Last year, I mentioned how losing a game in this fashion could be demoralizing and seriously affect the Spartan program coming into 2016. Granted, they graduated a great deal of experience, however, Dantonio always recruited well and they should not have dropped 4 games in a row. I think that game has had a continued demoralizing affect on this program. They got their shot last year after Dicktonio whined about not getting national respect. They got it and were crushed. Now, he can not use that mantra. During the dark years of UM football, he made every negative comment he could about Michigan football mainly because he is a former Ohio State guy. After watching them tonight against Maryland so far, they are no where near Michigan this year across the board. The rivalry aspect will keep it closer but Michigan is 30 points or more better than the Spartans this year. Easily.
Alabama Blowout Against Spartans in 2015
- Thread starter scfanblue
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They've been on a downward trend since 2013. Has nothing to do with the ass beating by Bama.
I agree. I don't see the Alabama loss as the 'cause' of the spiral downward this year. If I had to guess.
1. They reached the top of the mountain as a program.
2. They have been fortunate with the win against UM last year and the OSU screw the pooch strategy last year. Not saying MSU didn't deserve it's success but last year they probably should have had 1-2 more losses.
3. Losing Cook and losses on the defensive side of the ball. Dantonio hit the jackpot with a lot of guys...guys like Marcus Rush.
Not necessarily in this order but the above poster is correct...MSU has been trending down but found ways to win some close games. Could have lost to Iowa easily last year. How did Iowa do against Stanford? MSU won a ton of games in the last couple of years based on the fear factor of MSU. Seriously. MSU had built up a reputation for just winning. Very similar to how UM won a lot of games in the past because they were supposed to win and teams were hoping to win. Part of it (all credit) to Dantonio who instilled a will and belief in winning.
Confidence is underrated. Yes. Think Harbaugh has instilled confidence in this program again?
RM
1. They reached the top of the mountain as a program.
2. They have been fortunate with the win against UM last year and the OSU screw the pooch strategy last year. Not saying MSU didn't deserve it's success but last year they probably should have had 1-2 more losses.
3. Losing Cook and losses on the defensive side of the ball. Dantonio hit the jackpot with a lot of guys...guys like Marcus Rush.
Not necessarily in this order but the above poster is correct...MSU has been trending down but found ways to win some close games. Could have lost to Iowa easily last year. How did Iowa do against Stanford? MSU won a ton of games in the last couple of years based on the fear factor of MSU. Seriously. MSU had built up a reputation for just winning. Very similar to how UM won a lot of games in the past because they were supposed to win and teams were hoping to win. Part of it (all credit) to Dantonio who instilled a will and belief in winning.
Confidence is underrated. Yes. Think Harbaugh has instilled confidence in this program again?
RM
I think the Bama loss was more a reality check than anything else.. This decline is because:
Harbaugh/recruiting: Gone are the RR days where Dantonio can stockpile talent that UM passes on or bypasses us because of not fitting the system
Narduzzi leaving: They miss him desperately
Cousins/Cook leaving: 2 str8 NFL QBs.. they have nothing close to that now..
Harbaugh/recruiting: Gone are the RR days where Dantonio can stockpile talent that UM passes on or bypasses us because of not fitting the system
Narduzzi leaving: They miss him desperately
Cousins/Cook leaving: 2 str8 NFL QBs.. they have nothing close to that now..
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I don't know if it's because of the OSU connection. MSU coaches always seem to take shots at us. It's red meat for their fanbase.
Harbaugh/recruiting: Gone are the RR days where Dantonio can stockpile talent that UM passes on or bypasses us because of not fitting the system
Too early in the process for the above to make an impact on this severe of a decline. I would say more Narduzzi and not hitting on the lesser rated guys plus some defections. As I mentioned before...Marcus Rush is a perfect guy who played well beyond his expectations and was developed.
Also...was watching Bell today. That guy is unbelievably good. MSU hit the jackpot with some of those guys. What was the rating on Bell...guy is Lorenzo White 3.0.
RM
Well if Dantonio can get this lowly 2 star....
https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/19461
they should be okay
Considered a two-star recruit by ESPN.com, Bell was listed as the No. 211 running back in the nation in 2010.[3] Although he was a 3-year starter in high school, Bell had limited scholarship offers. Bell was offered scholarships from Bowling Green, Marshall, and Eastern Michigan but hoped to attend Ohio State. After he finished his senior football season, he finally received a scholarship offer from Michigan State after a number of players had got into trouble and head coach Mark Dantonio called his high school to inquire about him.[4] In 2010, he graduated from high school early and began attending Michigan State that spring semester
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The recruiting matters in this case because they lost a lot to graduation and even a few more players due to issues in the offseason. They don't have the young talent to fill in. They'd definitely have a few more talented bodies if our recruiting patterns matched the RR days.
This. Narduzzi and Dantonio are really good football coaches. Now with Narduzzi gone, Dantonio isn't able to hide the ineptitude of the rest of his staff. Lots of those guys have been around since he was at Cincy I believe. He has promoted from within instead of going out and finding the best coaches.
I agree with some of what you said, but the lose to Bama isn't a good excuse for their downfall.
If a lose can have that kind of impact, then how should UM had faired after their fluke lose to MSU or osu last year? Those loses didn't demoralize UM at all.
True, however, UM last year was a program that had not been whining for years about not getting a shot because they had been overshadowed by the bigger programs. MSU finally got their shot and it was very ugly which is very demoralizing. If you read my original post, I was only saying that the Alabama game may possibly have had an impact because it was their big shot they had been crying for and they were destroyed on national TV in such a fashion that it may have made many players actually question how good they actually are. I know that is not the only reason for the slide. They lost a ton of talent and they are dealing with injuries. I am worried though about Saturday in East Lansing. I think Michigan is 100 times better but I know MSU is going to fight like hell before losing 6 in a row.
Well those games were competitive.....Last years MSU squad loses to Alabama by at least 14+ 100 times out of 100. They had no chance and that can have a lasting affect on a program that thought they had arrived. They didn't even get on the flight.....game set match!!!
I think first and foremost was the loss of Narduzzi. I think he was the tone setter for the whole team ( we play 60 minutes of unnecessary roughness) and hope it doesn't get called. I saw a graphic on one of their games that showed a 1 yard increase per play (given up) each year since he left. The "imprint" fades with time and graduation ( except of course for the more cement-headed Spartans ( i.e. Riley Bullough ).
BIG TIME.... Aside from Furman MSU has given up a minimum on 24 points per game this year...
2013 - 3rd giving up 12ppg
2014 - 22nd giving up 21.5 ppg
2015 - 25th giving up 21.7 ppg
2016 - 80th giving up 29.7 ppg.....
Yikes..
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