Despite Big Ten Loss, Goals Still Attainable For Spartans

Oct. 29, 2011

By Steve Grinczel, Online Columnist

When it was finally over in Lincoln, Neb., the ninth-ranked Michigan State Spartans had to be thankful that the beating of their heads against the Big Ten wall of reality finally stopped.

It's hard enough to win in this conference, let alone on the road against a ranked opponent surrounded by a red sea of fans.

Had MSU defeated No. 13 Nebraska at Memorial Stadium Saturday, it would have all but stamped this season as one of those serendipitous runs when everything that has to go right does, right at the right time.

It's a mark borne by many of the greatest champions over the decades.

There were, however, no happily-ever-after endings this time, no passes rocketed into the night sky only to explode victoriously in the end zone. There was just fierce hand-to-hand combat against a worthy opponent and it wasn't going to end well for one team.

"It was a grind," said MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had perhaps his toughest day ever in a green and white uniform.

"It was a very physical football game on both sides," said head coach Mark Dantonio.

What Michigan State's 24-3 defeat underscores is that the Spartans aren't a charmed team after all, and whatever they end up with at the end of the season will be earned and deserved, if not taken.

It was more than a lot to ask of any team to get up for monster games against Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in succession. That Michigan State answered the bell each time is remarkable.

Had they been able to do it for a fourth-straight game, at a site where they had been outscored 114-21 in three previous visits dating back to 1914, against a team that held a 5-0 all-time series record and 181-34 scoring advantage going in, would have been astonishing. This is a place where Nick Saban's second Michigan State team lost, 55-14.

Michigan State still has only four touchdowns against Nebraska in four meetings.

Nevertheless, for as ineffective as MSU was in the first half, the score was only 10-3 at halftime.

The letdown many anticipated wasn't to blame.

"Our attitude was great coming out," Dantonio said.

In fact, for as poorly as the mistake-prone Spartans played in the opening two quarters - Cousins completed just 4-of-15 passes for 27 yards and an interception that set up Nebraska's first touchdown - they still had a chance.

The Michigan State defense, which battled gamely up to that point, couldn't make the stop needed on the opening drive of the second half, and the touchdown that capped a 14-play, 80-yard possession put the Spartans beyond the point of no return, especially since they had the ball for just three minutes in the third quarter.

"I thought our defense did a very good job and kept us in the game," said Cousins, who ended up completing just 11-of 27-passes for 86 yards. "We had just too many missed opportunities and when you go on the road in the Big Ten against a good team like Nebraska..., you can't miss out on opportunities.

"We beat ourselves one too many times and that made it hard to come out of the hole. We are a much better football team than the way we played today, and we still have a lot of things in front of us to accomplish."

To borrow a concept from a coach whose team recently lost to MSU, the Spartans can't let Nebraska beat them twice.

"It's important to push on and understand so much of what happens to us this season is not what happens to us, but how we respond,." Cousins said.

The only sin in losing at Nebraska would be to come out flat in next Saturday's game against Minnesota, which is 1-3 in conference play thanks to its 22-21 victory over Iowa.

Nebraska, Michigan State and Michigan are tied for first place in the Big Ten Legends Division with 3-1 records, although the victory gave the Cornhuskers the upper hand with regard to a tie-breaker situation involving MSU.

However, Nebraska still has tough games coming up, particularly at Penn State and Michigan and in a border-rivalry game against Iowa.

If Michigan State beats the Golden Gophers, it will have a chance to all but eliminate the Hawkeyes a week later in Iowa City. The Spartans have the tie-breaker edge over the Michigan, which could help MSU by beating the Cornhuskers.

"This is about the long haul," Dantonio said. "This isn't about one game. All of our goals are in front of us. We have to play through the schedule. We've always been able to come together and figure these things out with some resolve. There are disappointed guys in the locker room, but we will respond."

Despite also beating Michigan and Wisconsin last season, things looked bleak for Michigan State following a 37-6 loss at Iowa. However, the Spartans won out against Minnesota, Purdue and Penn State to earn a share of the championship.

"You take the good with the bad," Cousins said. "We had a great month. It didn't end the way we wanted it to, but like I said, it's more about how we respond than how we did in October.

"People remember how you finish."

It begins this week.