For some stupid reason this headline in the Free Press got me excited. Then I started reading the article. It's pretty much downhill from the beginning:

EAST LANSING -- Quarterback Drew Stanton energized his teammates during Tuesday's practice with a pointed speech about Michigan State's futility against Michigan over the past four seasons.

Players said Stanton asked how many of them could say they had beaten Michigan, and the ensuing silence provided the answer.

Quarterbacks coach Dan Enos is one of the few who could have answered "yes." He was MSU's quarterback on the 1990 team, the last group to beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, the site of Saturday's game. And technically, receiver Matt Trannon could have raised his hand -- he has beaten Michigan quite a few times in basketball.

"It's a feeling you can't describe," Trannon said. "I've told the guys how it feels and the satisfaction of it. ... That's what we're trying to do this Saturday."

MSU's last victory over Michigan came in 2001, and that disappoints players like linebacker Kaleb Thornhill, who grew up in a Spartans home.

Father Charlie "Mad Dog" Thornhill played on the 1965 and 1966 national championship teams and older brother Josh played in East Lansing in 1998-2001.

"I remember when I used to watch the games when my brother played," Thornhill said. "Just to see the (Michigan) fans and what they said after the game ... how arrogant they are ... man, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes you want to go out there and stick it to 'em."

Sigh. Where do I begin?

We haven't beat Michigan in the last four tries. There isn't a single player on the football team that's had the thrill of defeating Ann Arbor Community College, let alone on their home turf. We haven't done that since 1990 (and boy, as a Spartan fan, that was a great one).

It was unbelievably depressing to read Matt Trannon remarks about how satisfying it is to beat U of M... in basketball. It just cuts that much deeper for some reason, since all he's doing is reminding us how pathetic this football program has been over the past six seasons.

And reading about Charlie Thornhill and the glorious teams from 1965 and 1966 just sticks the shiv in a little deeper. Michigan State hasn't won a national championship in 40 years. LBJ was the president back then, fer cryin' out loud!

Here's my dad's prediction for tomorrow:

Well, my usual prediction: MSU 270, Ann Arbor Community College 0

My REAL prediction for tomorrow: AACC 56, MSU 9

I don't know how real I mean that to be, but I do expect to suffer a butt-whippin'. (the nine points is based on FINALLY having a kicker who can make a dang field goal).

Sigh. This whole thing just puts me in such a sour mood. Stef and I are actually going to the game in Ann Arbor tomorrow. It'll be the second MSU-UM football game I've ever attended, and my first time at the Big House. And as disgusting as it is to say... I don't really care if we win or lose. Don't get me wrong, I'll wear my green and white and I'll cheer on the Spartans, but even if we win it doesn't really change anything. We'll still be a mediocre team (at best) with a bleak outlook for the rest of the season if we walk out of there with a victory tomorrow.

And get this... next year's schedule is going to be tougher than this year's. Assuming John L. Smith somehow survives the 2006 season, he's going to have an even tougher time surviving the last year on his contract, which means... we're already talking about the 2008 season before we really have any hope of "turning the corner" again with another new coach. MSU football has been turning corners for 40 years.

We were close to a breakthrough after the exciting 2000 season when we beat Florida in the Citrus Bowl, but the coach who got us there, Nick Saban, ditched us before the bowl game to go to LSU... where he won a National Championship.

Normally this is when I would rhetorically ask when basketball season starts, but even the MSU basketball program will be young and inexperienced this year. Of course, Spartan fans know to never underestimate Tom Izzo, but that's the problem... John L. Smith ain't Tom Izzo.

Oh, the plight of the Spartan fan.

Now watch us go out there and win the damn thing tomorrow.