SpartyMSU’s  Brew Crew assembled (Gav, Opie, Alfie, Dave , Andy, and Dennis showed up (finally) to Review and Predict the 2008 Spartan Football Season..

Lets get this party STARTED..!!!  On the discussion board is: Game Four.. Notre Dame.

Game 4… Notre Dame… Sept 20, 2008 at 3:30PM , in East Lansing.....

Notre Dame did nothing by SUCK last year.. 3 -9, Only wins against UCLA, Duke, and Stanford…
Damn..  If there is one team We dislike almost as scUM.. it’s the Domers…. 

I will always remember the Promise that Tubby Charlie Weis made to a Boosters Group in 2006: “Never to lose  to Michigan State again under my watch” … I want to see that Ginormous Tub of Goo eat those words again and again and again… So far Hows the Crow tastin Chuck ?

Spartans have made 6 trips to South Bend.. 6 Straight Victories…Haven’t lost there since 1993… I think we should rename it Spartan Stadium South… Or how about Sparty Complex Annex… or how about MSU South Bend…

NDs Last Game in Spartan Stadium 2006.. We all sat through that frick’en hurricane type weather…. Spartans  were leading 37 – 21 going into the fourth… But we lost 37 – 40 ….  What the hell happened… None of us can pick out where the wheels came off ???  … But.. The issue probably was John L’s coaching.. and the culture of not taking personal responsibility for yourself and your team mates.. the Lack of self discipline.. the lack of Playing Four Full Quarters..

Fun 2007 Stats:
Rushing Yards
ND: 903 - Opponents: 2345
Sacks:
ND Sacked 58 Times – ND Sacked Opponent 18 times
Scoring:
ND: 197 – Opponents: 345
Rank of Offense in NCAA: 115.. (Dead LAST) Averaging 75 yds rushing and 167 total per game….
Note: ND gave this coach a contract extension???  And NBC extended their contract to 2015 for 9 Million a year..  ??? (NBC = Notre Dame Broadcasting Network… ) Come on…. WTF…

They are getting some decent recruits coming in, but have players are leaving and  injured for this year.. Latest Losses:  WR Hord, CB Walls, DT Kuntz, and DL Hand(Injury).  What does it say about a program with so many defections? Injuries are one thing, defections another… And the most horrific of them all is when Starting QB Demetrius Jones just pulled a no show, last September,  for the bus when the team was leaving for the Away Michigan Game.. Wow…

Lets take a peek a their Team.. I mean they can’t be any worse.. That’s impossible since they were Last in the NCAA… So, improvements are expected…. 

They actually have some decent Skilled players..  but >50% of the 2007  issue was on the Hogs in the “O”Line.  The Same guys are back again… They Got to keep Jimmy Clausen upright and in the saddle…  LT Paul Duncan 6’7” – 308, RT Sam Young 6’8” – 330, LG Turkovich 6’6” – 301, RG Olsen 6’4” – 303… The Beef is there .. They shouldn’t have sucked that bad last year..  I guess its 1 older and 1 year wiser..  They will be able to better give Jimmy some time, and pull open a few holes.. But the Spartan “D” is Stronger than its been in years…  I see the Spartan DE’s in the Back field.  MSU new players to impact this position: DE Tyler Hoover  6 ‘7” – 265Lbs (and FAST !) , and DE Trevor Anderson 6’2” – 250 (All Big East Player) who followed Dantonio from Cinci, along with Brandon Long 6’4” – 240..  Clausen’s going be looking over his shoulder..  They will improve, but not enough….. Sorry Charlie…

Given time, Clausen will hit some targets..  That’s if he doesn’t pull a Demetrius Jones type move and defect to some place like Ball State… (Wouldn’t Blame him if he did).. Grimes(27 catches last year) , West (21 catches for the year, and 3 – 25 against the Spartans), Robby Parris (29), and the tallest Receiver at 6’5” is Kamara (32 catches).  Jimmy just didn’t have the time, he was either backing up, or on his back…  The issue this year will be much the same. But on the Spartan side defending the pass, the SS / CB will have to keep better track of the guys, but they are also are improved this year and should not have a problem keeping a handle on the routes. ..   Can you say..”Otis”…

When Clausen hands off the ball, he has a FB Bull Dozer to try to plow the Field.. Asaph Schwapp 6’0” – 261.. But with a stumbling Front, and a stout Spartan “D” line.... Not sure where he’s going..  Same with RB James Aldridge (Last year against the Spartans he was 18 – 104) and Armando Allen… They will gain more yards, but not enough….

As for the Domer “D”.. Their line is still young and suspect, Decent LBs and back field support, but they just lost CB Walls, that leaves the experience to Lambert and Gary Grey.. Its just Not enough. The LBs will try to pressure Hoyer more.. but they just aren’t that skilled yet to do that.

I can go on and on but the bottom line is, they will be better, but not enough against the surging Spartans..  Sure they will be better, They can’t help but be better, but the advances the Spartans have made vs. the advances Notre Dame has made don’t equate.. Spartans will Finish this game, play all 4 quarters and Win.. PERIOD…

Spartans  Win this one: No Prayers needed… Hoyer engineers a Home Victory against the Golden Domers..

Spartans 31 – Notre Dame 20

Sparty On !!!!!