Michigan State coach Harlon Barnett on 49-0 loss to U-M — 'no excuses'

There was talk Michigan State considered not playing Saturday night’s game against rival U-M after allegations of sign stealing and an unprecedented “heads up” from the Big Ten that the Wolverines might have cracked their elaborate signs. Even the interim president issued a statement about being “chagrined,” and there was manufactured concern about the health and safety of the MSU players.

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On the latter — they were probably right, but not because of sign stealing or anything else. The Wolverines were just bigger, faster, stronger, and certainly didn’t need anything but to show up and take care of business against an opponent that had no business being on the field with the nation’s No. 2 team. And unlike many rival fans looking for excuses, head coach Harlon Barnett downplayed the effect it had on the outcome.

“I wouldn’t say [it was] complicated,” Barnett said. “[Quarterback Katin Houser], as you saw early in the game … he was going to the sideline. It’s something our guys have done before with teams that do it within the game. There are some teams in our league that are pretty good at doing it, getting signals, within the game, which is all part of it … which is legal, and we know that. So, running to the sideline, getting the call, then going back into the huddle, telling the guys, as opposed to everybody getting the signal from the sideline.

“So, there was a slight change, but that’s not an excuse. I don’t like excuses. We have to play better. We have to play better. That’s the goal … to start playing better and not beat ourselves.”

The Spartans racked up 11 penalties for more than 100 yards, but that wasn’t the reason they lost. Michigan could have given them their defensive signals in advance and the Spartans probably wouldn’t have scored in four more quarters — that’s how lopsided it was when Michigan State had the ball on offense. MSU couldn’t reach 200 yards of offense despite the Wolverines playing the last quarter and a half or so with the backups, and going deep into the bench in the fourth quarter. Had it been a home game, the towel boy probably would have gotten a few reps.

“Like I said earlier in the week, they understand the defense,” Barnett said of Michigan. “They understand where they’re supposed to be, their assignments, and they’re coached well. So when you’re a sound, disciplined defense that’s been coached well and guys do what they’ve been coached to do, then you have a chance to be pretty good. That’s who they are and that’s what they showed tonight.”

Barnett admitted some considered not playing the game, he admitted after a few writers continued to beat the sign stealing drum in the postgame. But in his earlier press conferences he said he thought his team would be prepared — that former coach Mark Dantonio had something up his sleeve to help develop a winning game plan.

“I got a call Wednesday night from our athletic director, Alan Haller. He had gotten a call from the Big Ten, and the Big Ten had got a call from the NCAA, from how I understand what happened, and that’s how I found out,” Barnett said. “I was asked what could we possibly do to them … what you think. I said what I said, but I wasn’t really expecting much to come from it, to be honest with you. At one time, somebody did mention possibly not playing the game, but I said, ‘let’s play the game. Play the game. It don’t get you ‘til it gets you. Just remember that.'”

And it got them. It was the worst home loss in Michigan State history, and it would have been much worse had Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh not showed compassion. There was some whining after the fourth stringers scored with 8 seconds to go, but Barnett would have none of it.

“Whether you lose by one or 49, it’s a loss, first of all,” Barnett said before admitting it might be the low point of the season. “… “It might be [the low point]. I thought it was low last week, and then lower. You’ve got to shake it off and keep fighting. That’s all I know … got to shake it off and keep fighting.

“We played a top-10 team. They were superior to us tonight. Got our butts kicked. We’ve got to learn from it. The 24-hour rule is in still in place, and we’ve got Minnesota next up.”

But the memory of this one probably won’t go away anytime soon.