This year’s MSU football slogan in “Chase it.” The 2011 slogan was “P4RB: Prepare for Rose Bowl,” now it’s here. Guess it’s coincidental, and fitting, that “Chase it” concluded in Indy. the tallest building in Indianapolis in Chase Tower.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: behind the scenes locker room celebration of MSU. Dancing to Yo Gotti “Act Right”
State last went to the Rose Bowl in 1988, the famous Spartans vs Trojans War, as MSU defeated USC 14-10.
Auburn gets a BCS slot as the SEC Champ; with the second SEC position going to Alabama. For Michigan State, the school’s first BCS appearance in school history has manifested. Yes, MSU had zero BCS appearances while Illinois has 2. Weird fact but true. Especially crazy when you consider that MSU has won 11 games in three of the past four years. So this Rose Bowl berth is long overdue and well deserved. If Michigan St. capturing the Big Ten Championship equals win #12 on the season- a school record.
This year, the Rose Bowl will host both The Granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl game and the 2014 National Championship, in the 100th anniversary of the Rose Bowl. So an Ohio State win in Indy would have meant both combatants in the Big Ten title game go to Pasadena, to play a game played in the Rose Bowl.
With Michigan State winning by ten. EXACTLY AS I PREDICTED ON TUESDAY
I’m back from the MSU locker room with some reaction to this game and Rose Bowl quotes and Rose Bowl analysis. My photo gallery from the field, and the locker room is something every Michigan State fan will want to see. Will have some behind the scenes, all access videos as well.
Michigan State won a school record 11 games this year, Just like in 2011 and 2010. They were not granted a BCS berth in any of those years. In the first ever Big 10 title game, we had drama, excitement and controversy. It more than lived up to the hype. And afterward Kirk Cousins gave me this fantastic soundbite.Where he ripped the BCS and the bowl system
Cousins was completely right, State got screwed, and Michigan got an at large BCS berth to the Sugar Bowl that year. MSU was relegated to the Citrus Bowl. Same thing happened in 1999 when MSU won ten games, second most in school history. Both the Wolverines and the Spartans were 9-2 at the end of the season, with Michigan State winning the head to head match-up. However, Michigan went to the BCS Orange Bowl while State was again relegated to the Citrus Bowl. MSU did not get a BCS berth in 2010 when they went 10-1 in the regular season. So they’ve been screwed over three times.
Twice by their most hated of all rivals, UM. And no trips to the Rose Bowl. Until now.
Michigan State #64 Blake Treadwell
On what changed later in the game:
We knew that it was time for us to punch back, time for us to go. It’s time for the offense to step up and do their job, and take the stand.
On Connor Cook and his journey:
I’ve always had confidence in him. I told people before last year, while we were having Buffalo Wild Wings, I knew he had some greatness in him. The journey was a little rocky for him at first, but I knew in my heart that he was going to lead us to big things. I expect more and more big things from Connor in the future.
Now we have a happy ending.
Today’s postgame soundbites were all joyous and happy.
Michigan State is going to Pasadena. To the Rose Bowl. A BCS berth at last. P4RB. Prepare for Rose Bowl.
A BCS berth in the final year of the BCS
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan