Michigan players, coaches staying above the fray in MSU preparation

One year removed from an ugly postgame incident in which several Michigan State players were arrested for assaulting U-M defensive backs Ja’Den McBurrows and Gemon Green in the Michigan Stadium tunnel, the Wolverines aren’t looking back — only forward. In fact, there was only one question about the Spartans in the post-Indiana press conference, which is usually when players say they’ll “turn all their attention to” their other rival or talk about how much they can’t wait, etc. 

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Not this year. No, we don’t believe head coach Jim Harbaugh or his players have forgotten the scene last year, or how they felt. A few idiots tried to frame it as a “set up,” somehow trying to suggest Harbaugh sent his players up the tunnel to start something. Even Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said “what starts bad, ends bad” in apparently suggesting something similar. But Harbaugh and A.D. Warde Manuel were clearly stunned in the aftermath … to their credit and the team’s, it hasn’t lingered into this year’s pregame. 

“Me personally, I don’t think so” senior receiver Roman Wilson said. “They’re always going to come in here, no matter where we’re at … they’re going to try to kick our ass. You’ve got to have that same energy every time. It doesn’t matter what happens after the game, before the game — all that matters is what happens when we step on that field. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

Harbaugh concurred during his Monday press conference. 
“Every week is a new week,” the Michigan coach said. “Maybe some have the perception that because you did something last week or the week before or a game went a certain way that it’s going to go exactly that way. Football is a puzzle each week — new fronts, new coverages. New plays, new schemes, offensively, defensively, special teams, and you put that puzzle together. 

“That’s what we’re doing now in preparation in terms of our plan. Then we’ll practice it and look to execute it on Saturday … [last year] seems like a long time ago. I like what J.J. said maybe last week — it’s a goldfish mentality. So, it’s onward.”

In short, he didn’t want to talk about last year, and wouldn’t. Instead, he did what he does every week — he talked up the opponent and how tough they were, even after they gave up 21 fourth quarter points to lose at Rutgers. The Spartans are 2-4 and reeling, but Harbaugh isn’t taking them for granted — nor will his team. 

“Super tough, as evidenced this past week,” Harbaugh said of Michigan State. “I think it’s a tough team. I think Coach [Harlon] Barnett’s got them playing really well and got them on the move. It’s for the state championship game. We expect one heck of a football game, and we’ll get prepared for it. 

“These are huge games every single week, and there’s definitely a November mentality. That’s when you’re in a chase for the championship; you’re in a run for the championship. They’re decided in November if you’ve put yourself in position to be in position. When all the leaves are brown and the skies are gray, that’s when the championships get decided.”

But November starts now for his Michigan team, Harbaugh said, playing “in this big game, this big rivalry game, this in-state game, this Big Ten game.” The time is now, he said, and they’re preparing like it’s a title game. They’ll practice on grass to prepare for MSU’s grass field like they have in the past, and also prepare for new MSU quarterback Katin Houser. 

“The last game we lost was on grass … I think it’s the best we can do [to practice on grass],” the Michigan coach said. “[Houser] did some really good things. I was impressed. A very young guy making his first start … it was a most impressive performance.”

That’s where the MSU talk ended, though. The preparation had begun long before, and it was clear Monday Harbaugh’s players were excited to head to East Lansing to take care of business and keep the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Ann Arbor.