ShotgunDawg
10-05-2014, 09:08 PM
Between the 3rd and 4th quarters of yesterday's game, I stood high on an inclined ridge above Scott Field, and surveyed the carnage that had just been levied to upon another top 10 competitor by the Commander and Chief Dan Mullen, and his Field Marshall AKA "The General" Dakota Prescott. The game had come to a commercial timeout, and the outcome of the battle was no longer in doubt. However, for these few precious minutes, while listening to 60+ thousand people sing "Don't Stop Believing", while not satisfied, was the most gratified I have ever felt as an MSU Football fan.
Sure we may have had bigger wins (Maybe???), and sure we have torn down goal posts at the end of games, but this was different. An analogy to my gratification could be compared to the way Patton must have felt after whipping Rommel's ass at the Battle of El Alamein, and thus kicking the Nazis out of North Africa. Prior to this moment in history, the Nazis were an unconquerable enemy(The SEC West), but, at this time, the rag/tag US Army, with worse tanks and equipment, made a statement. Patton knew there would be far greater and tougher battles to fight in the future, and that the US Army would have to go town by town fighting and destroying the enemy. However, at that moment, as he overlooked a Train Station in the middle of the Egyptian desert, Patton knew it could be done. He knew that this army had the fighting spirit, the attitude, the ability, the talent, and, most importantly, the leadership to go all the way to Berlin.
I'm not writing this to break down our team player for player or talk Xs and Os on how we will beat Auburn, as that will be done many times over this week. I don't know if we are the best team in the country, and I don't know if we will beat Auburn. However, what I do know is this: after many years of coaching and evaluating teams the highest levels of sports, I can tell you that this team has that "look". I can't accurately describe or define what that "look" is, but I know it when I see it.
This team greatly resembles the State of Mississippi. It is crude, it is tough, it is versatile, it is blue collar, and this team will show up uninvited at your house, punch you in the nose, steal all your beer, take your girlfriend, and flick you off as it pulls out of your driveway. We aren't the flashiest or prettiest team, with most stars, but boy are we effective, lethal, tough, and good. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no smoke and mirrors going on here. No fluke and no accidents. This team passes the "Eye test" greater than any MSU team in my lifetime. Personally, I believe this team may run the late 90s MSU teams off the field.
Again, I don't know if we are the best team in the country, or if we will beat Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ole Miss. But, I do know that whatever team plans on beating this bunch will need to show up with their chin strap buckled, and pulled extra tight on that day because they will have to play a complete game and earn every inch.
Next Saturday afternoon, following an outstanding coach and the best player in college football (Let's face it, he's the best player in the country),this rag tag, group of under appreciated, underrated, over achievers that have long hair, tattoos, and exude a general nastiness about them, will take the field with a number 1 ranking in college football on the line.
This group has that "look". It's that look of excellence, confidence, and humble respect for the game that every great team radiates to the fortunate people who get to watch them, and when every player is challenged to play to his potential, not for himself, but for his brothers. This team looks like it's on GD mission.
Auburn better be ready, or they could get run out of the stadium!
Not my video, found it on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3-5TVm76Q
Sure we may have had bigger wins (Maybe???), and sure we have torn down goal posts at the end of games, but this was different. An analogy to my gratification could be compared to the way Patton must have felt after whipping Rommel's ass at the Battle of El Alamein, and thus kicking the Nazis out of North Africa. Prior to this moment in history, the Nazis were an unconquerable enemy(The SEC West), but, at this time, the rag/tag US Army, with worse tanks and equipment, made a statement. Patton knew there would be far greater and tougher battles to fight in the future, and that the US Army would have to go town by town fighting and destroying the enemy. However, at that moment, as he overlooked a Train Station in the middle of the Egyptian desert, Patton knew it could be done. He knew that this army had the fighting spirit, the attitude, the ability, the talent, and, most importantly, the leadership to go all the way to Berlin.
I'm not writing this to break down our team player for player or talk Xs and Os on how we will beat Auburn, as that will be done many times over this week. I don't know if we are the best team in the country, and I don't know if we will beat Auburn. However, what I do know is this: after many years of coaching and evaluating teams the highest levels of sports, I can tell you that this team has that "look". I can't accurately describe or define what that "look" is, but I know it when I see it.
This team greatly resembles the State of Mississippi. It is crude, it is tough, it is versatile, it is blue collar, and this team will show up uninvited at your house, punch you in the nose, steal all your beer, take your girlfriend, and flick you off as it pulls out of your driveway. We aren't the flashiest or prettiest team, with most stars, but boy are we effective, lethal, tough, and good. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no smoke and mirrors going on here. No fluke and no accidents. This team passes the "Eye test" greater than any MSU team in my lifetime. Personally, I believe this team may run the late 90s MSU teams off the field.
Again, I don't know if we are the best team in the country, or if we will beat Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ole Miss. But, I do know that whatever team plans on beating this bunch will need to show up with their chin strap buckled, and pulled extra tight on that day because they will have to play a complete game and earn every inch.
Next Saturday afternoon, following an outstanding coach and the best player in college football (Let's face it, he's the best player in the country),this rag tag, group of under appreciated, underrated, over achievers that have long hair, tattoos, and exude a general nastiness about them, will take the field with a number 1 ranking in college football on the line.
This group has that "look". It's that look of excellence, confidence, and humble respect for the game that every great team radiates to the fortunate people who get to watch them, and when every player is challenged to play to his potential, not for himself, but for his brothers. This team looks like it's on GD mission.
Auburn better be ready, or they could get run out of the stadium!
Not my video, found it on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3-5TVm76Q