First and foremost, all of us at TOC would like to take a moment to thank those who gave their lives to serve our country as we honor you this Memorial Day. Our gratitude goes out to all of your families and the sacrifices you have made.
There are many times that those of us who are MSU alums have moments where we reflect back on the amazing experience that was Michigan State University. Some of those memories may be sports related and others may be lifelong friendships, spouses, or just some crazy
hilarity. All of those memories got us thinking it may be fun to reflect back this long weekend on our favorite moments and we invite you to share yours in the comments. Each writer had the task to narrow down their memories and share it with all of you.
Mike (our resident non-alum)
I have no idea why this is coming to mind but I remember going to a basketball game in Jenison Field House. I think the Spartans were playing Northwestern and Kirk Manns was WIDE open for a corner three. He took so long to line it up that fans were screaming “Shoot It!” When he finally let it go, after what seemed like a few seconds holding the ball in the shooting position, it swished in. Breslin opened in November, 1989 and Manns was there from ’87-90 so this must have been his freshman or sophomore year. I think he still holds the school record for three point shooting at 47.5%.
I also somewhat remember the Labor Day opening night football win against USC in 1987. My folks took my brother and me to a lot of games when we were kids and I can still remember exploring around campus. Even after moving from Michigan, my parents continued to hold football season tickets through the 2013 season. The last game they saw in Spartan Stadium was the 29-6 beatdown of Michigan, the -48 game, in 2013 when they made the trip from Loudon, TN.
Even though it wasn’t on campus, my best MSU sports memory has to be Trouble with the Snap. I was watching it by myself in Solvang, CA, where I lived at the time—probably the only person in that town who cared about that game. I don’t know if I’m necessarily Jonathan Smith but I’m not too demonstrative about sports, even when I was coaching. But I lost it that day – simply stunned that a game could end that way. It was more the thrill of seeing a team win on a play like that but it also didn’t hurt seeing Michigan lose when they surely thought they had the game.
O
For me, I am not going with a sports memory. Rather, this is my MSU origin story. It was move-in day 1989. I had just turned 9 years old. My older brother graduated high school earlier that year and was moving up to East Lansing. My parents brought me along that day to drop their oldest child off at college. This was my first time at Michigan State, and maybe even my first time at any university. I don’t remember much from that day; I don’t know if I saw any of the campus or if we took a trip to Meijer. Really my only recollection is of my brother’s dorm in the basement of Abbot Hall. The loft had already been built by the time we got there, and I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I wanted my bed to be up in the air, too. And then, there was one other thing that caught my attention. I remember turning to my brother and asking him in near-shock when I saw the other people moving in, “There are girls on the same floor?!” His nonchalant answer, “Yep.”
I was hooked from day 1. I knew this would be where I would go to school nine years later.
Steve
This is an unbelievably difficult question to narrow down so I think I may just share a few. I’ll start with a couple of sports related ones. October 9, 1999, MSU vs um, I was nearly trampled. The game was spectacular. Nick Saban was coaching, TJ Duckett in the backfield and Plaxico at receiver catching passes from the mighty Bill Burke. Tom Brady was behind center for the weasels and was knocked out of this game, on a play that today would be a penalty for horse collaring. But, these were different times! Both teams entered the game 5-0, and Spartan Stadium was sold out. Plaxico was absolutely dominating this game from catching a 60 yard plus flea flicker to um sending out David Tyrell to play corner and try to shut him down. He was not successful. Drew Henson came in for the injured Brady and struggled. It was one hell of a game to be a Spartan and looking back at all that NFL talent on the field is pretty fantastic too. Plaxico was a beast and this game showed the world. So, the clock ticks down and the student section is ready to rush the field. Of course, I am too. I’m standing with a large group of friends from my fraternity and as we start to rush the field I roll my ankle traveling down the stands. I totally start to go down and I will absolutely be stepped over if I drop. Shout out to my good friend Grubb, who saw me dropping and was sober enough to grab my arm and pull my butt up from dropping. If not for that, who knows? Grubb, you saved me that day! Victory for MSU!
Another great sports memory would have to be the 2000 basketball championship. Everyone in East Lansing was expecting the students to riot and cause chaos regardless of the outcome. The police were prepared for the city to be lit on fire. I remember fondly, walking out of my house with my friends and turning down Michigan Ave towards Grand River. Crowds just headed to Grand River, cheering, singing the fight song, chanting. It was totally peaceful, totally celebratory, totally unforgettable. There were thousands of us on the streets in elation.
Lastly, in the sports realm, has to be “trouble with the snap”. Now, I know Mike shared this one too, but I will boldly state my story is better! When this game happened, I was living in Hermosa Beach, CA. I was already mad at it being fall and where I lived it was 90 outside. I know I lived in SoCal but I was not there for the weather and I very much missed crisp football air in October. I was at an English Pub called The Underground, why an English pub for college football…don’t ask, with my wife and another Spartan couple, Rose and Sean. Coincidentally, O knows everyone involved in this story. Sean and I were absolutely miserable as the game looked unattainable. We were both complaining as we watched an um fan head to the bar and order a ton of shots for the whole um crew that was at this locale. As we complained, both our wives chimed in about there still being time on the clock and it isn’t over until it is over. Sean and I scoffed at this as we were not about to be optimistic, I mean, we’re Spartans. Then, “trouble with the snap” happened. We immediately jumped to our feet and began screaming. Sean jumped into my arms and I proceeded to catch him and throw his back into the ceiling of the Underground. I then looked over at the bar with the stunned weasel staring at his shots. I grabbed four of them and thanked him and took them back to our table as we celebrated with free “stolen” shots. Sparta, we steal games and shots.
Non sports related would have to be the campus itself. The walks and rides to classes. The bike crashes, and if you rode, you had at least one. The beauty of that campus throughout the changing seasons is something I always remember. Walking along the Red Cedar in the crisp fall air, or by all the sun bathers on the field across from The Union in spring. MSU campus was and is absolutely gorgeous.
Robbie
Because I can’t decide between just one, I was in the student section for the Little Giants fake field goal against Notre Dame and for the Hail Mary against Wisconsin. I remember struggling to see the pass from Bates but hearing the crowd erupt. I thought Dantonio was the smartest man ever after that play. I also remember the review on the Wisconsin Hail Mary feeling like an eternity. I love that the ref stumbled over his words before the stadium went nuts.
Hopefully you enjoyed a bit of our fondest memories. Now TOC readers, it is your turn. Sports or non-sports related, share in the comments your fondest memories of MSU as we all kick off the unofficial start of summer yearning for the fall return to campus.
