Dantonio's new salary another step toward MSU being a destination job

It wasn’t a surprise to see Mark Dantonio get a contract extension and bump in pay following this past football season.

It also probably wasn’t a tough decision for Michigan State to make.

On Tuesday, details of Dantonio’s new deal came out and the Spartans’ head coach is now going to be making $3.64 million annually and his assistants are also seeing pay increases. Most notable of the assistants is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who will now be the highest-paid assistant in the Big Ten at $904,583 per year.

Following MSU’s Big Ten Championship, Dantonio’s name popped up as a potential replacement for Mack Brown at Texas, but he quickly shrugged off those rumors. Now, Spartans fans shouldn’t have to worry about Dantonio leaving.

When Dantonio started in East Lansing, there wasn’t a lot to be excited about in terms of a national outlook. That has completely changed in his seven seasons with the Spartans.

It took some time, but Michigan State is now a Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion and Dantonio has turned East Lansing into a destination job, at least for him. Michigan State and Mark Hollis has also decided to make MSU a destination job, putting Dantonio near the top 10 in the country in terms of pay.

Pat Narduzzi sticking around is also a big key. The defensive coordinator passed up more money and a chance to lead his own program to stay with MSU for at least another season. Who knows what Dantonio and Narduzzi have discussed about future plans, but it is clear that Narduzzi recognizes something within the program. He doesn’t see the momentum train stopping anytime soon, thus damaging his chances to one day lead a program.

The success of the 2013 season was something Michigan State fans had been longing for for quite some time. Now the expectations have been raised and have changed in East Lansing. Time will tell if Dantonio can sustain this type of success, but the university has made it clear that it is going to do what it can to help him do just that.

My prediction for the Rose Bowl

It’s been quite a season for Michigan State, but I don’t see it ending on a positive note.

The Spartans have worked hard to get back to the Rose Bowl, and that in itself could be all the accomplishment that Michigan State is looking for.

Stanford has been in this situation, while MSU can clearly get lost in the moment.

It doesn’t help that the Spartans are without defensive leader Max Bullough, either.

Stanford poses the toughest physical test Michigan State has had this season. The Spartans have struggled against physical running backs, and they will see one in this game in Tyler Gaffney. Unlike what Ohio State did with Carlos Hyde, Stanford won’t stop feeding Gaffney. With Bullough out, the Spartans are likely to have a tough time stopping the Cardinal ground game, which should keep the MSU offense off the field.

If Stanford is able to control the ball on offense, it may cause MSU to press on offense, which likely won’t go well. Connor Cook has been composed this season, but is facing a tough defense. His mistakes will be amplified against Stanford. While Jeremy Langford could have another solid game, I don’t think he will be able to do enough on his own to win the game.

Ultimately, the experience of Stanford and the Cardinal’s ability to match MSU’s physical play will lead them to victory. 

Stanford 27, Michigan State 16

Thoughts on Michigan State's win over Ohio State in B1G Championship

Well, I thought MSU would win, but I didn’t think the game would play out quite like it did.

The fast start wasn’t all too surprising, but Connor Cook throwing for the two long TD passes was. Ohio State answering wasn’t surprising, but the Buckeyes dominating the battle on the ground was.

MSU showing some heart and fighting back wasn’t surprising, but it still was surprising that the Spartans won and are going to the Rose Bowl. I mean, it has been 25 years. The words Rose Bowl and Michigan State just don’t go together.

But, in the end, the better team won and I truly believe that. I think Ohio State out-thought itself a little bit at times. I think the Buckeyes got away from what was working when they got ahead. Braxton Miller was solid on the ground, not with his arm. Carlos Hyde was a beast, yet the Buckeyes didn’t turn to him when it counted.

Hyde had 18 carries for 118 yards, a 6.6 average. Yet, on a 3rd and 4, he wasn’t on the field. On 4^th and 2 late in the game, he wasn’t given the ball. I know Miller is a playmaker, but Hyde was the sure thing on Saturday. Michigan State couldn’t stop his forward momentum. Was he racking up 20-yard runs? No, but he was as consistent a force as there was in the game. Ohio State shouldn’t have gotten too cute and just run the ball down MSU’s throat.

Aside from that, Michigan State deserves its share of credit. The defense faced some tough moments and still came up with key stops.

Offensively, Connor Cook had a great game. He had some bad throws, but he didn’t lose his cool and made some tremendous throws in the fourth quarter.

Jeremy Langford and the offensive line started off slowly, but really put the exclamation point on the game in the fourth quarter with the game-sealing touchdown drive.

