Dear BCS, Pundits and Football Analysts,
I know you are busy at this time of the year feeding data into your respective computers but, this just came in: The Michigan State Spartans achieved the Big Ten’s best record for the second consecutive year.
Perhaps you overlooked that fact based upon the articles I read. Also, I apologize in advance because this is a long memo but, there are a few things I want to share with all. After all, it’s probably difficult for you to keep track of all this data, but in 2010, the Spartans achieved a 7-1 Big Ten record and shared that record with Wisconsin and Ohio State. You remember don’t you…Wisconsin was chosen for the Rose Bowl and Ohio State was selected as an ‘at large’ BCS Bowl…while the 11-1 Spartans were shunned by the BCS. You remember don’t you? You remember the Spartans beat Wisconsin but Wisconsin went to the Rose Bowl? That’s OK…no offense…we’re not complaining.
But something funny happened this year…there were no teams to share the Big Ten title (or, I mean share the best Big Ten regular season record). I know you expected the Spartans to fall off the rails this year (everyone did) but, sorry to disappoint. The Spartans repeated this year with a 7-1 Big Ten record while Wisconsin dropped to 6-2 and Ohio State dropped to 3-5. And, I know you will ask about the other Big Ten teams such as UM, Penn State, and, of course Big Ten newcomer Nebraska. You remember Nebraska? They were chosen as ‘run away’ favorites to win the Legends Division this year, but Nebraska didn’t run away. How did that happen? Did the analyst really look at the racing form or did they simply bet on the color of the silks? Anyhow, check it out…here are the cumulative records of the Big Ten’s power programs for the past two years:
1. Spartans 14-2 (88%)
2. Wisconsin 13-3 (81%)
3. Nebraska 5-3 (63%)…one year record
4. OSU 10-6 (63%)
5. Penn State 10-6 (63%)
6. UM 9-7 (56%)
Yes, I know there have been distractions and organizational changes at a few programs such as Penn State, Ohio State and UM to name a few…and let me say, I feel their pain. After all, we’re Michigan State…who has had more organizational upheaval than MSU over the past 40 years? But, let’s be honest, no one worried about the Spartans upheavals in the past because opponents were content to steal a ‘W’ and laugh after the game. And to those who lament that things have not been so good at their respective ‘U’ due to organizational changes and adversity, then welcome to the Spartans world prior to Mark Dantonio (said with a smile).
At any measure, you win what you win (right BCS?)…and you lose what you lose….or, more concisely…in the inimitable words of Bill Parcells…’you are what your record says you are’. So, does that mean the Spartans are an automatic lock for a BCS Bowl? Not so fast according to the BCS Rankings!
Seemingly the BCS prefer a more esoteric means of determining BCS rankings than simply looking at ‘won/lost’ records. In that context, I hate to review minutia but, humor me for a moment…let’s take a look at comparative victories. That’s the way you do it, right BCS?. So here’s a look. Penn State beat opposing teams with a cumulative Big Ten record of 33%... Wisconsin and Michigan beat teams with cumulative Big Ten records of 39%...(all of this seems meaningless to me but, keep in mind, these are BCS rules) while the Huskers fared the best because, the Huskers beat teams with a cumulative Big Ten record of 55%. Wow…nice job Nebraska…if only you didn’t lose three games…or said another way…Welcome to the Big Ten.
And, how about Big Ten losses?.
I know you have those sophisticated BCS Computers and I know this computation is low level Calculus for the BCS but, the Spartans only had one Big Ten loss compared to two losses for Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State and, of course our new friends in Lincoln lost three. Sorry, I didn’t mention the Buckeyes…they lost 5. Anyhow, the Spartans ‘signature’ loss came on the road at Nebraska…Michigan lost on the road at MSU and at 4-4 Iowa…Penn State lost at home to Nebraska and on the road at Wisconsin…Wisconsin lost on the road to the Spartans (we’ll come back to that later) and they lost on the road at 3-5 OSU (is this clear as mud?) and, of course, Nebraska lost at Wisconsin…then lost at home to 3-5 Northwestern and then lost at Michigan!
So, what does all of this say? It says there is incredible parity and balance within the Big Ten and with the greatest of respect to Bo & Woody, those days are over! Welcome to the new Big Ten spelled B1G because here is the new lineup of coaches: Bielema; Dantonio; Ferentz; Fitzgerald; Hoke; and Pellini. And it would be unwise to overlook Danny Hope at Purdue or Jerry Kill at Minnesota. And, good luck to you Urban Meyer…you’ll need it!
So, when you run all of these discombobulated stats and information through the BCS computers, what answers do you get?
