Write up on MSU's Little Giants fake FG to beat Notre Dame 7 years ago from Rivals
Remember that Staten ovesees the field goal protection unit, which also includes fake field goal plays.
I asked Staten if players have to remember to maintain a poker face when Mark Dantonio calls one of his crazy trick plays.
When watching the TV broadcast of the 2010 MSU-Notre Dame game, the cameras caught the moment when Mark Dantonio told his field goal unit "Little Giants." Dantonio certainly gave the orders with calmness. Freshman Max Bullough can be seen doubling back for a moment to make sure he heard it right.
Dantonio didn't even cover his mouth to give the order because, well, who else would know that the play was called "Little Giants"?
Secondly, if he DID cover his mouth, that might have been a tell for any Irish player paying attention. And they WERE paying attention.
I asked Staten about the importance of keeping a poker face when a gutsy play call is made. Apparently one Spartan player tipped his hand a little bit.
“Well, that’s what Le’Veon did," Staten said. "If you look back at some of the reporting, Manti Te’o said, ‘We saw the wing go up and talk to the holder.’"
Bell, MSU's standout running back at the time, was not on the sideline to get Dantonio's play call. He remained on the field as the rest of the field goal unit trotted onto the field. MSU players had the task of informing Bell of the play call without drawing too much attention to it. But Te'o sniffed it out.
"Le’Veon was on the field and he did not get the communication," Staten said. "So quickly when he got it, he was like, ‘Wait, that can’t be. It’s fourth-and-14. That can’t be happening.’
"So he actually went back (and confirmed it with the holder), so that’s why they (Notre Dame) tackled him."
Irish defensive players weren't fooled by the fake. They obstructed Bell as he tried to make his way downfield. The delay caused the holder, Aaron Bates, to buy some more time and escape the pocket while going to his second read, Charlie Gantt.
"And the guy who never caught the ball in practice, Charlie, ends up making the catch," Staten said.
Te'o knew something was up. But the rest of the Spartan sideline and most of the coaches were in the dark.
“No, they didn’t know," Staten said.
That's the nature of a super duper secret play call. The sideline needs to remain calm. The best way to keep it calm is to keep the orders to those who are on a need-to-know basis. At that time, only the 11-man field goal unit needed to know.
But MSU coaches heard it on the headsets, and some of them caught it.
"When Little Giants was happening, I think Brad Salem was in his first year here, and he said, ‘Did he call it?’
"And I went ' …(silent pause).'
"And he said, ‘Did he call ‘Little Giants?’
"And I just go, ‘Yeah …’
"He (Salem) brings that story up to me, and it’s funny because I don’t even remember that part of it, because when the head coach says, ‘Is it going to work?’ and you’ve got to answer that, ‘Yeah, coach, it’s going to work,’ and you’re going, ‘Man, it’s 4th and 14 and I just told him this play’s going to work, so hopefully it does.’”
And what goes through Staten's mind as a play like that, with his stamp on it, is unfolding?
“It’s just like all you guys who are parents," Staten said. "You’re nervous about your kid’s first day of school. You’re nervous about the first time driving. And the same thing goes with your kids on the football field, and now you’re doing it in front of 75,000-plus and millions and millions on TV.
"It’s a critical moment, and it can be decided on Le’Veon Bell getting tackled. But thankfully, Bates, cool as a cucumber. Calmly looked to his next read, and off it went.”
