TWTW: Michigan State Takes Michigan 3rd In A Row

The 17th-ranked Michigan State Spartans intercepted three Denard Robinson passes -- one in the end zone, one just outside of it -- and scored 24 unanswered points to break open a close game in a 34-17 win over the 18th-ranked Michigan Wolverines.

For the first time since 1965-67, Michigan State has won three straight in the series.

The biggest question for Sparty's defense would be: Could they keep Robinson in check considering all of the offensive numbers he's put up this season...

Remember his competition, the HQ points out...

He was 17 of 29 for 215 yards with two scores, but made three turnovers and ran for a season-low 86 yards on 21 carries.

And don't think the rest of the world won't have this game for video tape, either.

Michigan State, which was a five-point underdog, earned its most-lopsided victory in the series since beating the Wolverines 34-0 in 1967.

Here's postgame from our friends at WXYZ-TV in Detroit...


The HQ also welcomes back Coach Dantonio...

TWTW: Sparty Wins One For Dantonio Again

((HT: WKOW-TV Madison))

It was initially thought that Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio would be able to call plays from the press box for the game against Wisconsin. But the discovery of blood clots kept him in the hospital instead...

So, for the second week in a row a Don Treadwell-led team beat the visiting Badgers.

Solid win for Michigan State and bully for you...
The HQ hopes Dantonio's ((or as Fox Sports' Derrin Horton called him "Dan-antonio"))ills are brief...

Jake Zimmermann discusses, looking rather sharp from the waist up...

TWTW: Sparty Wins One For Dantonio, Blows Out Northern Colorado

((HT: WXYZ-TV Detroit))

Kirk Cousins threw for 290 yards and 2TD's, and Michigan State cruised (as they well should have against a Division I-AA team)) to a 45-7 over Northern Colorado.

Cousins was 16 of 20 before coming out before his team's first possession of the fourth quarter. His touchdown passes to Brian Linthicum and Larry Caper helped Michigan State take a 35-0 halftime lead.

The players wore "D" stickers on their helmets as a show of support for head coach Mark Dantonio- who is still recovering from a heart attack suffered after the Notre Dame win last weeek.

Michigan State hosts Wisconsin next Saturday and plays at Michigan the following weekend. The Spartans haven't started 5-0 since 1999 under Nick Saban.

Here's interim head coach/OC Don Treadwell...
The HQ thinks the "D" on helmet was a nice touch...

BREAKING NEWS: Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio Had Heart Attack

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack following the Spartans win over Notre Dame Saturday night in East Lansing.

Dantonio was admitted to Sparrow Hospital Emergency Room early Sunday morning, with symptoms consistent with a heart attack according to Michigan State University.

"The procedure was successful and blood flow to the heart muscle was restored," Dr. Chris D'Haem, DO, an interventional cardiologist with Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute (TCI) and Sparrow said in a statement released by Michigan State University. "I'm very pleased with the outcome of the procedure. Coach Dantonio is resting comfortably following his procedure and is expected to make a full recovery.

"He is young, in excellent shape, and the damage to his heart was minimal. Coach Dantonio made the right decision to come in and get checked out immediately."

Dantonio went be hospitalized for a few more days. Its undetermined when he will return to the sidelines. Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will take over the program while Dantonio is recovering.

Here's Treadwell addressing the absence... thanks to our friends at WXYZ-TV in Detroit for the sound...


Photo Courtesy: AP

Dantonio's Balls Of Steel Get Sparty OT Win

((HT: WXYZ-TV Detroit))

Aaron Bates threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt on a fake field goal attempt in overtime, giving the Spartans a 34-31 victory over Notre Dame Saturday night.

Dan Conroy lined up for a 46-yard attempt to tie the game in the bottom of the first overtime. But Bates took the snap and had time to wait for Gantt to get open downfield. Gantt, who was unblocked, caught the pass for an easy touchdown, giving the Spartans, now 3-0, the victory and revenge for a 33-30 loss in South Bend last season.

Celebrate, good times, c'mon...
Here's Channel 7's recap from outside the building...

Enter The Carousel- Weekend Football Edition

Busy couple of days for coaches... on the good side for a change...

The Army Black Knights have decided to pull from the 1-Double A ranks, plucking Rich Ellerson ((pictured, thanks Johnston/AP)) from Cal Poly to be their new head coach...

Army tried the hyper-trendy spread offense earlier in the year under former head man Stan Brock- with less than stellar results. Brock was relieved of command and in comes Ellerson. Ellerson is widely-regarded as one of the best triple-option coaches in the country. Army went back to the offense most fitting its personnel late in the year, but it was too late for the previous regime.

"One of our primary goals of the search was to find someone capable of turning around our program immediately and we are confident Rich is the perfect individual to accomplish that," Army athletic director Kevin Anderson said in a school-issued news release.

Ellerson's offensive philosophy of running the triple option is appealing to Army, which uses the option as a base offense. He also has family ties to West Point.

"I know that the offense that we run was the hook that got me into the middle of this search," Ellerson responded in the same school-issued news release. "The reason the offense is so successful and the reason it's so appropriate at Army is that it carries over to every phase of the game and carries over into recruiting. We're going to find some novel solutions to problems in order to give our cadet-athletes the best possible opportunity to be successful on Saturday."

He will be formally introduced on December 30.

"Rich has the experience we need," said Army superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck. "An award and title winning head coach who runs the option, Rich also has extensive ties to West Point and the Army. Not only are his father and two brothers members of the Long Gray Line and career Army officers, but his brother John was the captain of the 1962 team that went 6-4."

Ellerson also assisted Army coach Bob Sutton when he installed his "Desert Swarm" defense at West Point, which helped carry the Black Knights to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Independence Bowl in 1996.

Issue Two: Meechigan State

Sparty must be a happy man right now as the Fighting Dantonio's will be around for another period of time- healthy bonuses included. If he stays through the 2015 season, he gets $2-million for hanging around that long above and beyond the contract dollars he gets.

Dantonio's contract remains a five-year rollover deal with a base salary of $618,000. His overall compensation will rise to $1.8 million per year, up from $1.13 million, because of increased supplemental income.

The new contract rewards stability, according to Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon and athletic director Mark Hollis. Dantonio will get $200,000 each year if he is still the coach through June 30 of that year.

The Michigan State University plays The University of Georgia in the What's-In-Your-Wallet Bowl on New Year's Day.

Not to be outdone... Issue Three: Go Towson

Rob Ambrose was hired as the football coach at Towson on Saturday, signing a five-year contract with his alma mater after serving for seven seasons as an assistant at Connecticut.

Ambrose, a 1993 graduate of the Football Championship Subdivision school, was offensive coordinator at UConn for the past four seasons. He becomes the fourth head coach in the 40-year history of Towson football.

"Rob was on our list from the very beginning," athletic director Mike Hermann said. "We had an outstanding field and discussed this opportunity with many well-respected coaches. At the end, it became clear that Rob Ambrose was the best choice to lead our program."

Ambrose started his coaching career at Towson before he graduated. After an injury ended his playing career during his senior season, he joined the coaching staff as a student assistant and coached the wide receivers.