Northwestern’s showdown with Michigan State is a chance for redemption. And I’m not just talking about getting back on track after the frustrating loss to the Boilermakers.
I still can’t believe NU scheduled the Homecoming game against the Spartans. There will be plenty of purple in Ryan Field on Saturday (most NU fans have flushed the Purdue game) but there will also be tons of green and white in the stands.
The real reason the scheduling puzzles me is because the Wildcats suffered arguably the worst defeat in program history against MSU in 2006 – on Homecoming. NU’s 38-3 third quarter lead evaporated as Sparty pulled off the largest comeback in Football Bowl Subdivision history.
A lot has changed since that day in Evanston.
The only current Wildcats to witness from the sidelines the 41-38 collapse are the fifth-year seniors. The NU coaching staff has also been revamped with different offensive and defensive coordinators.
Michigan State has also since made a change at the top with the hiring of coach Mark Dantonio and new coordinators.
Dantonio suffered a heart attack after his team shocked Notre Dame on Sept. 18 by winning the game on a fake field goal touchdown pass. Since then, Sparty has played inspired football highlighted by wins over Wisconsin and in The Big House.
But the Spartans are entering unfamiliar territory, and that’s not just because Saturday’s game will mark the first time they play outside the state of Michigan this season.
Right now, the Spartans are the seventh-best team in the country according to the only ranking system that ultimately matters, the Bowl Championship Series. It’s the Spartans’ highest BCS ranking ever. After the Buckeyes choked in Madison, MSU is also in the driver’s seat in the road to the Rose Bowl.
The Spartans’ rise to Big Ten title contender is in large part due to their vastly improved defense.
“They’ve very aggressive,” NU offensive coordinator Mick McCall said of Sparty’s tenacious D. “They do a great job up front. Their linebackers are outstanding; Greg Jones is a great player. And their secondary guys just hammer the receivers. They’re getting after them on their releases. They do a great job in press coverage.”
Pat Fitzgerald has only defeated Sparty once – and that game in 2007 required quarterback C.J. Bachér to pass for a then-school record 520 yards and five touchdowns in the 48-41 overtime victory.
The one firm prediction I can make about Saturday’s game is that it won’t be another shootout like the matchups in ’06 and ’07. The keys to an upset will be limiting turnovers – no more than two – and leaving no points off the board.
That means if they get into the red zone, the Cats must put up sevens and not rely on Stefan Demos’ left foot.
The Spartans snapped NU’s undefeated start to the season in 2008. Tomorrow, the stage is set for NU to return the favor.
I’m not trying to guarantee a repeat of last year’s win at Iowa. But if you’re in search of some optimism, remember what happened in East Lansing on Jan. 21, 2009, when NU men’s basketball faced the seventh-best team in the land.
Justin Schecker is a Medill junior. He can be reached at [email protected]
