college football michigan state

Dantonio finally arrives in the Big 10 Status as head coach at Michigan State

Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley

Michigan State University Football has a history of bending the critical moments. In recent years seems to win at the beginning of the season and then up losing an art form when it really matter. Those days may be over after this fall.

By John L. downloads Smith and the hiring of Mark Dantonio as new head football coach, the Spartans have been placed in a position to perform better than any time since the legendary coach Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State to a combined record 01/01/1919 1965 and 1966, winning back-to-back Big Ten and National Championship.

The reason is simple: Dantonio is a winner of a pedigree that screams success.

He does not have to talk about what he will do as the new coach at Michigan State, because, unlike many others, has already done a lot of important win support functions under Nick Saban, Jim Tressel and Earle Bruce, all winners and outstanding football coaches.

Say Michigan State has been in the dumper Duffy Daugherty and left in 1972 is being kind. In 34 seasons, the Spartans have been barely above .500. They have won only eight games or more only once in two seasons straight and have had a Rose Bowl that occurred under Nick Saban with Mark Dantonio as its secondary coach. Dantonio spent six seasons at MSU in this paper.

Also contributed to the success of Michigan State's 1999 season when the Spartans went 10-2, won the Florida Citrus Bowl and was ranked No. 7 in the final polls.

Dantonio Michigan State secondary was considered one of the best in college football, ranking 10th in pass defense efficiency in 1998 and seventh in 2000. A half dozen defenders Spartans Dantonio stated the NFL draft.

Now he returns as head coach Dantonio and things are going to get much better at Spartan Stadium.

Dantonio spent three years as head coach at the University of Cincinnati, where he became the first head coach in 23 years to test a team to a winning season in his initial campaign, ending the season with a convincing 32-14 victory over Marshall in the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl.

Only the legendary Sid Gillman had taken Cincinnati to a bowl game in his first season as head coach.

Even this season the Cincinnati Bearcats upset then No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18, the top-ranked Cincinnati team ever be beaten.

Before moving to Cincinnati, Dantonio served as coordinator defense under Jim Tressel at Ohio State, the assembly of the defense that led the Buckeyes to the national title in 2002. Ohio State was second nationally in points defense and third in rushing defense during their perfect season.

In 2003, Dantonio's defense Ohio State was second at the national level against the run, 10 in total defense and 16th in scoring defense.

He was a member of Earle Bruce Ohio State staff in 1983 and 1984, helping the Buckeyes to the Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl.

Dantonio has spent most of his coaching career in Ohio, where he helped the Akron Zips to a 8-3 record and an appearance in the playoffs Division I-AA.

He then joined the staff of Jim Tressel at Youngstown State and helped the Penguins to three Division I-AA playoffs for five seasons, and posted a perfect 11-0 record in 1990 regular season when he was the defensive coordinator.

When Tressel became Ohio State coach Dantonio often as defensive coordinator.

Dantonio is clearly a winner, and I think he will find some players who win and train them to excel. In business and in football there are really only two possible outcomes: results or excuses. Dantonio has made a career of producing results.

I think Mark Dantonio is astute enough surround yourself with more winners like him, and together with his personal take Michigan State Spartans out of the mud hole that have been trapped in for too long.

Let me make it clear that I am a graduate of Michigan State University Class of 1966. I know that dates me, but hardly affects my memory. I remember when Michigan State was undoubtedly the football team in the country during 1965 and 1966.

I'm so happy that Dantonio is a Midwest boy born and raised. He has strong ties to the Midwest to compete effectively with major attractions like the state of Ohio, Michigan and Notre Dame.

I was born and raised in Michigan and now reside on the West Coast the state of Washington. Let me tell you that people in Washington are different from those in the Midwest, not better or worse, but different.

When I go into battle I want a guy from the Midwest in the trench with me. Welcome aboard, Mark Dantonio. I'm going to dig the trench, you can throw on the trophies.

MSU vs UM Football 2009 - Michigan State snatches victory from UM

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