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On this special episode of The Sports Round Table Impact’s Zack Surdenik, Matt Merrifield and Liam Jackson join host Nick Lundberg to talk rivalry week and past MSU vs. Michigan games.
The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.
Nick Lundberg 0:10
Hello, everyone. And welcome back to a special edition of Sports Roundtable. I'm joined by Impact Zack Surdenik, Matt Merrifield and Liam Jackson for a special episode about hate week. So what's going on guys?
Zack Surdenik 0:21
You know, it's campus is thriving this week, as it always is this time of year. It's a little bit interesting with how the seasons have gone between these two sides. But you know, it's always thriving and tight week.
Nick Lundberg 0:31
Yeah, exactly.
Matt Merrifield 0:32
It's my favorite week being on campus here. The weather is beautiful right now. Everybody's excited for the game this weekend. And just you know, Halloween is coming up. So it's just a fun time to be on campus right now.
Liam Jackson 0:43
Yes. And we coming off a break for our students. And it's nice to be here. Never been in The State News office. It's very nice here. So thanks for t,hanks for having me. And I'm excited.
Nick Lundberg 0:53
Yeah, it's good to have you guys here. So I want to talk about obviously, we know, we talked about hate weekend, I want to throw it back to some of your guys most memorable games. Growing up, even if you weren't a Michigan State fan or being here, especially like we know what happened last year, I would just say that, like one of my most memorable moments of hate week was, you know, last year as my freshman year being up here, we had a really good team coming into the game against a really good Michigan team. And then just being in that environment of that game. And seeing you know, the outcome with you know, canine had the five touchdowns. And the uproar after the game was just a crazy time. I've been a MSU fan all my life and just seeing campus like that, and in a different way. Because I had never really been a part of a game like that. And that moment, like when I think back to games, as of late, we all know we've MSU has been pretty successful over the past 15 years or so. But just winning that game in that magnitude. And being involved in, you know, the crowd and the culture after and everything that was going on was pretty special. I don't know. What do you guys think about that?
Zack Surdenik 1:57
Yeah, that's the game I go back to that was my first Michigan State, Michigan game that I got to cover on I was on the call for the game for Impact. And just the atmosphere of the game was crazy. But that whole week, like the build up into it, the nerves of getting to call that game, I'm remember it was a noon game. I left my house at seven o'clock. I live about 20 minutes from campus. And I still could not get to campus. I had to get dropped off at Muni, municipal park over there walk to Spartan Stadium from there. And I just remember, we were in the stadium by 10 o'clock. And I'm just pacing back and forth getting ready for the call. And it was one of those really cool moments and just to see everything and see the stadium and the atmosphere. And obviously the game was a lot of fun. The call was a lot of fun, close, intense rivalry game. And that's that's the game that has come to mind. I mean.
Matt Merrifield 2:47
Yeah, I think last year, I mean, just the atmosphere. I was in the seats as a fan, obviously. And that was the atmosphere, something I'll never forget. I don't know if I'll ever be at a game, covering it or just being a fan of to have that type of energy. It was something I'll never forget, like, I still have the videos on my phone that are watched back and seeing the reaction after the game was crazy. I don't I use the only Michigan, Michigan State game I've been to in person. And I mean, obviously it was incredible.
Matt Merrifield 3:13
I don't know if it was my most memorable. Because I mean watching a lot of games at home as a kid I grew up a State fan. So there's a lot that stuck out to me. Obviously 2015 was the special month of muffed punt 2017 I think kind of reminds me of this, the game coming up this week being a night game going into a Michigan game where state wasn't supposed to be very good, and they still found a way to win. So I just this week is always fun. And it's always especially the last 15 years way states kind of handled the series. It's always exciting to going into the Michigan game.
Liam Jackson 3:42
You touched on it a little bit, but I feel like it's worth going in depth for trouble at the snap game. I don't think that'll ever be beaten for me. I was at homecoming in high school. And I'm not, I'm not really a fan of I wasn't really a fan of school dances at the time. So it gave me a great excuse to sit on my phone. And I think the fourth and long counter cook didn't convert. And all my friends are Michigan fans are my face. They're excited. I didn't really add that much to say. So it's kind of just sitting with a few other of my Michigan State friends drinking some punch or water, whatever. And they went back on the dance floor and they didn't see the play.
Liam Jackson 4:16
So I got to go break the news. I'm in the middle of the dance floor and to see their face they first didn't believe me but once I looked at their phones and saw the final score, that was probably the greatest feeling just to see their the faces sank and I had that same reaction on the 44th and long and it was 10 times worse for them whether they're enjoying themselves in the middle of the dance floor. So I enjoyed the rest of that day.
