Jon Misch: The Hidden Talent of the Defense

Oct. 21, 2010

By Brittany McCormick, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant

Senior linebacker Jon Misch is good at using his hands. He can take down running backs, fight off tight ends, and record tackles. Or, he could just casually sit down to play a classical piece of Mozart on the piano.

The 6-3, 207 pound, Waterford, Mich., native doubles as both a key player on the Spartan defense and a classical trained pianist. He is passionate and successful in both the football and musical aspects of his life, which he has been involved in for quite some time.

Misch began his football career at the age of 7 when he played for the Multi Lake Gators. His love for the sport grew as he advanced throughout middle school and into high school. Misch attended Orchard Lake St. Mary's high school where he recorded 122 tackles, including 15 sacks, in 12 games as a senior and served as the captain of the varsity wrestling team.

"I didn't expect wrestling to help me out in football when I first started in seventh grade," said Misch. "Once I got into high school and started doing well with it, it really helped me with working off of blocks. I was a defensive end in high school and it really helped me with dragging the arm over and making moves that I didn't know before."

Misch eventually switched over to linebacker when he was recruited to come to Michigan State by former head coach John L. Smith. He redshirted during his first season for the Spartans but started the first six games of 2007 and compiled nine tackles in his collegiate debut against UAB. He saw action in all 12 regular-season games, registering 22 tackles, but had to sit out the Champs Sports Bowl with a broken foot.

Ready to make an impact as a sophomore in 2008, he broke his foot again, having to miss the first six games of the season.

"Being injured, you kind of feel like you're distanced and you don't really know your plays because you have to sit on the sidelines," said Misch. "Once I started getting back into the rotation it was like a dream come true."

Battling injuries has not been the hardest obstacle for Misch during his career for the Green and White. He faces criticism almost on a daily basis for being too small for his position.

Misch said, "I have always prided myself in taking on challenges. Everybody will tell you I am too small to be a linebacker. I take pride in being the opposite of what they believe I am. Since I'm small I have to run through everything I hit, so I have to try to hit like I'm 240 pounds."

With his 68 career tackles so far at MSU, 18 coming from the first six games of his senior season, it's evident that Misch hits just as well as some of the bigger linebackers. Misch has had his hand in some memorable plays for the Spartans, including a key stop in Michigan State's 2009 win at Purdue that secured a bowl bid. With the Boilermakers driving down the field late in the fourth quarter and MSU clinging to a 37-34 lead, Misch made a pivotal third-down tackle for no gain, forcing Purdue to kick a field goal for the tie. On the ensuing drive, MSU kicked the game-winning field goal for the 40-37 victory.

Misch's hard work and dedication to the team stands out to both the coaching staff and other players. When he is not out on the field with his teammates, he can be found playing an instrument - whether it's the piano, which he has been playing since he was 12, or guitar, the newest instrument he taught himself how to play.

"I learned how to play the piano from my cousin," said Misch. "After five years I was playing concert level pieces and playing concerts at my high school. I'm the first person in my family to play. I pride myself on my piano. It means so much."

If he happens to find some downtime, Misch likes to tune up Guitar Hero since he was once ranked in the top one percent of the nation for his skill on the popular video game. Misch has also had the opportunity to showcase his musical talents to his teammates during the talent shows at bowl events.

Jon Misch wowed the crowd when he playing the piano at the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl luncheon.

"It was kind of funny, no one on the team really knew I played piano going into the Champs Sports Bowl," said Misch. "When I got up on stage I first played Mary Had a Little Lamb and then broke out in a concert piece. Everyone was surprised."

Misch will graduate with a degree in humanities and aspires to be back on the sidelines next fall as a graduate assistant for Coach Dantonio while pursing a master's degree in sports administration. He already has some experience with coaching, after helping out with the team that got his career started in football - the Multi Lake Gators. Misch aided the coaching staff at some practices over the summer and was even honored as an honorary coach for their Homecoming game on Oct. 3.

With the close of the 2010 season and Misch's graduation, the Michigan State football team will be losing not only a strong linebacker and the team's pianist, but a great leader on the field as well.

"Everybody will tell you that this team is closer than we have ever been," said Misch. "Everybody is best friends. It's great just to come into practice because we are having a great time all the time. That's what I'm going to miss the most - all my best friends just being able to come out here everyday and play."

GETTING TO KNOW Jon Misch

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS: Spartan Stadium
FAVORITE T.V. SHOW: Spongebob Squarepants
FAVORITE FOOD: "My mom's homemade southwestern chicken egg rolls."
FAVORITE DREAM VACATION SPOT: Australia
FAVORITE SPORT OTHER THAN FOOTBALL: Wrestling
FAVORITE CONCERT PIECE: Ballard in G Minor by Chopin

This feature was originally published in the Oct. 16 edition of Michigan State Football Gameday Magazine.