It started out ugly enough. Who calls a screen play in your own end zone? It had to be a first for a college or pro team. And will most likely be the last. 2-0 Bulldogs. And just like the Lions-Packers game start, another touchdown after the punt and it was 9-0. How many 3 and outs did State endure? While our defense was outstanding, so was the team in red. And just when you couldn’t believe another long pass could be made, it was. 16-0 and halftime.

As a Spartan enduring 8 consecutive bowl losses and coming off that dreadful loss to another team in the inaugural playoff game, the last thing we could endure was yet another loss especially after another 10 game winning season. Dantonio was motivated to win his first bowl game in five and while he was the most winning MSU coach in his first five years, another bowl loss would have spelled d-o-o-m.

The second half didn’t start much better, but again, MSU defense was spot on. What was better than the pick 6? It rallied the troops and engaged the team. It was the catalyst that won the game. But after a couple missed two-point conversions, the Bulldogs performed yet another feat of magic and scored with less than five minutes to go, 27-20. Could State rally back? Nope. Punt, couple time outs and a really big stop and one more chance to tie the game. Ball on our own 15 with less than 2 minutes to go. MSU didn’t have one drive all game long, how could they manage one now?

Kirk Cousins did what he had to do, even dash for a long gain. With 16 ticks on the clock, touchdown for MSU!

In the end, MSU beat the Bulldogs 33-30 and how fitting that a blocked field goal was the difference. Special teams made plays all game long but none bigger than that one. The seniors had something to celebrate, a big feather to add to their helmet and a reason to look forward to the upcoming NFL draft. It was a sweet victory, one that took some four-and-a-half hours. I was exhausted watching the game, could you imagine playing it?

With all the BIG TEN teams losing (1-4), perhaps the pundits will finally give MSU their due. If anything, they should put us #10 or higher on the charts. Even if Michigan wins tonight, and that is a big “if”, MSU must be ranked higher than any other BIG 10 team.

The spoils go to the victors. No one deserves it more than Mark Dantonio, Kirk Cousins and the entire MSU team. Thank you for finally bringing the GREEN back to Michigan. Now that is the way to kick off a year.

Happy Tuesday!

OMG! The game of the decade, way more satisfying than beating up U-M the previous week (although that was quite tasty too). Spartans surge to #9 in front of Wisconsin and Nebraska. BIG GAME next Saturday against Nebraska. STATE will win that one too. OMG!

And then you have the Detroit Lions. How pathetic was that performance? No doubt Stafford has been injured since game 5 and playing injured without letting anyone know. His crushing end in the fourth quarter may be telling. But the Lions are faltering and faltering at the wrong time.

Why can we make a right turn on red but can’t go straight through on red? How many times are we sitting at an intersection with absolutely no cars coming on either side? Just think how many gallons of gas we would save.

Groupon is doing its roadshow over the next two weeks to convince investors that they are worth $11 Billion. Really? Is Groupon going to be around in a year or so?

Amazon.com not content on providing the world with just about everything is testing same day grocery delivery in Seattle.

I broke down and bought the iPhone 4S which replaces my outdated 3. Apple has once again delivered. SIRI which they acquired earlier in the year is one of the star attractions. Once again, a woman’s voice tells us what to do, how to do it and all the information we need to know. Brilliant.

How much longer will Ficano be employed? The bigger question is how can one governmental office investigate another governmental office? It seems like elected officials are only interested in staying in office as long as they possibly can, collect as much money as they possibly can, and collect enough favors so when they leave office they are well off. In regards to the voters who put them in office. . .YIKES!

What are you doing for 11.11.11? It’s going to be a BIG wedding day for sure. For one, we are going to offer the entire Cuccio line Buy 1, Get 1 FREE (limit 3 each)!

Are you into Zumba? Who dreams up these new exercise schemes?

You got to hand it to John DeJoria. Not satisfied with Paul Mitchell, he developed Patron into a powerhouse brand. Now comes the new Patron ultra-premium in a crystal bottle with even bigger margins and here comes Ultimat, the new premium vodka to compete with Grey Goose and Belvedere. And here comes Mitch, his new men’s line that is ultra-chic and targeting Crew big time.

Nostalgia is going to be the next big thing. With social unrest brewing, people will thrive for the fun and frivolity of the 50’s. But here’s the thing, there were no cell phones, texting or Facebook back then.

