“Give them nothing, but take from them everything.” This line from the movie 300 is the perfect way to describe the mentality of the 2013 Michigan State Spartans football team. After a week of questions and going into the ‘Granddaddy of them all’ as a 6.5 point underdog, the team came out and silenced the doubters as they finally seem to be earning some national respect. Spartan Nation also silenced the critics that have previously looked past them because they wouldn’t travel for the team. As I write this, I’m still basking in the glow of the victory and couldn’t be prouder of the school that I’ve cheered for my entire life. The pilgrimage to the promised land couldn’t have been a better experience (although I may write in the future with some notes for those who plan to make the trip based on what I’ve learned). I feel fortunate to be part of the Spartan Family and this trip just confirmed how close we all are.

From the time we got to O’Hare on Monday, I’ve been wearing green and white. As soon as I got through security, I ran into a classmate from college. We met other Spartans at the gate and shared our adventures in planning for the trip. We all ended up in the same row and enjoyed some celebratory spirits on the way to Pasadena. Once we got to LAX, we saw why people were calling it East Lansing West. From the signs and billboards to fans everywhere, Spartan Nation had officially invaded SoCal. They say that a true MSU fan says “Go Green” instead of “hello” and that was definitely the case this week. At the airport, the hotel, in the streets and everywhere we went, strangers acknowledged one other with a smile and those two little words.

Fans gathered for the Pep Rally

Some 27,000 fans crowded into the LA plaza for a pep rally, for chants, singing the fight song, getting green and white roses – and which also included watching the men’s basketball team in their B1G opener. The feeling of being a Spartan Family was overwhelming. Then, it was time to ring in 2014 (on Spartan time) with fellow alums before getting some shut eye before the big day.

The theme for the 2014 Rose Parade was “Dreams Come True.” It’s almost like they knew MSU would be there because I couldn’t think of a better phrase to describe yesterday. Seeing the Spartan Marching Band go past us in the parade brought a tear to my eye as the dream was becoming a reality. The floats from the parade were beautiful and it was really cool to see them close up. Next stop, the stadium, a photo with the iconic marquee (can you say holiday card photo opp?), and tailgating. It’s pretty crazy the way the stadium is nestled into a little community and is in the middle of a golf course – and also a pain when it comes to getting out of there. We found other members of the Spartan Family and were able to enjoy some beautiful weather before the big game. This was a bonus since every other MSU outdoor game we went to this season had awful weather!

Finally, after so much build up, it was game time! The stadium was just a majestic as I imagined – the perfect looking field with the sun shining down on it, photos don’t even do it justice. My Spartan Family was there in full force too – at least 65% MSU fans in the stadium as many were living out a dream and crossing a big deal off their bucket lists. When Stanford came out and drove the field, there was definite concern in the stands that we had all spent a lot of money and emotion to see our team fall flat. However, we kept the faith (and the cheers going) and it’s rarely felt so good to only be down 3 at the half – particularly when Cook through a rare interception that was returned for a touchdown. Still, a team that has struggled with their own success at times kept their composure and made important adjustments during halftime. They came out and quickly tied the game, and then never looked back. The Spartans had 10 more first downs than the Cardinal and came up big when they needed to. The defense stood tall keeping them out of the red zone in the 2^nd half until there were less than 7 minutes to go in the game. After mishaps by Cook and Langford, they came back out and found their rhythm. There was no player bigger than the team as it was a complete effort on the biggest stage.

The ending of the game couldn’t have been scripted more perfectly! For a team with boasted the #1 defense in the country, it was fitting for Stanford to get stuffed when they went for it on 4^th down. The stop was made by Kyler Elsworth, who was playing in place of the suspended Max Bullough. It was a team effort to replace the captain in that game, but for the senior and former walk-on, it’s a moment he’ll always cherish – and earned him the defensive MVP award. Then, letting Maxwell come in for the victory formation was only right in his last game at MSU.  Maxwell’s sacrifice and humility to do what was best for the team allowed Cook to grab the reigns and lead this season. As Spartan Nation let out their collective breath, it was euphoria in the stadium. They were “yelling timber” as there was no reason to ‘fear the tree.’ Grown men were crying (along with many other MSU fans including yours truly) as the dream had come true and were enjoying the rosy smell of victory. As Mark Dantonio had predicted last May when he was at the Rose Bowl Stadium, the Spartans has come there and won – COMPLETION. The 100^th Rose Bowl also saw a nice ratings jump over the past couple years, props to all of my Spartan Family for that.

As I wait out my plane delay and prepare to head back to the frozen tundra known as the Midwest, I’ll keep smiling as I watch highlights from the game (can’t wait to get home and watch it from my DVR) and think back on the memories of this trip. I’m so proud of my school and the team that played last night. A program has been built at Michigan State. The senior class leaves with 42 wins, including the coveted Rose Bowl. MSU had 44 total wins from 2003-2009. “Little Brother” no more, these boys have grown under Coach D & Co into a power in the B1G and can’t help but make you wonder what could have been if there was a playoff this year. We gave them nothing and took from them everything: a Rose Bowl win, Respect and Pride. Spartan Nation should be enjoying this win for a long time to come!