Despite Loss in CFP Semifinal, 2015 A Season To Remember

January 2016 // Issue No. 2 Go Green, Go White Inside this Issue 2016 Officers...1 2016 Board Members...1 A Season to Remember...1-3 Conklin to the NFL...4-5 A Letter From Conklin...6 Spartan Football Notables...7 Spartan Football Snapshots...7 2015 Results...8 2016 Schedule...8 2016 Club Luncheons...8 Membership Application...9 2016 Officers President... Dominic Carbone President-Elect/VP... Lynne Ash Past President...Douglas Crips Treasurer...Jo Smith Secretary...Gary Mugnolo 2016 Board Members Pat Andrews, Mary Ann Brandt, Robert Cantrell, Richard Dunham, Norm Harris, Marty Kreinbrink, Greg Pell, Richard (Dick) Stout, Jill Witzenburg Credits Stories credited to MSU Athletic Communications Staff, Steve Grinczel and the Associated Press. Photos by Matt Mitchell of Matt Mitchell Photography, Rey Del Rio of Del Rio Images and MSU Athletic Communications. Despite Loss in CFP Semifinal, 2015 A Season To Remember Big Ten Champion Spartans close the season with the second-most wins in school history at 12-2. By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist T his time, there would be no fabulous finish or great escape, no MVP performance or celebratory dance party in the locker room. As Thursday night surrendered to the New Year, all No. 3 Michigan State had to show for its first appearance in the College Football Playoff was a 38-0 Cotton Bowl loss to No. 2 Alabama that in no way mirrored the accomplishments of this season or the previous three for that matter. The ultimate goal went unrealized, dreams of hoisting the National Championship trophy were crushed and the Spartans were left to take stock of their body of work while pointing to a future that bypasses Glendale, Arizona, host city for the CFP final between the Crimson Tide and Clemson on Jan. 11. This is a reminder that each day you work for the next phase in your life, said senior outside linebacker Darien Harris. This is something that didn t go right that now you have to overcome. We just need to understand that this is a process and now that we ve been to the College Football Playoff we re not the new kids on the block anymore. Therefore, guys know what it takes to get here and I know they re going to put in the hard work in the offseason, and I definitely expect the Spartans to be in the playoff hunt next year. We ve left a legacy the younger guys can definitely build on. Visit us online at www.dtncoaches.org or email us at DowntownCoachesClub@gmail.com Harris will be on to other things, closing out his career with a 12-2 record this season and a school-record, four-year mark of 43-11, two Big Ten championships, major entries into the history of college football and the attention of a nation that may, once and for all, get the 1

