| Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley | | | | highest ranked team Cincinnati has ever |
| Michigan State University has a football | | | | beaten. |
| history of folding when it counts. In | | | | Before moving on to Cincinnati, Dantonio |
| recent years they seem to win early in | | | | served as defensive coordinator under |
| the season and then raise losing to an | | | | Jim Tressel at Ohio State, assembling |
| art form when it really matters. Those | | | | the defense that led the Buckeyes to the |
| days may be over starting this fall. | | | | national title in 2002. Ohio State was |
| By unloading John L. Smith and hiring | | | | 2nd nationally in scoring defense and |
| Mark Dantonio as their new head football | | | | 3rd in rushing defense during its |
| coach, the Spartans have put themselves | | | | perfect season. |
| in a position to perform better than any | | | | In 2003, Dantonio's defense at Ohio |
| time since the legendary Duffy Daugherty | | | | State was 2nd nationally against the |
| coached Michigan State to a combined | | | | run, 10th in total defense and 16th in |
| 19-1-1 record in 1965 and 1966, winning | | | | scoring defense. |
| back-to-back Big Ten and National | | | | He was a member of Earle Bruce's Ohio |
| Championships. | | | | State staff in 1983 and 1984, helping |
| The reason is simple: Dantonio is a | | | | the Buckeyes to the Fiesta Bowl and Rose |
| winner from a pedigree that screams | | | | Bowl. |
| success. | | | | Dantonio has spent the majority of his |
| He does not have to talk about what he | | | | coaching career in Ohio where he also |
| is going to do as Michigan State's new | | | | helped the Akron Zips to an 8-3 record |
| coach because he, unlike so many others, | | | | and an appearance in the Division I-AA |
| has already done a lot of significant | | | | playoffs. |
| winning in support roles under Nick | | | | He then joined Jim Tressel's staff at |
| Saban, Jim Tressel and Earle Bruce, all | | | | Youngstown State and helped the Penguins |
| winners and outstanding football | | | | make 3 Division I-AA playoffs during 5 |
| coaches. | | | | seasons, and posted a perfect 11-0 |
| To say Michigan State has been in the | | | | regular season record in 1990 when he |
| dumper since Duffy Daugherty left in | | | | was the defensive coordinator. |
| 1972 is being kind. In 34 seasons, the | | | | When Tressel became Ohio State's coach |
| Spartans have been barely above .500. | | | | Dantonio followed as his defensive |
| They have won only 8 or more games just | | | | coordinator. |
| once in consecutive seasons and have had | | | | Dantonio is clearly a winner, and I |
| one Rose Bowl appearance which happened | | | | believe he will find some winning |
| under Nick Saban with Mark Dantonio as | | | | players and train them to excel. In |
| his secondary coach. Dantonio spent 6 | | | | business and in football there are |
| seasons at MSU in this role. | | | | really only two possible outcomes: |
| He also contributed to Michigan State's | | | | results or excuses. Dantonio has made a |
| successful 1999 season when the Spartans | | | | career out of producing results. |
| went 10-2, won the Florida Citrus Bowl | | | | I believe that Mark Dantonio is savvy |
| and were ranked No. 7 in the final | | | | enough to surround himself with more |
| polls. | | | | winners like himself, and together with |
| Michigan State's secondary under | | | | his staff will lead the Michigan State |
| Dantonio was regarded as one of the best | | | | Spartans out of the mud hole that they |
| in college football, ranking 10th in | | | | have been stuck in for far too long. |
| pass efficiency defense in 1998 and 7th | | | | Let me make it clear that I am a |
| in 2000. A half dozen Spartan defenders | | | | Michigan State University graduate from |
| under Dantonio were NFL draft picks. | | | | the Class of 1966. I know that dates me, |
| Now Dantonio returns as head coach and | | | | but it hardly affects my memory. I |
| things are going to get a lot better in | | | | remember when Michigan State was |
| Spartan Stadium. | | | | arguably THE football team in the |
| Dantonio spent 3 years as head coach at | | | | country during 1965 and 1966. |
| the University of Cincinnati where he | | | | I am so happy that Dantonio is a Midwest |
| became the first head coach in 23 years | | | | boy born and bred. He has the strong |
| to pilot a team to a winning season in | | | | Midwest ties to compete effectively |
| his initial campaign, capping the season | | | | against major magnets like Ohio State, |
| with a convincing 32-14 win over | | | | Michigan and Notre Dame. |
| Marshall in the PlainsCapital Fort Worth | | | | I was born and raised in Michigan and |
| Bowl. | | | | now reside on the West Coast in |
| Only the legendary Sid Gillman had taken | | | | Washington State. Let me tell you that |
| Cincinnati to a bowl game in his initial | | | | folks in Washington are different than |
| season as head coach. | | | | those in the Midwest, not better or |
| Even this season the Cincinnati Bearcats | | | | worse but different. |
| upset then No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18, the | | | | |