Oh, ho, hoooooo we are here. The Elite Eight. This is when things go from good to great. When we separate the true contending GIFs from the pretenders.
Thousand of votes have been cast over two weeks and we are left with what you the fan thinks are the best eight MSU GIFs.
And now its time to find out who is the scrappy underdog with a former walk-on hitting the big shot and who is America’s sweetheart, loaded with lottery picks that will come up just short.
To the GIFs!
The Dantonio Region: #1 Disappearing Dantonio vs. #2 Trouble With the Snap
This region was chalk the entire way with the top four seeds advancing in round one and the top two making it to the regional final. It looks like I did a good job seeding these two. Our #1 seed eked through the second round, but a win is a win.
It’s a magical piece of art that serves as evidence of the magic Dantonio can conjure. I’m sure he didn’t know the camera was on him or he wouldn’t have disappeared in broad daylight like this. Magicians/wizards can get in trouble for that sort of thing. Still, the camera was on him and we have definitive proof that Dantonio literally has some sort of magic up his sleeve.
It takes on one of the most improbable plays in college football history.
“Whoa he has trouble with the snap! And the ball is free!! It’s picked up by Michigan State’s… Jalen Watts-Jackson. And he SCoReeSS! On the last play of the gAaaMe! Unbelievable!!”
The Izzo Region: #1 “WTF?!” vs. #2 Costello’s Bear Hug
I love this matchup for a number of reasons. First, they’re both great GIFs. Hilarious and emblematic of their stars. Second, it’s a wonderful contrast between Angry Izzo and Happy Izzo and they provide the full spectrum of the Izzo experience.
This might honestly be the cleanest “WTF?!” caught on TV and it came from the perfect source. Izzo’s demeanor, the arms going out, the little suit flail from his hands leaving his hips. It’s just great mad Izzo.
Then we have happy Izzo.
Michigan State somehow always has great senior days and this one might have been the best ever. It was a huge win for MSU and Costello was one of those guys that everybody loved. To see this moment between him and Izzo was just so special.
The Green Region: #5 LippHIT vs. #7 Le’Veon Hurdles Notre Dame
Y’all got wild in the Green Region. There were upsets-a-plenty throughout this region and now we’ve got a quagmire #5 vs. #7 seed to go to the final four. I underestimated just how much “coolness” rates for you guys in GIFs.
I get the love for this GIF. It is an absolutely insane hit. I didn’t think it was that well-regarded. It makes sense though. This was one of the most fun wins of the Dantonio era and this moment was the lasting image from that game.
It takes on a truly beautiful GIF.
A person of Le’Veon Bell’s size shouldn’t be able to do this. It’s just not fair to the rest of us. Imagine trying to tackle 225 lb. Le’Veon Bell. He’s way bigger and stronger than you, so you do the smart thing and go low. And not even that low, just sort of low. #17 is still making a shoulder-level hit here. Next thing you know, over your head goes Bell and he’s off running towards the end zone and a future in which you’re the guy getting embarrassed in GIF form into eternity.
The White Region: #1 “You Choked” vs. #2 Geiger Windmill
I can’t lie, I was hoping these two would make it here. Two of my favorite MSU GIFs ever squaring off to get to the Final Four.
This is an incredibly efficient piece of smack talk from Justin Layne. And it was right in the middle of a big MSU win on the road against Michigan. This GIF will be around for a long time. Just wait until football season when somebody from UofM does something bad.
It takes on one of the greatest celebrations.
I need to find out if Michael Geiger planned this or if it was spontaneous. I’m not even sure which I would prefer, I just want to know. It was such an incredible and weird celebration to hit 100,000 sad Ohio State fans with. This too is a GIF that will live on forever in the MSU community online.
