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Michigan State Football: Chemistry a good indicator of 2018 success

By Connor Muldowney

EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans stands with his team before a agem against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans stands with his team before a agem against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Mark Dantonio has been raving about his team’s chemistry so far this offseason and it could be a good indicator of things to come in 2018.

It seems like ages ago that Michigan State finished 3-9 and had a multitude of problems within the locker room regarding chemistry and off-field issues. The program looked as if it was spiraling out of control and Mark Dantonio was questioned regularly about his ability to regain the handle of his team.

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The 2017 season seemed to be the cure-all as the locker room came together and put the nightmare of 2016 behind it. The Spartans liked each other again and winning didn’t hurt, either.

Following a heck of a turnaround season which resulted in a 10-3 record and a Holiday Bowl win over Mike Leach’s Washington State Cougars, the Spartans headed into the offseason as one of the best young teams in the nation.

Moreover, the Spartans only lost three starters from that 10-win team in 2017, setting up a potentially monstrous 2018 campaign.

To close out spring ball, Mark Dantonio delivered a quote to the media that has fans everywhere excited for the upcoming campaign.

What a difference a year makes. In 2016, it seemed like everything was going wrong and the locker room had a toxic feel to it. In 2017, the team came together, dead weight was shed and the players made it their mission to work toward a single goal and pick each other up.

This is an impressive quote from Dantonio when you think about the teams in the past which may have had great chemistry such as the Outback Bowl team in 2011 led by Kirk Cousins and Le’Veon Bell or the 2013 Rose Bowl squad with Connor Cook, Jeremy Langford, Tony Lippett and Max Bullough. Heck, even the 2014 squad which won the Cotton Bowl or 2015 which made the playoff.

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The 2018 season will be a special one for the Spartans, especially if the chemistry remains as high as its been in the Dantonio era.

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