Answering your Michigan State football questions and emails...Part Two
Answering your Michigan State football questions and emails...
Dear Hondo, I love all of your work but the question and answer articles are the best. It would seem to me that every year before the start of football camp, players talk about on Twitter and reporters always mention the players having to do a gasser test. I would think this would be a bad thing. Wouldn’t this make the players legs like jello right at the start of camp? Can you explain to me the theory behind this please? Jan in Nashville
Thank you for the email, Jan. Actually the theory behind doing the gasser test prior to the start of camp in my opinion is brilliant. Camp is essentially three weeks long. Football camp starts four weeks prior to the season. The week before the first game is traditionally treated like any other game week. The first three weeks are not dedicated to the first opponent; it’s dedicated to Michigan State itself. By testing the physical shape of the team at the start of camp it allows the coaches to know who came into camp ready to play. By essentially taking away the legs of the players the very first day before camp starts, it makes the first three weeks of camp grueling, adversarial, and it sets the tone for three weeks of practice that actually represent the fourth quarter. Coaches have no interest in knowing who's better on one play. They want to know when grind time comes, who's going to be in the best position to make a play. The players hate it, but I think it is brilliant.
Hello Hondo, I was fascinated recently listening to you give an interview when you are talking about the gasser test at the start of Michigan State football camp. I never played football outside of high school, but isn't the reason camp is so long is so that the players can get in shape? It sounds as if they expect the players to come in to camp in shape. Larry in Manton
Good afternoon Larry. Things have changed quite a bit at this level of football from high school. Players have winter conditioning, spring football, and summer workouts that all prepare them for the fall. As stated previously, the gasser test determines that the players are already in shape once fall camp starts. If you listen to me, or read me, with any frequency I constantly remind people and tell people that being a division one student athlete is a fulltime job. Once football season starts the players are expected to be in shape. Unlike high school football, the players do not use camp to get in shape they are expected to arrive in shape. Once the players pass the gasser test, there will be no more conditioning type work until after the regular season and prior to the start of bowl practice.
Hondo, you answered a question in a previous article about what name you thought would be or have the biggest impact in 2013 that was a new name. In that question you answered two coaches’ names. Could you also name for us one or two players? Thank you, Bryan Payne.
Thank you, Bryan. On defense, it would be difficult to come up with one name, because the defense has gotten so much publicity and recognition. I think Demetrius Cooper is a possibility, a true freshman defensive end from Chicago. All the other players such as Demetrious Cox, Trae Waynes, Jon Reschke, are all young players who have already gotten a lot of notoriety. On offense, Gerald Holmes has been discussed quite often so I don't believe he can fit into the parameters of the question. I look for Jack Conklin to have a big year. At wide receiver I would also mention Monty Madaris, who I believe is poised to have a monster year.
Hondo, I have a simple but probably a dumb question for you. I know as fans many of us look forward just to reading the reports and information that comes out.  As someone who has done this for many years, I was just wondering what your favorite part of camp is? Nick in Fenton
That's a great question Nick. I love watching the offensive and defensive line drills. To me, what makes football a beautiful and glorious sport is the brutality, testosterone, and human will that is displayed each and every snap on the line of scrimmage. It is in a land of the big uglies where football is truly won and displayed at its highest level of excellence. Some people go to Broadway, some go to plays, some watch movies or listen to classical music, and some even indulge in art. I would say this to you. There is no Picasso, no Mozart, no ballet nor classical orchestra that can compete with the incredible purity and dynamics of a well-functioning offensive or defensive line. Watching the offensive and the defensive lines work are amazing and incredible. When those two are used in its function at a high level of the football team, you can be rest assured success is on the horizon.
Dear Hondo, there have been several reports over the last few weeks that MSU is planning on hiring Curtis Blackwell who runs the Sound Mind Sound Body camps as the new recruiting coordinator. Can you elaborate or confirm please? William
William, I have been asked not to comment on this. I will remind you that when Coach Burton and Coach Bollman were hired, there was a delay also because of the voluminous amounts of red tape required at Michigan State. With that being said, to hire Coach Blackwell would be a major coup for Mark Dantonio and it would be a great hire. Wink wink wink wink wink!
There you go everybody!  That is the latest installment of your emails and questions regarding Spartan football. If you should have a question that I didn't answer here, you can e-mail me at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and please include your name and in the subject line MSU football question.
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