spelling of Coach Mark Dantonio s name right. As we take the pads off for the last time, you start remembering the fun times we had this year, Harris said. It was a great ride we had. It s tough for it to come to an end, but whether it was this game or next game, at some point I was going to feel the same way win, lose or draw what really matters is the camaraderie I built and the lifelong family I now have, having played for Michigan State. We were able to do some great things this year. We re still going out as Big Ten champions, we re still going out as the winningest senior class, so there s a lot to be proud of. I m expecting the class behind us to take over. It s hard because I hate losing more than I love winning, but I just took this jersey off for the last time, and that s the toughest part about it. The performance against Alabama is one the Spartans would prefer to forget. While Michigan State succeeded in proving Tide Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Derrick Henry isn t some sort of unstoppable demigod by holding him to 20 carries for 75 yards about half of what he had been averaging per game it was exposed by quarterback Jake Coker who completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. The Spartans found themselves in a familiar postseason position, trailing 10-0 at halftime. But instead of engineering another jaw-dropping comeback for the ages, they fell behind even further when Coker capped Alabama s second-half-opening position with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley that was ruled incomplete by the officials, who were overruled by the replay official apparently with a broader interpretation of what constitutes a catch. The Tide broke the game open later in the third quarter on Cyrus Jones 57-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 24-0 lead. Although it was the first shutout of the nine-year Dantonio era, first since losing to Michigan, 14-0, 15 years ago and largest margin of defeat since falling to Alabama, 49-7, in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Dantonio saw it no differently than any other loss. At the end of the day if we were sitting in here and we lost by five points, people might be saying nice things about you a little bit more but we wouldn t feel any better, he said. So in the end, you take the loss. You deal with it. And I guess, like I ve always said, you take some bad things with the good things that have happened to you before, too. So we didn t get it done collectively. That s as coaches. That s as players. That s as a program. But you remain focused on being positive, and you take the next step in life. And I think that s what you have to do. So, we had a great season. We ll dwell on that. Our guys will get back ready to start 2016. And (our seniors) will go on and transition to the next phase of their life which will be very, very exciting for them and they ll be very successful. Senior quarterback Connor Cook, MVP of two Big Ten Championship Games and the 2013 Rose Bowl and one of the heroes in last season s Cotton Bowl win over Baylor, bowed out with a frustrating 19-for-39, 210-yard, two interception performance. If not for his errant pass at the end of the first half a pick minus-6, if you will -- after MSU had driven to the Tide 12-yard line with 25 seconds left, the complexion of the game might have changed for the Spartans trailing by three points or seven. But, it was not to be, and Cook took the blame while not using the shoulder injury that kept him from playing at Ohio State as an alibi. Interception was completely my fault, Cook said. They clouded to the boundary and a safety over the top. Either touchdown or incomplete. I just let it slide. Threw it short obviously. Bad ball. Completely my fault.. Shoulder felt the best it s felt. We were down at the half against TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. We were down against Stanford (in the Rose Bowl). We were down 20 points against Baylor, so we ve felt this situation before. We felt similar feelings. And everyone was so optimistic in the locker room at halftime. Everyone was positive. We felt like we were going to go out there and get things rolling, and that wasn t the case. Cook will now turn his attention to becoming a success in the NFL, as will defensive end Shilique Calhoun, both postponing those aspirations for a year for a chance at getting into the football final four, which they did. 2

The only thing I m trying to focus on right now, is the positives and how much fun we ve had and the whole journey, Cook said. Walking in as a freshman, I would have never expected to have an experience like this. The last thing I want to do is look at the downside and say, Our last game as Spartans we lost. We want to be positive people. We want to look at the bright side. We re just so lucky to play for Coach D and all the other coaches. Stewardship of the team will now be passed onto juniors like middle linebacker Riley Bullough and sophomore defensive tackle Malik McDowell. Up front, I thought we played pretty well, Bullough said. We stopped the run up until the end there, so I was happy with that. It was 10-0 at halftime and we had the opportunity to score at the end but couldn t put it in. It was a close game, but in the second half it got away from us. I felt confident playing against a team like (Alabama) and the entire defense did. We just needed to make more plays as a whole. No matter what went on, we still played hard to the end and were still fighting. The score doesn t show that, and that s the tough part. Junior defensive back Demetrious Cox, another player set to return in 2016, felt the Spartans had more to offer than they showed against Alabama. For sure I didn t feel like we played to our potential, Cox said. That was our goal, to get to next game, and we fell short. So in terms of reaching higher, I feel like this program is right at the top, but we have to keep pushing. This year, (we made the statement that) sooner or later people have got to quit discounting us all the time. You can say today kind of went against that, but I feel like we played hard throughout the whole game but it didn t go our way. Junior All-American left offensive tackle Jack Conklin lamented the way MSU didn t take advantage of opportunities that would have made for a more competitive situation. We just didn t get it rolling, he said. If we get one of those in the end zone down there when we kept moving the ball, it comes right back to that first half. We were inside the 50 four times and didn t come away with anything. If we get two field goals, score a touchdown, anything, that changes the tide a little bit, slows them down and puts doubt in their mind. Unfortunately, now we have to live with that. But, we re Michigan State Spartans, we re going to hold our head high no matter what. This senior class changed the culture here at Michigan State. We re the No. 3 team in the nation. We made the playoffs. We pride ourselves on being a resilient team, we ll keep fighting and we re going to keep being team that s going to be in this playoff situation year in and year out. Whether Conklin returns for his senior season or leaves early for the NFL is a decision he ll make with his family in the coming weeks. As of now, it s about Michigan State and I love being here with my brothers, he said. As painful as the going out on a losing note is, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Joel Heath was determined not to let it diminish everything that s been accomplished during his time on the team. This is the hardest loss I ve ever taken, but the reality is, a foundation s been laid, he said. We re going to continue to build and watch Michigan State grow and have good opportunities to capitalize on big moments. We have a lot to be thankful for. 3

