Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Godley

It's All In For Michigan... State That Is

Justin Godley — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:54:56 -0400

The Spartan faithful are no stranger to heartbreak. They have taken it over and over again as they have followed the Michigan State program over the years.

From Braylon Edwards and Michigan in 2004, A monsoon against Notre Dame in 2006, or 2007, when a fumble bounced right up into Mike Hart's tiny little hands.

Fans of the green and white have endured a lot. This season is no different.

A week after a last-second field goal allowed Central Michigan to upset the Spartans on their home turf, Michigan State looked to right the ship in South Bend.

They had won six games in a row at "Spartan Stadium South," and after another in what has become a growing list of mistakes was made last Saturday, a seventh win was not to be had.

As Kirk Cousins' ill-advised throw was picked off by Notre Dame's Kyle McCarthy, Michigan State fans got the ole' sinking feeling yet again.

The Spartans then moved on, trying to jump-start things on the road against what looked to be a possible paper tiger in Wisconsin. Wisconsin, though undefeated, had struggled against some lesser opponents, and had fumbled the ball four times against Wofford the week prior.

It turns out, Wisconsin is pretty good.

In fact, really good when you turn the ball over four times and consistently play out of position.

Michigan State is not in uncharted waters as a program, however, under Mark Dantonio, things were supposed to be different. The "SOS" (Same Old Spartans) mentality had just about been retired after last year's successes. Recruiting was going well and continuing to gain momentum. All while Michigan was floundering.

In fact, coming into the season, Michigan State was picked by the media to finish third in the Big Ten, while the Maize & Blue were in disarray, under NCAA investigation, and quickly becoming a tacky daytime soap opera.

Considering how different the college football world is today, versus the start of the 2009 season, what happened?

Did MSU buy into it's own hype? Maybe.

Did the media overestimate MSU's talent? Probably.

Did everyone underestimate Rich Rodriguez? Absolutely.

And here we stand. The Michigan State-Michigan game is upon us. The 1-3 Spartans are clinging to (even the Pizza! Pizza!) bowl hopes and not taking a drastic step backward as a program, while the resurgent 4-0 Wolverines are riding high with a talented freshman quarterback and thinking about an outside shot at a Big Ten title.

Why Michigan State will win:

While Michigan State would obviously prefer to be coming into this weekend under different circumstances, this weekend couldn't come at a better time for the Spartans.

They will be up for this game like no other, because this game is their season. A win could propel them into Illinois next weekend, a win there and they are back to .500 and all is not lost. To win this weekend, however, a few things have to happen:

1. Pick a quarterback. In my eyes, it has to be Co-Captain Kirk Cousins (Say that three times fast) from what we've seen thus far. Give him all 60 minutes and see what happens. If Michigan's secondary is as bad as advertised, he will pick them apart.

2. Get healthy up front. The offensive line has played well in spurts, but has been patchwork all year long. Injuries to Joel Foreman and Joel Nitchman most notably have hurt any chance of cohesiveness.

3. Put your best players on the field. Chris L. Rucker is a good cornerback. He had a rough time in South Bend, but he needs to be the starter this weekend. He will bounce back. Freshman Chris Norman has been compared to Greg Jones over and over again by Dantonio. Greg Jones saw extensive time as a freshman, not because of his vast knowledge of the defensive playbook, but because he made plays. I would think the same logic applies here.

Why Michigan will win:

I know I already commented about the play of Michigan's secondary, but the Spartan DBs haven't fared any better. If Forcier is as good on the road as he is at home, he will have open receivers. Here are some more keys to Wolverine success:

1. Run the football. Michigan State's best chance to win is by scoring a lot of points. Keeping them off the field will go a long ways toward a win on Saturday.

2. Spread 'em out. The Spartans have struggled mightily against the spread offense. Well, now it's time for the originator of the offense to have some fun and really turn it up a notch. Look for some gadget plays from Rodriguez.

3. Score early and often. Home field advantage is a lot bigger of a deal if the home crowd is into the game. Getting off to a hot start will deflate the MSU fanbase and will help Tate Forcier acclimate much quicker.

What's actually going to happen? That's a great question. See you all Saturday in Spartan Stadium.

