Dantonio said the players are playing as hard as they can, and penalties are going to occur.

“This is a physical game; this is a game of reaction,” he said. “We’re not talking about seconds to react. We’re talking about tenths of seconds to react.

“This game is a game of collision, and anybody who doesn’t understand that hasn’t been out there.”

He said playing tough and with emotion is the way the game is supposed to be played, and he saw that from both teams Saturday.

U-M head coach Brady Hoke said at his press conference Monday that he thought MSU out-played, out-coached and was more physical than the Wolverines, and players agreed.

“It really comes down to who is going to be more physical,” U-M defensive tackle Mike Martin said. “Football is a physical game. Whoever hits the other one in the mouth more — the other one might not come out with a win at the end.”

In a statement from the MSU Athletics Department, Athletics Director Mark Hollis said the Big Ten has notified MSU of a potential “sportslike conduct violation,” but he did not disclose what the notification was in response to.

Although Dantonio did not comment on the issue, it is likely the potential violation is regarding the conduct of sophomore defensive end William Gholston during Saturday’s game.

Gholston had two personal fouls called against him during the game — one for punching U-M offensive lineman Taylor Lewan and another for twisting U-M quarterback Denard Robinson’s face mask after the play.

“Did I see it? Yes,” Hoke said. “Does it happen in games? Yes. Is it sometimes part of the game? Yes.”

Regardless of the result of the potential violation, Dantonio said the Spartans need to clean up their game because their penalties are going to catch up to them, and they will struggle against Wisconsin if they aren’t reduced.

“We’re the ones getting penalized, so we have to play with the results,” Dantonio said. “We somehow found our way out of those (against U-M), but they’re going to hurt us and ultimately cost us a football game if we don’t clean those up.”

‘Unsung heroes’
With gusts of wind flying around Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Dantonio said all three aspects of the team played well — particularly special teams.

Redshirt freshman punter Mike Sadler — who averages 40.3-yard punts — had five punts for 205 yards against U-M, with his longest being 45 yards.

“He does a great job direction punting — he’s got that ability,” Dantonio said. “I think he’s very skillful at what he does, so he has the ability to put it into the sideline or put it where he wants it, and that’s going to be key.”

Sophomore kicker Kevin Muma averages 66.1 yards and kicked five for 333 yards Saturday.

“(There are) unsung heroes in the game with guys like Kevin Muma — big kick into the end zone,” Dantonio said. “He had three kicks into the end zone with the biggest into the wind after, I guess, our third score. And then Sadler with his punts, all of our holders and returners and those people did a great job.”