1. Michigan State continues to get screwed by the referees, and it was crystal clear in the
39-38 loss to the Corn. I am tired of MSU
getting the fucking screw job from terrible, terrible officiating. I just don't understand how the refs could not only miss the call of the 30-yard TD to the Nebraska WR, only after being FOUR FEET out of bounds... but then the replay booth confirming a legal catch? The crew on the field and in the booth should see an optometrist and be suspended by the Big Ten, or better yet, be sent to the Canadian leagues. The NCAA created this rule after the Carlisle Indian School beat Harvard in 1907 - and the refs can't get it right?
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| This guy is a blind bonehead |
The guilty party this week? Referee: John O'Neill; Umpire: Robert Colosimo; Linesman: William Sutter; Line judge: Rick Kruger; Back judge: Matthew Edwards; Field judge: Darrel Leftwich;
Side judge: Scott McElwee; Center judge: Jeff Maconaghy.
Commish Jim Delaney, are you watching this crap - what the hell is going on? MSU was jacked in the Michigan game, the refs blew several calls in the Indiana game, and the Nebraska phantom TD was nothing short of a botched, boneheaded mistake. Even
the Nebraska coaches and fans couldn't believe it.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall to listen to what Delaney hears, although he truly only gives a shit about Ohio State and Michigan. MSU has been playing shorthanded all year, having to beat both its opponents and the refs. So much for a level playing field. It's total bullshit.
2. Connor Cook was simply crazy good in the second half. This guy is going to have a big-time NFL career. Cook was 23-37 for 335, 4 TDs and his usual boneheaded INT. But, Dear God, some of his throws were insane, crazy laser target passes. Cook started off a bit too-jacked up overthrowing receivers, but by the second quarter he looked all-world, The Spartans had several dropped passes, and Cook missed a wide open Kings early - those were missed opportunities. Yet, as the game wore on, Cook was definitely the best player on the field.
3. MSU's defensive secondary is awful. They stink. Demetrious Cox couldn't tackle my dead grandma if he tried - beyond that, he's just plain awful in coverage, if you want to actually call it "coverage." He's a step late and nearly always out of position. He's not alone. I can't remember this many missed arm tackles out of the Spartan secondary. This team is so far from the No Fly Zone it's in a different hemisphere - a better name for our secondary would be the "Sky Miles Program" for frequent travel through the air.
4. Bad coaching, What was Coach D's staff doing, acting like John L. Smith and outsmarting themselves with the TE-around on 3rd down late in the game? That was just stupid. They took a page right out of the Jesus Harbaugh's playbook and got too conservative with the three runs. Get a first down, game over, Connor Cook was playing lights-out; maybe do a play action and throw an easy pass or just roll out and run it instead of the stupid shit. Earlier in the game,
3rd 4th and 1 and he takes out a surprisingly effective Gerald Holmes (22 carries 117 yards) to put in a cold LJ Scott. No gain,
punt. [OK, ES screwed this up in original write-up - this was several plays after the 43 yard run by Holmes, and if was 4th, not 3rd down... but, it doesn't matter... because the point is the same]. That was stupid, too. I didn't expect Coach D and staff to piss it away, but they did - just too many missed opportunities.
5 . Living on borrowed time. Let's be honest: this
ending was bound to happen - the Spartans have been pushed by Purdue, Indiana, Oregon, Rutgers, and Michigan... hell, Big Green were even pushed by the U.S. Air Force Academy. So, it's not exactly a surprise... but losing via bad officiating sucks. But, this isn't a Chicken Little scenario: the sky hasn't fallen. MSU still controls its own destiny. Michigan State needed to beat Ohio State anyway, and the Spartans still need to beat the Buckeyes. That doesn't change. Winning out could lead the Spartans back into the title hunt if other teams above them falter. However, I doubt it - only Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Alabama are ever rewarded despite losing. Bottom line: There is no longer any room for error.
MSU is now #14. They play Maryland next week, and should destroy the Turtles.
Initial line looks like a 16-pt favorite.
Dropped from rankings: Ole Miss 19, Toledo 20, Texas A&M 25
Others receiving votes: USC 104, BYU 35, Ole Miss 22, Texas A&M 6, Boise State 6, Toledo 4, Washington State 2, Western Kentucky 2
