Spartan Weekend in Review

Let’s start with Basketball.

The words of Tom Izzo were never more relevant than they were Friday night. It is well chronicled that Tom Izzo has repeated throughout his career: “…we will play anyone…anywhere…at any time”. Of course, Tom Izzo was an unknown graduate assistant when he took over for the legendary Jud Heathcote and so when he became Head Coach he needed to attract recruits and he needed to sell those recruits on a dream. Tom Izzo, the kid from tiny Iron Mountain, Michigan told the recruits what was in his heart…that Tom Izzo fears no team and makes no excuses for the result (win or lose). But the words of Tom Izzo were underscored Friday night.

In an historic event, the Spartans played in the Carrier Classic. The fact that they lost 67-55 seems secondary because the journey to the destination is probably more remarkable. Mark Hollis…the AD who gave birth to the Cold War and BasketBowl…decided to organize a small event on the deck of the Aircraft Carrier, USS Carl Vinson.  Ho-hum, right? Hollis spent a mere 7 years pushing that event thru the Pentagon and in the end, the Spartans added punch to Tom Izzo’s inimitable phrase: anyone…anywhere…anytime.

Tom Izzo’s words played out in real time. The Spartans played the #1 team in the country (anyone)…on the deck of an Aircraft Carrier (anywhere)…and the Spartans casually scheduled the #1 team in the country to commence the season (anytime). How’s that for disregarding the path of most coaches who pump up their records with ‘soft scheduling’? The fact the Spartans came up a little short is almost insignificant because what the Carrier Classic did for Spartan Basketball…Spartan PR…the Spartan Brand…and Spartan recruiting is immeasurable.

Nevertheless, the Spartans played a Basketball game…and while they didn’t win…the Spartans sent a message to the B1G they intend to ‘reload’ and not ‘rebuild’. The Spartans introduced an impressive cadre of ‘new’ Spartans who logged double digit minutes: Branden Dawson, 35 min, 10 pts, 7 boards & 2 blocks; Brandon Wood, 22 min & 7 points; Travis Trice, 20 min, 4 pts, & 3 assists, Alex Gauna contributed 12 min…and highly recruited Russell Byrd only contributed 2 min but, he will contribute more in the future…after all, there are only so many minutes to share.

Of course, we can’t forget the returning regulars: Draymond Green got 13 pts & 18 boards…Adreian Payne had 10 pts & 3 boards;…‘big body’ Derrick Nix has sculpted his body and looks like he is serious about competing and got 6 points & 9 boards…and finally Keith Appling got 5 pts & 1 block in 19 min. All in all, an auspicious way to underscore the phrase “…anyone…anywhere…any time” and not a bad venue to introduce a host of new players who will lead the Spartans into the future. Of course, it’s always best to follow a tough game with an E-Z opponent so the Spartans scheduled Duke for Tuesday night (said with a smile). At present the Spartan record is 0-1 but I say…good for Mark Hollis and good for Tom Izzo!!!

The Spartans also played football on Saturday.

I reported Saturday morning the Spartans would beat the Hawkeyes 28-17 (check my blog for more details: http://daynesdailyspartan.blogspot.com.

I was wrong…I happily admit my error…the Spartans won 37-21. I predicted the Hawkeyes would struggle offensively. And they did. The Hawkeyes #61 ranked offense struggled against the #2 ranked Spartan Defense and, for the most part, the Spartan ‘D’ shut down the Hawk’s running game. Iowa was averaging 156 yds on the ground prior to this game but the Spartan ‘D’ held them to 87 yds total…and ‘powerful’ Marcus Coker was held to 57 yds on 21 attempts for a meager 2.7 yds per. Coker was averaging 122 yds per game.

I also predicted the Spartan Passing Offense would live up to their 237 yard average and they exceeded expectations by rolling up 288 yards…with no Int’s!!! Nice turnaround for Kirk Cousins who rendered 3 Int’s at Kinnick last year. But, I didn’t contemplate the Spartans would roll up a 155 yards rushing against a ‘STOUT’…if not statistically dominating…Iowa Defense. But, moreover a key for the Spartan Offense…no Turnovers! As the season rolls to a close and the Bowl Season arrives, I would like to offer this reminder to the Coaching Staff (ha-as if they need my suggestions).

The Spartan ‘D’ is a game changing unit so, heroics are not required by the Spartan Offense. Efficiency is the word…no Turnovers! The ‘O’ has a lot of weapons so, don’t force the issue…exercise patience…60 minutes is a long time…let the other team make the mistakes…and, when it’s all said and done…there are very few teams who can beat this Spartan team.

All in all…not bad season (so far) for a team that one Detroit Sportswriter predicted would go 8-4 or 7-5. Thank goodness I do my own research and didn’t buy into that poorly studied prediction but, more about that at the end of the year because I intend to reprise my predictions at the end of the season. Nevertheless, as a teaser, at the beginning of the season, I predicted the Spartans would win the Legends Division based upon their organizational stability (wow, how many decades have you NOT been able to make that statement?)…a dominating Defense…overall team depth…and a bounty of returning playmakers!

In addition, as the season draws to a close the Spartans are finally getting some love. The Spartans are ranked #12 in the polls but, they are the highest ranked 8-2 team in the country. And, for all the pundits who thought last year was an anomaly…and for all the pundits who hoped the Spartans would teeter and  fall this year, I say this, I say you haven’t studied Mark Dantonio. Don’t waste your time thinking Coach ‘D’ is a shrinking violet and the Spartans will go away…the Dantonio administration is for real and here are the numbers: 41-17 (70) regular season since his arrival…12-2 (85%) Big Ten over the past two years…a Big Ten title and, oh by the way…they beat both Co-Champions this year. The bottom line: no coach and no coaching administration has done more in the past 5 years!

What will be Coach ‘D’s legacy? It’s a little too early to predict, but when it is all said and done…Coach Dantonio will leave a legacy of historic proportions!

Thank you for reading…Go Spartans!!!