Growing up

In case you missed it, MSU won a thriller at Minnesota earlier today. The team never lead in the game until about a minute and a half left. Biggest deficit was 13, the largest lead a Big Ten opponent had over the Spartans all year. All though on paper it doesn't seem like a huge win. Sure, its on the road in a hard place to play and Minnesota isn't at the top of the Big Ten standings right now, but something very interesting happened.

After the game, as he was leaving the court, Izzo had a few tears in his eyes. I can only speculate why, but most people have a hunch that it was because he was extremely proud of his team. At the post game interviews, Kalin Lucas told reporters Izzo had told him during a late timeout that there are certain moments that players achieve greatness (Something to that effect). Lucas answered with authority, as he drained the winning three with 1:27 left in the game, to put MSU up 65-62. After starting the game with a dismal FG%, Lucas finished with 22 points. Not to be outdone, Raymar Morgan, the team's notorious disappearing act, finished with 17 points. Morgan was integral during the Spartan's run in the second half. It looks like he has turned a corner as well -- he was (badly) called for his fourth foul with about 10 minutes left. He came in for the last 5 minutes or so and played aggressive on both ends of the court without fouling. Those who have seen a majority of games the last 4 years will tell you that is the first time he has showed that kind of control and passion. Ever.

MSU ended up with below a 40% FG percentage, but players stepped up when they had to. If you recall, Lucas was effectively called out by Izzo for his lack of leadership on the team. Morgan hasn't lead by example yet this year. Although it doesn't show up on the stat sheet Chris Allen is also becoming a much better player. Allen hit 4 threes and played noticeably good defense on a couple of talented Minnesota guards. Izzo called out the team after the Iowa game, saying they had a lot of growing up to do still. This win affected him in a powerful way, so hopefully we will that spark come March.

A Defining Moment

Although the Men's Basketball team is off to a 6-0 big ten start, there is a HUGE controversy brewing in East Lansing. I'll try to be both thorough and concise...

Late in December, MSU applied for a patent, for the image that is in the top left of this post. The use of this logo would be as follows (from the patent status):

"educational services, namely, providing courses of instruction and continuing education at the college and graduate level and conducting summer camps and workshops for youth in the fields of athletics, music, and fine arts and crafts; entertainment services in the nature of organizing collegiate sporting events and competitions and conducting music concerts and arts festivals"

In short, it will be a representation of MSU, or a logo. Initially, many believed it would be an alternate logo they use for some merchandise (kind of like the old school, "gruff" sparty logo that's tattooed on Delvon Roe's Arm). However, a story printed on MLive.com today quoted an MSU employee saying it will be a "comprehensive package" and the result of 2 years of work between MSU and Nike.

Nike has been working with the university for a number of years as the jersey supplier for a number of sports. The basketball teams, in particular, have been a large focus of Nike's for a number of years -- the basketball team gets new, redesigned accents on their jerseys every couple years. However, their logo and color scheme has been consistent for years.

From what it sounds like, the old Spartan Helmet will be replaced by a different version of the helmet in April. Whether or not you agree with the move, it is a huge deal when an entire athletics department changes their logo. Sure, pro sports do it once in a while, but tradition is a huge part of the college experience. Any student to a university is introduced to the school's traditions first and foremost. The athletics logo is inevitably the face of the university. More people around the country and world see this logo before statistics of the student body, the number of faculty, the fruits of MSU research, or administrative decisions made by the President.

Here's my take on it: This is ridiculous. MSU athletics, including Mark Dantonio and Tom Izzo, have repeatedly cited tradition and history as the cornerstone of their programs. Coach Izzo has recent grads come back repeatedly to talk to his players and makes sure his grads and predecessors are in the loop as much as possible. The first thing Dantonio did when he got to campus was build an entire wing of a building honoring the great people related to the Spartan Football team's history. The Spartan helmet has been the face of our athletics department in arguably our most high profile era since we became the "Spartans" -- Tom Izzo's 5 final fours, Perles' 1988 Rose Bowl team, the recent resurgence of the football team under Mark Dantonio, and among all, the highest quality of education and administration that the university has seen.

A "new look" for MSU Athletics helps no one. It may help sell more T-shirts, water bottles, and posters, but at what cost? I might not survive a story that came out if Nike had a direct influence in changing our logo. Personally, I'm going to do what I can to voice my opinion to the athletics department. That means writing letters and emails, people. Sorry, but the whole "support a cause on facebook" doesn't accomplish anything -- Darfur still sucks, Breast Cancer groups don't cure breast cancer, and Global Warming hasn't slowed down. I encourage everyone who is against this change to let the administration know how they feel. Letters, petitions, emails, anything TANGIBLE that can be shown as dissent for the logo. Of course, the language that speaks the loudest for any university is money. I can imagine there may be longtime season-ticket holders who may not renew, supporters of different campus departments that will stop donating, and also cause a wave of disdain for MSU by its graduates.

