Michigan State’s Allen scores one for the ‘fat guys’
As Michigan State rolled over Penn State last weekend on its way to the Big Ten championship game, there were plenty of standout performances.
■Quarterback Connor Cook threw three touchdowns.
■Defensive tackle Malik McDowell returned an interception for a touchdown.
■Safety Demetrious Cox took a fumble back 77 yards for a score.
But it was the final touchdown that produced the most unlikely star.
When center Jack Allen rumbled into the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run, the Spartan Stadium crowd erupted and the sideline went nuts.
“It’s something that’s kind of cool for an O-lineman to do, you don’t see it every day,” the fifth-year senior said Monday. “It just keeps everything light and keeps everybody happy. At the same time, it gives a lot of fat guys like myself around college football some hope.”
That “fat” guy has been making the rounds on social media since, although Allen isn’t exactly the guy to get caught up in whether he’s trending.
“I’m not a big social-media guy, but I’ve gotten texts from numerous people and stuff like that,” Allen said. “It’s kind funny. It’s good though.”
Allen’s score sparked its share of envy from some at Iowa, Michigan State’s opponent Saturday in the Big Ten championship game.
Iowa had completed its regular season with a victory at Nebraska last Friday, and many were watching the Penn State-Michigan State game.
“I was watching the game for a little bit,” Iowa center Austin Blythe said. “As soon as Michigan State did their job and put it away, I think I turned to another game. I think I was sitting at a family dinner, actually family Christmas/Thanksgiving. One of my family members said that Jack Allen scored. I was definitely a little jealous.”
Blythe said he suggested a similar play to offensive line coach Brian Ferentz.
“I don’t think that will be happening,” Blythe said. “It is what it is, just go out there and do what I can and I’ll share my glory with the running backs.”
Allen sees similarities
There’s been plenty of talk of the similarities between Michigan State and Iowa. The programs are so much alike Allen almost chose the Hawkeyes over the Spartans out of Hinsdale, Ill.
“Iowa is a program that’s coached by a great coach. Kirk Ferentz is a great guy and a great coach,” Allen said. “But for them they preach toughness and hard work and discipline. And I think that’s very similar to here.”
‘Great competitors’
It’s not the sort of rivalry that reaches the level Michigan State enjoys with Michigan, or even that of recent battles with Ohio State and Wisconsin.
But the contests against Iowa have typically been tight, and there will be no shortage of emotion for this one.
“Each and every game is very important for us,” Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun said. “Going out there and building up that emotion, I don’t think that’ll be tough at all. We played Iowa, we have a seven-year book on Iowa. We’ve competed against those guys, and they’ve been great competitors.”
O-line up for honor
Michigan State’s offensive line was announced Monday as one of six finalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line unit in football. The other finalists are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Notre Dame and Stanford.
The voting committee is comprised of people who played or coached the position, including all of the current offensive line coaches at the FBS level as well as former players, coaches and colleagues of Moore’s and select media. The winner will be announced Dec. 11.
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