Remember the Spartans

Back by popular demand (not really) is the beginning of our annual Hackademy Awards.  Awards will be handed out after each game (apologies for missing the first two weeks), with accumulated tallies total at the end of the season.  Without further adieu:


HEISMAN BABY

MANTI TE'O - 12 tackles (1 TFL), fumble recovery - Playing with a heavy heart, Te'o dominated,  leading an inspired defensive group (3 points, 4 sacks) from start to finish.  While his stat line is impressive, the story can truly be told through the stats of Heisman hopeful (or previous hopeful) Le'Veon Bell - 19 carries for 77 yards.


ROCK SOLID

EVERETT GOLSON - 14 of 32 for 178 yards and a TD (plus a rushing TD) - While the stats are not off the charts, Golson did enough for the win, and furthermore did not turn the ball over.  Hard to argue against the fact that he is 3-0 as a starter.

BEN TURK - 8 punts for an average of 42.4 yards with 4 inside the 20 - Turk was busy all night, but finished mistake free.  In a game featuring two strong defenses, field position was a crucial factor and Turk delivered.

CIERRE WOOD - 10 rushes for 56 yards - It was a welcoming sight to see Wood back on the field.  His quickness was utilized at an opportune time to propel the Irish to key first downs late in the game.

JOHN GOODMAN - 1 rec. for 36 yards , TD - The 5th year senior made his career highlight catch while being interfered with early in the 1st quarter and it proved to be the winning score.


GET HIM OUTTA THERE

PRINCE SHEMBO - 9 tackles (2 tfl), 1 sack - While Shembo played a great game defensively, his (back-to-back) personal foul penalty(ies) were simply stupid.


WAIT, WHAT?

Remember when the ball popped off the foot of TJ Jones up into the air, was picked off by a MSU defender and returned for a touchdown, spiraling the Irish into defeat?  While it did not exactly happen that way, ghosts of Irish pasts seem to look favorably on this Irish team as the breaks, particularly that one, seemed to go our way for once.