It was a team win for Michigan State and the coaching staff made some great play calls and made some good adjustments along the way.

Mark Dantonio couldn’t get the smile off his face after the win, and for good reason. He really has built Michigan State into something it hasn’t been in a long time. Aside from this season’s Big Ten title, the Spartans have had a very impressive four-year run, winning three Big Ten titles and reaching at least 11 wins three times.

The 2012 season was disappointing for Dantonio and MSU, and many (myself included) thought the Spartans were going to go back to being a mediocre program. Instead, they learned from the 2012 season and all the tough losses and carried into this year, when they played with poise and found ways to win instead of finding ways to lose.

Pat Narduzzi deserves a lot of credit and if he isn’t a head coach next season, then a lot of programs are missing out. It will be interesting to see just how much Narduzzi impacted the defense’s performance, but I think it was a pretty large amount. Dantonio should get some credit for what the defense has become, but certainly Narduzzi makes the right calls at the right time for the unit.

MSU goes on to Pasadena for a meeting with Stanford. It should be a physical football game, but I don’t see any reason that MSU can’t beat the Cardinal. The key will be for MSU not to get lost in the moment of being in the Rose Bowl, and take care of business.

Big Ten Championship Game Prediction

This game is a contrast of many things.

Ohio State and Michigan State couldn’t be much more different when it comes to their football programs.

Ohio State is the flashy, brand new, high-priced car. Michigan State is the weathered, rusted-out, used mid-90s Chevy Nova that takes a few tries to start.

Even this season, Ohio State was expected to be where it is. The Buckeyes were the preseason No. 2 team and many were handing them (including myself) the Big Ten Championship before the season even began. They were, and are, considered the jewel of the Big Ten conference.

Michigan State, on the other hand, wasn’t expected to be quite so successful. While there was some potential, the Spartans weren’t expected to go unbeaten in the Big Ten this year, largely due to their less-than-impressive offense.

Still, despite their differences, both teams have found their way to Indianapolis tonight.

However, the Spartans have taken the road less traveled to get there.

Ohio State may look better and perform better, but in my eyes, Michigan State is the team that will win this game.

The Spartans have been scratching and clawing their way up the hill to respect in the Big Ten. The numbers are there, but the final piece to the puzzle is still missing. That piece is an outright title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State knows adversity and it knows what grinding out a win is all about.

Ohio State has won with flash and fireworks. The Buckeyes are all about style and winning with flare. They looked unbeatable against a light schedule and seemed well on their way to their destiny of an unbeaten season, until last week.

Perhaps I am putting too much stock into one game, but Ohio State exposed itself last week against a wounded Michigan team. The Wolverines actually took the fight to the Buckeyes, especially the OSU defense, and the Buckeyes didn’t respond too well.

Sure, the offense put up 42 points, but did so on a defense that can’t match what Michigan State has in any area. Conversely, the Buckeyes allowed 41 points to an offense that couldn’t post positive rushing yards against the Spartans.

Make no mistake, Michigan State is going to punch Ohio State right in the face today. The question is, how will the Buckeyes respond? This will be the first time this season Ohio State may not be able to push around its opponent. The bullies may find themselves getting bullied, and most bullies don’t respond well to that.

Ohio State has the talent to win this game, but I truly think Michigan State has the right team at the right time to win this game. This is the Super Bowl for MSU, while Ohio State still has its sights set on a BCS Championship Game.

I think Michigan State established the physical tone early and let

Ohio State know they are in for a fight. The offense will put up some early points and the defense will post some early stops. I expect Ohio State to adjust, as Urban Meyer is a great coach, but ultimately, he can’t make his players tougher over 48 minutes of football.

It will be the toughness and grit that will carry Michigan State to this win tonight. It won’t be pretty all the time – it never is – but that is the way the Spartans like it.

Michigan State 27, Ohio State 20

Michigan vs. MSU recap: Hoke has to be gaining some detractors

Brady Hoke has always said the right things and has been largely revered by the Michigan fan base.

He is a “Michigan man.”

Hoke embraces everything that Michigan fans want in a head coach and the rivalries that the Wolverines have.

Along with that, he has been a strong recruiter nationally.

Despite all those things, Michigan isn’t doing

what it hired Hoke to do, and that is win Big Ten titles.

On Saturday, Michigan State physically manhandled Michigan’s offensive line, as the Spartans beat Michigan 29-6.

The loss drops Michigan to 2-2 in the Big Ten and essentially eliminates the Wolverines from contention in the Legends Division.

Michigan seems to be regressing each season under Hoke, which is really the bigger issue.

