"You remember that Mike Hart guy, right? About yea tall..."
After Dantonio’s weekly press conference, a number of different topics came to head.
For starters; one must give the man some credit on his composure. Coming out of a 9-3 season in 2008 breaking the coaching record for most wins (in two seasons), serving as the ‘father’ of a family of NFL prospects, and keeping one of the nation’s most prestigious athletic departments on lock isn’t an easy feat.
The third-year head coach commented on this weekend’s upcoming game; the biggest weekend in football for the state of Michigan. A rivalry that has stretched across generations, one that Dantonio says ‘draws the state blue or green.”
After complimenting Rich Rodriguez on transforming his team into a 4-0 pack of Wolverines following their 3-9 2008 season, Dantonio quickly changed his tune to include how the intensity has accelerated this week in his players, his coaches and most evidently himself.
The most important thing, of course, is that we work as a team. The University of Michigan has their rising stars (notably Forcier) but the head coach noted that making important plays on the deep ball is a “total team thing.”
Having an interchangeable team is a strength for MSU. With different players on the DL, veterans have been forced into new positions and their effort is critical in our strategy. The Spartans will come ‘ready to play’ on Saturday, beginning with a rare Sunday night practice that was held following the Wisconsin game.
” I believe every team needs a rivalry,” Dantontio included. “It’s something special to look forward to, especially for the fans.”
Does this mean Michigan State has been hoarding away their talent all for the in-state rivalry game?
Absolutely not. But, as Dantonio agreed, there is a need to adjust in order to tailor to different offenses. The defensive line has the capability to dominate in this game especially, and clinching a victory against the Wolverines would capture the excitement for the rest of the season.
The team with the most ground attack has won 36 out of the past 39 games in past UM v MSU games. Former RB Javon Ringer was essential in these statistics, but there is hope in Michigan State’s freshmen running backs, as well as the driving force of Glenn Winston.
As for the rotating quarterback system, both Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol, Dantonio believes, have had enough field time to ‘get into rhythm.’ Whoever steps up to the plate and moves the team to win will get playing time. Competition, the coach says, is the most motivational and the actual game is the tell-all.
LT Rocco Cironi hit the nail on the head in regards to the Ann Arbor school; “everybody has a hatred for Michigan…but we now have our backs against the wall [with the 1-3 record] and it’s time to come out fighting.” It’s this common excitation that has the priorities of the MSU football staff in order; focusing in one of the nation’s most infamous gridiron rivalries that has lasted for over a century.
Remember, what Dantonio said, “the pride comes before the fall.” It was less than a year ago when the state of Michigan’s ‘Little Brother’ tore that ‘Big Brother’ to shreds. Not to mention he didn’t have to work overtime against NCAA standards to make it happen, but hey, who’s counting.
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