If you happen not to live in the “Mitten State”, it is way too easy to underestimate the intensity of the Michigan- Michigan State rivalry. Why? Because the national narrative is that Ohio State and “that team up north” is THE rivalry in the Big 10. Probably so, but the MSU-Michigan game should be ranked no worse than “1B.”
Ever since Notre Dame disappeared from Michigan State’s schedule, the hated Maize and Blue have been their Super Bowl game. Ever before that disappearance, mediocre Spartan teams would often rise way above their weight class in bedeviling the Wolverines. Three of the most painful defeats ever inflicted upon the Maize and Blue have come from Sparty in the past 30 years (The muffed punt snap on the game’s final play in 2015, the non-call on Desmond Howard in the end zone as he was being mauled on the 1990 game’s pivotal 2-point conversion and the “Spartan Bob” timekeeper game in East Lansing will eternally haunt Michigan fans).
SO, while no national narrative existed on a surprisingly pleasant Saturday in Ann Arbor, the stakes, as always, were high. Mark Dantonio, likely considered the best MSU coach ever, was in the midst of a multi-season swoon which saw him make the one-hour trip to Ann Arbor sporting a mediocre 24-23 record in his last 47.
Jim Harbaugh had not beaten Sparty in Ann Arbor in two previous attempts. When MSU got off to a 7-0 lead, one could understand the unease among the 111,ooo fans. Fool’s gold as it turned out. Behind the most passing yards ever thrown by a Michigan quarterback against MSU (384), Toledo native Shea Patterson led the Blue to a resounding 44-10 thrashing. One of the year’s greatest mysteries is the disappearance of the supposedly vaunted Spartan D. For the sixth straight game, opponents scored at least 28 points against Sparty, an all-time program first.
For Michigan’s Ronnie Bell, being at the end of so many Patterson passes was particularly sweet given his pivotal dropped pass in the end zone that thwarted a Michigan comeback in Happy Valley. At the half, Bell had as much reception yardage as the entire MSU offense. How good are Michigan’s receivers? In August, the diminutive Bell would have been, at best, considered #4 in the Wolverines’ stacked cupboard of pass catchers.
The rivalry’s intensity played out as the game got away from MSU. The second half was marred with personal fouls and an ejection of an MSU defensive lineman who wanted to finally hit Patterson — so be it, if the hit was truly late.
For Dantonio, the bus trip back to East Lansing had to be absolutely miserable. Dantonio hates Michigan. Utterly hates Michigan! That Michigan’s last TD come with less than 2 minutes to go on a 40-yard pass play was likely a “back atcha” for a tack-it-on- late-TD Dantonio inflicted on Brady Hoke during the days when the Spartans had a “no-fly-defensive backfield.” Dantonio still has an 8-5 record against the hated Blue but is he capable of an encore in the “December of his Years?” Stubborn but very loyal, Dantonio refused to make significant staff changes after a horrific 2018 offense nullifed one of the country’s best defenses. If he stays on, massive staff changes on the offensive side of the ball are mandatory. If he stays on, can he restart his recuriting mojo?
The early Dantonio would NEVER have lost two 2019 games that he did to Arizona State and Illinois. For those of you watching last night’s Oklahoma-Baylor game, that Baylor would cough up a 28-3 lead against the Sooners might have reminded you of yet another MSU pratfall seven days earlier. The Spartans looked absolutely dominant in running up a 28-3 lead against Illinois only to give up 4 fourth-quarter TD’s in one of the year’s most shocking losses. At home.
So many questions in East Lansing. Absolutely no easy answers.