Matt Merrifield 4:38
I'll never forget that play either because I had a hockey tournament that at a game that started like a half hour into the game when it started. So I kind of saw a little bit the beginning and then when I got off the ice I don't think I've ever gotten addressed faster because obviously state was starting that was supposed to be a game winning drive. Obviously Connor cook didn't convert on fourth down. I'm standing in the lobby. There's a ton of people. Half Michigan State half Michigan fans, and after they didn't convert all the Michigan fans are celebrating. And to not only see the State fans and pure shock, but to see the pure disappointment in all the Michigan fans in that lobby is one of the best feelings I've ever had. Right? Like it was so nice. Like I was jumping around screaming, and I look over and there's just Michigan fans that look like they just saw a ghost. And it was, it was a feeling I will never forget. And I just love, love that feeling.
Zack Surdenik 5:22
Yeah, so I was watching the game I was with a bunch of my family, my little brother is a big Michigan fan. And so I am just beyond frustrated at that game. Just watching it as a kid, I grew up in Lansing, so I'm from the area. And I just get I just get so mad, I just go in my room and I don't watch the game. It's on. But I'm like I'm sitting there laying in bed head under the covers type stuff like just frustrated. And the TV in my room was about five seconds behind the TV in the living room, where the rest of my family is watching the game. So as they're about to pawn, I hear people living room start going crazy, because everyone besides my little brother, that was there was a Michigan State fan.
Zack Surdenik 6:05
So everybody starts going crazy. I jump out from the bed run to the living room just to see him score, then sprint back and try and catch what actually happened in the play. But it was just like the shock. And as you guys could have said, I think we've almost kind of gotten numb to it when we look at it because we've seen the play so many times. I guess maybe it's just me, but like really like comprehending how unlikely that actually was. And how crazy that finish was. It'll never get old to watch. But I think we just don't think as much or at least me anyways don't think as much about how crazy that actually was.
Nick Lundberg 6:45
Yeah, I honestly think that arm because now you guys are bringing me back to when I was watching with my uncle because my uncle was the one who really put me on to Michigan State. And I just remember feel like it right when you guys said after Cook, miss the fourth down convert or the fourth, third or fourth down conversion. I remember sitting there with my uncle thing. It was like, Wow, I'm I'm really going to hear it from my Michigan friends tomorrow. And then all of a sudden now it's just like, it just went it flipped a switch. And I was like what the hell just happened. And I just, I'm still kind of numb to the fact that like that play happened because it's such an indescribable kind of, like, it's just a lot of things that came together perfectly. And it's hard to describe the feeling you get watching that over and over and over. And I mean, it's just it's, it's such a classic moment. It really is.
Matt Merrifield 7:29
It's wild to think about you. You see all these old time plays from the 50s and 60s of these incredible endings. And you think about it like in 50 years. That's going to be the play and you got to see it happen. It's just it's such a weird feeling. I will admit when I watched the play happen live, I was yelling at Jackson. Jalen wants Jackson to get down. So I thought honestly that he was going to get tackled at like the two and it was going to be the most like what if Yeah, even so, like, I was like, get down. It's a 20 yard field goal just let Geiger kick the game winning field goal he knew probably would have missed even though he made it against Ohio State a couple of weeks later got what it was like, there was good as senior year but was just more like Get down get down. We got the ball back kick, the field goal and the score. And I was like no way got down the field. Like that was I think I mean, that was incredible. Can
Zack Surdenik 8:15
Can we talk about I know a lot of us are in broadcast media. Can we talk about the fact that Sean McDonough got that call? Right? So like the spotter, somebody looked up the spotters name, I saw it on Twitter, I don't remember what it was but for him to know exactly and call it out without hesitation as a broadcaster like I have a big appreciation for that. Because it's not like a broadcast. Like if I'm doing the game on Sunday or Saturday. I know all of the players on Michigan State's team even their reserves Michigan, I know the starters I know some of their reserves, I don't necessarily know the third string or the fifth string corner. That's a gunner on punting. But on Michigan State, I would know that because I cover them every week. But McDonough doesn't cover them every week. And for him to be able to get that right without a second hesitation to top to your work. Also, he is calling our game again.
Nick Lundberg 9:06
I was gonna mention that because we were talking about it on my regular edition of Sports Roundtable earlier this week that he will be the one calling the game and whenever you hear I hear his name and see his face I always think back to that legendary call. And I wanted to say like you said that as a broadcaster. I mean, when you really think about the fact that he pointed out because you know the press box is super high up and it's hard for them to see what exactly is going on but for him to know who exactly what who it was and just everything about the call was just was perfect.
Matt Merrifield 9:35
Even the voicecrack.
Liam Jackson 9:36
I was gonna say, I think the voicecrack is actually added.
Zack Surdenik 9:38
Yes it did.
Liam Jackson 9:39
It really did Cadence of this call I loved.
Matt Merrifield 9:42
I loved doing this call that like after state scored. There was just a pause yes layout just let it let you let it in. It was cool because they just panned a different fans in Michigan, Michigan. I just I how he got that call. I love McDonough as a broadcaster and that call was I was I mean the whole play everything was Just incredible.
Zack Surdenik 10:01
Laying out after a big moment is the most underrated but important skill a broadcaster can have. If you're in a big moment like that. You can't. I mean, we talked about it during the Michigan State, Wisconsin game during those big plays towards the end. And in overtime, my broadcast partner and I would look at each other and I would finish a call like the touchdown call the final touchdown call and I would go like this. And we would both just sit there, let the crowd go. And then you talk and that's exactly what it was. So.
