Mark Dantonio Still Answering His Critics

It is no surprise when people talk about the Michigan Wolverines in terms of college football within the state of Michigan. The Wolverines have won national championships, set records in terms of winning games, and have had famous coaches roaming the sidelines in Ann Arbor.

But lately, the tide has turned a little bit. The Michigan State Spartans, a school always thought to be more basketball-oriented than football has done its best to take the reigns in a football-hungry state. And all of the credit goes to coach Mark Dantonio.

Since coming to Michigan State in 2007 after coaching at Cincinnati for three years, Dantonio has had a winning record in his first two seasons, even winning nine games in 2008 and getting his team to a New Year’s Day bowl game. The year before, the Spartans only lost their bowl game by three points to a Matt Ryan-led Boston College squad. And we all know what Ryan has done in the NFL…

But it all goes back to Dantonio’s demeanor. He can be seen wearing a vicious scowl on his face on Saturday afternoons. He does not accept getting blown out at home like former Spartans coach Bobby Williams did. He does not make a fool of himself at post-game press conferences by slapping himself in the face like former coach John L. Smith.

Dantonio is a different breed, a tough-nosed type of coach who does not accept excuses on and off the field. He wants his players to play hard and never quit, even if they are being pummeled on the gridiron.

But maybe there are sources for Dantonio’s methods of madness.

He worked under Nick Saban at Michigan State in the 90s, and then he helped good friend Jim Tressel win a national championship at Ohio State in the early part of this decade. Those are two of the best collegiate coaches in the nation, both have rings on their fingers and both continue to have great success. Dantonio could not have had better mentors.

To really understand Dantonio’s accomplishments, looking at the present college football season is important.

Michigan State was seen as one of the top four teams in the Big Ten before the season began. The Spartans won the season-opener against a weak Montana State team, but lost three consecutive games, including a heartbreaker on a last second field goal by inner-state rival Central Michigan. Fans were calling for Dantonio’s job, and websites were even made to vent about the coaching and get Dantonio fired.

But those fans have seemingly run for the fences. MSU saved its season by beating Michigan for the second year in a row in an overtime thriller (something not done since the 1960s) and then beating Illinois and Northwestern to go above .500.

The team didn’t quit. The defense has vastly improved over the first four games of the season, the duel quarterback system has proved to be efficient and freshmen tailbacks are running with determination.

Listen, anybody could point out that Dantonio’s team was beaten pretty badly in losses to Ohio State and Penn State, but to reach New Year’s Day bowl games and win nine games in a season is a testament to his coaching. Michigan State is actually receiving some respect now, which is something that couldn’t be said five years ago.

Dantonio is even out-recruiting Rich Rodriguez in terms of reaching agreements with players in the state.

Unless you live in Michigan, it is hard to understand what Dantonio has meant to a program like Michigan State’s unless you see first-hand the kind of players he puts on the field. He has given Spartan fans hope that the team will continue to get better and achieve greater levels of success.

And as a long-time Spartan fan, I must say it is about time.