Sports: The Spartans are Back
THE SPARTANS ARE BACK!
George Perles capped a great recruiting effort by leading MSU to a probable seventh bowl appearance in the last 10 years. Mark 1993 as the year MSU football began its comeback. Assured of a bowl game, towards season's end the question became which bowl MSU attend, not 'whether.' And that's the way things were.
George Perles had enjoyed steady success from 1987 to 1990, a period during which MSU won two Big Ten titles, one runner-up finish and one third place finish, along with four consecutive bowl games (including trimphs in the Rose Bowl, Aloha Bowl and John Hancock Bowl). Then came a two-year hiatus which included two straight losses to Central Michigan University. With this season, Perles has begun the re-ascent to that plateau of excellence. The turning point? Probably MSU's resounding 17-7 victory over talent- rich Michigan on Oct. 9.
The Wolverines had been the overwhelming pre-season pick to win the Big Ten (if not the national title). But a national TV audience saw MSU unleash a a typical Perles game plan--a punishing ground game combined with bone-rattling tackles. Within that strategy, however, fans also noticed a more diversified attack, with new sets and motions--the brainchild of offensive coordinator Morris Watts. The new wrinkles seemed to confuse the Michigan defense. On the defensive side, coordinator Norm Parker and assistants Dino Folino, Kip Waddell and Ed Zaunbrecher devised a noose that limited Michigan to 33 yards net rushing--all by their Heisman candidate Tyrone Wheatley. Because MSU won the old-fashioned way--by pounding the Wolverines and dominating them physically--Spartan fans were able to savor it with a minimum of whining from the other side. This win was no fluke blameable on a questionable call; on the contrary, it happened despite several blown calls against the Spartans. After the tremendous win, MSU tiptoed quietly into the national rankings.
The next week, MSU solidified its national standing, ironically, with a roaring loss in Columbus. League-leading Ohio State clearly dodged a bullet as MSU missed four field goals and dropped an endzone pass to lose 28-21. The national TV audience saw the Spartans push the Buckeyes around like toys, winning every statistical category but the final score. The inspiring effort moved MSU two notches up in the polls.
The Spartans were for real. Quarterback Jim Miller, overlooked during the preseason, completed passes at a 70 percent clip and notched 272 straight plays without a turnover. All-purpose receiver Mill Coleman performed with sustained excellence; he made big plays seem, well, run-of-the-Mill. Freshman middle linebacker Reggie Garnett ran all over the field, while outside linebacker Rob Frederickson made clutch plays all over the field. Other heroes in the Spartan resurgence included the granite-like offensive line, plus fullback Brice Abrams, whose lead-blocking reminded one of his namesake tank.
The defense, at last, woke up echoes of 'Gang Green.' Led by Yakini Allen, Bill Glover, Aaron Jackson and Juan Hammonds, they held Michigan's Heisman candidate Tyrone Wheatley to 33 rushing yards. Cornerback Myron Bell made opponents 'ring' with punishing tackles, while free safety Steve Wasylk showed smarts on and off the field.
Credit must be given Watts and assistants Pat Morris, Willie 'Skip' Peete, Pat Shurmur, and Bobby Williams for oiling an offensive machine that generated nearly 550 yards against a national Top Five team. Although some faint Rose Bowl hopes arose, they were soon dashed by a shutout at Indiana followed by a couple of uninspiring performances.
The roller coaster season began with a solid 31-14 win over Kansas, a top- 25 team at the end of last season. Next came a dismal outing at Notre Dame. After an initial juggernaut-like drive--74 yards in 14 plays--MSU lost the momentum while the Irish made adjustments and won convincingly 36-14. As the season unfolded, it became apparent that Notre Dame, contrary to Lou Holtz's camouflage demurrers, was the top team in the nation--even better than 'team of the century' Florida State. After South Bend, MSU recovered for a triumph against CMU. The win was important psychologically, halting a two-year jinx against the Mid-American team. Then came the season's high point--the performances against Michigan and OSU. After a humdrum 24-10 Homecomimg win over a pesky Iowa, MSU was ambushed 6-1 in Bloomington, IN. The Spartan offense was unable to move on a cold, wet day and lost 10-0. A broken play on a Hoosier punt led to the game's only touchdown. The next two games were humdrum wins against Northwestern and Purdue, the Big Ten basement dwellers. It was a testament to the strength of the conference, and 'parity,' that both teams showcased flashes of greatness. The Wildcats featured the (Len) Williams-to-(Lee)Gissendaner combination, while Purdue unleased such phenoms as fullback Mike Alstatt and receiver Jeff Hill. Still, dodging those bullets placed the Spartans at 4-2 in the conference, a tie for fourth place.
Next came a week's rest prior to facing the newest Big Ten rival--Penn State, the 'beast from the East.' The debut of Penn State and their legendary coach Joe Paterno during Thanksgiving Weekend was an event that may kick-off a rivalry along the lines of Michigan and Ohio State. The two schools played for the Land-Grant Trophy, the brainchild of MSU sports information director Ken Hoffman, who felt it was appropriate to honor the nation's first two land-grant institutions--founded weeks apart in 1855.
For the record, MSU won the initial game of that potential rivalry. In any case, as the Spartans made preparations for the Coca Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, against Wisconsin, one thing was sure. MSU's program was back on track, on the bowl-prowl every year.