Hoke took Michigan to 11 wins in 2011 and a win in the Sugar Bowl, but did so largely with Rich Rodriguez’ roster.

Last season, the Wolverines went just 8-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten, once again falling shy of even a division title.

This year, Michigan already has two conference losses, one of which came against Penn State. That loss just can’t happen to a program of Michigan’s caliber.

Saturday’s loss wasn’t surprising, which in turn makes it surprising. It was surprising that all week, those that looked at the game on paper felt Michigan was going to get physically manhandled, and was.

Michigan is a program built on black-and-blue football and “bullying” the opponent. On Saturday, the Wolverines were bullied into silence by the Spartans.

Where is the talent that Hoke was bringing into this program? If it is there, why isn’t it developing?

Recruiting rankings are great, but championships are what matter and Michigan is not winning those.

I am not saying Hoke should be fired, but certainly the fanbase needs to stop treating him like he can do no wrong.

This is serious gut-check time for Hoke. Michigan has to show something the rest of the year, and the Wolverines certainly have to show more in 2014.

It is not like Hoke walked into a challenging Big Ten conference. Outside of Ohio State, the conference is pretty weak. Michigan State has a great defense, but the Spartans’ offense keeps it from being a great team.

The Wolverines are a mediocre team surrounded by a fan base looking for greatness. Perhaps the fans should temper their expectations, or perhaps Hoke just isn’t getting the job done. I find it hard to believe this is the best product he can put on the field.

Prediction for Michigan vs. Michigan State

The Michigan-Michigan State game is about 24 hours away and my feelings on the game haven’t changed throughout the week.

It is funny how, after a few weeks into the season, I would have bet everything I had that Michigan was going to beat the Spartans in East Lansing this year. My how times can change.

It may extreme for me to say I don’t see how Michigan can win, but I see it as very unlikely for the Wolverines.

Michigan can win if Connor Cook has an awful day or if Devin Gardner is able to hit on a lot of deep balls, but Wolverine fans can’t feel very assured about that.

Cook doesn’t have to be great for MSU to win, he just needs to avoid big mistakes and convert some key third-down passes. The pressure isn’t on him as much as it is on Gardner to beat the talented MSU defense. Pat Narduzzi will certainly look to test Gardner early and hope to create a turnover on a quarterback that has been prone to giving the ball away.

I think the story of the game will be Michigan State dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. I expect the Spartans to be able to run the ball efficiently and sustain a handful of drives throughout the game. Defensively, Michigan State should keep Michigan from establishing much of a run game and put plenty of pressure on Gardner, forcing him into bad throws.

Michigan will find some points, but Michigan State will find more. The Spartans have looked like the better team in recent weeks and I feel like they will be the better team on Saturday.

Prediction: Michigan State 24, Michigan 13

Reasons Michigan State can beat Michigan

Michigan State has the luxury of being at home on Saturday when it hosts rival Michigan at 3:30 p.m. The Spartans can really improve their chances at winning the Legends Division with a victory over the Wolverines. Here is a look at some reasons why they can beat Michigan on Saturday.

- Defense – It’s really no secret why Michigan State is 7-1 right now, it is largely due to its defense, which is one of the best in the country, and clearly the best in the Big Ten. MSU is giving up only 12.3 points and 215.6 yards per game. MSU’s worst outing came against Indiana, but the Spartans still held the Hoosiers to 28 points and 351 total yards, which are well below IU’s season averages of 42.4 points and 514 yards per game. Moving the ball on this unit has proven to be tough, especially when you have limited offensive weapons, as Michigan does.

- Winning up front – Michigan State has done a great job this season of controlling the line of scrimmage. The defensive line has been very impressive, leading an effort of allowing only 55 rushing yards per game. On offense, MSU didn’t start with a great line, but the group has improved and has been very strong in Big Ten play. Michigan State is averaging 206 rushing yards per game in conference action, and if the Spartans are able to control the tempo of the game with lengthy drives on offense, it will make things even more difficult for Michigan.

- Field position – It would be one thing if Michigan State was good on defense but awful on special teams, but that is not the case. Michigan State has one of the top punters in the Big Ten in Mike Sadler. Even if the Spartans stumble out of the gate on offense, Sadler should be able to keep the Wolverines pinned back. Michael Geiger is 6 of 7 on field goals right now and 3 of 3 on field goals from 40 yards and beyond. This game last year came down to a few points, so having a steady leg will be important.

