Wednesday's Rose Bowl adds Michigan State to that list. In many ways, the Spartans are a carbon copy of the Cardinal. Just as Stanford upset Oregon, the team everyone thought would win the Pac-12 and advance to the BCS championship game, Michigan State did the same thing to Ohio State.
But the similarities between the two teams run deeper than those on-field results. Like Stanford, Michigan State boasts one the nation's top defenses, and they entered the bowl season with the top run defense in the country (Stanford ranked #3). Like Stanford, the Spartans are led on offense by a dominant running back, Jeremy Langford, who has put together a string of hundred-yard games. Like Stanford, the Spartans have a quarterback, Connor Cook, who will make defenses pay for overcommitting to the run.
Aside from the BCS championship game, this throw-back Rose Bowl is the most compelling matchup of the bowl season, and it could turn out to be the best game. For a deeper look at Michigan State, I leave you in the capable hands of Hondo S. Carpenter, the founder and publisher of SpartanNation.com, probably the best place to look for news and information on the Spartans. (I'd also recommend following him on Twitter: @HondoCarpenter) Hondo's a good guy. Even after enduring a week without power, Hondo was still kind enough to answer some of my questions about his boys in Green and White. Enjoy! (You can also read my answers to Spartan versions of these same questions over on Hondo's site.)
Go Mighty Card:
The Spartans haven't been to the Rose Bowl since 1988. How excited is the fan base?
Spartan Nation:
Thrilled is an understatement. There is such a high demand for tickets that thousands gave Stanford a $250 per ticket NON-refundable deposit on season tickets for next year just to buy their tickets. MSU had thousands of requests for tickets that they couldn’t fill and estimates are as high as 75% of the crowd will be Spartan.
Thrilled is an understatement. There is such a high demand for tickets that thousands gave Stanford a $250 per ticket NON-refundable deposit on season tickets for next year just to buy their tickets. MSU had thousands of requests for tickets that they couldn’t fill and estimates are as high as 75% of the crowd will be Spartan.
GMC:
We've heard an awful lot about the Michigan State defense, so we might as well start there. Stanford has a run-first offense, but Michigan State has the top-ranked rushing defense in the nation. How do you expect them to respond to the Cardinal running game?
SN:
Even with the loss of middle linebacker Max Bullough the Spartans have the best cornerback and safety combo in the nation, and they will load the box and not stop it. All over your wideouts will get single man coverage the entire game. Stanford will be forced to go to the air and the Spartans love that. Stanford will get yards rushing -- they are that good -- but with the Spartans being able to remain in man to man coverage all game they have the best chance of any team that has faced a great Cardinal team.
Even with the loss of middle linebacker Max Bullough the Spartans have the best cornerback and safety combo in the nation, and they will load the box and not stop it. All over your wideouts will get single man coverage the entire game. Stanford will be forced to go to the air and the Spartans love that. Stanford will get yards rushing -- they are that good -- but with the Spartans being able to remain in man to man coverage all game they have the best chance of any team that has faced a great Cardinal team.
GMC:
Tell us about cornerback Darqueze Dennard. We know that he recently won the Jim Thorpe award, given to the nation's top defensive back, but what type of corner is he? Is he just a lock-down corner? Does he support the run well? Does he have any weaknesses?
SN:
None. One NFL scout told me recently, “He is the best cornerback prosepect since Champ Bailey, and I have advised our team to get up as far as they need to get him.” The person forgotten is the other cornerback, Trae Waynes. He is younger, but could be better than Dennard.
None. One NFL scout told me recently, “He is the best cornerback prosepect since Champ Bailey, and I have advised our team to get up as far as they need to get him.” The person forgotten is the other cornerback, Trae Waynes. He is younger, but could be better than Dennard.
GMC:
Aside from Dennard, give me another player or two from the defense that you think will shine on game day.
Aside from Dennard, give me another player or two from the defense that you think will shine on game day.
SN:
Just mentioned Trae Waynes, but Darien Harris and Kyler Elsworth at the middle linebacker are great players. Elsworth is very similar to Bullough and would have started on more than half of the other Big Ten teams. Harris is the heir apparent and is faster than both running a 4.5 forty.
Just mentioned Trae Waynes, but Darien Harris and Kyler Elsworth at the middle linebacker are great players. Elsworth is very similar to Bullough and would have started on more than half of the other Big Ten teams. Harris is the heir apparent and is faster than both running a 4.5 forty.