This logo fiasco needs to either be cleared up by the administration, or it has the potential to drive a serious wedge in MSU's fanbase.

"A Vote of Confidence"

There hasn't been much light shed on the alleged brawl that took place on campus before Thanksgiving. As more details about the night come out, more players are getting suspended indefinitely. If I remember correctly, 11 players have been charged in connection with the fight and Myles White has been given an unrelated citation for MIP and Urinating in Public.
Every Spartan should keep in mind that Coach Dantonio suspended these players indefinitely as soon as he personally learned (before the press released their names and the police filed charges) that players were just PRESENT at the fight. Details of the fight at this point is pure speculation and anyone who claims they know what went down, outside of a few members of the fraternity involved, is probably full of crap. Coach D had the same policy for Glen Winston last year - as soon as he knew Glen was in a fight, he was out. Charges were filed about a week after that.
A quick note: suspended indefinitely, as it relates to an athletic team, means you don't participate in team activities until the coaches decide you can come back. There is no set time, players may return for spring practice, or they may never return. Glen Winston and Roderick Jenrette were kicked off the team, period. No strings attached. If anyone cares, both their scholarships are effective until the end of this academic year. After that, they will not be renewed. The university can take a separate action to dismiss the gentlemen from the school if their behavior warrants it.

Today, Tom Izzo had a decent sized press conference. The first issue, of course, was basketball. One of the key points was that he thinks he has settled on a rotation for the starting lineup, with Draymond Green being the sixth man. Although Green has been putting up huge numbers recently, it makes sense. It wouldn't be smart to put both Green and Roe out there (undersized) so it was pretty much Green or Roe at the 4 spot. Green coming off the bench makes sure we have a presence of some kind down low when Delvon is out. The team is off until the 19th, and then I believe they play #2 Texas soon after. A lot of fans are freaking out because we haven't looked the least bit polished, but Izzo always seems to get his guys in shape for the marquee matchups.
The other large order of business at the meeting was Izzo's take on the whole brawl situation and how it has affected Mark Dantonio and the program in general. Here's a link to the exchange, from Joe Rexrode of the LSJ:
http://noise.typepad.com/hey_joe/2009/12/a-luxury-train-a-sermon-a-recruit-and-izzos-sentiments.html
Here's a collection of quotes that pretty much summarize Izzo's feelings, if you don't want to sift through that:

"I can’t believe it’s front page (Sunday). I mean, I really can’t believe that"
Izzo made it clear that the media seems to be blowing this out of proportion, as young people, athletes or not, get into fights: “Without making light of this, did anybody that’s writing, talking, advising, did any of those people ever go to college? And what kind of Disneyworld do we think we live in.”

"So, me personally, I think Mark Dantonio has handled it a hell of a lot better than I would’ve. I’m sure as hell happy he’s our football coach. And I don’t think he needs anybody sticking up for him, either"
He made it clear that Dantonio shouldn't need a "vote of confidence" from the higher ups to be seen as a responsible and stand-up coach.

"And when I heard the second-chance [argument], people were mad because (Winston) got a second chance … I’d just like to know where all of us would be without a second chance. Or a third. Or a fourth."
Also mentioning that he's had his share of players in fights, notably Travis Walton, but he didn't get much flak from the papers. I know Mateen Cleaves, regarded as one of the all-time Spartan greats, had his share of trouble at MSU.

So this whole thing is interesting. Law nerds, let me know if I'm wrong, but the 9 players initially charged with "assault and battery" or "conspiracy to commit assault" could have been charged for just being identified at the fight. It could have been one guy showing up and throwing punches, with the rest of the guys showing up and standing back. Still a ridiculously stupid move, but not deserving of the same punishment as the one with fists of fury.

The one thing that irks me in all this is actually the fraternity's handling of the situation. Dantonio and Hollis have both expressed that they're not going to comment on the specifics of the fight, as it might hinder the investigation by the police. The MSU police have thanked them for this on several occasions. However, members of the fraternity haven't exactly followed that path. One member present at the fight said to a reporter that one of the MSU players was wearing a ski mask. Turns out, that was completely wrong. The media has gone so far as to interview the national president of the fraternity, who is out in California, on his opinion. He pretty much stated all of the football players present should be thrown in jail. Sorry dude, but if people within the athletic department and the police don't know what happened, you don't have a damn clue.

I'm not trying to justify what happened. I think if any one of the players was promoting this fight in any way, they need to be dismissed. But I'd like people to remember that the law in this country believes every person is innocent until proven guilty. The media is freaking out about this and it doesn't help anyone if the rest of us freak out too.