Normally, TOC kicks out an article right after a game with a full recap of the action. Yesterday, I made the choice not to do that. I had an internal debate on whether replaying all the action was necessary,
or if I should just get to my big talking point from the game. I am going with the latter.
MSU used a strong 3rd quarter to take a 17-7 lead into the final 15 minutes. Iowa got an early field goal in the 4th to move within a touchdown of the Spartans. From there, the next five drives combined for a total of 15 yards, with two of those drives having gone backwards. On the last of those drives, after getting the ball up 7 with 3:32 to play, MSU spent 1:08 of game clock to lose five yards and punt back to Iowa. Ryan Eckley’s 54-yard punt was returned 40 yards, setting up the Hawkeyes at the MSU 42.
With 2:22 to play, Iowa then also used 1:08 on their drive, except they chose the forward route, using five plays to go 42 yards for a game-tying TD. And now here is where it gets stupid. Michigan State got the ball back with 1:29. From their 25, MSU picked up 12 yards and then 8 on consecutive completions, putting them in 2nd and 2 at the 45. Then a run got snuffed for no gain, forcing MSU to use a timeout, and then Alessio threw an incompletion to put the Spartans at 4th and 2 with 41 seconds left.
Now, just to remind you, MSU had a 3-7 record at this point and had not won a game since September. They were not going to risk bowl eligibility or anything else if they lost again. On the other hand, they had a chance to ruin Iowa’s Senior Day. Needing two yards, when they had been averaging three yards per rush for the game and with a number of receiving weapons, Coach Smith decided to punt it away.
You know the rest of the story. Iowa started from their 21 with 34 seconds remaining. They had completions of 19, 6, and 29 yards to get down to the 25-yard line of MSU. They rushed one time to burn the rest of the time before calling a timeout with a few ticks, then kicked the winning FG as time expired.
Now back to the decision to punt on MSU’s final possession. WHY? WHY ARE YOU F@¢{ING PUNTING? WHY NOT TRY TO WIN? This needs to be the nail in Coach Smith’s coffin at MSU. That was everything that has been wrong with this program for two years under his leadership. No guts. No emotion. No care for his players. You have not won a game in two months and you are happy to settle for trying to get to overtime? Absolute coward move. I am still angry about it 12 hours later.
I will be at the game next week in Detroit, and I fully plan on asking him in the press conference about that decision. Not sure if I am allowed to ask questions about a previous game, but I don’t care. He needs to be called out for that nonsense.
I know some of you have been making logical arguments as to why Smith is going to remain at MSU (mostly dealing with the financial situation), but it would not be logical to keep a coach who is so illogical in running this team. He has got to go. Feel free to disagree in the comments if you are still in favor of him sticking around. I am mad and I am ready to argue with you.
Oh, and don’t forget to watch our Women’s Soccer Team in the round of 16 today at 1 PM on ESPN+ (at least have it up on your 2nd screen if you are watching the Lions or whoever your NFL team is at that time).
