Cook was roughed up in the first half after a hit from defensive end Jesse Aniebonam and finished 6 of 20 for 77 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Cook officially won the starting job four games into the 2013 season after splitting reps with Maxwell during the first three games.
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With their biggest game of the season now on deck, will MI State be able to rely on their offensive leader, Connor Cook, to be healthy and ready to go in Week 12?
Head coach Mark Dantonio said after the game that it was very likely Cook will play next weekend in the big showdown against Ohio State, but surely Cook’s health will remain a dominating topic of conversation in the upcoming week.
JD: I expect MSU to play the style of play they have against high powered teams such as the University of MI in Tom Anastos’ tenure and that is to play extremely defensive. “Nothing too bad, it was just for precautionary reasons”. “We’ve got a lot to play for here”. Fellow guard Bryn Forbes, a long-range threat for the Spartans, said Valentine’s strengths complement his game well.
“Connor will be all right”, coach Mark Dantonio said. And then the Wolverines will take over in the fourth quarter with the running game to put it away.
Connor Cook will beat the home-state Buckeyes in his first appearance at Ohio Stadium and make a case for an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in NY … or brace for five more months of analysts asking why he wasn’t voted captain.
“I just landed on it amusing”, Cook said.
MI State was ranked No. 9 in the FWAA Super 16 and AP Top 25 on Sunday. Maryland was approaching midfield on offense thanks to a pass interference penalty drawn by DeAndre Lane on an underthrown deep ball from Perry Hills.
Cook, the winningest quarterback in MSU history, has only lost three more games in the season and a half since, for a total career record of 32-4.
“We were preaching all week ‘statement game.’ We wanted to come out and play fast and physical, how Spartan Dawgs play defense, and I think we did that for the most part”, said Riley Bullough.
Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press reported Cook’s right (throwing) shoulder was “hanging” during the Spartans’ third drive of the game.
And the Rose Bowl or perhaps another New Year’s Six bowl (Fiesta, Peach or Sugar) would still be a strong consolation opportunity for the Spartans if they were 10-0 entering this game. Hills leads receiving with 42 yards, no touchdowns, and 6 carries, The team has one touchdown run (from Ross), 58 yards rushing, and 17 carries now.
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So MI State, which hosts Maryland this weekend, now has to win the rest of its games and hope a Big Ten title is enough to overcome the one loss in the eyes of the playoff committee. “I thought Hartbarger performed tremendously”.
