* Be sure to play the fight song in the background while reading to get in the right mindset*
Football season is just around the corner, and there is nothing more exciting than a clean slate and a new schedule. There's no better way to get pumped for the 2016 season than to remember some of the highlights from the past few years of Spartan football, and there are lots to chose from.
1. The 2014 Rose Bowl Win:
After beating Ohio State to claim their place in the Rose Bowl game the Spartans made their way to California and put on a show for all the fans. The game consisted of memorable plays such as Kyler Ellsworth's leap over the defense line to block an important first down, and touchdowns by Jeremy Langford, Trevor Pendleton, and Tony Lippett. The win was Michigan State's first Rose Bowl title since 1988.
2. 2015 Big Ten Championship:
Since 2011 MSU has played in the Big Ten Championship game three times and won twice including this year's win against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Not only was the game hard fought, but in typical Spartan fashion victory was not achieved until the last 30 seconds of the game with an touchdown from LJ Scott.
3. Michael Geiger's winning kick against Ohio State (and hilarious celebration):
In the last seconds of the game against Ohio State, the chance for victory was on Michael Geiger's shoulders as he set up for a 41 yard kick. When Geiger's kick was good and the Spartans clinched the W, Geiger ran down the field and had the funniest celebration of the year.
4. The 2015 Cotton Bowl:
There is nothing like a good underdog story, and the Spartans gave us just that in the 2015 Cotton Bowl game against Baylor. The Spartans trailed entering the fourth quarter, but shocked us all by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win the game.
5. Michigan v Michigan State Game 2015:
Every year the game against Michigan is one of the most fun and stressful moments of the season, and there has never been a more exciting ending for our Spartans. Who could forget the last three seconds of the game? Just as Michigan was about to celebrate what seemed to be a sure victory, a botched kick led to an MSU touchdown by Jalen Watts-Jackson. The touchdown gave MSU the lead to end the game at 27-23. Not only was seeing all the Wolverines faces as they lost the game, but the celebration of Spartans across Michigan and the country were ones to remember.
We have been lucky to enjoy some pretty great sports years at MSU and heres to hoping the 2016 season will bring some more memorable moments. So grab your green and white gear, pack the cooler and get ready for another year of Spartan football.