Mark Dantonio Does It His Way, Popular or Not

Justin Godley — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:25:39 -0400

"We are Michigan State. So that's my answer." - Mark Dantonio answering a reporter when asked about his reaction to the hiring of Rich Rodriguez at Michigan.

The smirk that followed said it all.

The same thing happened to NBC sideline reporter Alex Flanagan in South Bend back in 2007. Just before kickoff, Dantonio met her for a quick interview live on camera. When asked what he thought the "mood" of the Irish would be after an 0-3 start, Dantonio bristled, "I don't really care about the mood of Notre Dame, I care about the Spartans."

His "Green" attitude in these situations play a big role in why Michigan State fans everywhere have taken such a liking to the guy. He is one of them. In the typical Michigan State fan's eyes, he gets it. He refuses to buy into the mindset that seemed to permeate previous Spartan squads under old regimes.

Gone are the days of Bobby Williams' blank stares and John L. Smith's...take your pick. Going back as far as George Perles' days in East Lansing, MSU seemed to be pegged as a second-class citizen in the state of Michigan.

In just two years, things have certainly changed.

The Spartans are coming of a very successful, if not overachieving season in 2008, that saw them put together back-to-back winning seasons, beat their hated rival down the road for the first time in six years, gain an invite to a New Years Day bowl game, and play for a share of the Big 10 title on the final Saturday of the season.

Because of his achievements thus far, Dantonio has earned some of what our friends in Washington like to call, political capital. Judging by his actions thus far in 2009, he intends on using it.

Dantonio made waves earlier this month, when Sophomore Tailback Glenn Winston was reinstated to the MSU roster after serving four months in jail for an assault on MSU hockey player, A.J. Sturges. The day Winston left jail, he was back out on the practice field. The media smelled blood in the water, but Dantonio didn't blink.

He had a prepared statement ready to go.

"Glenn has done everything that he's been asked to do from a judicial and a team standpoint. He has paid the penalty for his actions publicly, legally and athletically, and he worked hard to maintain his academic eligibility while doing so. We regret the entire incident, however at this time, it is important that we support Glenn socially, academically and athletically. He still has a lot of work to do."

It would have been very easy for Dantonio to wave goodbye to Winston after the incident.

It surely would have made things easier on MSU, not to mention Mark Hollis, MSU's Athletic Director, who had this to say:

"I support Mark Dantonio's request to reinstate Glenn Winston. Glenn has much work to do, however, the athletics department will not turn its back on this young man. I am supportive of all student-athletes that are a part of our program. We will move forward and continue to support A.J. Sturges and Glenn with all the resources available to us."

So like a general sticking by his troops (Dantonio has been known to quote Patton), Dantonio stuck by his player. At Winston's sentencing, along with his family, there for support, was Becky Dantonio, Mark's wife.

Now that Winston is back with the team, it remains to be seen how much playing time he will actually get. He is trying to get into the mix at tailback, although his biggest contribution may end up being on special teams, where last year he averaged almost 23 yards per return, and nearly broke a few.

The first time Winston does break one may be when Dantonio's decision will truly get put to the test, as it will be sure to dredge up this story once more. Fans will surely be quick to forgive, though the media can always have a different spin on things.

"Coach Dantonio, what is your reaction to Bob Barker's (Name changed for anonymity) story on your decision to play Glenn Winston?"

I think I may know the answer.

Michigan State Football's Postseason Awards

Justin Godley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:18:05 -0500

As Michigan State prepares to take on Matthew Stafford and the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl, let’s look back at the season that was...

Offensive MVP

Without question, this award goes to Javon Ringer. Ringer amassed nearly 1,600 yards in the regular season, where no other back on the team reached even 100 yards. He led the nation for the majority of the season in yards per game, carries per game, & scoring.

He was the epitome of the workhorse, often playing through injury and fatigue and still producing mindboggling results. In the team’s crucial game in Ann Arbor, Ringer wore down the Wolverine defenders on his way to 194 yards rushing, this after a week where Ringer was unable to even walk due to a hamstring injury he suffered in drills.

He should have some fun in the Capital One Bowl, against what has been at times, a suspect Georgia run defense.

Defensive MVP

In just his second year in Pat Narduzzi’s defense, Greg Jones has established himself as one of college football’s premier linebackers. Jones alternated between the inside and outside, but always seemed to be a bright spot, even when the team struggled.