GMC:
Talk to me about Connor Cook's development over the course of the season. He seems to have made steady improvement, culminating in what was probably his best game in the Big Ten championship game victory over Ohio State. What type of quarterback is he? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Do fans have faith in his ability to win a big game on his own, if need be?
Talk to me about Connor Cook's development over the course of the season. He seems to have made steady improvement, culminating in what was probably his best game in the Big Ten championship game victory over Ohio State. What type of quarterback is he? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Do fans have faith in his ability to win a big game on his own, if need be?
SN:
He is fearless. That is a good thing, and a bad. He has a short memory and isn’t afraid to attack. Fans have faith in him now, and his offensive coordinator has to turn him loose. I recently said in our magazine that for MSU to win they have to let him go on the attack from the first snap. He is a gunslinger so he will make some bad throws, but amazingly has very few interceptions.
He is fearless. That is a good thing, and a bad. He has a short memory and isn’t afraid to attack. Fans have faith in him now, and his offensive coordinator has to turn him loose. I recently said in our magazine that for MSU to win they have to let him go on the attack from the first snap. He is a gunslinger so he will make some bad throws, but amazingly has very few interceptions.
GMC:
Just looking at the statistics, it doesn't appear that Cook has a favorite target. What can we expect to see from the Michigan State receiving corps?
Just looking at the statistics, it doesn't appear that Cook has a favorite target. What can we expect to see from the Michigan State receiving corps?
SN:
Probably as many as 10 guys will catch balls. Most young QBs get a favorite go to guy like a security blanket. Not Cook. He loves to get everyone involved.
Probably as many as 10 guys will catch balls. Most young QBs get a favorite go to guy like a security blanket. Not Cook. He loves to get everyone involved.
GMC:
Jeremy Langford has been on a roll, with eight consecutive 100-yard games. What type of a runner is he?
Jeremy Langford has been on a roll, with eight consecutive 100-yard games. What type of a runner is he?
SN:
Power and speed. Teams (like Stanford) all load the box. Finally when MSU gives up running and attacks through the air and people have to drop out of the box with extra men, it is then he has punished people. I said earlier that other than their own defense in practice, this is the best defense the Spartans have faced. MSU must make Stanford unload the box to defend their aerial attack for Langford to have a big day.
Power and speed. Teams (like Stanford) all load the box. Finally when MSU gives up running and attacks through the air and people have to drop out of the box with extra men, it is then he has punished people. I said earlier that other than their own defense in practice, this is the best defense the Spartans have faced. MSU must make Stanford unload the box to defend their aerial attack for Langford to have a big day.
GMC:
What about special teams? Stanford has enjoyed a considerable edge in special teams all season. Would you consider this phase to be a strength or weakness for the Spartans?
SN:
Our punter is the nation’s best. Our kickoffs are fine. Punt returns and kickoff returns are not good and a place that Stanford can exploit.
Our punter is the nation’s best. Our kickoffs are fine. Punt returns and kickoff returns are not good and a place that Stanford can exploit.
GMC:
What about the coaching staff? Do fans credit the Spartans' success to head coach Mark Dantonio, or is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi the star of the staff?
What about the coaching staff? Do fans credit the Spartans' success to head coach Mark Dantonio, or is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi the star of the staff?
SN:
Top to bottom this is one of the best staffs in college football. Fans love the entire staff and the fans know them because Coach Dantonio makes them available every week to the media. All of them.
Top to bottom this is one of the best staffs in college football. Fans love the entire staff and the fans know them because Coach Dantonio makes them available every week to the media. All of them.
GMC:
Finally, how do you think the game will play out? Give me a final score and a general idea of how you expect the game to go.
Finally, how do you think the game will play out? Give me a final score and a general idea of how you expect the game to go.
SN:
I think Stanford is awesome. MSU will be able to load the box on defense, and when Stanford has to go to the air they won’t unload the box blitzing the entire time with the best defensive backfield in the nation. If MSU goes on the offensive attack through the air I think they can force Stanford out of the box to adjust to the Spartans air attack. I think MSU will force Stanford to unload the box because of the passing game, and MSU will do enough to win, 17-14.
I think Stanford is awesome. MSU will be able to load the box on defense, and when Stanford has to go to the air they won’t unload the box blitzing the entire time with the best defensive backfield in the nation. If MSU goes on the offensive attack through the air I think they can force Stanford out of the box to adjust to the Spartans air attack. I think MSU will force Stanford to unload the box because of the passing game, and MSU will do enough to win, 17-14.
