Twas the night before Michigan...

Twas the night before Michigan, and after the party,
Not a creature was stirring -- not even Sparty.
Spartan flags were hung on the campus with care,
In hopes that Game Day soon would be there.
Spartans had partied, hopefully into someone’s bed,
While visions of roses danced in their head.
There was Izzo in his pullover, ready for the win to bloom;
He stood watch, waiting for the celebrations that loom.
When out through the stadium there arose such a clatter,
They ran to the noise to see what was the matter.
Away to the entrance, they ran in a flash,
And tore through the turnstiles with a dip and a dash.
The sun just rising, gave the stadium a glow,
And an uncanny beauty to the picture below.
When what to their wondering gazes should appear?
Eight massive Spartans and a blocking sled coming near.
With a powerful coach, looking like a modern day Romeo,
They knew in a moment it must be Dantonio.
With great vigor and determination, his team came,
He whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Harder Cook, Harder! Langford, now! Lippett and Shelton,
“Faster! Kurtis, Faster! Shilique and Sadler;
“To the goal line! Faster now! To the sideline!”
“Now sprint to the weight room! Get ready for primetime!”
Just as the leaves fall before these whirlwinds,
Spartan defense drops victims, and steals their girlfriends.
So up to the weight room, the team they ran,
With a book full of plays, and Dantonio, their best man.
Within the stadium, a team was ready for their fate,
They heard clanging and banging of every weight.
As Izzo drew his head, and turned it around,
Into his office, Dantonio came with a bound.
He was dressed for victory, from head to foot;
Not a smudge of dirt was on him, not even his boot.
A new batch of plays was laid on his desk,
He looked like a man that needed no rest.
His eyes – how they stared! You could just feel the burn.
His mouth was a snarl; his face: how stern.
His attention focused on films of games past,
His mind wondering, could they make this streak last?
He looked toward his team’s leaders, how hard they worked,
It was then that he knew duty would not be shirked.
Dantonio then looked to Izzo, and gave him that look,
Then Izzo knew, that Connor was ready to cook.
Nothing was shared between these two men, other than a beer,
Yet both knew what would happen tomorrow, just like last year.
They both knew that St. Dantonio was ready to show what he knows,
So he gave Izzo a nod, and then from his desk he rose.
He strode into the weight room, to his team gave a call,
And to the showers they walked, ready for all:
Dantonio looked to Izzo, he said “Prepare for glory” –
“Happy Game Day to all, and to all a Spartan Victory.”


http://theblacksheeponline.com/article/twas-the-night-before-michigan