MSU Finally Brings Home The Green After Winning Outback Bowl
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
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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!
