Michigan State’s linebackers can’t remember when or why they settled on their third-down mantra. At some point, team captain and middle linebacker Riley Bullough looked at the players beside him and let them know it was time to “tip it back.”
It’s a reminder to turn up the intensity.
“It’s our third-down thing,” junior linebacker Chris Frey said. “You’ll see us out on the field and we’ll do it. We just like to leave everything on the field. It started last year. We’re just emptying the bucket.”
Whatever they’re emptying, the middle of No.