Michigan State Football: 2017 season could be Mark Dantonio’s best coaching job
By Stephen Robb
Despite a rough offseason after a disastrous 2016 season, Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio could put together his best work yet.
The 2017 season could be Mark Dantonio’s best coaching job during his time at Michigan State. This season presents many challenges however the Spartans are ready to get back onto the field after the disastrous 2016 season.
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The opportunity is there for a season of redemption in this upcoming season. The chip has been placed on the shoulder. There is a spirit of unity in this Spartan locker room as they make final preparations. This season could be Mark Dantonio’s best coaching job.
This reminded me about a pervious excellent job Dantonio had done back in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. MSU had evaluated itself to a Big Ten contender in both seasons, which was a level of success that the Spartans had not experienced in a long time. However, it was what Dantonio did before and after the first-ever Big Ten title game that made the 2011 season one of his best coaching jobs. According to the old format, with no divisions, the champion would have been MSU.
However, the Spartans lost against Wisconsin in that fateful championship game in 2011 at Lucas Oil Stadium 39-42 to the Russell Wilson led Badgers. Before the game Dantonio had roses placed in the players’ lockers.
Many coaches do something like this to inspire their players for a particular game. There was something magical about that game because MSU fell behind early by two touchdowns but quickly came storming back. Finally, Isaiah Lewis was flagged for penalty against the Wisconsin punter in the final minute of the game giving the Badgers a first down and icing the game.
It was how Dantonio rallied and prepared his team next for the Outback Bowl against Georgia that represents, in my mind, his best coaching job. Many teams that lose a conference title game often give a half-hearted effort in their bowl game because their hopes were crushed. Iowa experienced this when they turned in a stinker against Stanford after MSU beat them in 2015 Big Ten Championship Game. Also, Alabama turned in a dud against Utah in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, losing 31-17 to the Utes. The Tide had lost to Florida in the 2008 SEC Championship Game.
Dantonio and his coaching staff have been making preparations and motivating their players this offseason. The moves of Ron Burton to only coaching defensive tackles and Mark Synder to only ends are huge. The Spartans have been burned badly by the quarterback run/pass option the last many years. This move may or may not solve the problem but it does represent a change of thinking that was sorely needed.
There are many obstacles that face MSU this upcoming season. The Spartans have a new quarterback, new offensive line rotation, new defensive backfield, young wide receivers and fresh linebackers. But most importantly, they have a new attitude and that stems from the head man himself. If Dantonio can right the ship this season by getting back to a bowl game then this would be his best coaching job yet, in my opinion.
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Obstacles are nothing new to MSU and this season is no different. To quote Ryan Holiday “the obstacle is the way.”