The Fan Club of Spartan Football Conklin Forgoes His Senior Season; Enters 2016 NFL Draft The junior offensive tackle earned first-team All-America honors from Sporting News and USA TODAY in 2015 M ichigan State All-America offensive tackle Jack Conklin, who started 38 of 39 career games, will forgo his senior season and enter the 2016 National Football League Draft. As a three-year starter, Conklin helped the Spartans to a combined record of 36-5, including back-to-back bowl victories over Stanford in the 2014 Rose Bowl and Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic as well as an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal against Alabama. The deadline for underclassmen to declare themselves eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft is Monday, Jan. 18. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Conklin earned All-America honors from Sporting News (first team), USA TODAY (first team), Associated Press (second team), FWAA (second team), Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team), Phil Steele (third team) and SI.com (honorable mention). A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, Conklin was named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week a team-best four times (Western Michigan, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State) during the regular season. Although he missed two games (Purdue, Rutgers) with a leg injury, Conklin still collected 65.5 knockdowns and graded out a winner in eight of his 10 regular-season games. Jack Conklin is a gifted athlete, who embodies all of the qualities of the ideal left tackle, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said. He s an intelligent player, who runs extremely well for his size. Jack was an impact player in our starting lineup for the last three years, and his toughness permeated the entire offensive line. The pre-draft numbers project Jack as a probable first-round selection, and there s no doubt that he ll be an outstanding tackle at the next level. He s well prepared to transition into the next chapter of his life, and we wish him nothing but the best as he chases his dream of playing in the NFL. He s not only been a major contributor over the last three seasons, but he s also been a tremendous ambassador for our football program. The decision to forgo my final year was a very difficult decision, Conklin said. I took time to talk to my family and the coaches to find out what the best decision would be for me. Ultimately, my family and I felt it was time to take the next step and start training for the NFL. I m excited about it. I m going to really miss being at Michigan State and everything about this place. I ve loved it. Coach D was great -- he gave me a chance to play Division I football when no one else believed in me. For him to give me that chance and to now be in this position is unbelievable. It s a blessing to have been able to work with Coach D, Coach Staten and Coach Bollman. They really helped mentor me, especially in the ways of becoming a great offensive lineman. I ll take everything that they ve taught me and use it at the next level to help me become even a better player. My career really comes down to being part of a team and a group of guys that put Michigan State back on the map. When I first got here, the teams in the past started to build a foundation here. While I was here, my team- 4

