Thursday, May 2, 2024

Mark_Dantonio

FOOTBALL

Dantonio on BCS title: 'Why not us?'

Dillon Davis
December 3, 2013

“Why not us?” That is indeed the question following Mark Dantonio’s weekly press conference with the media yesterday afternoon. With only a few days before the No. 10 Spartans (11-1 overall, 8-0 Big Ten) travel to Indianapolis for a date with No. 2 Ohio State (12-0, 8-0) in the Big Ten Championship Game, the MSU head coach briefly entertained a scenario that would send the Spartans to Pasadena — not for the Rose Bowl, but for the BCS National Championship Game.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio's greatest hits

Dillon Davis
November 5, 2013

Through seven years at MSU, Mark Dantonio has been the catalyst of some of the most memorable moments in program history. One of the most successful Spartan coaches since Duffy Daugherty, Dantonio already has made footprints in the sand, winning two bowl games, a Big Ten championship, an appearance in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game and five games against in-state rival Michigan.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio, players share personal past with rivalry

Dillon Davis
October 29, 2013

For nearly two decades, head coach Mark Dantonio has been surrounded by the Michigan rivalry — and he rarely backs down from the opportunity to talk about it. Whether it’s during his time at Ohio State, his coordinator days under head coach Nick Saban at MSU or his more than seven years as the head coach of the Spartans, Dantonio acknowledges the rivalry with the Wolverines is a part of who he, and by extension, his family have become.

FOOTBALL

Could Cook be a 100-yard rusher?

Dillon Davis
October 17, 2013

The moment he uttered the remark, it would have been easy to see it as a slip of the tongue. And realistically, how else could it be interpreted? Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook, a 100-yard rusher?

FOOTBALL

Dantonio talks recent success, home field

Dillon Davis
October 15, 2013

My, how the tables have turned. During an overall disastrous 2012 season, the MSU football team didn’t clinch bowl eligibility until the final regular season game, going winless against Big Ten teams at home while nursing a stagnant offensive attack.

FOOTBALL

Offensive Ignition

Stephen Brooks
October 13, 2013

When Indiana running back Tevin Coleman sprinted 64 yards to the house 61 seconds into the game, flashbacks of last year’s first-quarter scare in Bloomington, Ind., washed across the crowd of 73,815 fans, students and alumni on Homecoming weekend. Memories of the Hoosiers and their fast-paced offense racing out to a 17-point lead through one quarter came back into focus.

FOOTBALL

Column: Offense potent in breakout win over Hoosiers

Dillon Davis
October 13, 2013

All season long, people have written off MSU’s offense. While navigating through a four-headed quarterback battle, a flurry of drops by the wide receiving corps and general ineffectiveness at key skill positions, the Spartans opened the door for criticism, leading many to believe the team’s path would mirror a disappointing showing from the previous year.

FOOTBALL

Storm The Gates

Dillon Davis
October 6, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was a brief moment in time. But for Darqueze Dennard, it has been on his mind for weeks. During the first quarter of September’s 21-6 victory against South Florida, the senior cornerback dropped an easy interception for a touchdown, forced to watch helplessly as a ball well within his grasp fell incomplete to the finely manicured grass.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio faces another tough test at Iowa

Stephen Brooks
October 4, 2013

When Mark Dantonio returned to East Lansing seven years ago as MSU’s 24th head football coach, he looked to Iowa as a model. In the Hawkeyes, he saw a template for how he wanted to shape his program, one built with modest recruits on a foundation of toughness, discipline and player development.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio stresses importance of first Big Ten game

Dillon Davis
October 1, 2013

“A game of inches.” It’s popular sports cliché, and for good reason — MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is never shy to break out the ruler when determining the margin in a close victory or a narrow defeat. And when it comes to playing Iowa, the margins for Dantonio are about as close as they come.

FOOTBALL

Notre Dame to be 'great experience' for Cook

Dillon Davis
September 17, 2013

Game of the Century. Little Giants. The flag plant. Dating back to their first game in 1897, the MSU-Notre Dame rivalry is one of college football’s oldest rivalries and holds significant cultural importance to both programs while generating some of the sport’s most lively atmospheres.

FOOTBALL

Offense carves up Youngstown State for 55-17 win

Stephen Brooks
September 14, 2013

It was a day of firsts for the MSU football program on Saturday in a 55-17 blowout win against Youngstown State.

FOOTBALL

Cook named starter, Terry backup for upcoming game

Stephen Brooks
September 10, 2013

For the segment of football fans that has been calling for quarterback Damion Terry on Twitter, message boards and even mid-game at Spartan Stadium, dreams may soon be reality.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio still silent on quarterbacks

Dillon Davis
September 3, 2013

“With opportunity comes opposition.”