MSU news conference: Dantonio on Penn State

Comments

[mikewright]

Is it true Dantonio is a leading candidate for the Tennessee job, and is being mentioned for Kansas State? Has he told K-State not interested, but is open to overatures from the Volunteers? Do you think State will attempt to lock him up for the foreseeable future to avoid an exodus to Knoxville? It is a much prettier area with a more temperate climate. Downside is you run into LSU, Alabama and Florida each year instead of Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern. I'm guessing he checks the schedule, bleeds the Sparties for a few hundred grand more, then stays in chilly East Lansing for three more years.

[Matthew]

No way does Dantonio even look another direction - especially after actually experiencing some level of success so soon. My gut says he's a lifer - the Tom Izzo of the football program. Dantonio ain't going anywhere!

[mikewright]

That's what Cincinnati thought, too, Matthew.

[SpartyOn]

At least we're not talking about rumors of our head coach being fired.

[DoctorWorm]

I hear Michigan is looking for a coach. Maybe they need a decent one to lift them from the dregs of the Big Ten?

[mikewright]

Tennessee down to Dantonio and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. Rodriquez safe at UM for two more years. Weis likely gone at ND. Bielema stays at Wisconsin though fans unhappy. Paterno retires at Penn State. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald leading candidate to replace Weis or Paterno. Narduzzi to Northwestern. Rodriguez makes slip of tongue in March, vows to beat MSU or resign next fall.

[Duffy Perles]

If Dantonio goes to Tennessee I'm not going to watch college football anymore.

[spartan fan]

With success comes offers from other teams. This is just the way it is. Should he leave for greener pastures, a.k.a., more money, more prestigious conference, better "climate," fine. Should he leave because of a meddling administration or meddling Trustees ala Sabin than shame on us. After two tries (Bobby and John L.) we seem to have gotten it right, so let's hope the administration lives up to its bargain and works to keep MD in East Lansing. The last thing we need is for the revolving door to start moving again, flushing too many losers through the program. We need continuity and consistency. That's how great programs are built and stay built. Look at Penn State, Ohio State. Look at Michigan; look at MSU basketball for pete's sake. No, no, no, no, no...say it ain't so MD.

Continuity........

[Spartan4life]

The only other team that Coach D will consider is South Carolina. That is where he went to school, and I am sure they will be in pretty good shape once Spurrier leaves.... That is the only place I am afraid he might go....

[imz23]

Why is everyone talking about MD & Tennessee?

[allspartan]

I have heard some whispers the last couple of days since Tennessee said Fullmer would not be returning. Hearing this tonite concerns me because it is another source, and sometimes there is fire where there is smoke. It would be devastating to lose MD. Anybody heard anything this evening?

[MSUinSC]

Dantonio won't go to Tennessee. The issue may be University of South Carolina in the near future. Hopefully, he sees the writing on the wall that Spurrier can't win at USC and stays with state for 5-6 years. Lifer, that would be great but coaches look at MSU currently as a stepping stone unless someone stays and builds a program. Only time and $$$ will tell. Let's hope the administration does not get stingy with the $$$ and realizes the value in a winning football coach. I hope Danotonio stays for life but I believe, realistically, he will be here for several more years and then head to USC if Spurrier learns how to win there and vacates the coaching position.

[Matthew]

I would invite you all over to the discussion board at spartannation.com (Click on the Phalanx Forum and then read discussion thread titled "Hondo - What's the Word?") for more on this matter. Hondo is a trusted source and usually is right on when it comes to information on Spartans athletics.

From the sound of things, it looks like some kind of contact / offer was made, Dantonio expressed no interest, and is looking to MSU to step up and re-sign his deal with increased money / years / etc.

Trust me, he ain't going anywhere right now!

[paulywood]

The only "sources" I have seen that mention MD as a candidate for the UT job are from UM fans. UT fans are talking about Brewster, Muschamp, Leach, and there is a small group pushing for Kelley. I expect MD to sign a contract extension this winter. Rumor is they've been working on it since the ND game. MD will be at MSU for a long time.

[TheOldestIzzoneMember]

mikewright is scUM.

[Jacob]

Just like any Spartan fan I wish they leave our coach alone, but realistically that's not the case. MSU admin has finally got it right by hiring MD, now it is time to pay the man point blank. We do not need to be searching for a new coach and culture change.

[Psyc]

Everyone PLEASE repeat after me: PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM!!!!

We can not lose Coach D now! I agree he may not be a lifer, but given 4 to 6 more years he wil build a program that is self perpetuating! I don't care what it costs, we need this guy!