mates and I really have created this sense of championships around Michigan State. When you hear the name Michigan State, you think of Big Ten Championships and now, a team that s going to be in playoff contention, year in and year out. The great thing about it is this is a legacy now that we ve created here and will go on for years and years and years and really has a bright future ahead. My first goal is to become a first-round draft pick, Conklin continued. That s been my dream since I was a little kid. I feel like I m in the situation where I have the capability of doing that going into training now. One day I want to be a Pro Bowler; I want to be an All-Pro guy, and those are the types of goals I have set for myself now, but none of that would be capable without the experience I ve had here at Michigan State and the opportunity I was given. The Plainwell, Michigan, native began his junior season by being named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Western Michigan, and followed that effort with a team-best 9.5 knockdowns in the win over No. 7 Oregon. After missing two games, Conklin registered a Big Ten Championship level grade for his performance in the win at No. 12 Michigan, which included 7.5 knockdowns, to earn Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week laurels. He picked up the award for the second week in a row with eight knockdowns vs. Indiana. Following MSU s 17-14 win at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, Conklin again was named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week as Michigan State rushed for 203 yards against the nation s third-ranked defense and ended the defending National Champion Buckeyes 23-game winning streak. In the regular-season finale at Penn State, Conklin compiled 8.5 knockdowns and the Spartans held the Nittany Lions without a sack for the first time all season. Conklin saw action in 39 career games, including 38 starts (35 at left tackle, three at right tackle). A three-year starter, Conklin helped the Spartans to two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and two bowl wins (2014 Rose, 2015) during his time in the starting lineup, in addition to a berth in the College Football Playoff this season. With a healthy offensive line, the Spartans averaged 188.3 rushing yards per game against their last three Big Ten opponents, including wins over No. 2 Ohio State, Penn State and No. 4 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. The 2016 NFL Draft will be conducted April 28-30 in Chicago. 5

Jack Conklin Pens Letter to Spartan Teammates, Coaches and Fans Spartan Nation, Having deliberated whether or not to take my football career to the next level, I have made the decision with the support of my family to forgo my final season of eligibility at Michigan State University and declare for the NFL Draft. To say that this was a difficult decision for me would be an understatement, but I m very excited for what the next chapter has in store for me. I m truly blessed and grateful to have this unbelievable opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine. These past four years hold some of the most memorable moments of my life so far with my Spartan family by my side. I m incredibly proud to have been part of the most successful run in Michigan State football history, and the experiences I ve had with my teammates are unforgettable. The bond and commitment formed among one another is something rare and I believe these relationships will lead to continued success. There are so many people I would like to thank not only for their unwavering support in regard to my own career, but for their dedication to my teammates as well. My o-line coaches Mark Staten and Jim Bollman I cannot say enough about the emphasis you have placed on the basics and how it has helped me grow as a player and it will continue to be critical to my development. To Coach Mannie and the strength staff showing me how to put everything I have into the weight room workouts has given me this opportunity to contribute at the highest level. Sally Nogle, Dave Jager thank you for keeping me in one piece. Mandy Chandler I appreciate all the time and energy you have put into my academics and I will utilize your expertise in the future. To all athletic and academic staff, anyone who I inadvertently did not single out, and to the entire Spartan student body and alumni who stood behind me while I worked toward my goal of becoming part of the NFL, thank you for all of your interaction and support. To Coach D I cannot adequately express how grateful I am to have been invited to walk-on to the Spartan program, and to have been given the amount of encouragement and belief in my abilities that you gave me from day one. Thank you, coach. To my teammates you guys already know how I feel about each one of you. I play this game for the camaraderie, for the battles and for the wins. We ve won championships and have played in some incredible games it indeed was a special time to be a Spartan. I would never trade any of my experiences for a different outcome because of how strong they ve made us as a whole. I m forever thankful to have experienced it beside all of you. Finally, none of this would be possible without the constant support and love of my family and friends. Words can t do justice to show how I feel about you. Go Green! Jack Conklin 6