Let me help you out. You should get the following information. You should come to the conclusion that the Spartans achieved the best Big Ten record for the second consecutive year…the Spartans took care of business at home (14-0 for past two years)…played 4 (and beat 3) of the other Top 5 teams in the Big Ten…and achieved the most consistency over the past two years. But, there is no gloating about success in East Lansing because the Spartans take full accountability for each and every painful loss over the past 40 years (in fact, we’re reminded about our historical ups and downs by each football analyst and with each BCS vote)…right BCS?
But, if the Spartans humbly take accountability for their historical losses…then on the other hand, the Spartans are unabashedly unapologetic for taking pride as it relates to climbing the Big Ten mountain when no one said we could…against the cynics…against all odds…against all skeptics…against all pundits…against the odds makers…against the ‘so called’ Football analysts…and against the BCS.
Let’s remember, no one other than me (and a few of my Spartan Brothers) predicted a Big Ten repeat for the Spartans!
So what is MY bottom line and what are my conclusions? If you honestly ‘break down’ the statistics and take the name off the program then you arrive at a logical conclusion…a conclusion that everyone is failing to acknowledge…and that is…the Spartans are the ‘statistical’ favorites (needless to say, not the popular favorites) to win the Big Ten Championship!!! And here’s a friendly tip for the Odds Makers who installed Wisconsin as 9.5 point favorites. The Badgers only lost two games…both on the road (one to the Spartans and one to OSU) and where is the Big Ten Championship being played? And, who is the home team? Yep, the game is being played on the road in Indy and Michigan State is the home team. I can see you nod in the affirmative BCS…now you’re getting it…but do the odds-makers?
Of course, the pundits (and of course you, BCS) predict otherwise because, let’s be honest, all of you predicted the Spartans would be 7-5 overall and 3-5 Big Ten this year. Thank goodness I do my own analysis and pay no attention to the so called experts. So here is a friendly tip for the BCS…you can disrespect Mark Dantonio and the Spartans all you wish but, numbers don’t lie and the numbers speak for themselves. Whether you like the Spartans or not…the Spartans intend to take the vote out of the hands of the BCS and control their destiny. There are no automatic wins in the B1G but, the Spartans will proudly walk onto the field in Indianapolis on Saturday night with full faith and resolve…and with the vested intent of winning the Big Ten Championship. And, if they do…they will continue to march and ‘proudly’ march thru the front door of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on New Year’s Day without the help of others. Or as Athletic Director Mark Hollis would say…”with the paint of Roses on our Cleats”!
I don’t want to let the cart get ahead of the horse (and I already have) but, what about next year you ask? The so called analysts will predict more of the same…7-5 overall and 3-5 Big Ten. Why? Because, they won’t do their homework…and they won’t look at the roster and they will make a prediction about a school they don’t know…and a school they don’t like. But, it doesn’t matter because the Spartans will field another Top 3 game changing Defense (probably better...certainly deeper…and with more experience) and with a formidable cast of new skilled players on Offense including a ‘three deep’ roster of Pro-Set QB’s who are unable to earn playing time in 2010 due to the incredible play of an ‘un-recruited’ 3Yr incumbent. At any measure, the Spartans will commence the 2012 campaign with the intent of climbing to a new plateau.
And what is that plateau? The Spartans not only intend to repeat as Big Ten Champions…but tell Nick Saban, we owe him one (or two…or three). Tell Nick to bring his Crimson Tide to the BCS Championship game next year because that’s the next step on the Spartan journey and we would like nothing better than to share with Nick a Spartan victory he never got…and yes Nick…it is possible to recruit at MSU, albeit the Dantonio administration recruit 3’s and ‘coach’ them to 5’s. But, until that time, the Spartans intend to control their destiny and capture a Big Ten Championship! By the way BCS, have you noticed that with a full complement of Coach ‘D’ recruits…off field problems are disappearing? I guess you don’t compile that data!
By any measure, there has been plenty of disrespect passed the way of the Spartans over the years but Spartan Nation can take it…because we were not kind to ourselves in the recent past and we earned each and every historical loss…but remember, the Spartans have a proud history. Arguably the most prolific title run in modern football history…by winning or sharing 6 National Titles in 15 years (51, 52, 55, 57, 65, 66). So, the last 40 years have not been kind to the Spartans, but that was then and this is now and the Spartans have unequivocally compiled the best two year Big Ten record in 2010 and 2011. Could it be back to the future? Maybe…maybe not…but according to the BCS Computers, numbers don’t lie…right BCS??? (all said with a smile…but with a major sense of reality!).
And to BCS Analysts, check in tomorrow because, I’ll compare the statistical matchup between Wisconsin’s #12 nationally ranked Offense versus the Spartans #3 (behind Alabama & LSU) ranked ‘game changing’ Defense.
Thank you for your time!
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