This is Spartahhhhhhhh

It's an exciting time to be a Spartan fan. First, the movie "300" came out, prompting all who weren't squirming uncomfortably at the site of those airbrushed 18 packs (6 pack? Please. This is Spartahhhhh!) to wonder how long it would take MSU to incorporate an aspect of the movie into their "pump up the crowd" stadium promotion. The answer? Not long:


Epic.

Please note that, while I'm sure motivating, the "Spartan Yell" does not actually stop the opposing team from gaining that first down. (ht: mgoblog)

Next in the year of the Spartans came the Nintendo Wii's decision to put Sparty on their cover.


Also epic.


From a non-football standpoint, Michigan State had an awesome year! Actual football? Not so much.

2007 Season in One Word: Sigh. No really - that's the word. There's a reason they're called "same old Sparty" and it stems from the fact that, every year, they win 4 games in a row, only to finish a disappointing 7-6, 3-4 in conference. Oh, there were flashes, but they were fleeting, few, and far between. In the finale, on a national stage, the Spartans had a chance to silence their critics against Matt Ryan and the Boston College Eagles, who had been ranked as high as #2 in season. What happened? Michigan State outplayed the Eagles in every single aspect of the game, unless you count the 5 turnovers Spartan QB Brain Hoyer was responsible for. When you account for those, the performance turned into a classic "Sparty noooooo!" and a collective "sigh" from East Lansing. Potential? It was there. Execution? Not so much.

2008 Tangibles:

Schedule

8/30 @ California
9/06 Eastern Michigan
9/13 Florida Atlantic
9/20 Notre Dame
9/27 @ Indiana
10/04 Iowa
10/11 @ Northwestern
10/18 Ohio State
10/25 @ Michigan
11/01 Wisconsin
11/08 Purdue
11/22 @ Penn State

Coach


Mark Dantonio enters his second season as Michigan State Head Coach. Dantonio has learned from both Saban (at MSU as an assistant) and Tressel (DC at OSU). Yikes - that's a scary combo. If he's as dirty as Saban and as slick as Tressel, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Of course, judging by his propensity to make fun of the stature of college athletes, he's inherited neither.

Returning Playmakers

Brian Hoyer returns...uhhh...nevermind.

Jehuu Caulcrick...erm...uhhh...

Javon Ringer! Kinda? No?

Here's the deal: In any given game, one of the aforementioned players can go off big time and hurt you. But, due to inconsistency that is part and parcel with the Spartan experience, the other two will invariably suck. Thus, the lone returning playmaker for Michigan State is one man named Bri'Jahuu Ringcrick.

Champ: Get your nose out of the books and tell us what to expect from Sparty.