RIVALRY TIME: SPARTANS v WOLVERINES.

Mister Touchdown predicts a beat down

This weekend features two of the greatest rivalries in college football. Alabama heads to Rocky Top to take on the Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. And the Michigan Wolverines invade East Lansing to tango with Sparty and Michigan State.  The winner takes home the Paul Bunyan Trophy.

Today we're delighted to have Mister Touchdown ("TD") provide us with a personal look at the rivalry. TD is a Spartan guy so there is a wee bit of bias but who cares? It's college football and it's all about passion and love for your school. And TD shares his thoughts on conference expansion and the state of the Big Ten brand.

Time for Q&A with Mister TD

WWW:  Tell us why you’re a Michigan State fan?
Mr. TD:   Besides the fact I spent thousands of dollars on my degree? Ha! I grew up in Michigan, pretty close to Ann Arbor, and was actually a Wolverine fan in my youth. But as I matured I saw the light and my blood turned "GREEN." Plus MSU is a great university with international scope. And it's only getting bigger and better...on and off the field.

WWW:   So growing up in Michigan, I'm guessing there's a connection to the car biz.
Mr. TD:  You bet. My dad was a career General Motors guy, and I started my career at Ford. I was responsible for recruiting University of Michigan freshman to be our test crash dummies.
 
WWW:   Whoa, that's cold.
 Mr. TD:  You won't find a whole lotta love for the Wolverines here.
  
WWW:   What was your first MSU game experience?
Mr. TD:  I think it was 1986. Michigan State at the ‘Big House’ in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines kicked our butts, 27-6! 
 
WWW: Any favorite memories?   

Mr. TD:  Greatest football memories are any season MSU beats both Michigan and Ohio State. Also meeting Coach Nick Saban (yes, he was at MSU before heading to LSU back in the day). I really believe Coach Mark Dantonio can out coach him!

Mister TD and family with Coach Izzo

I also have some great basketball memories like the 2000 NCAA Championship with my wife Amy in Indianapolis and seeing the Spartans led by Mateen Cleaves beat the Florida Gators. Also having my son Tyler at MSU Summer Basketball Camps with Coach Tom Izzo.

WWW:  We’ve heard about how cold the games in East Lansing can be. How does one deal with that?
Mr. TD:  Football weather in East Lansing changes quickly from sunny cool in early September to brutally ‘cut-to-the-bone windy wet wintery cold’, so yes, fans often have a choice of hot cider, hot coffee, hot chocolate, or other ‘higher-proof’ choices that basically raise the temp in one’s circulatory system!

WWW:  We’ve heard about how great tailgating is in the South.  What about in East Lansing?
Mr. TD:  It starts with wearing your Green and White!  The more, the better.  In terms of eats, BBQ is king in the South and I love it but in East Lansing we tend to focus on heartier protein choices...lots of beef followed by pork & chicken. Many Spartans prefer ‘grilled Wolverine’ which tastes a whole lot like GO BLUE CHICKEN, and scores of MSU tailgaters just skip the grill for choice beverages!

WWW:  Do you think the Spartans have a shot at the new college playoff format? 

Mr. TD:  It’s unfortunate the Big Ten is down somewhat for the initial college playoff format…while I do think transitioning to the playoff format is a positive direction (8 teams would be better) there’s still too much subjective bias (hello SEC & Golden Domers!). My sense is it will come down to a few votes!

WWW:  How do you feel about Big Ten expansion that has taken place in the last few years?
 Mr. TD:  Short-term I think it's weakened the 'Big 10' brand and this year is the perfect example with some weaker football programs joining the conference.  Some of the traditional Big 10 rivalries have been impacted by creating two divisions as well.  Long-term my hope is that the new teams will get stronger, new rivalries will develop, and someone will get creative enough to come up with a new name and effective way to brand the conference because in my opinion 'Big 10 Conference' doesn't cut it anymore! 
 

WWW:  To outsiders, we get the sense that MSU is perceived as University of Michigan’s little brother.  Talk to us about that.

