Sports: A Special Season for MSU Football

? As we went to press, MSU accepted a bid to play in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, FL, on January 1, 2011.

Despite some adverse developments, including a mid-season heart attack suffered by Mark Dantonio, the 2010 Spartans notched 11 wins this season—the most wins ever in MSU football history.

Four years ago, Mark Dantonio pledged that he would turn MSU into a championship team at some point.  He kept his word, in quiet but spectacular fashion—and was rewarded with Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. 

MSU won its first Big Ten championship since 1990 and seventh ever.  Previously titles were won in 1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987 and 1990.  MSU achieved the milestone despite some adverse situations.  MSU’s 11-1 record tied with Wisconsin and Ohio State.  

The Bowl Championship Series denied MSU a spot because it cannot accept more than two teams from a conference.  Despite the snub, MSU staged one of the most memorable and successful seasons in history.

Picked by pundits to finish in the “middle of the pack,” the 2010 Spartans defied expert opinion and won more games than any previous MSU team—including the 1965 and 1966 national championship teams.  Just as we now talk about the likes of Bubba Smith, George Webster, “Mad Dog” Thornhill, Gene Washington and Clint Jones, future fans will wax nostalgic over the likes of Greg Jones, “Rock” Baker, Kirk Cousins, Jerel Worthy and Aaron Bates.    

The 2010 Spartans won every which way—by blowouts and by the skin of their teeth, from in front and from behind, by air and by land, and by brute force and by deception.  There were “Little Giants,” “Mousetraps” and a “three-headed monster” at running back.  They won at home and away. They won in the sun or under flood lights, and they won in rain, snow, and when the wind huffed and puffed.  They won in every environment that was not painted pink.

That exception, of course, was Iowa—infamous for its pink visitors’ locker room. On Halloween Eve, MSU ran into the classic buzz saw and lost to the Hawkeyes 37-6.

As the Ws piled up, however, some analysts invoked the “easy schedule” explanation—as if Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois were pushovers.  Equally off target was the “team of destiny” cliché.

If there was a destiny, it was one systematically forged by the Spartans with effort, perseverance, character and work—what Tri-Captain Kirk Cousins calls “1,000 invisible mornings when no one is watching”—and maybe a dash of bravado.  Dantonio does not buy the “destiny” explanation either.  “I don’t believe in superstition,” he growls. 

Leading MSU were 17 seniors who form the winningest class in MSU history with 33 wins and four straight bowl games.  They include All American Tri-Captain Greg Jones, Tri-Captain Aaron Bates, Nick Bendzuck, J’Michael Deane, Mark Dell, Charlie Gantt, Eric Gordon, Marcus Hyde, Colin Neely, Alex Shackleton, John Stipek and D.J. Young.

Enigma:  How could a 6-7 team, laden with an off-field incident that led to several dismissals and transfers, turn around in one season to contend for a national championship? 

Here are some factors:

? The 2010 Spartans were dramatically improved in all phases of the game.  For example, in the takeaway-giveaway ratio, MSU flipped from minus-six to plus-six.

? This year’s secondary displayed more savvy and teamwork.  Last season MSU mustered only six interceptions; this year, MSU had six in just two games—Michigan (3) and Illinois (3). Overall MSU nearly tripled its interceptions to 17. 

? MSU special teams excelled with dynamic returns, accurate kicks and punts, and flawless snaps and holds. Punter/holder Aaron Bates also completed two key passes—one for the winning touchdown against Notre Dame, the other keying the comeback win over Northwestern. Dan Conroy made 14 of 15 field goals and 44 of 45 extra points for 86 points and led the team in scoring.  In four years as snapper, Alex Shackleton did not make a single mistake and remains essentially incognito.

? MSU enjoyed great leadership.  On defense, Greg Jones, who bypassed the NFL to return for his senior season, set the tone for consistent performance. He averaged well over 100 tackles a season.  On offense, “Captain Kirk” Cousins, a laser-accurate passer, showed maturity and poise.

? The coaching was excellent, judging by player improvements.  The coordinators made good halftime adjustments, leading to great second-half success.  And the head coach showed intestinal fortitude with some fourth-down calls.

? MSU suffered relatively few major injuries, especially to key players.

? Because of back-to-back successful recruiting classes, the team had more depth, which allowed starters to rest a bit more.  “We’re staying fresh,” says Dantonio.

? A positive attitude pervades the team.  “Guys believe us,” explains Dantonio.  “When you start making plays at the end of games, you start believing.”

It took a while for onlookers to appreciate the 2010 Spartans. The memorable season unfolded without much ado.  MSU mustered a couple of solid wins against Western Michigan (38-14) and Florida Atlantic (30-17).  Next up was traditional powerhouse Notre Dame.  After playing to a 28-28 tie, the Irish nudged ahead by a field goal in overtime.  That’s when Mark Dantonio pulled off one of the most audacious coups in football history—a do-or-die fake field goal attempt.  

