MSU may have emotional edge today - Football Tickets

Taking a look at the flip side of my last post regarding our recent losses -

Top defender, pass-rushing end Jonal Saint-Dic, was ruled academically ineligible as were punt-returner and backup wideout Terry Love and backup defensive back T.J. Williams. Starting linebacker SirDarean Adams also didn't make the trip because Dantonio suspended him for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

Reporting from Sunny Florida! ...

Theories and rumors abound that 14th-ranked Boston College doesn't really want to be in the Champs Sports Bowl, where it will play our Michigan State Spartans today at 5 p.m. (ESPN).

With their 8-0 start, the Eagles were in the hunt for the national championship at the most, and a BCS bowl bid at the least.

However, after losing three of its last five games, including the ACC championship to Virginia Tech, Boston College (10-3) was passed over by six supposedly more attractive bowls in favor of less impressive conference brethren.

This has been so anticlimactic, or so the thinking goes, that the school has sold only between 5,000-6,000 of its allotment of 12,000 tickets. Meanwhile, MSU will come close to selling out its share.

And therefore, the Spartans (7-5) apparently have the emotional edge because after going three seasons without a postseason appearance they really want to be here.

One thing is certain. Michigan State isn't counting on Boston College to be afflicted with a debilitating case of the blahs.

GO GREEN GO WHITE!

Saint-Dic and four other Spartans out for bowl

Five Spartan football players, including senior defensive lineman Jonal Saint-Dic, will not play in the Champs Sports Bowl against Boston College on Friday due to academic ineligibility or violating team rules.

MSU announced Monday that senior wide receiver Terry Love, sophomore cornerback/wide receiver T.J. Williams and freshman offensive lineman Abre Leggins were academically ineligible to play, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Senior linebacker SirDarean Adams is out due to an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Saint-Dic, who broke the Big Ten single-season record for forced fumbles this year, told the State Journal that he failed a Math class.

Coach Dantonio is building a program AND a new culture with the Spartan football team. What kind of message does this send to the current players, especially freshman, and new recruits about how he runs the team?

Academic ineligibility is an NCAA decision, but Adams’, unspecified violation team rules sounds to me like he stayed out in Orlando partying and missed curfew or a meeting our something like that.

If that is indeed what happened, then he let the team down and the fans down and Dantonio just let everybody know, that if you are going to be a part of the new Spartan football culture, lack of focus and discipline is not tolerated — period. Remember, if the Spartans went 6-6 and were passed over for bowl invitations because of other competitive Big Ten teams, most fans would accept the disappointment and not blame Dantonio. This is his first year, he doesn’t have to win this bowl game.

Do think he has the players’ attention? He certainly has my respect.

Tickets to the Champs Bowl - MSU vs Boston College

We've purchased our tickets and booked our flights and off to sunny Florida and the Champs Bowl we go!

Greg and the gang are off to Florida to watch MSU in the Champs Sports Bowl against Boston College and I will be bringing the computer along to make sure that you have up to the minute updates on the progress of the game.

Michigan State's first bowl appearance in four years is a welcome reward for us given the fact that we went 2-1 in November. November has historically haunted us in the past.

Boston College's wide-open offense should provide a stiff challenge for us, Spartans.

GR ROSTER REPORT - December 13, 2007

C John Masters battled a leg injury during the final weeks, but the time
off should get him back to near full health.

DB Chris L. Rucker had a detached retina repaired during the regular
season.
Coach Mark Dantonio was hopeful Rucker could return at some point.
Presumably, Rucker might be able to play in the bowl game.

Greg's Player of the Game: WR Devin Thomas -- He led the Big Ten with 75 catches and 1,226 yards.

Thomas doesn't get the same attention as some of the other top receivers, but he separated himself as one of the best in the country this year.

Go Spartans

MSU to play Boston College in Champs Sports Bowl

EAST LANSING -- "Well, we're going to Disney World."

And with that, Michigan State senior running back and co-captain Jehuu Caulcrick put exclamation point on the invitation the Spartans received to play No. 14-ranked Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 28.

First-year head coach Mark Dantonio formally accepted the bid to MSU's first bowl game since the 2003 Alamo Bowl at 8:15 p.m.

"I've been smiling for about 15 minutes non-stop," said senior safety and co-captain Travis Key. "I can't believe it."

Said Dantonio, "This is a great reward for a tream that refused to quit and competed each and every week. We're extremely fortunate to be playing Orlando, truly one of the nation's finest bowl destinations."

Boston College was ranked in Top 25 throughout the season and finished with a 10-3 record. The Spartans (7-5) had to win their last two games to get the bid.
The game will be played at 5 p.m. and be televised by ESPN.
Michigan State has an allotment of 12,000 tickets, but athletic director-designate Mark Hollis predicted a strong showing. Michigan State sold 25,000 tickets for the 2000 Citrus Bowl.
The Champs bowl had the fifth pick from the Big Ten. Michigan State was also considered for the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., and the Motor City Bowl in Detroit.

"It's definitely nice to be going to Florida," Caulcrick said with a wide smile.