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Michigan State Football: An open letter to all Spartan doubters

By Patrick Forrest

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A disclaimer to anyone who is about to read this post. This is a first-hand account of the emotions and perspective that I, and I alone, have going into a matchup against the Michigan Wolverines as a long-time Michigan State football fan and former student. It does not necessarily reflect how anyone else should feel, purely my own thoughts, take from it what you will.

I attended Michigan State from 2004-08, or as they are known in my memory “the dark years” for Spartan football. John L Smith was the head coach and there were more debacles during that time than happy memories, to say the least.

Three points that should put his and my time into perspective while in East Lansing. My first football experience as an undergrad was MSU playing at Rutgers, who was even worse back then, and losing. This should have been my first sign that things were not going to go well.

Next, MSU did not sniff a bowl game while John L Smith was the coach.

Finally, the Spartans did not beat Michigan a single time while I was there, three of those losses to the John L Smith squads and one to first year head coach Mark Dantonio.

Never experiencing a victory over the Wolverines while on campus was a bitter pill to swallow, especially how Michigan State lost each game.

The 2004 contest was the Braylon Edwards game, which hopefully most of us have put somewhere far away in our memory. In 2005, it was on overtime heartbreaker in which the Spartans were handed their first loss of the season and proceeded to go on a downward spiral the remainder of the year.

Of course, 2006 was a blowout in Ann Arbor that the Spartans never had a chance in and 2007, my last chance while on campus, the Wolverines ripped victory from the Spartans once again in the now infamous “little brother” game.

After the game, Coach Dantonio gave a fantastic press conference, simply stating pride comes before the fall, which brings us to present day. Since that day the Spartans have won six of the past seven meetings and the Wolverines have never been a threat.

When leaving campus, I can truly say that I never thought I would see the day when dominance like this would occur. There are undergrads currently that have only experienced losing to the Wolverines one time during their tenure, I had four.

This is where the perspective comes in. No matter what happens tomorrow, Coach Dantonio has built this program to a place where we are not going anywhere, despite what Michigan fans say, and there is no doubt in my mind.

Do I want to win? Absolutely.

I have often told friends and family that if a genie would come to me and promise that during the rest of my life Michigan State would never again lose to Michigan, but the Spartans would lose every other game, I would seriously consider it.

This is not the point, though. The point and my perspective is that despite what the national media and the crazy Wal-Mart Wolverine fans say, if Michigan State loses tomorrow it does not erase the past seven years. It also does not erase the incredible recruiting reach and player development the Spartans now have. The program is here to stay.

A loss to Michigan in the very recent past meant an immediate downward spiral, Coach Dantonio has more than enough equity to prove that this will no longer be the case.

As much as I hate to admit it, there will be a Saturday that Michigan is victorious over Michigan State on the gridiron. I do not know when that day will come and as heartbreaking as it will be, I will simply remember the dark ages of no hope, pick myself up off the mat and realize that this program has surpassed my wildest dreams.

Next: MSU Football: 5 keys to victory over Michigan

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