In some of the team’s more difficult outcomes, Jones came to play, as evidenced in the loss at Penn State where Jones racked up an astounding 15 tackles, 3.5 for loss. The fact that Jones will still be patrolling the Big Ten for two more years has got to be troublesome for opposing offensive coordinators.

Best Newcomer(s)

While Glenn Winston gave the fans some thrills on special teams, and Johnny Adams provided some much needed depth in the secondary, I decided to go with some less flashy and perhaps less obvious candidates. This was a close one to be sure, so close that I have decided to give it to two players.

Joel Foreman and Rocco Cironi. They made up the left and, probably more consistent side of the MSU offensive line this season. The best compliment you can give an offensive lineman (other than, “Hey man, you look skinny in that sweater!”) is the fact that you haven’t heard a thing about them all season long.

You see, the main way to make a name for yourself on the offensive line, is to either get penalized often or get beat off the line often. Other than George Blaha running through the game’s starting lineups, you would have been hard-pressed to hear either of these guys names during a game.

Most Overlooked

The position that seemed to pose the biggest question mark going into 2008 was that of tight end. The Spartans lost Kellen Freeman-Davis to the NFL, after only taking full advantage of his abilities for roughly one season (Thank you John L. Smith).

Sophomore Charlie Gantt has put those questions to rest, as he developed into a very legitimate target for Brian Hoyer during this season while also providing a great push up front for the run.

He very quietly led the team in touchdown receptions, and had the longest reception on the year against Indiana (82 yards). Going forward Gantt’s soft hands will continue to provide a great option for whoever has his hands under center next fall.

Biggest Surprise

After the season opener at Cal, many thought that Michigan State had found their alternative to Devin Thomas after Mark Dell went for over 200 yards receiving. However, after injuries plagued both Dell and BJ Cunningham during the course of the year, Blair White had a coming-out party of his own, which began at the most opportune time, against the Michigan Wolverines.

White gained the majority of his team-leading 628 yards receiving from that game on, and consistently seemed to be in the right place at the right time, as we all saw first hand in that final drive against Wisconsin.

The “Godley” Award for Spartan Special Teams Achievement

Because “Special Teams MVP” would have been too obvious, and because I was the only offensive lineman upfront on the “hands team” in high school. Brett Swenson gets this award for giving Michigan State a kicker to be proud of. The fact that Brett didn’t receive more national recognition (Groza Award consideration!?!?) was indefensible.

He forever won the hearts of Spartan fans across the country as his field goal against Wisconsin sailed through the uprights, and in doing so, he got what every kicker needs, an abundance of confidence after a tough outing the week before.

The Play(s) of the Year

As previously mentioned, Swenson’s kick against Wisconsin should surely be here, right? Okay, if not, we all know what the alternative would be. Watching Adam Decker clobber Shonn Greene in the Iowa backfield is something I often like to do when I have a spare minute or two on the computer, but I suppose both of these choices seem a bit too obvious.

I have a couple plays that I believe were overlooked in their magnitude.

1. Hoyer TD pass to Gantt, third quarter against Michigan.

Things were starting to seem all too familiar in this game. Though the Spartans led early, Michigan had come back to take a 21-14 lead, late in the third qtr. MSU had driven deep into U of M territory after a long pass from Hoyer to Dell.

After getting stuffed on first down, Don Treadwell called for play action, as Hoyer found Gantt in the back of the end zone just before getting decked in the backfield. Hoyer celebrated the TD flat on his back, and the Spartans went on to control the rest of the game.

2. Hoyer pass to White, fourth quarter against Wisconsin.

The Spartans hearts had just been ripped out. Just prior, Brian Hoyer fired a beautiful pass down field into the arms of a wide open Chris D. Rucker. The only problem was that Rucker, a redshirt freshman who had seen very limited action before this game, couldn’t handle the throw.

It seemed that the Spartans had let their big chance slip through their fingers. But then, a cool, collected fifth-year senior quarterback calmed everybody down, and found a streaking Blair White for a huge gain into Wisconsin territory, setting up the eventual game winning field goal.

While he statistically regressed from 2007, Brian Hoyer clearly grew in other, perhaps more important ways. Everyone wanted him to step up and win games, and he did just that. Nine of them, in fact.

