Scorched

We're gonna start on the sports soapbox...

I was beginning to think MSU had a decent football team this year. The defense had played well in getting the team off to a 4-0 start, but then lost a heartbreaker to then-#9 ranked Wisconsin. The defense wasn't as stellar in that game...but isn't that somewhat expected when you play the #9 team in the nation? Well...last Saturday they played Northwestern, a great chance to regroup and get things back on track......right?

No way...Northwestern's offense had its way with the MSU defense ALL day, racking up 611 total yards, 520 of those (a school record) and 5 touchdowns through the air by their QB in a 48-41 overtime win. Now let's Tarantino this thing....you know the end result, here's the details. It was a back and forth ordeal where NU would score and then MSU would answer back, and MSU never led in the game. MSU's defense was missing tackles left and right, but the offense was doing everything they could to keep the team in the game.

With the score tied at 41 with 3:06 left in the game, NU tried a field goal but botched the snap and turned the ball over to MSU. While the running game had been very successful during the game, MSU totally went away from it on the ensuing drive and turned the ball over after three incomplete passes...so NU had another chance to win. They set up a 36 yard field goal to win the game as time expired, but the ball sailed wide left.

Overtime now....NU scored a touchdown with ease of course. MSU's turn....what do they do? Throw 4 straight passes to the end zone, all of which fell incomplete, none of which were aimed at Javon Ringer or Devin Thomas. Ringer had a field day, running for 185 yards and three touchdowns and catching 6 balls for 54 yards. Thomas also had a decent day, running for 61 yards and catching 5 balls for 61 yards. So WHY did they not touch the ball in overtime?? I've lightened up a bit since Saturday afternoon, but still it's frustrating. That's what I get for being such a fan of Spartan football I guess. This weekend is a home game against Indiana, and we sure as heck better have our crap together. End rant.

As far as running goes...I tried 4 miles on Friday night and it felt ok. My high school was playing East Lansing so I ran two miles to the school and watched part of the game, then ran back home. Let's just say East Lansing had their way all during the game....which is ironic when you see the quote at the end of the post. Like I said, it felt ok but I still had a little bit of pain in my butt. So Saturday thru Monday I did some exercises and stretches and stuff, and that definitely helped. Early Tuesday morning I did another four miles and it was much better. There was a little discomfort in that area near the end of the run, but no pain to speak of. So that's a positive sign, right? Tonight it's feeling a little bit tender though. Seeing as though I have no races in the immediate future, I have no pressure to rush back for anything so I'm just gonna take it easy and make sure this heals well.

This past Sunday was the Dino Dash 5K, which was the last race in the Playmakers Race Series, so that's all over with. It was also the Chicago Marathon! And I'm sure everybody heard about the debacle they had with the heat. My sister ran it and walked the last five miles because of how hot it was. She said it was so surreal, it almost seemed like a war zone out there with all of the ambulances and wheelchairs and such. One guy I work with ran the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon that same day and he said the heat was unbelievable. I feel bad for first time marathoners....they really got a poor deal.

Well I guess that's it. Let's go State.

"On a hot, humid October day, Spartan Stadium fans and the MSU defense had a lot in common. They both got scorched." --Headline in the Lansing State Journal

"I don't think we'd have stopped East Lansing High School today." --MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi

"The world isn't pretty sometimes, and you have to stand in the face of everything and be strong in the face of great disappointment. That's what we have to do right now." --MSU head coach Mark Dantonio