Happy Monday and GO STATE!

OK, with the Final Four this weekend, I am very sad on one hand that MSU is not involved. They have been at 6 of the last 12. But I am kind of happy too since they haven’t won the championship in a decade.

It would be something if the #11 seed wins it all. That would be a statement.

In the end when it comes to college sports, it boils down to which college you went to. Without a doubt, universities figured out a long, long time ago how to get graduates engaged in the university long after graduation. Alumni, endowments, gifts, named buildings, scholarships, sport tickets and so much more bring in billions of revenue each year. Not to mention TV rights, heck, the Big Ten has its own cable network.

And what alumni doesn’t walk around wearing  a T-Shirt or cap on football Saturday’s? I even have a S on my license plate and pay an additional $35 a year for that Go Green!

One day I hope to have a building on MSU’s campus with my name on it. With Eli Broad already endowed in the business school, I was thinking what building would make sense. A few ideas that came to mind:

• Gaynor building of Cosmetology. Why not institute a 4-year program on campus? This way hairdressers and nail techs can really party without having to deal with commuting. Not only will they earn their license and undergrad degree, they will have two years of apprenticeship in hand. Who cares that it will cost $60,000- that’s what student loans are for.
• Gaynor building of Failures. It’s a proven fact that humans learn more from failure than success. As Spartans, we know first hand the agony of failure when it comes to our sports teams and many of its players. Enrolling in this program will ensure that students learn failure first hand from professors, coaches and others that are experts on losing. Just think of the opportunities graduates will have after this curriculum. Most likely it will be oversold in its first year.
• Gaynor building of Gambling. More money is spent on gambling than perhaps any other activity known to man. It’s time to have experts in this field and why not have MSU be the first to issue degrees in gambling? Students will learn about odds, book makers, participate in casino games, lotteries and understand more about the vig, bookies, Vegas and street gambling. And if possible, the program could be a dual-degree, Gambling and Failures. WOW!

Until then, I have say I am a Spartan and love going to the games. I am thinking of moving to East Lansing because for as long as I have been going the games, the players, marching band and cheer squad never get older. Now I know why universities have such a large alumni population, gee, I should have figured that out long ago.

Oh, there is one more reason. There is nothing more satisfying than kicking the Wolverine’s ass.

On a serious note, here is a two minute video highlighting MSU’s 2010. You will note that the Spartan’s were BIG 10 champions in football. What you won’t see are clips of the bowl game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTnZgfpT6M0

Go Green! Go White!

Happy Thursday!

Izzo was the last man standing in Michigan that had character. When the announcement was made that Dan Gilbert, a MSU alumni that happens to own the Cleveland Cavaliers, made an offer to Izzo for some $6 million a year plus, plus, plus, well, us Spartans went into shock and silently and sometimes loudly said, “Oh no, not again.”

Nine days later, Izzo did the right thing not because of his fans, not because of his President, not because of his Athletic Director, and certainly not because of LeBron James and the media; he did it because of himself.

Izzo defines character like no one else and will now be the role model for leaders throughout sports, politics and perhaps business. Character is a tough word to live up to as we saw what happened to Tiger Woods who prior to Izzo was perhaps #1 in sports in this category. The photo below tells all.

For 15 years, Izzo has been involved with MSU athletics. He taught hundreds of kids way more than basketball skills. Those kids delivered and sent MSU’s team to 6 Final Fours in 12 years winning one creating the most winning program in the nation. Those kids are breathing a sigh of relief today. And while many of them are long gone and some in the pro’s, their sigh of relief is for one reason: Character.

I got to chat with Izzo a couple times at Final Four events and listen to him talk. He’s not about ego, power, or money. He’s about winning and winning fair and square. No lies, no payoffs, no drugs, no steroids, no bullshit. How many people can you say that about at his level?

Thank you Tom Izzo. Thank you Tom Izzo for becoming a MSU Spartan for life. As one, I can tell you it’s a good feeling and with you around it will be a better feeling especially after you stated in your press conference that you are going to work with Dantonio and help make MSU’s football program a winner.

It’s a good day to be a Spartan. For once good news from a press conference. And if Tom Izzo has one more wish in his pocket, it will be to hold his next press conference after winning his second championship.

Happy Wednesday and GO GREEN!