By Jim Comparoni • SpartanMag.com
@JimComparoni
Bachie named team MVP, gearing up for 'win 10' at bowl game
EAST LANSING - The annual Michigan State football banquet on Sunday served as a salute to the accomplishments of 2017 but also a reminder that the future looks pretty good too - with sophomore Joe Bachie winning the Governor’s Award, the team’s most valuable player, as voted on by teammates.
Bachie is the first sophomore to win the team MVP since Drew Stanton in 2004.
It sort of sets the tone for our entire football team,” said head coach Mark Dantonio. “We’ve got a young team, with 78 players being sophomores or younger the future is bright.”
Bachie, a 6-foot-2, 233-pound linebacker from Brook Park (Ohio) Berea-Midpark High School, led Michigan State with 84 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Bachie said. “I kind of froze for a second. It means a lot to me.
“It’s a huge honor, looking in the past and the people who get that. I’m glad my parents were there to see that.
“Shout out to my team. We’re going to go try to win 10 now.”
A team awards banquet coming off a 9-3 season with a bowl game yet to be played felt completely different than last year’s postmortem following a 3-9 season.
“You come to last year’s banquet and we didn’t get no food like that,” Bachie said. “You walk up, go get your own, a couple of pieces of mac and cheese or whatever.
“But you go there and it’s special and everybody’s there. You see the people that truly care, your teammates, their families and the coaches. It feels a lot better being 9-3 than 3-9.”
Bowl practice will subside for a few days as the players focus on finals week. Full-fledged practice will resume on Friday as the No. 16-ranked Spartans start gearing up to face No. 18 Washington State in the 40th annual San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl (9 p.m. EST, Dec. 28 in San Diego).
“I don’t think of myself of whatever an MVP is,” Bachie said. “That doesn’t change how I’m going to go out there and practice on Friday or go lift on Tuesday and Thursday with the team. We’re going to continue moving forward and we’re just trying to prepare for Washington State now.”
Bachie earned third-team All-Big Ten honors this fall. Some believe Bachie should have received better recognition on the all-conference ballots.
“This is more important to me,” Bachie said. “It’s what my teammates think.
“Quite honestly I don’t really came about it. It’s a great accomplishment being third-team, so thank you them. But it’s what my teammates think that’s important and I’m just glad that I’m on this team with these guys.”
Below is the complete list of hardware presented at the 2017 Spartan Football Awards Banquet.
President's Award (senior back/lineman for perseverance): Gerald Holmes (offense), Demetrius Cooper (defense)
Cowing Award (senior manager): Austin Featherstone and Ryan Connelly
Con Demos Scholarship Award (manager): Matt DeWyse
Jim Adams Award (unsung hero): Darrell Stewart Jr. (offense), Khari Willis (defense)
Iron Man Award (strength and conditioning): Raequan Williams
Potsy Ross Award (scholar-athlete): Chase Gianacakos
George Scofes Outstanding Faculty Award: Nicolas Gisholt, College of Social Science
Tommy Love Award (most improved): Felton Davis III (offense), David Dowell(defense)
Clarence Underwood Sportsmanship Award: Matt Sokol
MSU Football Players Association Community Service Award: Gerald Holmes
Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award: Luke Campbell (offense), Kenny Willekes(defense)
Outstanding Underclass Back Award: Brian Lewerke (offense), Josiah Scott (defense)
Up Front Award (outstanding lineman): Brian Allen (offense), Joe Bachie (defense)
Downtown Coaches Club (outstanding defensive player): Chris Frey
Downtown Coaches Club (outstanding offensive player): Brian Allen
Downtown Coaches Club (outstanding special teams player): Jake Hartbarger
Danziger Award (outstanding Detroit-area player): David Beedle
Doug Weaver Oil Can Award (team humorist): Darrell Stewart Jr.
Biggie Munn Award (most inspirational): Brian Allen (offense), Joe Bachie (defense)
Governor's Award (most valuable player): Joe Bachie
Captains Award: Brian Allen, Chris Frey
