MSU WR Omari Kelly and OL Matt Gulbin finding ways to stay positive through five-game losing streak

After losing five consecutive games — including, most recently, an important rivalry game to the Michigan Wolverines — is obviously disheartening to the Michigan State football team, the athletes and the staff. Despite this, MSU senior wide receiver Omari Kelly and redshirt senior offensive lineman Matt Gulbin both are focusing their mindsets on staying positive amongst the losses. 

The Spartans' most recent loss came last week against their longtime rivals, Michigan, 31-20, which was frustrating for the fans and players. Kelly and Gulbin echoed the same sentiment on not dwelling on the game for too long and moving forward.

“Obviously, it was frustrating, not getting it done and not playing to the level we know we can play at,” Kelly said about the loss to the Wolverines. “But it’s just one of those things (where) you've just got to move forward. However things go, you've just got to put one foot in front of the other. Just keep going.” 

While Michigan State currently stands at 3-5 overall and is winless in Big Ten play, a bowl game is still possible. While the loss to Michigan hurts, Gulbin knows the team has to focus on its next task, which is at Minnesota on Saturday.

“I mean, after the game you can take time to feel sorry for yourself or whatever after a loss, but I mean, you've got to turn a page,” Gulbin said about the loss to U-M. “You've got a game next week. You've got to get going, so you can’t dwell on it too much.”

For the MSU seniors and players in their last year of eligibility, they have lost their final rivalry game against Michigan and are on the cusp of not making a bowl game. Internally, it's likely that many of the seniors envisioned the season playing out much differently, and perhaps some may be feeling down. But for Kelly, being a senior himself and in his first season at MSU, he has a different mentality.

“My thing is, 'go hard everyday,”' Kelly, who transferred in from Middle Tennessee State in the offseason and also spent time at Auburn, said . “Like, it's no reason (to feel down), I get to wake up and play this game I’ve been playing since I was three years old, and the fact that I’m still able to play, it's a blessing. I don’t have (any) reason to be in my feelings or feel any type of way just because we're losing right now. I still get to go out there and play with my dawgs.” 

Gulbin is also in his first season with the Spartans. He transferred in to Michigan State from Wake Forest in January and is in his final year of eligibility, but he quickly made his presence felt, as he was voted as a captain for the Spartans. As a team leader, it is Gulbin's job to keep the squad together through the tough times, and given the adversity the team is currently facing, that has been a priority for him.