Stat of the Year: 35-21. Enough said.

Michigan State: A Look Ahead

Justin Godley — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:49:58 -0500

After wrapping up the 2008 season with a tough loss out in Happy Valley, Mark Dantonio and the MSU football team now await their bowl assignment. With a record of 9-3 (6-2), and New Year's Day trip down to sunny Florida all but assured, things could be a lot worse in East Lansing.

While Spartan fans chat about which bowl MSU will end up in, or which SEC match up is a more favorable one (South Carolina), I would like to take a glimpse into the future. I'm looking at what a 2009 Michigan State team could look like.

OFFENSE

Starting off at quarterback, we know that someone new will be under center when the green and white take the field next August. Brian Hoyer, while compiling a 16-10 record as a starter, has taken a lot of heat from fans and the media alike when it comes to his on the field inconsistencies.

He has been a serviceable signal-caller for the past two years, and has done nothing but lead MSU to it's first back to back winning seasons since the early '90s. He has been a vital part of how this team has bought into Mark Dantonio's system.

Critics, mostly, are more interested in Brian's completion percentage, or how he has lacked in some big games. What those critics don't always take into consideration is that his team leadership will be very hard to replace.

Waiting in the wings are two very capable gunslingers, in Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol. Cousins, a three-star (Rivals.com rating) QB out of high school, has looked impressive when he has been on the field this fall.

Seeing limited playing time against Eastern Michigan earlier in the year, along with mop-up duty in the team's blow-out losses to Ohio State and Penn State has, at least, allowed Cousins to get somewhat wet behind the ears before engaging in what should be a fun QB battle this spring. The other gun in this fight is Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol.

Many remember the awful situation the football program was in back in the fall of 2006. John L. Smith was slapping himself, Ohio State was taking over Spartan Stadium, and overall, the program was falling apart.

After Smith's dismissal, many of the Spartan's incoming verbal commitments for 2007 had to re-evaluate their decisions. When a coaching change happens, other schools often look to capitalize on the uncertainty, and so when Bob Stoops swooped in and offered Keith, he did exactly that.

Keith was an Elite 11 invitee, a four-star prospect, and Oklahoma had just lost Rhett Bomar to NCAA rule violations. Nichol would have the chance to compete for the starting job at Oklahoma as a true freshman, with only a red-shirt freshman coming back to challenge him for the job.

Fast forward to 2007. The red-shirt freshman that was to challenge Keith for the starting job, turned out to be Sam Bradford. We all know how that turned out.

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, a first year head coach in East Lansing was turning the Spartan program around, leading Michigan State back to the post-season. Keith took notice, and when he decided to make a change, the choice was simple.

There was familiarity with Dantonio and his staff from when they recruited Keith in their days at Cincinnati, and with his family close by, he decided to transfer.

Nichol brings more of a dual-threat possibility with him than Cousins does. He reminds a lot of people of former MSU signal-caller, Drew Stanton. The question that remains is whether Cousins is further along in learning the system than Nichol is. One thing is for sure, this will be a heated battle all the way through fall camp.

Also, the Spartans will welcome a new face, in four-star (Rivals.com ranking) QB Andrew Maxwell. While he is an obvious talent, Maxwell will most likely redshirt so he can better learn the system. While it will be an open competition, Andrew may be in a situation where he will need to wait his turn.

Moving on to the backfield, where the Spartans have the unenviable task of replacing Doak Walker finalist, Javon Ringer. Ringer did everything that was asked of him and more this season. Leading the nation in rushes per game, and rushing touchdowns, he was an iron workhorse.

Over the course of the year, he did wear down, and seemed to lose a step. Unfortunately, the Spartans were unable to establish a reliable back-up to spell Ringer, and so he was asked to stay on the field repeatedly. Specifically in situations where he would have been better served catching his breath on the sideline.

The Spartans return five running backs and will have two heralded incoming freshman at the position as well. They are not lacking depth.

Returning will be senior A.J. Jimmerson, sophomores Andre Anderson, Ashton Leggett, and Glenn Winston, along with redshirt freshman, Caulton Ray.

Jimmerson and Winston were used primarily as kickoff return specialists this year, with Winston establishing himself as a legitimate threat on Special Teams.