Matt Merrifield 10:26
I mean, chefs kiss growing Yeah, growing up a State fan to like, I mean, I can't I can probably go back and look, but since like 2008, or nine since the rivalry turned around. Seems like McDonough is called every game other than the game on Fox last year. I think Herb St. And Fowler did the 2017 game but other than that, it's usually McDonough's on the call.
Zack Surdenik 10:45
Yeah, I'm kind of honestly I'm kind of surprised McDonoughs on the call now that I'm thinking about it because it is a 7:30 p.m. ABC game. Yeah, so I would have thought that would have been better but I did see that it is make done I just never really thought about it. Put it into perspective. But yeah.
Nick Lundberg 10:59
But I wanted to you know, get your guys pick your guys brains about the game coming up this week. Just maybe give some predictions or general thoughts on what's what's gonna happen. We all know that. I believe that MSU going to come into play. But you know, Michigan's is a pretty good team. So I wanted to hear what you guys have to think about that.
Zack Surdenik 11:17
So Liam, and I picked it last night on SRGB podcast for Impact but I think that I think Michigan State covers I'll go there I'm not as confident in it as I think both of these guys are as they Liam seem very calm. Everybody on the podcast with me seem very common. I'm not as confident. I think Michigan State is either going to hang around in this game and keep it close. Or they're going to get hammered and I don't think there's any in between I don't think they lose this game by 14 points. I think they lose it by 30 or by three or like seven.
Matt Merrifield 11:48
My thing is if they cover I agree there's a good chance they do get blown out in this game but if they cover they're probably gonna win like if this game is close and this game is close. There they get blown up by 40 or they're going to find a way to win this like it's just usually how it goes. I mean it is how many times oh, I guess in 2016 but those are really bad Michigan State team this team's not much better but it is that was the 20 that was the
Zack Surdenik 12:12
That game was close to though somewhat game was nine.
Matt Merrifield 12:16
It was by nine those because 2% the 2.2.
Nick Lundberg 12:20
That's true they did keep it close until.
Zack Surdenik 12:22
Yeah and we'll work into bro pepper shattered the work his line.
Matt Merrifield 12:24
He did but I I don't know. I do think state covers it's going to I don't know I feel like if it is close late state's going to find a way to pull it out but there's also a very good chance that there's no way to stop the run and.
Matt Merrifield 12:24
Yeah I'm very curious to see what they do is stop the run.
Matt Merrifield 12:30
Didn't they switch dirt going to a four, three though.
Zack Surdenik 12:43
They did last week. In order to stop the run. My question is How much does Harbaugh start opening up the past at that point.
Matt Merrifield 12:49
Make McCarthy beat you and when he still hasn't proven anything .
Zack Surdenik 12:52
McCarthy will McCarthy will beat them I know you're not in McCarthy Believe it or not but McCarthy will beat them and we let him throw it.
Nick Lundberg 12:58
We know our DBS aren't you know they're a secondary relying on them in the past hasn't been very in the past two years hasn't been very you know.
Zack Surdenik 13:04
X is back though which is big.
Nick Lundberg 13:06
That's true. That's true.
Matt Merrifield 13:07
I think the health of this team is going to make a huge difference (inaudible).
Liam Jackson 13:10
I think I think three things need to happen if Michigan State wins this game I think Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman need to be the the focus of that offense we saw against Wisconsin that they won their one on one matchups and I think that they have proven this year and for Jayden Reed's throw whole career that that he's good enough to win those one on ones I think they need to I think Jacoby Windmon needs to force at least one turnover and if he's back at linebacker, which I expect him to be most of the game I think that he's much better there in his natural position a great tackler stick game breaker and I think Jayden Reed again special teams I think he needs to finally house one he's has he's taken two back to palm returns back they both been called back for for penalties. But I think that they need to have a big special teams play and I think Reed can provide that for them.
Matt Merrifield 13:59
It's kind of a weird anecdote just to bring this up. But 2020 State had Antoine Simmons, he had a huge game for state he was an a&r native. Last year Andrew Anthony and East Lansing native had a very big game against state. Is there anybody in Michigan State rostered from Ann Arbor?
Liam Jackson 14:15
Transferred from Michigan.
Zack Surdenik 14:15
Yeah, but I mean, that's, I think the biggest, I don't think there's really any other.
Matt Merrifield 14:21
Game winning, Game stealing interception.
Zack Surdenik 14:24
Let's, let's not take that to the books.
Nick Lundberg 14:27
But yeah, I mean, that's about basically all the time we have left here with you guys. So I want to say thanks. It was a quick episode, but I really appreciate you guys coming up and you know, talking about that school down the road. Yeah. It'd be a fun one. I'm excited. Yeah, my name is Nick Lundberg. We'll see you next Friday for another edition of Sports roundtable. Peace out
Transcribed by https://otter.ai