The first time Connor Cook was about to face Ohio State as the starting quarterback for Michigan State, the question had to be asked. Was the Hinckley, Ohio, native extra motivated to beat the Buckeyes because he never got a scholarship offer from his home-state school? “Yeah, definitely,” Cook said two years ago. “I mean, growing up in Ohio everyone wants to go to Ohio State. “Everyone has dreams and aspirations of going to that school, and if they don’t recruit you, guys have that extra motivation when they play against them just like Central Michigan and Michigan State.” That was leading up to the 2013 Big Ten championship game, and Cook was a relative unknown to the college football world then. He wouldn’t be three days later, though, as he had what was then the best game of his career and the Spartans upset the Buckeyes, who entered the game 24-0 under head coach Urban Meyer. Cook completed 24 of 40 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns in that 34-24 upset en route to being named most outstanding player. Last year he threw for another 358 yards and two touchdowns, but the Spartans lost 49-37. Now Cook’s recruitment feels like little more than a footnote. It happened. …
Continue Reading: Legacy secure, Cook can lead Spartans to greater heights with win over Ohio State
