Couch: Six steps to positive thinking for the perturbed Michigan State football fan
Michigan State’s football team has driven you to an uneasy place two games into the season. I sense an odd mix of emotions from you, the ever-fearful Spartan fan. You’re frustrated, let down, confused by expectations gone awry and yet still holding on to more than a glimmer of hope.
We’ve done a few of these therapy sessions over the years, you and I. Sometimes with great success. Sometimes not — I apologize for telling you things would get better in early October 2016.
This is different. Not nearly as dire. Yet, after an uninspiring 1-1 start by the Spartans, there is need for a pick-me-up.
Here are six steps to positive thinking heading into MSU’s Big Ten opener at Indiana:
1. Remind yourself, MSU has been here before and been fine
This coaching staff isn’t dumb. Stubborn sometimes, perhaps. But they’re not purposely trying to annoy you. And they want what you want — to win the Big Ten, beat the tar out of Michigan and play on the biggest stage in the postseason. In 2013, ’14 and ’17, there were moments of similar early season frustration that turned out OK. The only times it hasn’t is when the Spartans haven’t had a headliner at quarterback or receivers who were ready to be playmakers. MSU has both this year. The floor for the Spartans is relatively high.
Even as last season turned — beginning, per usual, after a loss to Notre Dame and win over Iowa — the Spartans were never a dominating group. They didn’t win a game by more than eight points until facing woeful Maryland and Rutgers teams to end the regular season. What set expectations soaring this year was a convincing Holiday Bowl performance and the sheer number of players returning from a 10-win team. Turns out MSU’s most important player last year was senior center Brian Allen. The Spartans miss him dearly.
In other years, young and struggling position groups have come along during the season. It could happen up front offensively. Consider MSU’s QB situation and receivers in 2013 and also how last season evolved. Look at an early box score from a year ago — the team that finished the Holiday Bowl didn’t much resemble the mistake-prone program that got outclassed by Notre Dame. A lot of development took place beginning in late September.
2. There’s so much season left, so much to work with
If MSU beats Indiana, the Spartans are likely to head to Penn State in mid-October at 4-1 and 2-0 in the Big Ten. You’ll feel better about things. Hopeful, for sure. You wait all year to watch MSU play its Big Ten rivals in football. Don’t ruin that prematurely. All of that is still ahead — and with time before those games for the Spartans to either fix their problems or figure out how to work around them.
And there’s a lot to work with if a work-around is needed. MSU has arguably never had a better quarterback/receiver situation this early in a season, also with the potential to play another 25 games together, minus senior wideout Felton Davis next season. We already know the foursome of QB Brian Lewerke and receivers Davis, Cody White and Darrell Stewart won’t be rattled in tense situations. We saw that late against Utah State. Their poise alone in crunch time will wind up being worth a win or two.
Elsewhere, there is both proven and intriguing talent at running back. On the other side of the ball, MSU has an interior defensive front and linebacker group that together stacks up well against any year in the Mark Dantonio era. This team might lack the handful of early round NFL draft picks on rosters at Ohio State, Clemson and Alabama, but there are guys who will play in the pros throughout this MSU roster. There still aren’t many college football teams that wouldn’t trade their roster for what MSU has to work with.
MORE: MSU at Indiana – 5 determining factors and a prediction
3. You get to feel the butterflies of a big football weekend for a game at Indiana
You don’t get that every year — that nervous energy in your belly for a game in Bloomington. That’s a real treat. (You see why journalists so easily transition to PR.) This is a season-altering game for MSU at Indiana. As long as it doesn’t go poorly, you’ll feel better Sunday morning than you would after most victories over the Hoosiers. If the Spartans lose, we’ll be back here next week with another session, free of charge. That’s worth something.
4. Think about the benefits of having your backup QB as your punter
If this comes across as some serious spin, it is. But let’s have some fun for a minute. Think about the possibilities with redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi punting. Heck, if he drops the snap and has to scramble and throw, MSU might be better off. There will certainly be at least one creative fake punt over the next six to eight weeks — when senior punter Jake Hartbarger returns from injury. Punts just got exciting, for better or worse.
5. Remember, Michigan has problems, too
Everything is relative in this rivalry. As long as Michigan’s issues are at least as big as yours, you sleep well. And they are. Better yet for MSU, the pressure is more on the Wolverines to flip the script with MSU than it is the other way around. That’s the benefit of winning 8 of 10 games against Michigan. Anytime you’re feeling down or anxious or have a headache, lay your head back, close your eyes and say “8 of 10” repeatedly. Your troubles will disappear.
There’s a decent chance you’ll be able to say “9 of 11” soon. Michigan’s offensive line can’t get a tough yard, either. Its defense, which is skilled and fast, hasn’t been overwhelming. At worst for MSU, it’s a pick’em Oct. 20 in East Lansing — having already won 8 of 10.
PREVIOUS THERAPY SESSIONS:
- Sept. 6, 2013: Six steps from anxiety to optimism for the suffering MSU football fan
- Sept. 13, 2013: Six more steps to restore your sanity and salvage MSU's offense
- Nov. 14, 2014: Six reasons to embrace the rest of MSU's football season
- Jan. 20, 2015: Six steps to bliss for grumpy MSU basketball fans
- Oct. 7, 2016: Six steps to serenity for the frustrated MSU football fan
6. This isn’t a one-year deal for MSU
If the Spartans had been building toward this season as some sort of one-shot deal, after two games, disappointment would be warranted. But 14 of MSU’s returning starters this season can also come back next season and 17 expected starters on this week’s depth chart are eligible to return — including Brian Lewerke, Cody White, Darrell Stewart, Raequan Williams, Mike Panasiuk, Joe Bachie, Justin Layne, etc.
Whatever this team becomes this season, it’s also building toward next season. And so if there are a couple difficult losses, but by November MSU is going toe-to-toe with Ohio State, that’s significant, even if this season doesn’t end in a Big Ten title or College Football Playoff berth.
This season has to remain the focus, because it still has a chance to be a memorable year and there are no guarantees about what comes next. Yet this isn’t some senior-laden squad that took years to come together just perfectly. This is a team that might start four sophomores on its offensive line against Indiana and, next year, return nine starters on defense.
Feel better? Hopefully you and I aren’t back here next week.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.