The Heart of the "Little Giants"

As most college football Saturdays go, yesterday evening I found myself on the edge of my seat, jaw half way to the floor eyes fixated on the TV screen, as the final moments of overtime in the Michigan State at Notre Dame ticked away. The game was three hours of two historic football programs fighting to maintain relevance and gain a spot in the Top 25.

The 2nd half proved to be, blow-by-blow, a battle of will that led the two teams into overtime. The Spartans won the coin toss and chose to be on defense first. With Notre Dame receiving the ball, they would drive it up the field and score a field goal putting them up 31-28. Michigan state had to respond with at least a field goal to keep the game alive and push it into double overtime and the Fighting Irish defense was going to make sure this task was as difficult as possible. Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins took a back sack, pushing the Trojans barely within field goal range for their inexperienced kicker.

It was at this moment that Michigan State football coach, Mark Dantonio decided to make a very ballsy move calling for a play we would later find out is known as "Little Giants." A direct snap went to the holder Aaron Bates (who actually was a high school QB), as receiver, Charlie Gantt, fumbled through the defense and ran down the sideline. Bates then tossed up the pass to Gantt who went for a 29 yard TD to end the game. Notre Dame stood there like many of us at home, stunned, jaws half way to the floor. While the full house of Michigan State fans exploded in a celebratory uproar for what their team had just pulled off to finish the game.

But the story of this team and the heroic efforts of their coach didn't end there. Reports this morning came out that gutsy coach Dantonio, went into Sparrow Hospital emergency room early Sunday morning with heart attack like symptoms. Doctors performed a cardiac catherterization procedure on Dantonio, during which they used a stent to open a blocked blood vessel leading to his heart.

Dantonio is expected to make a full recovery but will remain in the hospital a few more days. There is no clear timeline on when we can expect to see him back on the sidelines, and until his return offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will be taking on the responsibilities of head coach.