Q&A: Former MSU, NFL standout Ike Reese talks Super Bowl, Saban and lofty Spartan expectations in 2018

LANSING — Ike Reese isn't afraid to admit that he is living vicariously through his former teams.

And who could blame him? 

The Philadelphia Eagles, the team that drafted Reese in 1998, won its first Super Bowl in franchise history this past February when they knocked off the Patriots, 41-33. A little more than a month earlier, Reese's alma mater, Michigan State, capped a 10-3 season with a blowout win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.

Reese wasn't able to accomplish those feats when he played.

It still bothers him.

In 2004, Reese's seventh and final season in Philadelphia, the Eagles reached Super Bowl XXXIX. That time, New England came out on top, 24-21. The beloved linebacker and special teams ace went on to play two more seasons in Atlanta before retiring in 2006. He never made it to another Super Bowl.

During his time in East Lansing, the Spartans toiled in mediocrity.

Reese didn't.

He is ranked fourth all-time in tackles in school history, was a two-time team captain under Nick Saban and was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection after his senior season.

And more than two decades, 20 sacks and 700 tackles later, Reese is still in the game. For the past 10 years, he has found himself behind the microphone talking sports at 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia. It's his new love. His life after football. His way to stay involved.

Not a bad gig for a humble kid from Cincinnati who didn't start playing football until high school.

He sees big things in store for the Spartans this season. He thinks the Eagles have arrived and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. He is still amazed at what his former college head coach has accomplished, and is not surprised about MSU's current success. Reese has felt the pain of the issues that have plagued his school off-the-field over the past year. But he is still proud.

He talked about all of that and more in an hour-long conversation Friday.

Question: Put me in the moment ... What was it like to be in the city of Philadelphia after the Eagles won that elusive title?

Answer: Oh man, as far as sports goes, it was probably the greatest moment, certainly in Philadelphia sports history. Me, being attached to it and currently doing a radio show and a resident for the last 20 years, it was certainly the biggest thing in my sports career.

Q: I’m curious, as a former Philly player, do you almost feel like you won that championship, too? Like a monkey off the back of an organization and the former players?

A: No doubt. When they won, I certainly feel like I won. My former teammates won. Really, everyone who has worn that uniform, and more importantly, the fans. They have been there since 1960, the last time the Eagles won the championship. That’s a long time. So many of us fell short in bringing the Lombardi Trophy to this city. Most certainly, it felt like we won it, too.

Q: Let’s shift to Michigan State. How did you end up in East Lansing, and did you have any inkling that NCAA sanctions were about to be handed down, including forfeiting every win in the 1994 season?

A: I had no idea that that was coming down. Got there through Kip Waddell, the defensive ends coach under George Perles. He was the former coach in the Cincinnati recruiting area. He happened to be at a game I was playing, and he was actually there to recruit a few of the players on the other team. We weren’t very good. I happened to have a good game and that’s how it happened. I went on my first visit on a Friday night and I committed Saturday morning.

Q: George Perles and his staff obviously recruited you, what was it like to see the coach who believed enough in you to offer you a scholarship get fired and then you get a bulldog of a head coach like Nick Saban?

A: It was difficult. Being a young player and never having gone through a coach being fired leaves you in bewilderment. What is the next coach going to be like? I got to know them and was indebted to them for offering me. So, to have another guy come in brought on a bit of uncertainty. It was a culture shock but it worked out for the better. Perles is an MSU legend and it was sad to see him go, but it was the beginning of getting the program back on the right track. Years later, now I get to tell people that I played for arguably the greatest coach of all time. That’s a nice little feather to have in the cap.

Q: Did you have any idea back then that Saban would go on to win six national championships and become the legendary head coach he has?

A: No. I knew he was a good coach. You could see that structure, what he implemented and how demanding he was. He pushed us to be our best. He turned me into an NFL player to some degree. He knew the game of football, but I can’t say I saw that coming. We knew he would win, we were just hoping it would be in the green and white. To watch what he has done, it’s an honor to play for him.

Q: You went to battle with guys like Tony Banks, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, Sedrick Irvin, Mill Coleman, Flozell Adams and many others at MSU. Did you have any idea that you were surrounded by serious NFL talent, including yourself?

A: I did. A few guys I thought had the ability to make it to that level. Some didn’t stick or dealt with injuries. I thought my teammate, Reggie Garnett, had the ability, but two knee injuries hurt him and he never was the player he could’ve been. We knew we had some players. But I will tell you, certain guys, I thought their careers exceeded my expectations. That’s no slight to them, it’s just that Muhammad had pretty much one good year (at MSU) and went on to have a great career. So did Mason. He wasn’t necessarily the biggest or the fastest guy. I didn’t know he would be a great receiver in the NFL. He turned himself into a very good one. Those two, they went above and beyond. Flozell — you knew he was going to have a 15-year career. Me, I wasn’t the biggest person. I’m very proud that I was able to carve out a niche in the NFL. I felt like I could do it but didn’t know for how long. I am very satisfied to have played nine years at (the linebacker) position at that size.

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Q: If you could sum up your MSU career in a few sentences, what would you say?

A: From a team perspective, we flashed potential to be in the upper echelon from time to time, but we didn’t find a way to do it consistently for whatever reason. I Don’t know if we believed we could do it, which led to wilting late in games. It’s disappointing that we didn’t perform well in bowl games. We didn’t show up to play. That is something I certainly think about. Individually, I was a guy from Cincinnati who didn’t think I’d play Big Ten football. To do what I did, I couldn’t be more proud of myself.  I came in with the idea to survive and get through college. When I left, I was proud think I did enough to never be forgotten.

