Dantonio has reason to be excited for '08

Chicago — Last year around this time, first-year MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio told reporters during Big Ten Media Day that his goal was to lead MSU to its first bowl game in four years. To many, that goal seemed unattainable.

On Thursday, he elicited a similar response when he announced his expectations.

“Our goal will be to win the Big Ten championship this year,” he boldly stated. “I have no problems standing up here and saying that.”

And you know what? There’s no reason he should have a problem saying that. Dantonio has been more than simply a coach for MSU, he’s been a plastic surgeon that’s put the program under the knife and given it a complete makeover, both inside and out.

“When you look back at last year, it’s a season that you could really point to and say, the difference between winning and losing is that big,” said Dantonio, pinching his fingers together to indicate how close his team was to finishing better than tied for seventh in the conference.

The Spartans have the personnel and experience to do some damage.

Offense

Led by star running back Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer, MSU boasts a senior-laden backfield that could be as talented as any in the conference, save Ohio State. That tandem, combined with an array of receiving threats that has Dantonio gushing with excitement. It should give the Spartans one of the most dynamic offenses in the conference.

Star wide receiver Devin Thomas’ early departure to the NFL stings, but his loss shouldn’t linger. With Thomas out of the picture, Hoyer will be forced to survey the entire field and get others involved. If the spring game is any indication, he’ll have plenty of targets to choose from.

Sophomore Mark Dell started eight games as a true freshman last season, catching 20 passes, including two for touchdowns. Dell and redshirt freshman B.J. Cunningham stole the show during the spring game, making spectacular catches in traffic.

Defense

Defensively, the Spartans should field one of their best teams in recent memory. Led by sophomore linebackers Greg Jones and Eric Gordon, the defense should be stout against the run.

MSU’s secondary, which improved dramatically last season, lost safeties Travis Key and Nehemiah Warrick to graduation, but returns every key contributor at cornerback. Senior Kendall Davis-Clark and junior Ashton Henderson give MSU an experienced duo, while junior Ross Weaver adds depth.

Returning starters senior Otis Wiley and junior Roderick Jenrette will start at safety. They’ll form an intriguing tandem, as they both have NFL potential, but they also have a lot to prove. No one on defense, and perhaps the team, has more to prove than Wiley, who showed great promise as a sophomore, but struggled last season. He still led the Spartans with four interceptions.

Schedule

The fate of MSU’s season could be determined Aug. 30, when they travel to Berkeley, Calif., to take on Pac-10 powerhouse California for its season opener. If the Spartans can neutralize the Bears’ high-octane offense and steal the opening game, it would give them an incredible sense of confidence heading back to Spartan Stadium for a three-game home stand.

Other than California, MSU won’t have many bumps in the road until mid-October, when they play their first of a grueling five-game stretch to end the season.

Prediction

MSU will go as far as Ringer and Hoyer take it. The importance of their health can’t be understated, as neither have backups that are ready to step in and shoulder the burden they take on every Saturday.

This season, the Spartans will take huge steps but still fall short of Dantonio’s goal, as they’ll finish with eight wins and a fourth-place finish in the conference standings.

Published on Thursday, July 24, 2008