EAST LANSING - Rocky Lombardi's college debut did not transpire as he envisioned.
The redshirt freshman quarterback's first appearance for Michigan State was as the emergency punter in a Sept. 8 loss at Arizona State after Jake Hartbarger was injured.
It was an odd way to begin his career, but a greater opportunity wasn't far off. Less than two months later, Lombardi was under center in his first start for the Spartans in last week's win against Purdue. That was a lot closer to the script he drew up years ago.
"I'm like 'man, this is it, this is what I've worked for for my whole life,'" Lombardi recalled of the experience, following practice Tuesday night.