NEW YORK – Mike Panasiuk looked to his left, where Brian Lewerke and Kenny Willekes sat with reflective smiles. It was now his turn to sum up the seniors’ Michigan State football experience.
“We created memories here,” Panasiuk said Friday night, their college careers completed. “We’ve done some good stuff, we’ve done some stupid stuff here. But the memories will last forever.”
The big man’s head-first slide down the first base line at Yankee Stadium was one of those indelible moments, Panasiuk’s only college touchdown coming off the second interception of his four-year career, and providing the Spartans with a pivotal play in their 27-21 Pinstripe Bowl win over Wake Forest.