The Fan Club of Spartan Football Spartan Football notables // Michigan State won its second Big Ten Championship in three years and ninth in school history with a 16-13 victory over No. 4 Iowa. It marked Dantonio s third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Duffy Daugherty and George Perles with two). The Spartans also won Big Ten titles in 1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987 and 1990. // Michigan State extended its school record by playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl). The nine-year bowl streak is currently the second longest in the Big Ten and 12th longest in the NCAA FBS. // Ninth-year Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio will be made his ninth bowl appearance at MSU, extending his school record for most bowl appearances by a head coach (previous record: George Perles with seven from 1983-94). Dantonio is 4-4 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton). Dantonio has led his teams to 11 bowl berths in 12 seasons as a head coach (nine at MSU, two at Cincinnati). // With a 43-11 record, the 2015 senior class is the winningest senior class in school history (previous record: 42 wins in 2013 and 2014). The 23-member 2015 senior class has been a part of three bowl wins (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton), two Big Ten division titles (2013, 2015) and two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015). // Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in school history, owns a 34-5 record (.872) as the starter, including a 23-2 (.910) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 34 wins are second most among active starting quarterbacks in the NCAA FBS (Stanford s Kevin Hogan with 35), and Cook s.872 winning percentage is No. 1 (minimum 24 starts). Cook is 5-2 against AP Top 10 teams in his career and 8-4 against AP Top 25 opponents. He was named the 2015 recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. // MSU s 65 wins since 2010 are tied for fourth most among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams and most in the Big Ten during that same period. The Spartans have posted their sixth consecutive winning season, a fi rst for the program since 1985-90. MSU has won 65 of its last 81 games (65-16;.802), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. In addition, the Spartans have won 38 of their last 43 games (.884), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale. MSU has won 36 games since the beginning of 2013 (36-5 record), third most in the FBS during that period. During conference play, Michigan State has won 25 of its last 27 games against Big Ten opponents, dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 18 wins by double-figures. Spartan Football Snapshots 7

2015 Final Results MICHIGAN STATE (12-2, 7-1 Big Ten) Sept. 4 at Western Michigan W, 37-24 Sept. 12 No. 7/5 OREGON W, 31-28 Sept. 19 AIR FORCE W, 35-21 Sept. 26 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W, 30-10 Oct. 3 PURDUE W, 24-21 Oct. 10 at Rutgers W, 31-24 Oct. 17 at No. 12/14 Michigan W, 27-23 Oct. 24 INDIANA W, 52-26 Nov. 7 at Nebraska L, 38-39 Nov. 14 MARYLAND W, 24-7 Nov. 21 at No. 2/2 Ohio State W, 17-14 Nov. 28 PENN STATE W, 55-16 Dec. 5 vs. No. 4/3 Iowa * W, 16-13 Dec. 31 vs. No. 2/2 Alabama + L, 38-0 * Big Ten Championship Game (Indianapolis) + CFP Semifinal; Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas) 2016 Club Luncheons 2016 Schedule Wednesday, April 20 Spring Luncheon Sept. 3 FURMAN Friday, September 2 Furman Sept. 17 at Notre Dame Thursday, September 15 Notre Dame Sept. 24 WISCONSIN Friday, September 23 Wisconsin Oct. 1 at Indiana Friday, October 7 BYU Oct. 8 BYU Friday, October 14 Northwestern Oct. 15 NORTHWESTERN Friday, October 28 Michigan Oct. 22 at Maryland Friday, November 11 Rutgers Oct. 29 MICHIGAN Friday, November 18 Ohio State Nov. 5 at Illinois Friday, December 9 Proposed Bowl Luncheon Nov. 12 RUTGERS Nov. 19 OHIO STATE Unless noted otherwise, our luncheons are held at Nov. 26 at Penn State Eagle Eye Golf Club, 15500 Chandler Road, Bath MI. Did You Know? Michigan State has posted at least 11 wins five times in the last six seasons (11 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014, 12 in 2015). Prior to Mark Dantonio s arrival, the Spartans had just two 10-win seasons in school history (1965, 1999). Dantonio is the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span. His five 11-win seasons rank second most in Big Ten history, along with Joe Paterno (five with Penn State as Big Ten member). The 12 wins in 2015 are second most in school history (13 in 2013). Doors open at 10:45 AM Buffet begins at 11:00 Program begins at 11:45 Adjourn at 1:00 PM $15 for Club members $20 for non-members (You can join at the door!) Member and Sponsor of this Newsletter 9 Local Locations Serving Lansing~East Lansing~Haslett~Holt Perry~Durand~St. Johns 8

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