Bill McAllister: Oct. 30, 2004, Was A Horrible Day
To many Spartans Oct. 30, 2004, was a horrible day. Michigan State lost to the University of Michigan 45-37. Braylon Edwards had 11 receptions for 189 yards and three TDs. Mike Hart ran all over his "little brothers" for 224 yards and a TD. Chad Henne threw for 273 yards and four TDs. But it's the way MSU lost that drives Spartans crazy. One such Spartan is my brother-in-law.
He is an MSU grad and was a drummer in the marching band. In fact, he is a member of the alumni band and plays every year at the MSU Homecoming Game. He does not like Michigan, he will never like Michigan and he is currently enjoying a three-game winning streak over Michigan. But, let's go back to Oct. 30, 2004...My sister (his wife) is in labor with her first child, my first niece or nephew. I'm gonna be an uncle!
My entire immediate family is at Beaumont Hospital in Troy. Again, my sister is in labor. My dad (also a huge MSU fan), and brother and I are watching the game in the lobby of the maternity ward. Every 10 minures or so, my brother-in-law emerged from the hallway to get an update. Not on the birth...on the game. For those of you who remember, MSU was winning 27-10 with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter. It was about this time that my broither-in-law got his last update. His daughter/my niece was born soon after.
When we were all allowed into the room to see our newest addition to the family, my bro-in-law could not believe what had happened. And for those of you who have chosen to forget, Michigan came back to tie it up and then win it in overtime. C'mon Spartans, even you have to admit Braylon Edwards was pretty awesome!
For my brother-in-law it was the greatest day of his life -- and one of the most annoying at the same time.
