They say “good things come to those who wait.” Michigan State football fans have been waiting for this week for 26 years. My journey as a Spartan fan has been much like this past season: full of ups and downs, but always has promise for great things. As I’ve mentioned before, I was practically born wearing green and white into a proud tradition of Michigan State fandom. My parents have had season football tickets my entire life and some of my best childhood memories were at Spartan Stadium.

The last time MSU was in the Rose Bowl

The last time MSU went to the Rose Bowl, my sister and I were too young to travel there, so we watched it from home as a family. We had always said that we would go the next time the team went and today we’re all flying out to the “promised land” that has been so elusive for nearly 3 decades. The Rose Bowl is also on the bucket list that my husband and I share, which makes the trip even more meaningful. As I stood in Indy earlier this month and watched my beloved Spartans celebrate with roses, I was overcome with excitement and emotion.

Being raised as a Spartan has had its bumps along the way, particularly when I grew up in Wolverine country. After the last Rose Bowl appearance 26 years ago, I began to watch and understand the game more. Before I knew it, I expected to spend my fall Saturdays in East Lansing and Tico Duckett was my favorite player. I loved watching the games with my family, something that has never changed. I continued to go to games and follow the team each year as they struggled, found success, and struggled again. I remember feeling so defeated when Saban left us for LSU and frustrated when Bobby Williams struggled to replace him. My time as a student at MSU was part of the “dark years” when John L Smith was always finding new ways to embarrass the program. I was even published about my disgust with the team a few weeks before he was fired. Although I was skeptical when they hired Mark Dantonio, I kept an open mind as I’ve watched him build a program I can be proud of. I traveled to the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl to celebrate the end of MSU’s bowl drought and the beginning of a new chapter in their football history.

Since that new chapter began, Coach D has taken Spartan Football from a team that has up and down years to a program that you expect to compete each season for a conference title. Yes, the record last year indicated it was a down season, but losing so many close games proved that there was a lot of promise as well. From my days of frustration about lack of discipline and inconsistent play, to a program that boasts the top defense in the country and focuses on each goal, Spartan Football has given its fans a lot to be proud of. While most teams in college sports focus on individual stars, Coach D says that no player is bigger than the program. He has given them different goals and analogies along the way as they worked toward each goal. From the slogan for the season to ‘Chase It’ to various axioms as they neared each goal, he found new ways to keep the team focused and motivated. Now, they are preparing for biggest challenge of the season in a game that’s very significant for the program and he’s still working to keep the team focused as they soak it all in. For the record, there is nothing more to say about Max Bullough’s suspension until we know what took place, but I believe in the program that Dantonio has built and trust that he made the best decision for the team.

I’ve had my share of blogs and tweets about this season, full of both criticism and excitement. The 13 games the team has played in their 2013 campaign to date were a roller coaster for fans. For a team that looked putrid for most of September, they came out in October with a renewed spirit and looked like a whole new team. They grew and improved over the season as new stars developed on defense while Cook emerged as the quarterback that made everything go. Langford became the #1 back and several receivers found their roles to make the offense click. A freshman kicker was the answer for missed field goals that were costly early in the season. While there were games in the B1G season where they appeared to take a step back, they still went on to have their first undefeated conference season since 1966. Additionally, MSU became the first Big Ten team to win all 8 of its conference games by double-digit points since the league went to an 8-game schedule in 1971. What a run by a team that could barely escape inferior opponents in September!

The B1G Title Game in Indy was the best possible matchup for the conference, as the 2 strongest teams would be facing each other for the 1^st time all season. Ohio State was the heavy favorite and had everything on the line since it was assumed Michigan State would go to the 100th Rose Bowl if they won or lost. OSU had not lost for 2 years and Urban Meyer was undefeated as head coach – until the night they got exposed. While sitting in the stadium felt like being at a road game, the teams put its fan base on a roller coaster as they went up 17, gave up 24 unanswered points, and then scored 17 more for the victory. Spartan fans could finally smell the roses again, and the team got there the right way!

Pasadena is painted green and white this week. After so much drama surrounding ticket requests, AD Hollis did the best he could for the season ticket holders and let many dreams continue when he made sure the allotment let each requester get at least a pair of tickets. Now, MSU will be on the biggest stage they’ve seen in years. I’m so proud of this team and the program that has been built since Coach D arrived in late 2006. So, the waiting is over and as I hop off the plane at LAX dreaming about a Spartan win, I’ll be soaking up every moment of a dream for my family – and a little sunshine too! Go Green!