Q: Draft day in 1998 … Did you go at the spot you thought you would? The team? What was that day like?

A: I think I was supposed to go anywhere from the third to fifth round. I was at home with my family, my mom and my brothers, when they finally called me. I was the 142nd pick, but it felt like I was the No. 1 pick in the draft. It was a dream come true, especially going to organization like Philadelphia, which was rich in history and defensive players. When I first got to MSU, I didn’t think about the NFL. I didn’t think about it until after my junior year. All that hard work paid off. It really does pay off. It was awesome.

Q: You played for arguably the toughest fan base in the NFL and somehow won their hearts. What is the secret?

A: Because we are alike. We are two of a kind. We are the same sort of species. We have the same DNA. Philly helped me bring out what was naturally in me. I played with the same emotions on my sleeve and was a passionate player. It was a fit. Like a hand in glove, it just fit. Playing the role I played on special teams, I was a selfless player, a team player. I played as if it was one of the most important roles on the team. I took it serious and became a leader. The city recognized it. That’s what I love about Philly — it’s easy to recognize the stars, but they love the try-hard guy who gives max effort and plays like their hair is on fire.

Q: Now that you are a radio talent in the City of Brotherly Love, are you still loved? And can you still be a “media member” and a fan?

A: The funny thing is, because its sports talk radio, it doesn’t always feel like media to the fans. And on radio, they get some ownership of this thing. They can voice their opinion, thoughts and disagree. We are almost like partners. Sometimes they don’t like my opinion and that’s OK. Sometimes I don’t agree with fans and what they think about certain teams, players or coaches. They respect honesty. It doesn’t come off as agenda-driven or doing it for a trigger reaction. It’s authentic. They respect authenticity. That’s what I give them and they give it back.

Q: The past year or so in East Lansing has been filled with off-the-field turmoil and national news reports about transgressions inside the university, which has included the football and basketball programs. How does that affect you, as a proud alumnus, and what do you say to naysayers who think your university has lack of institutional control -- for lack of a better term?

A: First of all, when you look at that situation, obviously people’s lives been affected. I always try to first think about victims and make sure I keep my mind with them. It’s easy to go try to protect your school and make excuses. There is no excuse. I have a 12-year-old daughter who loves gymnastics. I had to think of my own child. My thoughts and prayers always go out to (the victims.) It was disappointing. It was embarrassing. I hurt for a school I still love. I am still a proud alum.

From a university standpoint, that is where the disappointment is because of the lack of institutional control. We need to make sure these children are protected. You feel heartbroken, but you know deep down there are good people there. You want to make sure that people in the position of power are doing things to correct those things. Light has been shed and that forces people to go an rethink about the way things have been handled and not let that happen ever again.

The men that are leading those programs, I have total respect and love for. I have known Tom Izzo since I walked on campus and Coach (Mark Dantonio) since he came with Saban in '95. The type of character they have shown, when they get called into question, that doesn’t feel good. I do believe in those guys and believe they have always ran first-class programs.

Q: Controversy aside, the football program has been rolling under Mark Dantonio, aside from a blip during the 2016 season. How impressed have you been with the direction the program has taken?

A: I have more than enjoyed the last decade. It’s what we dreamed the university could be. We all felt this is where we tried to get the program to. This is where we always felt it could be. Even higher. It’s been at a high level. The next step is when you are consistently in the national championship hunt. We have always been about Rose Bowls in the Big Ten conference. That’s always at the top of the list. We need to start talking about the national championship. We have the guy in place and we are in that conversation. We are getting there. This man knows what he is doing.

As a football coach, he has establishing a culture. I didn’t see 10 wins coming after coming off a 3-9. That may be the most impressive thing he has done as a coach at MSU. Winning the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl and dominating Michigan the way he has, coming back from 3-9 and with all the off-the-field stuff and go 10-3 – that’s in the top-5 things he has done. That’s bounce back was impressive. I didn’t know half the players on the team and I follow the team ever year.

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Q: How often do you get to watch the Spartans and what are your thoughts on the upcoming season?

A: I think the sky is the limit this year. It’s really going to rely on Brian Lewerke and how the lines hold up. I love Joe Bachie, man. I love that dude. I love watching him play. That is a linebacker there, man. They have a lot of tools, but it starts at quarterback. Connor Cook and Kirk Cousins were so clutch. That’s what takes to get to the next level. I think they can go 11-2. I think the schedule sets up nicely.

They have a good test early at Arizona State, and Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, you have to win two out of three of those. It’s difficult to beat all three in the same year. If you can, that is going to put you in position to play in Indianapolis. I certainly believe they are right there. If Brian can take the next step and the running game steps up a little bit.

Q: Next year at this time, what are we saying about the Eagles and the Spartans?

A: Let’s start with the Spartans. We are going to the Rose Bowl this year. We are going to be back there as Big Ten champs. The Eagles will be back-to-back champs. My Eagles are the new powerhouse of the NFL and Carson Wentz will be the MVP. The Spartans are back to where we were -- right in the thick of things.

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

You can follow Ike Reese on Twitter @Ike58Reese or listen to his radio show at https://94wip.radio.com/shows/jon-marks-ike-reese