Michigan State 2018 Season Thread

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that dramatically understates the damage done by Engler and the BoT since January at so many critical junctures. But in general I can agree with your spirit.
Hopefully elections shake up the BoT and it is the *new* trustees, with careful consideration of faculty input, who choose the next president.
For clear reason, nobody has faith in the current Board.

[ELA]

I think that dramatically understates the damage done by Engler and the BoT since January at so many critical junctures. But in general I can agree with your spirit.
Hopefully elections shake up the BoT and it is the *new* trustees, with careful consideration of faculty input, who choose the next president.
For clear reason, nobody has faith in the current Board.

No, as I said, the committee was announced today.  Only 2 BOT members are up for reelection this year anyway, Breslin, who I think already announced he isn't running; and Lyons, who is a Grade A asshat
1.) Former GVSU President
2.) Student body President
3.) Professor and Lab Director for Rare Isotope Beams
4 & 5.) BOT members Byrum and Foster, the two female BOT members
6 & 7.) BOT Ferguson, which makes no sense, he's the worst of the bunch and BOT Kelly
8.) President of MSU clerical Union
9-13.) 5 Professors  (Criminal Justice, Hospitality, Business, Psychiatry, Food Science)
14-16.) 3 Deans (Grad School, LS&A, Engineering)
17.) Linda Hubbard, private CEO
18.) David Porteos, former BOT member
19.) Doctoral candidate student

[Anonymous Coward]

Ferguson is *absolutely* the worst of the bunch. For a time, I fully expected the governor to axe him (if not clear house). But Snyder clearly had his own issues. If Ferguson is on-board, and with his standard dose of influence, we shouldn't begin with much faith in that committee. In any event, there's never been more need for an outsider president for MSU than now (well, and January).

[ELA]

Yeah, Snyder's own shortcomings, followed by his own tone deaf response to them, sidelined him

As for Ferguson, I saw unconfirmed that a certain minimum of the BOT needs to be involved.  There are 8 total, and the two up for reelection in the middle of the search are obvious exclusions.  Exclusing former head football coach George Perles also makes sense.  Not sure why Brian Mossallam was the one left off.  Maybe seniority?  He has been the most vocal opponent, but a lot of it seems like shtick too, like he's just using this as a political springboard.  Doing things like saying people who question the motivations of victims have to "go through him," and whatnot.

[ELA]

Austin Andrews transferring.  To be honest, I thought he had already announced it.  Redshirted last year, and apparently had some grade issues, and I don't think he was even practicing.

[ELA]

Austin Andrews transferring.  To be honest, I thought he had already announced it.  Redshirted last year, and apparently had some grade issues, and I don't think he was even practicing.

Scratch that, 2016 signee.  Redshirted in 2016, played limited minutes in one game last year as a reserve CB.  Switched to RB, and was seemingly breaking camp as the #5 RB.

That also means 9 of the top 20 rated recruits in the 2016 class are now gone.  UM has had a ton of attrition from that class as well.  Weird year considering I'm guessing a good deal of those kids were MI HS players.

[ELA]

Some internet rumblings that the Chewins injury could be serious.  No official word yet, but they sure didn't look good without their starting LT on Friday night.  Luke Campbell moved from RT to LT, and Jordan Reid started at RT against Utah State.

[ELA]

MSU put RS freshman OC/OG Blake Bueter on scholarship.  He's played quite a bit in both games...which might be part of the problem.

[ELA]

MSU punter Jake Hartbarger out 6-8 weeks with bone bruise and possible fracture.

I'm still confused as to how that wasn't a penalty.  They blew the play dead for a penalty, but the punter still punted the ball and the ASU player still hit him without making contact with the punt.  Maybe it's such a weird situation, the refs didn't think about it.  Typically they aren't going to call a "late hit" on a blown dead play absent it being WELL after the play was blown dead, which it wasn't.  But you are never allowed to hit the punter without getting the ball, so even if the play was live, it's a penalty.  I think the refs were kind of caught in between because it wasn't late enough to be a late hit, but because the play was blown dead they didn't consider roughing.  So a hit that would have been a penalty during a live ball play somehow became not a penalty during a dead ball.

The hit was on the plant leg (hence the break) which would have been 15 yards and a 1st down.  Would have given MSU 1st and 10 at the ASU 40 yard line with 4:55 left in a 13-13 game.

[Anonymous Coward]

Your confidence about the secondary stands out, ELA. Is it because Scott will be back soon? Or is there something Layne et al. are doing that make the passing yards against misleading?

[ELA]

Your confidence about the secondary stands out, ELA. Is it because Scott will be back soon? Or is there something Layne et al. are doing that make the passing yards against misleading?

There is absolutely no pass rush.  I don't think its outstanding, but I think they've done fine considering how long they've had to cover guys, and the fact that they went up last week against the guy Kiper has as the #1 WR prospect in next year's draft.  If they continue to get this little from their front seven in pass rush, it doesn't matter who you put back there.

[847badgerfan]

I'm still confused as to how that wasn't a penalty.  

I'm not.
*

[Anonymous Coward]

Do you think Lombardi will keep the punter job? He didn't get many yards on his first try. On the other hand, I'm MD likes the sound of having a QB/punter for fakes.

[ELA]

He's always liked having a QB back there as a second option.  No clue why.  Almost cost them the UM game in 2015 with a few terrible Tyler O'Conner punts.