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Michigan State’s offensive line given assignment to watch Ali-Frazier fight
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Alabama and Michigan State is expected to be a slugfest, and the Spartans want their offensive line to be ready for it by watching one of the best slugfests ever.
In a story by USA Today, offensive line coach Mark Staten wants his unit to be prepared for the Crimson Tide front seven, which is viewed as the best in the country this season, and he’s doing it by having them watch the epic boxing match (the first meeting) between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
“It’s (been) their homework assignment,” Staten told USA Today on Tuesday. “We’ll go through the first five rounds today, the second five rounds tomorrow and then the final five rounds on game day.”
Staten uploaded film of the fight, which took place 44 years ago, to all of his linemen’s iPads. However, they weren’t just tasked with watching it. Each player had to break down one of the rounds in the 15-round classic to a teammate.
For their sake, the Spartans hope to embody Frazier, who won that bout by unanimous decision.
You can read the story by Nicole Auerbach in its entirety here.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
