EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio might not have found the same levity a decade ago.
The lights literally went out on Dantonio during his press conference after a 32-23 loss to No. 2 Michigan at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, putting the coach in the dark for a few seconds before he cracked a smile. Michigan State just fell to 2-6 after their sixth straight Big Ten loss, but Dantonio broke the tension.
“That just figures,” Dantonio said. “That’s where the day is going, right there. Yeah, it’s about time for everybody to leave. Turn the lights off on me.”
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The last time the Wolverines won in East Lansing — a 28-24 comeback in Dantonio’s first season — the coach spun Mike Hart’s “Little Brother” comments into words that built the program: “It's not over. It'll never be over here. It's just starting.” The Spartans have won three Big Ten championships and reached the Big Ten championship since. That makes Michigan State’s disappointing season even harder to figure out. So what’s the problem?
“You have to make good on opportunities,” Dantonio said. “A lot of that is play calling, a lot of that is my decision making. A lot of that is execution. That's why I always say it's all inclusive. It's all inclusive.”
It has to be inclusive at a place like Michigan State. Comparing the Spartans to Michigan or Ohio State isn’t always the right lens. Ohio State is a national powerhouse that runs unopposed in its own state. Yes, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is building another powerhouse in Ann Arbor, and that’s going to be a challenge for Dantonio. Saturday’s game had a 24.5-point spread, and the Spartans didn’t quit. They didn’t win either.
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“I think it's very important that they get a taste of this football game, and that they understand what this game is about,” Dantonio said. “There aren't any moral victories, just like I said before, so we gotta take it, but I think that you can feel good that you competed. You can feel good that things went this direction.”
For Dantonio, the challenge is finding that direction again. There’s no hot-seat talk or panic here. It’s the same challenge other long-time coaches from the original Big Ten schools not named Michigan or Ohio State felt.
Of coaches who were either at already at or took over since 1990, the only ones that lasted a decade or longer were Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez (16 seasons), Indiana’s Bill Mallory (13 seasons), Michigan State’s George Perles (12 seasons), Purdue’s Joe Tiller (12 seasons) and Minnesota’s Glen Mason (10 seasons). Current coaches include Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (19 seasons) and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald (11 seasons). Those coaches combined for six Rose Bowl appearances, and Alvarez had three.
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Dantonio has elevated Michigan State just as much, if not more than Alvarez, and this is a one-year setback. There are several contributing factors. The Spartans lost its best senior class that featured five NFL Draft picks in Jack Conklin, Shilique Calhoun, Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge and Donovan Clark.
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell is a first-round talent, but the Spartans lack those play makers right now. The Spartans have young talent — freshman Donnie Corley made an impression in the loss to the Wolverines — but Dantonio needs time to develop that. That’s helped create the edge — that “chip on the shoulder” mentality — this program thrives on.
Of course, it comes down to quarterback play, too. Brian Hoyer, Kirk Cousins and Cook are the quarterback Dantonio has had success with, and it just hasn’t been there. The Spartans tried Tyler O’Connor, Damion Terry and Brian Lewerke against the Wolverines. Lewerke led a quasi-comeback in the second half, and he’s out for the season with a broken leg. Freshman Messiah deWeaver could be in the mix next year.
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Dantonio is trying to find that edge with this team. Sophomore LJ Scott is a building block — he had 22 carries for 139 yards — tried to score on four straight plays in a goal-to-go situation in the second half. It didn’t work.
“It's first and goal from the two. My thinking is that we have to get the inches,” Dantonio said. “Obviously, I was wrong. Ever since 2007 when Jehuu Caulcrick had 22 touchdowns, that's what we do. But that was my decision and I'll take the heat for it.”
Dantonio will take the heat for the season, but there’s enough capital built in East Lansing that there shouldn’t be a full-go panic yet. Ohio State and Michigan aren’t going to slow down, so it’s not going to be easy. After this loss, Dantonio took the opportunity to, “Congratulate U of M and Coach Harbaugh.” The Spartans have to win out just to make a bowl, but that’s not that big of a deal. Dantonio’s challenge — and focus — always comes from within.
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“I thought we had an edge to us,” he said. “How's the locker room? It's just like every other locker room after losing a football game. It's tough. Especially for our senior group. That's the first time our senior group has lost that game.
“I don't think we have guys that quit. I think our guys will play,” he said. “We have enough young players that this is an exciting thing for them. Played a lot of freshman, a lot of young players, and I think they'll earn their way.”
Looking at the track record, bet on a much different result next season.
