This originally showed up as a comment, but it seems to merit a post of its own: John Opie at SpartyMSU has gone out on a limb and predicted victory for the 0-1 MSU Spartans on Saturday. Here’s a link to the post; here’s a quote from that blog:
One thing that is 100% Positive, you can bet the house on, Roll the Dice, it’s a Fur-Sure thing.. a Team Dressed in Green and White will Win Saturday… And with 100% confidence, it will be the Spartans… Frankly as a Brew Crew, we’re more worried when Bells’s stops brewing Oberon for the year….
I’d be curious to read what more football-oriented folk here might say, but it’s hard to argue with this. If EMU beats MSU, I am sure it would be the biggest win for EMU in football in modern history though. Still, at the end of the day, both teams will be 1-1.
A slight update:
I’m not sure if hell has frozen over or what, but on the sports page of the paper version of the AAN this afternoon/evening, I have to say I noticed that an EMU football story was above the fold– “Dantonio wary of Eastern Michigan.” I couldn’t find a link to the story online, but the gist of it is that the MSU coaching staff is not planning on taking EMU for granted. At least that’s what they say in the article….
EMU is given no chance for this year after year because of all the recruiters from Big 10 schools, plus other programs that have the resources to recruit nationally like Notre Dame, USC, and Florida State to name a few. And now that Mark Dantonio is the head coach at Michigan State, the Spartans have a coach who will be more successful in going into Detroit and attracting more talent to their program. That was the main reason John L. Smith was fired last year, he wouldn’t go down there.
Like I said, this is just a scrimmage for schools like Michigan State. They use these games to test new plays and once they’ve racked up enough points to put the game out of reach, they pull the starters and will play their underclassmen so they can gain some value playing time and experience.
If EMU can pull this off, and it’d be great if they did, this would be big the biggest upset ever in Normalite/Huron/No-Name/Eagle history. However, it wouldn’t be as significant nationally because MSU has yet to prove they’ve put together a competitive program in years. (If we beat Ohio State, the sky would literally fall).
O Ye of Little Faith… Jim…
This is the attitude I hate to hear… As a Spartan, of course I Hope, Believe, feel we will win.. But, my fine Eagled feathered friend, yours is a bad attitude that you have, and less than realistic.
I also play competitive sports and have done so for he last 25 years. Every since I was in school in E. L., Last year I was traded to a team I felt was incapable of winning.. Subsequently.. we ended up 2nd in the division.. We always tried.. We always believed we could win..
As an athlete, you always believe you can win.. Sure, you may go to your little brother’s stadium (scUM… the Yellow Bellies.. or what ever you want to call them) periodically …. but if you go in thinking you’ll loose, you already have.
Last year.. you should have beaten them (U of M) .. and had a good chance.. You could have.. it was a very good game.. I think this year will be a good game up in East Lansing..
Don’t count your team out before the end of 60 minutes of play. But, if you really are low on EMU, then you shouldn’t spread venom and disenchantment.
Note: MSU has your Women’s BBall coach, Men’s Base Ball coach.. you are a good school or we wouldn’t try to recruit away your leadership..
Come on.. how about al little spirited competition.. Toast to you Jim.. and all of the other Eagles..
BTW.. the tail gates start at 7AM… We crack beers by then
Hey, if Appalachian State can do it, any MAC team can beat a Big Ten team any day…it can happen…but I certainly would not bet any $$$ on it:-)
You should never take a team for granted. When you take a team for granted is when you get your butt handed to you. Obviously, I doubt EMU will beat MSU but we put up a good show against UofM last year. I hope we at least put up a good show against MSU.
Oh, and I agree with what Sparty said in his comments. I also respect him for coming here to say that!
I’m starting to sound like Drew Sharp. Great, I’m the new Boodini of EMU football.
But venom? I speak of no such thing. Disenchantment? Maybe, I’ll give you that. But I in no way have any ill-will towards the football team. I’m being honest and realistic about EMU and the business of college football.
My prediction EMU 38, MSU 20…
EMU football is that good and better. 2008 season prediction 7-5. Go Eagles!