The five toughest words in sports: “It is who we are.”
You’ve been there, no doubt. “It was a disappointing season.” “We underperformed.” “We …suck.”
What happened? Injuries? (They’re always in the picture.) Some of the opponents had surprising years? (When doesn’t that happen?) Bad coaching calls? (That’s the coin of the realm.) Talent issues? (Who doesn’t have that concern?)
The list goes on. But the problem with the list is that it masks what may be more explanatory: It is who we are.
That’s simplistic, I know. And it doesn’t always apply. To find out if it does, take your season-worn eyes and look backward–to the first game of the year.
Courtesy: Toledo Blade
I did just that a few days ago, trying to figure out what the hell happened to one of my college football teams, the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans underperformed this year, going from ranked #11 nationally to finishing 7-5.
MSU had a great rushing defense this year, but that was the only Gold Star area. Pass defense was average. The offense was (in a word) bad—122th nationally in scoring (when it did) and 115th in total yards (when it got some). The O-line didn’t block well. The quarterbacks didn’t throw well. The pass receivers didn’t catch many. And the rushers didn’t rush much.
So I went back in time to re-read an article that evaluated Michigan State’s opening game—a home contest against Utah State. The Aggies were a team that surprised, finishing the regular season at 10-2. USU’s only losses were at the beginning (to MSU) and the end (Boise State)—with both games on the road.
Michigan State beat Utah State, barely, scoring a late TD to win, 38-31. But MSU went into that game a 21+ point favorite. With more returning lettermen than any other team in the country, MSU was also one of the favorites to win the Big Ten title.
What did the article reveal? Two areas were prescient.
Blocking is troublesome. Against Utah State, the Spartans didn’t score TDs in the Red Zone (twice), and the line had trouble protecting the quarterback. (Both outcomes happened game after game, all year.)
Pass defense. USU scored on its first possession, going 75 yards in less than two minutes. The Aggies did it again in the second half. And USU did it in the air because Aggie ball carriers couldn’t go anywhere. (MSU finished the year #1 nationally in rushing defense.)
“Week 1 games don’t always have grand meaning,” Ben Kercheval wrote. “In this case, Michigan State hoped to get out of Week 1 as anonymously as possible. Instead, there are major lessons learn—not all of them good.”
It was challenging reading because (throat clearing) those words became true. Michigan State didn’t enter the year anonymously; it went out that way.
So the next time you ask what happened to your football team—why you’re frustrated with unrequited expectations—look back at the beginning and ask: Were problems there from the start?
Well, sports fans, sometimes they are.
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I dedicate this article to fellow Spartan and sports fan, Scott Craven.
