Home > Notre Dame
We Have Found 4 Products for your search of Notre Dame.
Displaying Items 1 - 4:
Back-to-Back Winning Seasons and Bowl Appearances Say Michigan State Is Back
by Ed Bagley
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
When Mark Dantonio became the new Michigan State Universityfootball coach two years ago, he came to the East LansingCampus with a pedigree that shouted success is on the way.He has not disappointed the Spartan faithful.
Michigan State had not done diddly-squat since its 1999team went 10-2, whipped Florida in the Citrus Bowl, led theBig Ten in total defense, and ranked 7th in the finalpolls. Times have changed in East Lansing. If diddly-squatshows up since Dantonio has arrived, he is in for a fight.
Here is what Dantonio has accomplished since his debut55-18 victory against UAB (the University of Alabama atBirmingham):
Turn a losing program into a winning one by going 7-5 inhis first regular season, and getting Michigan State itsfirst bowl appearance in 4 years. Despite being a 5-pointunderdog to No. 14-ranked Boston College in the ChampsSports Bowl, the Spartans only lost by a field goal, 24-21.
Their final 7-6 record included a 4-3 mark againstbowl-bound teams, and the Spartans lost the 6 games by atotal of 31 points, including two in overtime. All 6 gameswere decided by 7 points or less. It is called defense.
With their 31-14 victory over the Fighting Irish of NotreDame on the road in 2007, the Spartans became the firstvisiting team to win 6-straight games in the 77-yearhistory of Notre Dame Stadium.
Last year the progress continued as the Spartans went 9-3in the regular season, beating Michigan and Notre Dame.They lost at California in their opener 38-31, took it onthe chin 45-7 against No. 12-ranked Ohio State at home, andlet No. 7-ranked Penn State take it to them 49-18 on theroad at Happy Valley.
Had they beaten Penn State, they would have had a share ofthe Big Ten title. Michigan State's 6-2 Big Ten record wasits best since the 1999 season, and its 9 wins representedonly the 3rd time since 1966 (the year I graduated fromMichigan State) that it had won 9 games in a season. Lastseason's second step forward led to the No. 19-rankedSpartans facing off against the No. 16-ranked GeorgiaBulldogs in the Capital One Bowl; State lost 24-12.Nevertheless, they ended the year with their secondstraight winning season (7-6 and 9-4)—their firstback-to-back winning seasons in 19 years—and theirsecond straight bowl appearance—their firstback-to-back bowl appearances in 12 years.
That is what is calling "getting after it".
Dantonio really became prominent as the defensivecoordinator for Ohio State, where his defensive unit helpedthe Buckeyes to a 32-6 record in 3 years, and the 2002National Championship. In the championship year, Ohio Statewas 2nd nationally in scoring defense (13 points a game)and 3rd in rushing defense (77 yards per game).
Coming into this season, Michigan States loses two All BigTen seniors—tailback Javon Ringer and safety OtisWiley, and returns All Big Ten junior linebacker Greg Jones.
To say Ringer left a hole in the running game would be agross understatement. He rushed for 1,637 yards (accountingfor 97% of Michigan State's rushing offense) and scored aschool-record 22 touchdowns. Ringer, a consensus AllAmerican, was drafted by the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
Ringer's starting spot will be a competitive battle thatjust may be won by either of two outstandingfreshmen—Edwin Baker out of Oak Park High School inHighland Park, or Larry Caper out of Battle Creek Centralin Battle Creek. Baker is 5-9 and 200, and Caper is 5-11and 215. Both are potentially explosive runners with somespeed.
Replacing senior quarterback Brian Hoyer, an inconsistent2-year starter, is also an issue. Sophomore Kirk Cousinsand redshirt sophomore Keith Nichol have limitedexperience, appearing in only a combined 8 games.
All Big Ten junior Greg Jones had 127 tackles last year,and is arguably the best linebacker in the Big Ten. He mustremain tough and healthy for Michigan State to againcompete for the Big Ten title.
The Spartan offense will also rely heavily on kicker BrettSwenson (22 field goals last year, including onelast-minute, game-winner on a weak offense); wide receiversBlair White, Mark Dell and BJ Cunningham; tight end CharlieGantt; guard Joel Foreman and center Joel Nitchman.
Dantonio's two recruiting classes must produce more newfaces on the field this year. New faces better than theplayers they will replace. In its two biggest games of theyear last season—Ohio State and PennState—Michigan State did not show well and paid forit when the Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll found themabsent.
Major coaches generally applauded the fact that theSpartans did not take a dive late last season, they wonmany games they have lost in prior years, but when pushcame to shove, it was still Ohio State and Penn State ontop of the heap.
What many boosters may have missed is the fact thatMichigan State took one huge step forward in bowlparticipation. Two years ago they had to settle for theChamps Sports Bowl and a $2.25 million payout. Last yearthey moved up to the Capital One Bowl and a $4.25 millionpayout. After the 5 BCS bowl games, the Capital One Bowl isthe highest paying and most prestigious of the remaining 34bowl games played last season.
Michigan State's schedule is favorable this year. TheSpartans get both Michigan and Penn State at home, and donot play Ohio State. They also play 1-AA Montana State,Central Michigan and Western Michigan. If they cannot beatthe latter three teams and Michigan, they have no businessgoing to a bowl game.
On a more positive note, while virtually everyone West ofthe Mississippi River thinks Michigan State could notpossibly run the table, there is at least one Spartan inWashington State who thinks otherwise. Never underestimatewhat Mark Dantonio can accomplish.
What if the Spartans beat Notre Dame, Michigan and therest, and face Penn State at home with an 11-0 mark? Thatis why college football is so great. It could happen. Theodds say it will not happen, but rest assured that ifMichigan State plays in a BCS bowl game this season, itwill be another giant step forward for Mark Dantonio andhis Spartans.
About the Author
Games.edbagleyblog.comedbagleyblog.com/SportsPreseasonCoaches' Poll Is the Kiss of Death - You Have No BCS TitleShot"Individual Articles on All 34 of College Football's 2008Bowl Games.15 Weekly Wrap-Up Articles on College Football's 2008Regular Season Games.edbagleyblog.comedbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
Charlie Weis Out at Notre Dame
Notre Dame has fired Charlie Weis after five seasons at the helm. What does this mean for both the program and Weis? Dennis Dodd joins Lauren Shehadi to break down the move.
|
| 
