Mark Dantonio will be at Michigan State for 2024 Spartan Dawg Con
![Former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio walks up the tunnel for warm up before the Maryland game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio walks up the tunnel for warm up before the Maryland game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2400,h_1350,x_0,y_52/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/137/01j3r19gm19n2bg7ydzp.jpg)
Mark Dantonio is back.
OK, so the legendary Michigan State football coach isn't taking to the sidelines again any time soon, but he's going to be in East Lansing this weekend for the fourth annual Spartan Dawg Con.
Spartan Dawg Con IV is here and so is @DantonioMark 🙌 pic.twitter.com/69Se30Iq7B
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) July 26, 2024
Although the Mel Tucker era was fairly forgettable outside of the 2021 season, he did make Spartan Dawg Con a priority every summer and it was fun to watch as recruits and former players and coaches flocked to East Lansing to take in the event. It was a great recruiting event and it also helped Tucker get to know the former players and coaches and the Michigan State culture better.
Now, Jonathan Smith is carrying on that tradition as Spartan Dawg Con returns this weekend.
There have already been a number of talented recruits announced as visitors for the big weekend event and now that Dantonio will be there, that can only help in that regard. Imagine being a young recruit and meeting a legend like Dantonio at this event along with other players from the most successful period of Michigan State football in decades -- you would almost feel like committing on the spot.
Spartan Dawg Con has yielded some interesting moments over the years, including the highlight of then-four-star linebacker Jordan Hall committing at Tucker's house in front of other recruits.
Michigan State has a unique event every year that stands out to recruits and it's only going to help build the program back up to where it should be.
Oh, and it's good to see that Smith and Dantonio have a good relationship.