Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails Post Michigan Edition & Part Two…

Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails Post Michigan Edition & Part Two…  Hondo, in spite of Coach D admitting their mistake of not

Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails Post Michigan Edition & Part Two…

 

Hondo, in spite of Coach D admitting their mistake of not getting enough game time experience for Cook last season, O'Conner is not getting meaningful game experience this season so it seems to me that element of stubbornness still persists. Tim Price

I don’t know what I would call it, but it does persist. I find it mind numbing that we will go into next season with essentially three backup QB’s that have no game reps. Yes, Tyler has a few, but not close to enough to count. I said it with Maxwell and they agreed after the fact. It makes no sense considering there have been games they could have. I can’t justify or explain it.

 

For everyone who continuously complains about the boredom of the "merely adequate" MSU offense, paired with a defense which has to be considered "superior". Take a look at the 1957 Auburn Tigers (this shows my age). Auburn was voted the AP national champs, on the strength of an incredible defense and an average offense. Their offense average only 20.7 points per game, while the defense allowed a grand total of 28 points -- period. This was accomplished in a 10 game schedule, playing in the SEC. I remember this because MSU was ranked #1 much of the year, but dropped to 3rd at the end. Bottom line: Be thankful for what you have in 2013 and savor it, because it probably will not last indefinitely. Jim Sluiter

This will sound sarcastic, but it is not. Thanks for the history lesson. Sadly, the greatness of this D will not be appreciated until it is gone. Sad, but very true.

 

Hondo: I am a long time MSU football fan. I believe that I have seen at all home games this season a very large young man in street clothes that I believe to be Skylar Burkland. Am I correct and does this suggest that he may return to the playing group next season? Thanks Walt Hoeksema

No suggestion. I said this summer and earlier this fall I reiterated that depending on how he heals he would consider coming back next season.

 

Hondo, with Connor Cook securing the starting QB job for what would appear to be the remainder of the 2013 season and the hype surrounding Damion Terry, do you expect Tyler O'Conner to transfer after this season? You've always talked very highly of Tyler and his ability since he was in high school. It would be a shame to lose him, but I wouldn't blame him given the circumstances. Eric Cameron

I think that the Spartans are 8-1 (5-0) and speculation of transferring is not fair. He is a very talented QB that would have his pick of high quality programs to go to if he transferred. Thankfully for MSU, he is presently in a high quality program. Let’s enjoy the season for now and look at those issues later. Knowing Tyler as I do, he is all focused on MSU right now and reaching the team’s goals.

 

 Hi, how did the Spartans get their mascot? Gaby

In 1925 the University changed from Michigan Agricultural College to Michigan State College. It happened then. CLICK HERE to read a great resource on the subject.

 

Hondo I can’t stand the bye week. I get so jacked for football that I can’t stand a week off. How do you deal with it? Brody

Kill a deer.

 

Hondo, I am a Wolverine fan. Been one since birth. I live in South Bend and listen to your radio show on the Fan here. It is hard being here and only getting Notre Dame so I can take some MSU talk. I wanted to thank you for the kind words you had about Devin Gardner and Coach Hoke on your show. I love your intensity about the game, but admire that you keep it in perspective. Never emailed a show before, but felt you earned it. Carolynn

Thank you Carolynn. Devin was nothing short of a warrior and I can tell you this, he earned the respect of the MSU defense with the beating he took and the fact he kept playing. That was all heart. No quit in that youngster and although I am sure the loss stung, you should feel pride in your QB.

 

Hondo, I was reading the message board and saw that Shilique Calhoun has NFL people projecting him as a first round draft pick. If he really is do you think he would leave early? Allen

If he was a first rounder I would think he was crazy if he did not. There is a lot of time between now and the draft so let’s save that conversation for later.

 

Hondo I have a son that I think may have a shot to be a college player. Any suggestions on how to get him noticed? Phil

Take him to a Michigan State camp. Most people are unaware but coaches from many schools, MAC, 1-AA, division two and three, work those camps looking for talent that might not be MSU worthy. If you get him to a camp he will get seen by a ton of eyeballs.

 

Hondo, did I hear you say on the radio show that MSU is looking at 20 spots for the 2014 class? If so they are almost done with 17 already for 2014. Daryl

Yes, I did. Mark Dantonio said that on my radio show back in August that 20 was the number. They won’t take 20 just to take 20, so they have to be worthy young men. Consequently, they could possibly maneuver as high as 21 or MAYBE 22 if they could get a couple of game changers late.

 

Good afternoon Mr. Carpenter. I am a big fan and I live here in Columbus. When you were on the radio here the other evening and said, “I don’t think points wise, but physically the Spartans would whip the Buckeyes unlike anything they have seen all year. I don’t think anyone has punched them in the face and MSU would.” You started a fire storm on Columbus radio. They talked for a long time about your words. Thanks for saying it. Here in Columbus everyone is afraid to say the emperor has no clothes. Even the other schools media. John

Thanks John. I heard about it from the host who I am friends with, but also on Twitter. As I said, I wasn’t guaranteeing a victory at all. I have seen every OSU game this year and I am not buying. They haven’t played an elite D that takes the fight to them. It has been all Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Bullwinkle. Get in the ring with MSU and they face Muhammad Ali. Fast and deadly. I don’t know who would win, but I guarantee you they would have the fight of their life and be sore afterwards.

 

Hondo, did you hear about the husband and wife who made a bet on the Bears vs. Packers game? The winner got to taser the loser. Husband won and tasered her and she called the cops. Dude is going to prison. What do you think? Vincent

Both of them made a poor choice in a spouse.

 

Hondo, when are we going to see Mark Hollis quit giving the upper deck corner section to students? As a diehard Spartan Football fan I want to see a PACKED house on a consistent basis, and especially for BIG games, such as the one we just saw against Michigan. The only thing embarrassing about that game was the fact that when ESPN gave an overview shot of Spartan Stadium, an ENTIRE SECTION was EMPTY! It would make the University more money to open that section back up to the public and MSU would appear like they do actually sellout big time games. GO GREEN! Robert Lee

First, those tickets were sold. The students pack in so tightly in the lower bowl putting far more people in a row that there are seats thus the empty look on the big games. That IS WHAT I AM TOLD. I know there are schools around the country that OVERSELL their student seats because of that and because on the games that aren’t as big many don’t show up.  MSU struggles to sell out the rest of the stadium for non-big games and since those are the worse seats in the stadium I fail to see how they would make more money. I know that they have also discussed shrinking the size of the student sections, but that has been hindered by internal Michigan State politics.

 

There you go everyone. That is this week’s question and answer article. If you have a question never hesitate to email at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put in the subject line FB Q/A