Spartans ready to rally around Harvey as new Mike LB
Ricardo Cooney
SpartanMag.com
EAST LANSING - There was no shortage of support for ineligible senior Mike linebacker Joe Bachie this week during post-practice player interviews but there was also an understanding that it’s time to move on from a situation they have no control over and get Bachie’s replacement, reserve sophomore linebacker Noah Harvey, ready for Saturday’s contest against a suddenly hot Illinois team.
“It sucks for him and it sucks for us as a team because he’s a senior and a captain and one of our leaders but he’s still very much a part of this team,’’ said senior quarterback Brian Lewerke, another one of the team’s captains. “We support him through the appeals process and will always support him as a member of this football team.’’
Bachie, who was ruled ineligible last week by the Big Ten after failing a drug test in which he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, is in the process of appealing his ruling. In the meantime, MSU will be trying to end a three-game losing slide against an Illini team that has won it’s last three contests, including an upset victory over a then No. 6-ranked Wisconsin team.
“It’s unfortunate what happened to Joe but we got younger guys to step up,’’ said 5th-year senior Sam linebacker Tyriq Thompson, whose name was floated as a possible replacement for Bachie because he got some reps at the Mike spot during spring ball and August camp. “We’ve got faith in Noah Harvey or whoever we might go with but Noah’s an athletic guy. He can pass rush, he can cover. He has a very strong voice in dictating the calls to the defense. So he’s a pretty solid player. I’m really impressed with how far he’s come since he’s been here.’’
The Spartans (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) and Illinois (5-4, 3-3) are set to do battle at 3:30 p.m. (FS1) in Spartan Stadium.
While Harvey’s situation only bears a small resemblance to the opportunity former Spartan linebacker Kyler Elsworth faced in the 2014 Rose Bowl against Stanford when he replaced a ineligible Max Bullough, it’s still a big deal to have a player who has only seen action in eight games to be earning his first start in Big Ten play for a team that desperately needs a win.
In eight appearances, Harvey has collected seven tackles and one pass breakup.
His responsibilities will more than double on Saturday when MSU faces an Illini offense that is averaging 30 points a game, while averaging 28.6 points a game in its last three victories.
Harvey wasn’t available after for interviews during MSU’s single day of press availability, most likely because like Elsworth in 2014, he is getting a crash course in how he can thrive in his first collegiate start on Saturday.
“That’s the way we train our Mike backers,’’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Tressel said. “We said that about Riley Bullough, we said that about Max Bullough, we said that about Greg Jones and now it has to be Noah Harvey. He understands what’s expected of him in that position in our defense. He’s been training for it, the guys believe in him, so next man up, let’s go. Losing players, we need to use that as motivation and we need to perform for them.’’
As for losing Bachie, Tressel said: “It’s hard. I love Joe like a son and he’s a great football player, and he’s a leader.”
Despite the situation, which may resemble the quick change situations MSU’s defense practices when the offense turns the ball over, senior safety David Dowell said the Spartans should approach Saturday like they are taught every game.
“It’s a big game, every game is a big game,’’ Dowell said. “You have a chance to go 1-0 each week. That’s my mentality. That’s our whole team’s mentality. Every week is a big week.
“(The situation with Bachie), it’s just adversity. Throughout the season, we face a lot of adversity, so as a team, we’ve got to be resilient. As an individual, you’ve got to be resilient. Each time you step on that field, you have to be looking for an opportunity to make plays to help your team win. We feel bad for Joe but at the same time we know he wants us to move forward and continue to be successful on the field.’’
Ricardo Cooney
SpartanMag.com
EAST LANSING - There was no shortage of support for ineligible senior Mike linebacker Joe Bachie this week during post-practice player interviews but there was also an understanding that it’s time to move on from a situation they have no control over and get Bachie’s replacement, reserve sophomore linebacker Noah Harvey, ready for Saturday’s contest against a suddenly hot Illinois team.
“It sucks for him and it sucks for us as a team because he’s a senior and a captain and one of our leaders but he’s still very much a part of this team,’’ said senior quarterback Brian Lewerke, another one of the team’s captains. “We support him through the appeals process and will always support him as a member of this football team.’’
Bachie, who was ruled ineligible last week by the Big Ten after failing a drug test in which he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, is in the process of appealing his ruling. In the meantime, MSU will be trying to end a three-game losing slide against an Illini team that has won it’s last three contests, including an upset victory over a then No. 6-ranked Wisconsin team.
“It’s unfortunate what happened to Joe but we got younger guys to step up,’’ said 5th-year senior Sam linebacker Tyriq Thompson, whose name was floated as a possible replacement for Bachie because he got some reps at the Mike spot during spring ball and August camp. “We’ve got faith in Noah Harvey or whoever we might go with but Noah’s an athletic guy. He can pass rush, he can cover. He has a very strong voice in dictating the calls to the defense. So he’s a pretty solid player. I’m really impressed with how far he’s come since he’s been here.’’
The Spartans (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) and Illinois (5-4, 3-3) are set to do battle at 3:30 p.m. (FS1) in Spartan Stadium.
While Harvey’s situation only bears a small resemblance to the opportunity former Spartan linebacker Kyler Elsworth faced in the 2014 Rose Bowl against Stanford when he replaced a ineligible Max Bullough, it’s still a big deal to have a player who has only seen action in eight games to be earning his first start in Big Ten play for a team that desperately needs a win.
In eight appearances, Harvey has collected seven tackles and one pass breakup.
His responsibilities will more than double on Saturday when MSU faces an Illini offense that is averaging 30 points a game, while averaging 28.6 points a game in its last three victories.
Harvey wasn’t available after for interviews during MSU’s single day of press availability, most likely because like Elsworth in 2014, he is getting a crash course in how he can thrive in his first collegiate start on Saturday.
“That’s the way we train our Mike backers,’’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Tressel said. “We said that about Riley Bullough, we said that about Max Bullough, we said that about Greg Jones and now it has to be Noah Harvey. He understands what’s expected of him in that position in our defense. He’s been training for it, the guys believe in him, so next man up, let’s go. Losing players, we need to use that as motivation and we need to perform for them.’’
As for losing Bachie, Tressel said: “It’s hard. I love Joe like a son and he’s a great football player, and he’s a leader.”
Despite the situation, which may resemble the quick change situations MSU’s defense practices when the offense turns the ball over, senior safety David Dowell said the Spartans should approach Saturday like they are taught every game.
“It’s a big game, every game is a big game,’’ Dowell said. “You have a chance to go 1-0 each week. That’s my mentality. That’s our whole team’s mentality. Every week is a big week.
“(The situation with Bachie), it’s just adversity. Throughout the season, we face a lot of adversity, so as a team, we’ve got to be resilient. As an individual, you’ve got to be resilient. Each time you step on that field, you have to be looking for an opportunity to make plays to help your team win. We feel bad for Joe but at the same time we know he wants us to move forward and continue to be successful on the field.’’