- Devin Gardner – The Spartans don’t need any help on defense, but they may get it from Gardner. Gardner is a talented athlete with potential as a quarterback, but turnovers have been a big problem for him. He has 10 interceptions and a handful of lost fumbles this season. Michigan State’s defense has five touchdowns on its own this year, and with points at a premium in this game, a defensive touchdown for MSU might be all it needs to get the win. Gardner needs to be as close to mistake free as he can get if Michigan is going to win.

An early look at Michigan vs. Michigan State

Michigan-Michigan State week is finally here.

Like most hoped, there is a lot on the line in this game. Not as much as there could have been, as both weren’t far from being unbeaten entering Saturday’s clash, but this game will go a long way in determining the Big Ten Legends Division champion.

A win for MSU clearly puts it in the driver’s seat, as it will have two games on Michigan and one game on Nebraska with the Cornhuskers still on the schedule and Nebraska heading to Michigan down the line.

Michigan can even things up with MSU with a win, which it will need with games against Nebraska and Ohio State still ahead.

Despite Michigan winning last season’s game, 12-10 in Ann Arbor, the Spartans have controlled the recent series between these two. Michigan State has won four of the last five and covered the spread in five straight meetings with Michigan.

Coming into this game, Michigan State is a 4.5-point favorite, which I think is fair. I think on paper, this is a bad matchup for Michigan, largely due to Michigan State’s defense. Devin Gardner is going to have to play a smart game on Saturday for Michigan to win and avoid turning the ball over, which has been a big problem for him this season.

Conversely, Michigan’s defense has been shaky, but so has MSU’s offense. However, Michigan State’s offense has trended toward improvement in three of its last four games. You can’t say the same for the Michigan defense. It is entirely possible that Connor Cook could fold under the pressure and have an off day on Saturday, but it is also possible he could play like he did against Illinois and allow MSU to control the ball.

I’ll give my prediction later in the week, but this game certainly feels a bit bigger than I expected it to be when the season began. While I felt it would be an important game in the Big Ten race, I thought Michigan would be a much better team than it is at this point, and I didn’t expect the Spartans to be playing as well as they have on offense in conference play.

Reaction to Michigan State's 55-17 win over Youngstown State

I was at Spartan Stadium on Saturday and saw the Michigan State scoring outburst in person.

It was a good showing for Michigan State, and a much-needed breakout performance for its offense.

I wrote a column on the importance of Saturday’s performance for the offense and quarterback Connor Cook.

It’s easy to say Cook was the reason that Michigan State put up 55 points, but the performance was a collective improvement by all parts.

Receivers caught the tough passes and got separation from the defenders. The offensive line provided protection and created running lanes. Ball carries found open space and made tacklers miss. The quarterbacks didn’t turn the ball over. It all came together for the offense.

Now, the real question is, can Michigan State repeat its performance going forward?

If Michigan State is going to do anything this season, it will need Saturday’s offense to show up more often than not. The MSU defense is always going to give the Spartans a chance to win, but the offense will have to score some points from time-to-time.

Michigan State likely won’t play a defense as bad as Youngstown State’s for the rest of the season, but that doesn’t mean we should look past what the Spartans did on Saturday. It was a step in the right direction and it gave the Spartans some clarity about the quarterback position going forward.

Connor Cook is the guy, and the Spartans are going to win or lose with him under center.

Next week’s game at Notre Dame should give a clearer picture if Michigan State really has solved some of its issues on offense.

Predictions for Akron vs. Michigan/Youngstown State vs. MSU

Akron at Michigan, Noon ET

This should be a sizable win for Michigan at home. Coming off the emotional win against Notre Dame, the Wolverines could use a game like this, where it can afford to make some mistakes and still win. I don’t know that Michigan will look real crisp, as they could be looking past Akron, but the Wolverines should still win with ease. The Zips haven’t shown much ability to stop weaker offenses than Michigan, so look for Devin Gardner to put up impressive numbers. Michigan also should be able to work in a lot of running back options and the defense should hold Akron in check.

Michigan 41, Akron 6

Youngstown State at Michigan State, 2PM ET

MSU could spice this game up by having head coach Mark Dantonio spin a wheel prior to each offensive possession to determine which of the four quarterback options will take the field. The crowd would at least be on the edge of its seat for that. Youngstown State isn’t a bad FCS program and the Spartans would be foolish to come into this game overconfident for any reason, given its extreme offensive struggles. The Spartans need to find their offensive identity in this game, because it can’t go into the rest of the schedule not knowing who their quarterback is. I expect the MSU defense to continue to be impressive, but you can’t expect two more touchdowns this week. This one will be on the offense, and the unit better answer the call. If it can’t score against Youngstown State, just who are the Spartans going to score against?

Michigan State 20 (all from the offense), Youngstown State 10