MSU kicker Dan Conroy, who started as a walk-on, lined up to kick the tying score. But holder Aaron Bates threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charles Gantt (see “Lasting Impressions,” p. 68).  The dramatic play, called “Little Giants,” took some chutzpah to call and was replayed endlessly on national television.  Adding to the drama, shortly after the win Dantonio suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized.

Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell served as acting head coach as MSU demolished Northern Colorado 45-7.

Next, MSU would face two ranked teams:  first Wisconsin, a preseason Big Ten favorite, and then archrival Michigan—undefeated, nationally-ranked, and helmed at quarterback by a leading Heisman Trophy candidate.  History buffs recalled that in 1913, the MAC Aggies pulled off back-to-back upsets of these same two Big Ten powerhouses.

Would history repeat itself, and if so, would MSU gain national respect as a result?

The answers were “yes” and “grudgingly.”  The undefeated, then-No. 11 Badgers featured John Clay, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, running behind 300-pound behemoths.  Despite three first half turnovers, MSU dominated the game, winning 34-24.  The Spartans outrushed the Badgers 176-165 while holding the Badgers to well below their 257-yard rushing average.  In the first half, Keshawn Martin returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown—the first for MSU since 2002.  For the record, the win was an impressive pounding.

“That was the best moment in my head football coaching career and I want to thank everybody involved with that,” says Dantonio, who called it a “great program win—whether it was offense, defense, special teams, it was an outstanding job by our entire program.”

The win turned out to be important, as Wisconsin went undefeated and rose to No. 4 in the BCS poll.

Next, MSU faced Michigan—a five-point favorite by the oddsmakers.  A crowd of over 113,000 in Ann Arbor became very quiet as MSU methodically carved out a 34-17 win—shackling the Wolverine’s wunderkind quarterback to 86 yards rushing, nearly 100 yards under his average, and forcing him into three interceptions.  Meanwhile, MSU dominated the trenches as Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 284 (and no interceptions) while its “three-headed monster”—Edwin Baker, Le’Veon Bell and Larry Caper—amassed 249 rushing yards.  It was Dantonio’s third straight win over Michigan.

MSU took on a game Illinois, overcame a 6-3 halftime deficit and won 26-6.  MSU moved to 7-0, its best start since 1966.  “This was a statement game, but it’s not the end statement,” said a cautious Dantonio at the time. 

Despite evidence that MSU might be pretty good, most TV sports analysts picked Northwestern in the “upset special” of the week. In front of thousands of green and white fans in Evanston, MSU withstood a 17-0 Wildcat lead and scored 28 second half points, winning 35-27. Quarterback Kirk Cousins directed a couple of impressive touchdown drives in gusty conditions, completing six critical passes in the winning drive.  A fake punt play—called “Mousetrap”—gained a key first down in MSU’s penultimate drive, a 75-yard march culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dell.

At 8-0 and No. 5 in the BCS poll, MSU became a part of the national championship conversation.

But awaiting the Spartans were the Hawkeyes, who were favored by all three analysts from the Big Ten Network.  The Spartans were distracted by the heavy media attention on the reinstatement of Senior Cornerback Chris Rucker, who had served a week’s sentence for “reckless driving,” a misdemeanor charge that occurred while Rucker was on probation for an incident last year at Rather Hall.

Iowa’s locker room decor—not to mention its football scheme—seemed to work like magic. Iowa players made fingertip catches, stepped into the right lanes and got the bounces.  The Hawkeyes intercepted Cousins three times while holding MSU to only 31 net yards rushing.  “It seemed like it was 23-0 before we even played,” notes a chagrined Dantonio of his lone loss.

But for MSU, at 8-1, huge goals were still in sight.  “The sky is not falling,”

Dantonio said after the game.  “Adversity is a great teacher and it will make us better.”

The next week MSU bounced back and polished off Minnesota 31-8, with Ed Baker rushing for 179 yards and four touchdowns.  Assorted injuries were beginning to affect the Spartans, who welcomed a bye week before facing Purdue. In very windy conditions, trailing by 18 in the fourth quarter, Cousins threw touchdown passes to Mark Dell and Cunningham and even ran for the winning score to nip the Boilermakers 35-31.  MSU needed a blocked punt and an interception to pull off the improbable comeback.

The season finale at Penn State—where MSU had not won since 1965—proved to be the last hurdle.  MSU dominated the game, and then held on to survive a fourth quarter Nittany Lion rally.  MSU prevailed 28-22 as Cousins threw for two touchdowns in gusty conditions.  Baker surpassed 1,000 yards in rushing.  As Captain Kirk Cousins said, “It’s another demon we killed.”

Sums up Dantonio, “I’m extremely content. I guess that’s the way I feel. I’m not going to go running down the hall with my hair on fire. I’m content. I feel very blessed with my health and our football team and how they’ve rallied around each other and responded in the face of adversity all year. There’s a lot of faith in that locker room.”