King Leonidas said, “In the end, a Spartan’s true strength is the warrior next to him.” This quote has become one of many mantras for the Michigan State Spartan Football team and one they will have to remember when they take on Ohio State tomorrow in one of their biggest regular season games in recent history. With the setup of the new College Football Playoff, they must win this game to stay in the race for a spot in the 4 team playoff. There will still be other hurdles outside of their control thanks to an early season loss at Oregon, but can only focus on the matter at hand. As the team takes the field tomorrow, they will have to be tough and draw strength from one another when faced with challenges as they play to come out on top.

This game has been circled on our calendar since the 2013 season ended on a high with the Rose Bowl win. After a great season where we were able to attend half the games – including the B1G Championship and Rose Bowl, we couldn’t wait to order our season tickets for this year. While we’ve been to 4 games this year (and nearly lost my voice in the 4^th quarter of the Nebraska game), there will be two passionate fans missing at Spartan Stadium tomorrow night. With the arrival of our Future Spartan just a few weeks away, I’m not allowed to travel anymore and will miss out on the game I’ve been looking forward to. There’s no doubt however, that I’ll be there in spirit.

Who knew that a football game could make someone so homesick! I received a text from my Mom this morning that she was thinking of me and knowing how much I wanted to be on the road back to the mitten today. I saw that ESPN First Take was live today from the MSU Union and felt inclined to tune in, only to get emotional as the students came out to support my Alma Mater. Yes, I can blame my hormones as d-day nears, but the truth is that part of my life is also a Spartan Love Story. I’m so proud of our football team and they way they have played together and overcame adversity in the past few years to be a top 10 team and put Michigan State into the spotlight. It’s great to see campus on display today, I look forward to College GameDay being on campus for the 3^rd time in 4 years, and to see my beloved team play under the lights on national TV against the Buckeyes tomorrow night.

I was essentially born wearing green and white – some of which was saved for future generations of Spartan fans and I look forward to putting on our son. My family has had season football and hockey tickets my whole life, I was a member of the Izzone, and we now have our own season tickets even though we live in Illinois. Many family members attended MSU and there was little doubt that’s also where my sister and I would go. It already felt like home a decade before I was officially enrolled there. I’ve now witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to Spartan athletics. I would never trade my college experience in East Lansing, it was some of the best years of my life!

Our son will be born when it’s a pretty good time to be a Spartan. Our shower was filled with great MSU gifts so there will be no doubt what team he’s pulling for (at least until he decides to rebel). I’m already looking forward to taking him back to campus for future games and visits to build some of the same wonderful memories I have of football Saturdays and making new ones as a family. But, it doesn’t make missing this weekend any easier. My heart will be in East Lansing tomorrow as I’m home cheering for two. I love my school and my teams and hope they continue to make us proud on the gridiron against a good Ohio State team and find strength from one another. If they can do that, the rest will figure itself out. Either way, it’s always a great day to be a Spartan – even when you’re miles away! Go Green!