Michigan State University Athletics
Expect Smash-Mouth Big Ten Championship Game
12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2011
By Steve Grinczel, Online Columnist
A spray of tiny black rubber pellets will replace the proverbial "cloud of dust," but in most other ways the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game is shaping up as a fitting tribute to the conference's 115-year-old smash-mouth reputation.
Call it the "Grabowski Bowl."
Michigan State and Wisconsin will provide an occasional taste of marshmallow fluff when they line up in spread formations and empty-calorie..., er, empty-backfield sets, but this throwback caters primarily to the meat-and-potatoes crowd.
"I think it's a classic Big Ten matchup," said Spartans offensive guard Joel Foreman. "It's what you come to the Big Ten for. It's north-and-south versus north-and-south, who can stop the run and who can run the ball?
"That's basically what it is."
With two of the nation's best quarterbacks facing off on the Lucas Stadium Field artificial surface, it's not like MSU's Kirk Cousins or Wisconsin's Russell Wilson won't have an arm in the outcome. However, if the Spartans and Badgers could be guaranteed of picking up 3 yards every time they ran the ball - resulting in a first down on every fourth play - they might not ever pass, and they certainly wouldn't have to punt.
And Foreman would be wearing a smile all game long en route to an 8-7 victory.
"It something that as a lineman its one of those games you love because you have the team on your back, and if you're going to be successful, it's up to you," Foreman said.
Leaders Division Champion Wisconsin enters the game with the league's best rushing offense and No.1 rusher in Montee Ball, who's averaging 135.2 yards per game. Ball's 34 touchdowns, including 29 on the ground, are the second most in NCAA history and more than those scored by 29 FBS teams.
On paper, Legends Champ Michigan State doesn't look anything like Wisconsin because the Spartans are last in rushing, with just slightly more yards than Ball is averaging all by himself, and second in passing.
But when "Pound Green, Pound," has been your mission statement and philosophy under head coach Mark Dantonio for five years, you're not trying to finesse your way to victory.
"Sustaining long drives in big games, especially against Wisconsin with its potent offense that can put points up very fast, is extremely important," Foreman said. "We need to control the clock and keeping drives going by converting third downs.
"The team that's willing to go out there for 60 minutes and play tough football is the team that's going to win that game. It's one of those very physical games you always look forward to on your schedule. Physicality, and toughness and the mentality are what's going to win this game."
Ball ranks second in the nation with 1,622 rushing yards and runs behind a line that's bigger than most in the NFL. He gained 115 yards on 18 carries in the 37-31 loss against MSU in Spartan Stadium on Oct. 22, and in a Tuesday national radio interview on the Dan Patrick Show said he's shooting for "118-120" this time around.
At 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, Ball is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and a bronco-busting runner capable of sustaining drives on his own. And like MSU the Badgers can pass their way out of a jam. Wilson is the nation's top-rated passer.
Although Michigan State overcame a 14-0 deficit to take a 31-17 lead against Wisconsin in the first meeting, the game was settled on a desperation throw from Cousins to wideout Keith Nichol, who bulled his way across the goal line on the final play.
"What better two teams to have in a smash-mouth championship game than those who were in a game that came down to a `Hail Mary' the very last time we competed?" said MSU defensive tackle Jerel Worthy. "It's going to be electrifying."
Michigan State and Wisconsin are well-represented in the conference power categories.
The Badgers are first in the Big Ten in scoring, rushing, total offense, first downs (offense and defense), third-down conversion, time-of-possession and turnover margin. The Spartans lead the league in total defense, rushing defense, quarterback sacks and third-down conversions allowed. Meantime, MSU is second in turnover margin and third in time of possession.
"I think everything runs in cycles," Dantonio said. "I think you somehow return to certain elements of football that are most important..., blocking, tackling, catching the ball, running with the football, punting. Usually, whoever does the best at those things is going to be successful.
"At the end of the day, you do what you do best, and I think that's what both of us do very well. So there are a lot of things that their strength plays to our strength in some areas."
If there was a football equivalent of arm wrestling between two brutes, this would be it.
"We know what they're going to do and they know what we're going to do," said MSU defensive end William Gholston. "Who wants it most is going to determine who's going to win."
