Barnett seeking senior day magic for a Michigan State team that 'cannot be knocked out'
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State seniors have been through a lot this season, and throughout their respective college football careers, so interim head coach Harlon Barnett would like nothing better than to see the program’s seniors win their final game in Spartan Stadium. That will be a tough task coming off a sixth straight loss, and facing a Nebraska team that has won three straight games and is one victory away from becoming bowl eligible under first-year head coach Matt Rhule.
Nevertheless, Barnett believes his seniors are deserving of a win for the way they continue to fight in games and continue grind at practice with little to show for the sweat that they continue to put into the program.
“We have senior day and we are looking forward to our seniors having their last game in Spartan Stadium, and going out with a victory,” said Barnett, who experienced his own senior day in Spartan Stadium in 1989 against Northwestern before moving on to a lengthy NFL career. “That’s the goal. I just want to see them play in well in our last home game here in Spartan Stadium.”
Michigan State’s senior class includes several players that have spent their entire college football careers in the Spartan program, including Tre Mosley, Nick Samac, JD DuPlain, Spencer Brown, Maverick Hansen, Angelo Grose, and Montorie Foster. Those players ushered out the Mark Dantonio era, and helped the Spartans to an 11-win season and New Year’s Six Bowl win in 2021. During their final chapter at Michigan State, those same seniors have provided leadership amidst uncertainty.
“It would be awesome (to get a win for those guys),” Barnett said. “It would be very special to send them out the right way in their last home game in Spartan Stadium. I still remember mine. It will be great, and we definitely want to send them out winners.”
Among those seniors, Mosley is questionable to play his final home game at Michigan State after leaving last weekend’s game against Minnesota with an injury. Barnett characterized Mosley’s situation as day-to-day, but cast doubt on his availability for Saturday’s game.
“It is a very unique journey,” said Barnett, when asked specifically about the contribution of Mosley. “Tre is a great young man. A good dude. Voted captain by his teammates. Straightforward. Honest. Hard worker. He is a Spartan. He is a true Spartan and will always be welcomed here. His journey is unique and at the same time, him still loving everything about the green and white. I really appreciate Tre Mosley and all that he has done for this program. He is going to be successful in life.”
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As for his own senior day experience, Barnett was part of a 76-14 win over Northwestern in 1989. Michigan State finished 8-4 overall that year and closed out the season with a 33-13 victory over Hawaii in the Aloha Bowl.
“It snowed a lot the day before, so there was snow inside and the student section was throwing snowballs at the other team,” Barnett recalled. “We had a big win, and it was a crazy score.”
After beating Northwestern at home, Michigan State went on to beat a ranked Wisconsin team in Madison and earn a bid to the Aloha Bowl. The Spartans will not play in a bowl game this year, but they continue to play for pride.
“Credit to them, these guys come out, like today, with energy and communicate,” Barnett said. “How much is going to take to knock these guys out? They can’t be knocked out. I love that about them. We are on the back end of this things now, so let’s go.”
