What Went Right in November

On the field, Michigan State had another successful yet still disappointing November. The Spartans finished the month 2-1 and secured bowl eligibility. But a

On the field, Michigan State had another successful yet still disappointing November. The Spartans finished the month 2-1 and secured bowl eligibility. But a final game loss to rival Penn State, a blowout for the second straight year, ended the regular season.

 

Off the field, however, the big news apparently occurred. Spartan players were allegedly involved in an altercation on campus, and, soon after the incident, two players (Glen Winston and Roderick Jenrette) were dismissed from the team. News, yes, especially with the troubled history of the two young men.

But what makes it such comparatively big news? The story has been reported in every major Michigan newspaper’s Sports section and has made waves on virtually every MSU sports related Web site. And if you really want to get knee deep into the issue, check out the dozens of message board (MSU’s, but also Wolverine and other rivals’ message boards as well.) The proliferation of threads, commentary and discussion about the incident occurs ad nauseum, in the same place, might I add, where persistent complaints of sensationalism are frequently aired.

What makes the incident bigger news than some of the other off-field happenings the Spartans participated in?

Blair White is an Academic All-American. First team. A tremendous honor for a tremendous human being, a former walk-on. Blair has worked his tail off to achieve greatness on the field and off, and his efforts were recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America. But how many news stories did the accomplishment generate? How many threads on message boards, how much recognition from fans and media did Blair get?

Congratulations, Blair. You are an inspiration to Spartan Nation, to your peers and to young people working and striving to achieve their dreams. Your accomplishments deserve flashing lights and bullhorns, your hard work should be honored and held in the limelight for months on end.

Ross Weaver received the MSU Football Players Association Community Service and Outreach Award at the annual football banquet after the Penn State game. The senior captain volunteered last May to work the Sparrow Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, an effort to raise money for the over 10,000 Mid-Michigan kids who require medical services through the Sparrow Regional Children’s Center.

Along with Weaver, Honorary Chairman Mark Dantonio, along with his wife Becky, chipped in to help raise $852,064, exceeding the telethon’s goals. An admirable off-field accomplishment, worthy of several gigabytes of server space on message boards, a few yards of tape on the evening news and a couple gallons of ink in newspapers.

And earlier this month, Becky Dantonio, along with the co-sponsorship of the University's Division of Residential and Hospitality Services and Athletics Department, worked to raise food for needy families through the Help Tackle Hunger food drive. A little peripheral, perhaps, but another example of how the MSU football team lends it’s sway to help make the community a better place for all.

Alleged assaults are big news. Players dismissed from a Big Ten football team for breaking rules is big news, especially for the sports addict. Sports matter to fans, and news that impacts teams is fair game.

But so much of the commentary, disgustingly self righteous in its worst manifestation, has little to do with football itself, and apparently much more to do with latent indignations unrelated to sports. That’s fine; but at that point, it’s not about sports. Let’s at least recognize that. And once we do, let’s try to balance that indignation with healthy pride and profuse praise for the goodwill efforts and accomplishments of true Spartan greats.