Clarence “Biggie”Munn must be rolling in his grave at what’s become of Michigan State football in 2016.
Biggie Biggie Biggie, Can’t you see, this team seemingly quit on Coach D.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/787406183963455489
The Spartans, five point favorites, lost their Homecoming contest 54-40 to Northwestern, in a game that was more lopsided than the final box score indicates. Michigan State got off to a really fast start, going up 14-0, but that didn’t last very long at all, and once things went downhill, it snow-balled way out of control in rapid fashion.
Your 2016 Michigan State football team was a top 15 team in the polls during the preseason, and then rose to #8 after the late night win at Notre Dame in week three of the season. Now they’re hapless and looking hopeless. Today was the most points that the Spartans have ever surrendered in a conference home game, and the most allowed at home in 20 years.
They’re playing as if Mark Dantonio has just lost them. I would never say the team quit, but what right now they really look like they have given up, especially considering how poor the results have been.
This in spite of the high level of talent that they possess.
NU consistently beat MSU with the dinks and dunks underneath, but the Spartans’ second level defending was atrocious. Utterly optional defending by State on the short routes and screen passes, and the Spartans did not exercise their option to defend.
In the postgame media session, a reporter asked Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald if he could have imagined rolling up 54 points.
“Not against Michigan State’s defense, no,” Fitzgerald responded.
“Coach Dantonio and his staff do a fantastic job. We had some huge plays offensively. We had pretty good balance, 209 on the ground, 281 in the air and any time you have that kind of balance, it gives you a great opportunity to have some success.”
Fitzgerald was in a great mood during postgame and he had some fun with the media after the win.
“You guys (the media) will probably post some things that when you run the ball you win. It’s shocking- any time you run the ball well, you win,” Fitzgerald said jokingly.
This Michigan State football team played in the college football playoff on New Year’s Eve. Today, they allowed Northwestern to score their most points in any contest since 2011. The Spartans’ secondary used to be the “No Fly Zone.” These days, it’s wide open public air space.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/787406183963455489
Northwestern, an offense that has been scrutinized for its inefficiency most of the year, both ran and threw it all over the yard. NU tailback Justin Jackson set a career high for both carries (34) and yards (188). Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson set a new career high in both completions, and put up his second most passing yards. Austin Carr, the leading receiver in the Big Ten, set a new career high with 11 receptions (for 130 yards, 2 TDs).
We chronicled a couple weeks ago, the new low points reached by 2016 Michigan State football. Then the bottom dropped out again, and of course we discussed the new low. I still don’t think we’re at nadir. There’s still probably a rock bottom left below this level, and who knows when that’s coming. You can absolutely forget about a bowl game now. There’s no way they’re finishing strong enough to get to bowl eligibility this season.
This quote, from Northwestern edge rusher Ifeadi Odenigbo (2 sacks for -20 yards), pretty much says it all about 2016 Michigan State football. It was in reference to Joe Gaziano’s (sack, tackle for loss, fumble recovery) safety with 9:23 left in the first half.
Quote courtesy of Inside NU on SB Nation.
Ifeadi on Gaziano's sack for a safety: "I was like 'Oop, that looks like a dead body.'"
— Inside NU (@insidenu) October 16, 2016
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.