Senior day at Spartan Stadium falls flat
I’ve overheard a lot of words to sum up this Rutgers annihilation. Words such as depressing, uninspired, sucky, bvfhjeb, to name a few. This writer can’t say he disagrees with really any of them. This week’s weather report is another week that doesn’t have a sun in sight. Wrapping up a season 2-7 and bowls for the third consecutive year doesn’t exactly get you in any kind of holiday spirit. So, before I get any more “bah humbug” about this, let’s just face the music and get to the report.
CLOUD 1: UNINSPIRED
I don’t know how you go into a game, at home, on senior day, with a chance to make a bowl game and apart from the first drive of the game, you look like you’d rather be anywhere else. When Carter gets a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct for making a snow angel, all emotion left every Spartan. In this new world of NIL, I worry the Spartans are going to be left behind if they don’t step up their game. I can’t help but think 60 some new players and a new coaching staff contributed to some of the seasons pains. I also can’t help but think the uninspired play and lack of emotions in the season finale are due to the number of players already looking for the next check at the next stop. MSU has got to get those donors with the biggest pockets to want to step up, or they will be left behind. It is just the nature of the beast.
CLOUD 2: COACHING
Continuing with the uninspired theme, the coaching has felt as if it has gotten worse as the season progressed. Poor or lack of adjustments, questionable play calling, zero emotion are just a few of the things making the fan base irate. We all had, perhaps, naive optimism coming into the season. We hoped we had found our new guy. I know that this takes time, get your system with your players, etc. I reviewed Smith’s path with OSU and it took some time to get that program going. He has a reputation for taking his time to find the right guys, the right character. I am willing to be a little patient but I also need a little something in return. I need to see some consistent improvements, some emotion on the sideline (I understand that just may not be in his character), and some systematic changes in game planning and in game adjustments.
CLOUD 3: INABILITY TO PLAY FOUR QUARTERS
This has been an Achilles for the Spartans all year. I don’t recall watching many teams look so strong for a quarter or a quarter and five minutes, like the Rutgers game, and then completely fall apart after. This game in particular took its turn on two plays. The holding on Carter’s run to the two that was called back and then on the same drive having the fourth down get stuffed for nothing. Every Spartan fan knew it was over after those. That has just been the season. Sadly, a very depressing predictable outcome.
CLOUD 4: INJURIES
This season has been decimated by injuries. It happens and in athletics it is never an excuse. Between the offensive line and the defensive secondary there are a lot of players getting live action that typically wouldn’t. We can hope that this bodes well in the future but it really is a coin toss. There are not a lot of players I feel confident in saying they’ll be back next year. I do wonder if some improvements in strength and conditioning need to happen to help avoid gutting the roster again.
CLOUD 5: RIVALRY WEEK
Rivalry week. USC/Notre Dame, weasels/Bucks, Alabama/Auburn….Rutgers and MSU? I actually did a spit take this afternoon when my wife, also an MSU alum and season ticket holder, says to me, “everything is advertising rivalry week, since when were we rivals with Rutgers?” Well, since BIG expansion and PSU doesn’t have a protected rival. We don’t even get the game and the blood donation rivalry with PSU that used to really get that blood pumping. I’d personally love to replace the aiding and abetting Chips with Notre Dame. Wishful thinking and likely more losses than wins, but at least a historic rivalry that is acknowledged by both sides. I digress. Really though, ending this season, with this game, could not have been more sad trombone.
SUN 1: THE SEASON IS OVER
As much as we all love football, we can all honestly say in our next therapy session when asked how we’re feeling emotionally, that we’re glad it is over. We have an earth shattering one win more than last season. We can just focus on the Lions now, well you can. I’m in total football misery as a Bears fan. That season should’ve said auf wierdersehen a long time ago too. I guess I’ll force out the, Go Lions.
BLIZZARD: THE OFFSEASON
It is going to be a likely challenging offseason with the comings and goings. it is going to feel infuriating. Especially when down the road they are rumored to be making 10 million dollar offers and can “incite a riot” on the 50 yard line with no likely repercussions while we’re flagged for snow angels. This is the landscape in which we exist and as I said earlier, something needs to happen.
This season is finally going to sleep like the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music, except they managed to sing on key and make you smile. This season was very off key and the weather reports will be on hiatus until some future football news sings from the mountain tops. It’s been a pleasure and I hope the content this season has been more enjoyable than the games themselves. Adieu, to you and you and you!