Mr. TD:  There has been a definite power shift in Michigan and now ‘Little Brother has become Big Brother!’ The last time Michigan endured such a slump in the Michigan State rivalry was an 18-game span from 1950 through 1967.  During that great Spartan era Michigan State dominated the series going 13-3-2 and now winning 5 out of the last 6…IT’S TIME FOR SPARTY DOMINATION!!!!!! 

WWW:  Wow.  You're mighty proud of your Spartans. That was six exclamation points.

Mr. TD:  It's hard to be humble when you're the best!  Go SPARTANS!!!!!!

And now, Mister TD's outlook for the game...

Mister TD's  TAKE ON MICHIGAN ST vs MICHIGAN

MSU Spartans have grown up – No more ‘Little Brother’ to Michigan!

Sparty is the Big Bro now

I’m Mister Touchdown ("TD" for short) and I grew up in Adrian, Michigan.  Fifteen years ago I decided to move my family to the sunny South but my parents and siblings are all still resident ‘Michiganders.’

This is the time of year when the beautiful Michigan autumn colors are falling to the ground and the air is especially crisp; ideal football weather and the annual MSU vs. Michigan rivalry game!

Besides the fact that MSU arguably has not only the best mascot in Michigan but in all college football it’s safe to say the Spartans have grown up (See our SPARTY mascot’s muscles!!!) and no more ‘Little Brother’ to Michigan.

When it comes to MSU sports these certainly are ‘Funner Times’ & ‘Greener Pastures’ for Spartan fans everywhere.   Back in the 90s I used to work in Ann Arbor (5 minutes from the Michigan Big House).  Times have not always been so good as I remember a stretch of seasons extending from mid-1990s for 12 seasons when Michigan won 10 games against MSU (OUCH!!!). But with Coach Mark Dantonio's solid foundation of leadership at Michigan State I see a trend of success that should position the Spartans well for the new NCAA football playoff format.  Coach Dantonio has brought back the tradition of Michigan State football…good times like those of the Biggie Munn days, the days of Duffy Daugherty and Coach George Perles. Those were the great days which included six national championships in the 50s and 60s and as long as that Spartan tradition continues the program is in good hands for years to come. 

When Michigan comes to East Lansing on Saturday MSU is a 17-point favorite but these days the discussion goes deeper than just beating up the Wolverines!  Michigan State has not only taken over the in-state rivalry with Michigan, winning five of the last six, but the Spartans have become a consistent top Big Ten team and part of the national playoff discussion.  There has been a power shift in Michigan and now ‘Little Brother has become Big Brother!’  The last time Michigan endured such a slump in the Michigan State rivalry was an 18-game span from 1950 through 1967.  During that great Spartan era Michigan State dominated the series going 13-3-2.

East Lansing is a frequent home to Paul Bunyan

Coach Dantonio has done a fantastic job at Michigan State and has established a foundation for ongoing success on and off the gridiron. He's carried the 2014 Rose Bowl win over Stanford University into this season and capitalized with great high school recruiting.  I am obviously a big fan of Coach Dantonio and what he's done for the Big Ten and know MSU has now become a standard by which other teams in the conference aspire to achieve!  Michigan State has formed a cohesive team that is confident going into this weekend’s game against the Wolverines.  Michigan State led by young but well-seasoned Conner Cook has plenty of seniors who dominated and beat Michigan last year.  The Spartans put a 29-6 beat down on Michigan in Ann Arbor last year and one Wolverine is quoted as saying:  “They took it to Michigan and as a Michigan man it was sad to see. I haven't seen a game like that against Michigan State. This is really going to test the soul and the gut and the heart of the team — are you going to let what Michigan State did to you last year happen again?”

Yes, the air is crisp and blowing with the winds of college football rivalry…this weekend it’s all about state bragging rights and for the MSU Spartans taking home another Paul Bunyan Trophy!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for your GREAT EIGHT™ WINNING PICKS.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK.™