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.
Only two games in the past six seasons have been decided by more than seven points when Iowa and MSU face off. With both teams matching up comparatively this season, another close one wouldn’t be out of the picture.
With the hours until Saturday’s kickoff between MSU and Iowa dwindling, both Spartan and Hawkeye fans are trying to get a feel for their opponent. Both teams boast a stout defense, and both possess an offense with a few question marks.
Two of the most provocative voices in sports media belong to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless.
Offensive line coach Mark Staten was more than pleased with how his group fared in the Spartans’ loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago. The Spartans rotated in eight offensive linemen, and the various combinations pushed around a talented Fighting Irish defense for much of the afternoon, resulting in a 119-82 advantage in rushing yards.
The biggest beneficiary of MSU football’s bye week might have been junior wide receiver Tony Lippett. Lippett used the week off to reevaluate himself and refocus after talking with coaches, and it paid off with his ascension into the starting line at the X receiver spot with sophomore Aaron Burbridge.
“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.
During MSU’s bye week, quarterbacks coach Brad Salem told his players to focus on improving one aspect of their game following the loss to Notre Dame. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook chose two: footwork and accuracy.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is using some of his extra time this week to help fill the void left by senior linebacker Jairus Jones, who is sidelined at least six weeks with a medial collateral ligament injury.
With the first of two bye weeks underway, the MSU football team is hoping the extra rest will prove beneficial for players on the mend. For senior linebacker Jairus Jones, it will be at least six weeks before he returns to action after suffering a medial collateral ligament, or MCL, injury against Notre Dame, head coach Mark Dantonio announced.
Two seasons, two identical records. That’s the situation facing the MSU football team (3-1) following a weekend loss to No. 22 Notre Dame after opening victories against Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State.
The total donations toward the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance is nearing $40,000 in response to the “Go Blue” skywriting prior to the MSU v. Youngstown State football game. Pam Dahlmann, president of MiOCA, said $39,684 has been received from more than 1,000 donors worldwide, as of Monday afternoon.
It was difficult to tell what was more troubling for the Spartans early Saturday evening.
Nine days ago, Mark Dantonio officially named Connor Cook MSU’s starting quarterback. Following a 55-17 thrashing of Youngstown State, it was an admission by football head coach Dantonio and the MSU staff the sophomore quarterback Cook gives the Spartans the best chance to win games, thus ending weeks of quarterback uncertainty.
South Bend, Ind. — A game that was supposed to bring clarity was instead characterized by confusion. MSU lost to rival Notre Dame for the third straight year in a game all parties involved probably wish they could redo, at least in some capacity.
South Bend, Ind. – Andrew Maxwell stepped on the field with a chance. Facing defeat at the hands of No. 22 Notre Dame, the senior quarterback opened the final drive of the game on MSU’s 33-yard line and an uphill battle to the end zone.
Two teams at a crossroads. Only one can survive.
MSU believes it finally found the proper recipe on offense with a guy named Cook. The ingredients came together in the last of three appetizer matchups to start the season a week ago.
Sept. 22, 2007. That was the day it started for Nick Hill. On a visit to the campus of the University of Notre Dame, Hill took in a viewing of the 71st annual rivalry game between MSU and Notre Dame.
If there ever was an unofficial date in the minds of MSU players and coaches to end the quarterback drama and right the ship offensively, it would be Sept.