Spartans fight off the Vandals
Many expected a blowout. Vegas predicted a 29 point win. A mere skirmish at most. Reality was that wave after wave of Vandals kept coming and coming. Michigan State needed all four quarters to hold off Dennis Erickson’s Idaho team 27-17.
Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal reports that John L. Smith was not impressed by his team’s performance on Saturday. Most fans felt the same way.
When a 29 1/2-point favorite grinds out a 27-17 home win over a team that went 2-9 last season, one of the first words that comes to mind is “unimpressive.”
MSU did not leave Idaho twice-baked in its season opener Saturday at Spartan Stadium as many expected. So coach John L. Smith was asked after the game to respond to the inevitable use of that word - “unimpressive” - to describe his team’s play.
“Depends on who’s doing the describing. No. It was a good win, a real good win,” Smith said with a hint of contempt in his voice. “Only the non-intelligent people out there would look at that (Idaho) football team and say … you’re gonna blow them out. Give me a break.”
MSU-Idaho Media Roundup
- LSJ - Schulz: Freshman eases fears about kicking
- LSJ - Big Ten scoreboard
- LSJ - MSU game highlights
- LSJ - O-line struggles against Vandals
- LSJ - New safety combo shines
- LSJ - MSU-Idaho notebook: Fields kicks away doldrums
- LSJ - Tense ’til the end
- ML - Freshman gives MSU field-goal woes the boot
- ML - Spartans down Idaho but it takes four quarters of effort
- DN - MSU 27, Idaho 17
- DN - Spartans win but don’t impress
- DN - Kicker becomes fan favorite
- DF - DREW SHARP: Underdogs give Spartans a scare
- MSU - Spartans Victorious Over Vandals, 27-17