Jimmerson is reliable with the football, but doesn't appear to have the speed or the moves to be the featured back. Winston wasn't used in the backfield until the season finale at Penn State.

At Penn State, he saw limited action in the backfield, and also lined up as a receiver. He has a real burst of speed when he decides where he is going with the ball, and is certainly not afraid of contact.

Andre Anderson seemed to be the odds-on favorite to be Ringer's back-up coming out of spring practice, however, he had problems holding on to the football. Ashton Leggett looked to be the perfect, short-yardage compliment to Ringer, with his 230-pound frame, but he too had ball-security issues.

There is some serious buzz around the Spartan's two incoming freshman as well. Edwin Baker, a four-star (Rivals.com Ranking) Army All-American running back prospect that picked MSU over offers from Florida, Michigan, & Texas.

Larry Caper, also a four-star RB prospect, gained over 1,700 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in his senior season at Battle Creek Central High School (Michigan). Both will come into East Lansing ready to compete on day one.

They both look to have all the tools, but potential is potential, and they will have to prove themselves on the field.

All of this seems to point to one thing. The door is wide open for someone to step up and win this job.

I would give the slight edge to Glenn Winston at this point. He looked very explosive at times this season, and his "lower-the-shoulder" style of running (over people) seems tailor-made for Treadwell's offense. His return against Northwestern, where he flattened kicker Stephan Demos, was a thing of beauty.

MSU also returns two veterans at the fullback spot in Andrew Hawken (Sr.) and Josh Rouse (Sr.). Expect to see Adam Setterbo (Soph.) get reps as well, along with one other player to be named later.

Dantonio likes to use "athletes" for the FB spot versus recruiting specifically to the position. A player like Drew Stevens, or even Ashton Leggett could end up seeing playing time.

On the offensive line, Michigan State returns three starters on the left side in tackle Rocco Cironi, guard Joel Foreman, and center Joel Nitchman. Outgoing senior guard, Roland Martin will be busy playing on Sundays, and leaves some big shoes to fill. Jared McGaha was his backup at guard this season, and will likely be the odds-on replacement.

Also leaving after the 2008 campaign is senior Jesse Miller. Miller was a second team All-Big Ten selection during his senior year. He did struggle in several games, but overall was a solid, reliable player.

Brendon Moss looks to be next in line, however, possible incoming transfer D.J. Young may give him a run for his money if his academics allow him to play.

There is also an outside chance that Army All-American David Barrent, an incoming 2009 recruit, could see time at the tackle spot in 2009. Although, I think he would be better served with a redshirt.

Other lineman that could get a look at the two-deeps are Mike Schmeding (Sr.), Ethan Ruhland (RS Fr.), John Stipek (Sr.), Anthony Woods (RS Fr.), and Chris McDonald (RS Fr.).

At the end of the line, literally, comes this year's breakout star tight end, Charlie Gantt. Gantt really stepped up in 2008, and gave Brian Hoyer an excellent passing option. With his soft hands and great routes, Charlie was a real threat in space. He showed himself to be a great run-blocker as well.

The Spartans will also have a talented option at tight end in Brian Lithicum, a transfer from Clemson. Michigan State will have additional able back-ups in Garrett Celek and David Duran.

At the wide receiver position, the Spartans look to be in great shape. They lose a possession receiver in Deon Curry, who only saw limited action in 2008 after injuries took their toll. They return their top three targets in Mark Dell (Jr.), B.J. Cunningham (Soph.), and surprise star, Blair White (Sr.).

Along with those three, the Spartans will have an electrifying option in Keshawn Martin (Soph.) who many will look to have a breakout season. Along with Martin is Fred Smith (Soph.), who came into his freshman season amidst much fanfare, but seemed to be a bit lost at times. Incoming freshmen Donald Spencer and Bennie Fowler may also contribute.

DEFENSE

The defense in 2008 was vastly improved over 2007, though still susceptible to big plays, which was well documented in the Ohio State and Penn State debacles. They will look to take another step forward in 2009, as they will only lose three starters, two from the defensive line and one safety.

Speaking of the defensive line, why don’t we start there? This group had their moments, although proved to be inconsistent, as injuries really plagued them throughout the year. On the interior, they will lose team captain Justin Kershaw, and on the outside, Brandon Long.

