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Latest MichiganState Stories

UNC Looms as Villain in MSU Fairy Tale

DETROIT -- Maybe it's his folksy arrogance, the Huckleberry Hound-with-an-attitude rub. Maybe it was the way he lectured TV reporter Bonnie Bernstein, saying, "I could give a (bleep) about Carolina right now" when she asked about his future plans after his 2003 national title-game loss. Maybe it was the Kansas button he wore last year, a weird show of allegiance for an ex-employer in the championship game after the Jayhawks had whipped his Tar Heels.

Or maybe America simply is growing weary of North Carolina, the powder bluebloods who dominate April like azaleas at Augusta and fools on the 1st.

What They Have to Do to Win: North Carolina | Michigan State

Plenty of Motivation for Spartans, Heels

DETROIT -- Somewhere on the Road to the Final Four, which once it finally gets to this championship round is called The Road Ends Here, should have been some guys holding placards that read: "Hooping for a Cause."

They should've been wearing Michigan State green and North Carolina blue. They should've been Spartans and Tar Heels led by Tom Izzo and Roy Williams. They should've been the two teams that survived to Monday night's title game.

Most survivors to the championship game are motivated simply by the title of champion at the end of the journey. These two teams are as well.


What They Have to Do to Win: North Carolina | Michigan State

A Study in Opposites

Somewhere in Michigan State's middle-class brand of Michigan hope and mixed martial basketball, and North Carolina's mechanized cavalry of an offensive attack, there may be a similarity or two lurking somewhere.

But you've got about as good a chance of finding it as you do spotting an opposing fan in Ford Field's South Pacific of Spartan green.

These two teams couldn't be more different if one of them came out in shoulder pads.

And, with Tom Izzo, who invited Vikings' offensive line coach Pat Morris speak to his team before Saturday night's win, and whose teams always play like it's fourth-and-goal from the one, that could very well be the case.


What They Have to Do to Win: North Carolina | Michigan State

In Detroit, Question Is Who to Cry For?

Michigan State fansDETROIT -- In an earlier journalistic life, Friday would've been a really big day for me. The reason: the government, each first Friday of the month, issued its most-important piece of economic news -- the unemployment report -- and I covered economics. The report it issued this Friday was an instant Page 1 story, which is what they called the first thing you saw on this thing I worked at forever called a newspaper. Friday's report revealed the recession we're in pushed the unemployment rate to its highest mark in a quarter century, 8.5 percent.

In Detroit, Question Is Who to Cry For?

Michigan State fansDETROIT -- In an earlier journalistic life, Friday would've been a really big day for me. The reason: the government, each first Friday of the month, issued its most-important piece of economic news -- the unemployment report -- and I covered economics. The report it issued this Friday was an instant Page 1 story, which is what they called the first thing you saw on this thing I worked at forever called a newspaper. Friday's report revealed the recession we're in pushed the unemployment rate to its highest mark in a quarter century, 8.5 percent.

Spring Practice Questions: Michigan State

Last Year: 4-8, 1-7 Big Ten.

Fans Are: Once again on the upswing of their three-year manic-depressive cycle. John L "Slappy" Smith has taken his maverick ways, terrifying offense, and maddening defensive and special teams breakdowns to... well... somewhere, probably. Who cares? New head coach Mark Dantonio is going to make MSU a disciplined, winning, tough team and Michigan's instate hegemony will finally end! Viva el revolucion!

Expectations: Dantonio will get a free pass in his first year on the job. State was awful last year; the fans will take a bad team as long as it's not obviously dumb. One of those 6-6/7-5 bowls would be nice.

1. They were that bad and they had Drew Stanton... how bad will they be without him?

Though the JLS firing cost Michigan State the services of Stanton clone Keith Nichol, Michigan State is actually in decent shape at quarterback. Brian Hoyer was well-regarded by the recruiting services, though he was a step behind some other quarterbacks regionally, and showed a good arm and decent command of the offense when Stanton was forced out of games with a series of nagging injuries. While he lacks Stanton's mobility, a healthy Javon Ringer will help take the pressure off of Hoyer.

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