Connor Cook reflects on legacy at Michigan State
Connor Cook's final stat line in a Michigan State jersey: 19-for-39, 210 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions.
The Spartans' 38-0 drubbing at the hands of Alabama in the Cotton Bowl couldn't have gone worse, yet Cook's career couldn't have gone better.
"I thought I would be lucky to play one season," the fifth-year senior, who was lightly recruited out of high school, told Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press after the blowout.
Cook touched down in East Lansing in 2011. He proceeded to throw more touchdowns than any quarterback in program history, including Kirk Cousins, whom was a senior when Cook was freshman. Cook is also the Spartans' all-time leader in passing yards and total offense.
"I've seen him do amazing things as a quarterback," said coach Mark Dantonio. "Pinpoint passing, throwing the ball in tight windows. Not a guy who's thrown a lot of interceptions, doesn't turn the ball over. He's creative, and he's played very, very well in huge games.
"So what's he mean to our football program? He's our quarterback that we've hung our hat on here for three years. And in those three years, we probably won more games than any three-year period for a long time, 50 years."
As a matter of fact, Cook's 34-5 record as a starter makes him the winningest quarterback all time at Michigan State.
"Looking back, we've been so fortunate to play in so many big-time games, to win so many games, to win two Big Ten titles," Cook said. "Win a Rose Bowl. Win a Cotton Bowl. It's just been so fun, the ride has been so fun."
The fun is now over. Cook will spend the coming months preparing for the NFL draft, while Dantonio will host a quarterback competition in 2016. Tyler O'Connor, who'll be a senior, junior Damion Terry, redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke, and true freshman Messiah deWeaver will have the opportunity to become Cook's successor.
It'll be tough for any of them to match the success of Cook, the quarterback responsible for putting the Spartans back on the map in a position where everyone can see them.