…And Then Came Act Two, aka Purdue

The Spartans’ November finish breaks down into a three act season finale. The first act ended with a swift 49-14 drumming of Western Michigan. This week’s

The Spartans’ November finish breaks down into a three act season finale. The first act ended with a swift 49-14 drumming of Western Michigan. This week’s penultimate contest finds the Spartans travelling to the dangerous “black hole waiting” that is Ross-Ade Stadium, in West Lafayette. Though the Spartans have had some truly unbelievable losses at Purdue in the past, the most recent memories are all Green.

Two years ago MSU had to beat Purdue on the road to keep hopes alive of making a Bowl game. Then Jr. QB Brian Hoyer led the Spartan attack by throwing for 266 yards and 2 TDs in a 48-31 win over the Boilermakers. MSU would of course then go on to beat Penn St. at home in a come from behind, Bowl clinching victory. Head Coach Mark Dantonio told Spartan Nation Tuesday that if MSU could pull off the same feat here in 2009, it would put an exclamation point on the end of the year.

“If we’re able to do that (win the last 2), we go 3-0 in November, which means we’re playing good football towards the end of our season. And it would be the first time since ’99 we’ll go 3-0 in November.” Three straight in November would also mean a third straight Bowl trips for the Green and White, for the first time since the beginning of the Nick Saban era in ’95,’96’, and ’97.

One of the Hallmarks of the Dantonio era at MSU has been the players coming to play in nearly every quarter of every game. That feat is anything but a guarantee in college football. Just look at Dantonio’s first stint as an Assistant at MSU. More than one of those teams didn’t have players that brought their best efforts on a game to game basis. They were prone to the letdown. Getting a consistent effort out of the Spartans is something that happens by design.

“We try and give our players and our coaches ownership, and try and empower them and make them a part of the process,” Dantonio told Spartan Nation. “It takes everyone to win a football game, from the guy who’s playing Quarterback to the Scout Team Quarterback, so we try and make sure that we’re all in on it (keeping a consistent effort).”

Coach D said that approach has helped galvanize the Spartans, and has kept them so consistently competitive. “We’re in this together…this game is bigger than one particular play, bigger than one particular coaching decision, or bad play that happens… We’ve been able to hang in there when things have gotten tough for us, so hopefully that’ll continue to be the case, and will always give us a chance to win.”

Leggett be the Beginning of his Story

The breakout star of last week’s Bronco beat down was So. RB Ashton Leggett. Much was expected out of Leggett when he first came to MSU off a successful High School career, which showed signs of real versatility. “He was recruited from Muskegon, where he was an outstanding Line Backer and Tail Back,” Dantonio told Spartan Nation. There was a time during this year’s Spring Practice when Leggett was considered the top RB on the depth chart. But that was before the arrival of the outstanding FR RB duo of Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, and prior to the return of the powerful So. Glenn Winston.

Possibly falling as far as 6th on the depth chart earlier this season, Leggett faced the challenge of keeping his spirits and effort up while dealing with the disappointment of playing on Saturdays. “There were times where he was down, and you could see he was down. But there were times that he responded and had a really good week of practice and did a really good job,” Dantonio told Spartan Nation, Tuesday. But Leggett’s perseverance pulled him through, and left his Head Coach impressed and proud of his character.

“It’s a testament to Ashton’s perseverance as a football player and as a person…and it’s not easy. Now he’s put himself in the mix…he ran behind his pads, he ran physical, he’s got good speed, cutting ability, and ball skills,” Dantonio told Spartan Nation. “So he takes the next step now, and hopefully that step will lead to more success.” But more success from yet another talented Spartan Running Back does not mean Dantonio will look to shrink the number of Running Backs in the stable anytime soon. “In any great football program, you’re going to have depth at the tailback position if you want to be able to run the football.”

Gaining his Tread

Another young upstart Spartan that found his way into the starting lineup last week was Fr. DT Blake Treadwell. The Offensive Coordinator’s son was not even expected to see the field in 2009. Ideally, the Spartans hoped to keep Treadwell’s Red Shirt on to allow him to develop and adjust to the college game. But circumstance and Treadwell’s rapid development in the Spartan Defense didn’t let that happen.

“We wanted to Red Shirt him, but we got to a point where we had to play him…we tried to hold him, but he had progressed to far,” Treadwell’s God Father and Head Coach told Spartan Nation. Coach D noticed Treadwell coming on strong while watching the Scout Defense in early season practices. Eventually the Spartan coaches realized he couldn’t be kept from the field any longer.

“As I would go down and watch our Offense (against the Defensive Scout Team) I would watch Blake progress as a player…the effort and the ability to stay focused were the two things I thought were huge positives for him,” Dantonio observed. “I don’t think a lot of players can do that, play in and play out, at a young age.”

Petey Could be Primed to Trip up on his own Success

Purdue has already had a signature win for new Head Coach Danny Hope. No, not coming back to beat a dysfunctional Michigan team on the road, but by upsetting the Conference’s best team in Ohio St., a little less than a month ago. Coming off the combination of that win at home and last week’s dramatic road victory, the Boilermakers should be riding high. But they might be riding too high.

The Boilers could come out on fire and play their very best game of the year, but they just as well could be come out like the best Saturday morning pancake, flat and soft. Purdue has arguably already made their season with the two highlight victories.  So if Purdue’s sense of urgency doesn’t quite match the Spartans’ on Saturday, it would not be a huge surprise.

Besides playing with a sense of urgency, the Boilers will need to play with a better sense of Defense. To date, Purdue has allowed a league high 288 points. That stat matches up well for MSU, who has arguably the league’s best throwing QB in Rs.-So. Kirk Cousins, and perhaps as much Offensive talent and skill as any team in the league, despite the ’09 rash of injuries.

As is always the case on the road, job number one for MSU Saturday will be to match the intensity of the home team and “Senior Day” inspired Boilermakers. Expect Purdue to initially come out flying off their dramatic win last week, and the emotion of their Seniors suiting up for their last home game. MSU must be ready to match that initial blow from the opening kick.

Luckily, motivation shouldn’t be lacking for MSU. They know what’s on the line Saturday, and should appreciate the opportunity before them this month to send a powerful and profound message about the state of MSU Football.

 

Jon Schopp serves as a featured writer for SpartanNation.com