On a day that saw TCU rack up 82 points on Texas Tech, Michigan State’s late fourth-quarter touchdown run to extend its lead to 35-11 may have been easy to overlook. But there was a little bit of fire behind Michigan State’s final score of the game, scored by running back Jeremy Langford.
Prior to the game kicking off, Michigan linebacker Joe Bolden drove a stake into the turf of Spartan Stadium, serving as a rally cry for the Wolverines and firing up the road team. As the stake was planted in the turf, Michigan players hoop and hollered while staring across the field at the Spartans.
Probably not the best move to make if you are Michigan. It sure caught the eye of Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio.“Them putting a spear in a field before the game is not a product of their team but their program.” - Dantonio on the UofM Pregame spear.
— Rico Beard (@RicoBeard) October 25, 2014
“I can only be diplomatic for so long,” Dantonio said following the game. “The little brother stuff, all the disrespect, it didn’t have to go in that direction.”
Dantonio then took aim directly at the way Michigan’s football program is led. Dantonio was not launching a shot directly at his coaching counterpart, Brady Hoke, but higher up.
“We try to handle ourselves with composure” Dantonio explained. “That doesn’t come from a coach. It comes from the program. Throwing the stake down in our backyard out here and coming out there like they’re all that. That got shoved up ... It got shoved in the last minute and a half.”
Michigan State continues to keep its Big Ten championship defense plans on track. A massive showdown with Ohio State looms on November 8, with he winner the most likely Big Ten team to have a shot at the College Football Playoff (yes, we see you too Nebraska). For the Spartans, it is one game at a time. For Michigan, much more needs to be done before they go planting stakes in someone else’s field.
Or its own.