27.

ES sez...  Sparty 7, Wisky 21.  The march to greatness ends. 

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.

No Offense vs. Good Coaching

Coach D and the Spartans

MSU Spartans (2-1/0-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-1/0-0)
Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
September 21, 2019,  Noon ET.
TV: ABC

Line:  MSU by 8-1/2?  They're smoking dope in Vegas

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #15, Northwestern #57

In East Lansing, John L. Smith has returned to overthink the offense.  Why play your best running back (Collins) at the most important times?  Naaahhh, let's substitute him with someone (Hayward) who can't juke past a dying rhino.  Better yet, when we have time, let's run a Chinese fire-drill with time ticking down to kick a field goal... instead of spiking the ball to give the team more time!

This coach we have is being paid very well.  $4.39 million dollars this year, to be exact.  Yet, the Dr. of Excuses says "everything is happening real time, very fast" can't use his experience to save our skins.  Throwing the ball in 50 mph winds in a bowl game (RedBox), or ditching an effective run game to pass in sub-zero temperatures in BFE Nebraska, or switching to your backup QB on 4th down to run into a pile (Tulsa), or mismanaging the entire season by playing a hurt QB...  This is getting old.

As said countless times: MSU is is going to WASTE another dominating defense because of stupid coaching on the offense.  This is an average team at best. Coach Dantonio has lost his way.
 https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/09/michigan-state-in-danger-of-wasting-another-dominant-defense-as-2018-season-seems-to-roll-on.html

Coach Fitzpatrick is EXACTLY what you want in a coach.  Putting his best players on the field at the best time and giving his players the best opportunities to win.  Our coach, takes our best players out and overthinks himself.  What happened to Coach D?  His trick plays?  Coaching up 3-star recruits?  He seems lost.

This hurts to write this, but it is true.  He didn't fire anyone.  Dr. Excuses, the "foxhole" guy will be loyal to the point of losing.  And, he has lost this faithful Spartan.

8-1/2 point favorites?   Shit, we can't even score more than 7.

Predictions:

• Big Joe & Phantom 309 (metro D): 12-10 MSU the offense scores 3 points and the defense gets a TD and a safety to secure the game
• GVSU Gregger (Gr Rapids):  MSU 24-17
• RGM3 (Farm Hills): MSU 21-10
• The Queen of Scotland (NY, NY):  AWOL
• J Dog (Clarkston): MSU 17-13 in OT
• CHock (San Francisco, CA):  NW 28-24
• Keith (Pontiac):  MSU 20-17
• Sloth (Pittsburgh, PA):  Frustration
• Smig (Santa Rosa, CA): NW 14-3
• Big Bob (Kzoo): NW 20-14. MSU’s offense will be twice as gooderer at moving the ball between the 20 yard lines as last week, so they will generate 808 yards of offense and lose the game 20-14. CHOCK response: "How the fuck will they ever score 14 points Big Bob? 6 Point Mark's offense is fine tuned for 2 made field goals (except last week, substitute 1 made TF... about the same)." BIG BOB response: "Easy. The D will have to score the 2nd TD."

ES (en route to be with J in Clarkston):  NW 10-6