Replacing Long is one of the biggest question marks on this team. Colin Neely played in spurts this fall, and at times played well. He will battle Tyler Hoover (RS Fr.) and most likely Ishmyl Johnson for Long’s spot.

Trevor Anderson was a solid addition on the other side. He will need to step up his play next fall, as he did struggle against better offensive lines like Cal, Ohio State, and Penn State.

In all of those games, the lack of pressure on the quarterback haunted the secondary.

A wild card may be Jahmir Williams (RS Fr.). Williams was recruited at the mike linebacker spot, though his size and speed may translate to more of a speed rush-end type of player.

On the inside Oren Wilson and Antonio Jeremiah will continue to split time at nose tackle. They both played well, with Jeremiah really starting to come into his own later in the season.

Who replaces Kershaw at the defensive tackle spot is also up for debate. Michael Jordan may be the favorite entering the spring, but Kevin Pickelman (Soph.) and Jerel Worthy (RS Fr.) may have something to say about it.

The linebackers return all starters, but do lose quality depth with the departure of Ryan Allison. Allison proved to be a great situational player, whose motor always seemed to be running at top speed.

Greg Jones is the undisputed leader of this group. He will most likely continue to play on the outside, as well as the middle against spread teams. Adam Decker, who certainly gave the fans one of 2008’s more memorable moments with his tackle of Iowa’s Shonn Greene, will also return at the Mike position.

Eric Gordon returns on the outside as well, along with Brandon Densen who will provide quality depth. David Rolf (Soph.) will continue to back-up Decker and Jones at middle linebacker, with redshirt freshman Steve Gardiner hoping to make an impact as well.

On top of all of this depth, the Spartans have two high caliber freshman that could see action in four-star (Rivals.com ranking) Chris Norman and hard-hitting TyQuan Hammock. This group, with its youth, looks to be a strength for years to come.

In the defensive backfield, Michigan State loses only one player. Unfortunately, that player is All-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley. While MSU is very deep in the secondary, there is some uncertainty surrounding the safety position.

There are big questions that are yet to be answered.

For instance: Will Roderick Jenrette rejoin the team? Will Kendell Davis-Clark graduate on time and then come back for his final year of eligibility? Will Charles Burrell be able to contribute after this season?

Assuming Davis-Clark is back, he will start at free safety, leaving Danny Fortener as the likely replacement for Wiley at strong safety. Marcus Hyde (Jr.) has shown that he can lay the wood with the best of them.

Also, look for redshirt freshman Brynden Trawick to see extensive playing time after learning the system for a year.

At the cornerback position, the Spartans return everyone. Ross Weaver and Chris L. Rucker will likely start, although Johnny Adams (Soph.) is going to be a star, and will continue to see many reps. Jeremy Ware has continued to improve under this staff and provides great depth, along with veteran Ashton Henderson.

You can also add true freshman Patrick White to this mix as well. White has been hailed by many as one of the best prospects in the state of Ohio this year, and will likely contribute right away.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Brett Swenson will return as place kicker for his senior season, although he may very well take on a new role. Todd Boleski, who had been the kick-off specialist for MSU, will have moved on, therefore Swenson will likely assume his duties as well. Aaron Bates will also return for punting duties, along with the long-snapper, Alex Shackelton.

Look for Keshawn Martin to take on an expanded role in punt return situations, as well as kickoff returns alongside Glenn Winston. Winston looked to be the biggest threat for the Spartans this year on the return team.

Mark Dantonio is a Wanted Coach and It's a Nice Problem to Have

Justin Godley — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:08:17 -0500

Coaching rumors.

They can be exciting (Tracking planes on the internet), juicy (Brian Kelly playing the MSU job against the ISU job and losing them both in the process), misleading (Todd Grantham, anyone?), and even creepy (Ummm....tracking planes on the internet).

For years, Michigan State's head coach has been the subject of constant speculation surrounding any big-time coaching vacancy. In fact, it has practically become a yearly tradition in East Lansing.

The message boards melt down, the sports radio hosts debate, (Local Sports Anchor) Tim Staudt calls emergency "What-If" staff meetings, and the rumors swirl. This time, however, things are very different.

You see, in the past, this phenomenon seemed to only hover over the Breslin Center, whereas now, the storm has settled squarely over the newly-renovated Duffy Daugherty Football building.

Michigan State finds itself in uncharted waters. Mark Dantonio is a wanted man. Will he be going anywhere? Probably not, but the message board whispers are beginning to grow into more than just unconfirmed Rob Parkerness.

Dantonio has the Spartans sitting at 9-2 (6-1), in the middle of the Big 10 title race, and in prime position for a New Year's Day bowl appearance in just year two of what was supposed to be a rebuilding job at MSU.

His own demeanor has obviously rubbed off on the program, and the notion of "Same Old Spartans" has, finally, been retired (Although, no doubt, a loss to Penn State will cause Drew Sharp to utter the tired phrase once again).

Regardless, the rest of the country is finally starting to take notice. Sources say that Tennessee and Clemson have Dantonio on their short lists, Washington too.

Could Dantonio be swayed? Like I said earlier, probably not. Then again, I've been wrong before.

Dantonio has reportedly stated that Michigan State will be his last job. In his now infamous, "Pride Comes Before the Fall" presser following the 2007 loss to Michigan (Wow, is this guy Nostradamus ?), he was quoted as saying "I'm gonna be the coach here for a long time."

Many a Spartan fan will no doubt be desperately holding him to his words. Words aside, there are several other factors that play into his success in East Lansing, and they do not necessarily translate to many other coaching jobs.

Take for instance, the success that Dantonio and his staff have had in recruiting. The knock on Michigan State in the past was that recruiting presented too much of a problem for a coaching staff to overcome.

Saban was reportedly frustrated with the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State surrounding him, and snatching up the available talent. With the way the landscape has changed, I don't see that being a solid argument at all anymore.

For 2009, Michigan State looks to have one of the best incoming classes in the school's history. All 16 commitments hail from the Midwest, with the vast majority coming from Michigan and Ohio. That is not a coincidence.

From when he began his coaching career at Youngstown State, to his first stint in East Lansing, then his time in Columbus and then at Cincinnati, Dantonio has established irreplaceable roots with high schools in Ohio and Michigan.

In prep coaches' eyes, he is perhaps the second most respected college coach in the Midwest, behind only his mentor, Buckeye coach Jim Tressel.

With Dantonio at the helm, MSU has positioned itself as the primary alternative to Ohio State for kids from Ohio, and, with the (entertaining) arrival of Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, Michigan State seems to have (at least for now) become the first choice for talent from the Great Lakes state.

I know, I know, Michigan recruits nationally now, they don't need those slow Midwest kids anymore.

The bottom line is, in college football, talent wins out. Does Dantonio really want to leave his current situation in East Lansing for a job in the SEC or PAC-10, having to completely start from scratch?

Then, there is Dantonio's embrace of the history and tradition of Michigan State Football. From the moment this guy took the podium in late November 2006, he has done everything right. He knows the history of MSU football well, and references his knowledge often.

He reinstated the "walk" on Saturday mornings, where the team walks through campus, past the "Sparty Statue", to the stadium. He names honorary captains each week, and welcomes back alumni with open arms.

He put up championship banners in Spartan Stadium, as well as retired numbers. He even changed the font on the jerseys to hearken back to the championship teams of the 1960s.

His style of play is traditional, old-school football, the brand that seems to represent the successful MSU teams of the past.

Finally, in what may have endeared to him to Spartan fans the most of all, when it comes to that school from Ann Arbor, Mark Dantonio "gets it."

So, this seems like a no-brainer, right? The guy is loyal, and therefore the Green & White faithful should rest easy. Not so fast, my friend.

Mark Dantonio may be loyal, but he is also smart. Loyal to a fault he is not. He needs to be taken care of and appreciated, or he will move on.

Michigan State has a tremendous opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of. As one commentator put it, "Who wouldn't trade straight-up for Michigan State's football and basketball coaches right row?"

With Dantonio, Tom Izzo, and Athletic Director Mark Hollis, they have a trifecta in place that could put MSU in contention for championships for years to come. If they want to keep it that way, they will need to put up the funds to do so.

Finally, the Spartan faithful need to keep this in mind. Tom Izzo is coveted annually by other college programs and professional teams...because he wins. Now, Dantonio is doing the same. Isn't it a nice problem to have?