[spartan fan]

PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM!!!!

Chanting over and over:

PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM!!!!

Send the idiot Trustees on a road trip somewhere, anywhere..just out of state.

Chanting: PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM!!!!

MSU President: PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM, PAY HIM!!!!

AaaaahhhOOOOOOOOOOHM.

[rob]

Sounds like a bunch of gossiping old hens. LOL

[1/2 Full]

This is laughable.

MD will probably "listen" if someone calls...who wouldn't. He'll kindly reply with a "thanks, but no thanks" and use the overtures to improve his contract at MSU. Again, who wouldn't?

He has a history at MSU and NONE at Tennessee. He is highly regarded in this community for what he has done in just two years. I sense he wants to be as revered as Izzo. If he goes (and I put that likelihood at <1%) he damages his own credibility within the college ranks.

Mikewright, I don't know who you are, but it appears you are a pot-stirrer. As for your response "that's what Cincinnati thought." there is no comparison between Cincinnati and MSU...NONE. The Big East is a joke in football. Cincinnati has a second rate stadium and program. Cincinnati is a pro town and most of the UC students are OSU fans (quoting Trevor Anderson in an article just last week).

Not that I mind if others want to talk to our coach, it means he's good, but it doesn't mean he's leaving. The only troubling part of all this is the administration stepping up to pay him A LOT more $ when we are struggling to sellout Big Ten home games. I believe they will step up, just not sure with how much.

As for all the other rumors Mikewright espouses, what makes you think JoPa is going to retire? He will name his time to exit and no one will be calling for his head after this season.

Weiss is not going to be fired at ND. He gets AT LEAST one more year...probably two before they get too restless.

My senses tell me Tenn will look at someone connected with the program or a Leach/Gundy type. Don't forget one thing not in Dantonio's favor is his age...he's in his early/mid 50's at this point. I think MSU is his last coaching position. It's one of the few he aspired to, the others being So. Carolina or OSU, althought there is nothing in his coaching past that indicates he has ever considered a return to So. Carolina. If Tressel retires in the next few years, I'll be concerned.

[Psyc]

Just got this info from a friend about BT coaches! If this is accurate, it's a joke!! Mark D deserves better!!

You will get more sellouts to fund things when winning is a tradition, not a rare occurrence. We are on our way there!

Here's the salary breakdown for Big Ten coaches, top to bottom (from the time when Coach D was hired):

• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $2.7 million annual salary

• Jim Tressel, Ohio State, $2.4 million

• Glen Mason, Minnesota, $1.7 million

• Lloyd Carr, Michigan, $1.1 million

• Joe Paterno, Penn State, $1.3 million

• Ron Zook, Illinois, $1.2 million

• Joe Tiller, Purdue, $1.2 million

• Mark Dantonio, MSU, $1.1 million

• Bret Bielema, Wisconsin, $750,000

• Terry Hoeppner, Indiana, $600,000

• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, $141,000 *

[1/2 Full]

The salary info is a couple of years ago, as Terry Hoeppner has been gone for two seasons now. Also, if I remember correctly, no one knows Paterno or Fitzgerald's salaries. Fitz b/c NW is a private university. Paterno case is odd since PSU is a public university, but he may get paid with private funds. Seems like Lloyd Carr's total comp was around $1.8m his last couple of years. Not certain about that though.

[McSpar10]

This is a joke and you are all playing into mikewright's hands. He is stirring the pot and doesn't believe anything he is reporting.

1/2 Full got it right. Dantonio is not going anywhere. Not now, not ever. I would feel comfortable making a large bet, giving away odds, that MD is here to stay. Any takers?

What about the famous line, "it's only just begun, I'm going to be here for a long time." Does MD strike you as the kind of guy that would go against his word unless he had good reason to? What's the reason to leave? He's already achieving success, has a nice recruiting class coming in, great facilities, nice academics, beautiful campus, etc. etc. Not to mention, do you know what kind of pad >$1M gets you in Michigan! Simon and Hollis get it. He will be paid.

He's a midwest guy. He likes it here. He's not leaving for SC, and he's sure as hell not leaving for TN. Breathe in, breathe out. MD is here to stay.

[SpartylawinDC]

Guys, relax. MD isn't going to Tennessee, or S. Carolina either. My wife's stepdad is a booster for Tennessee and told me that MD is on their list, but probably wouldn't really make a push for him, and even if they did, they wouldn't expect him to leave MSU. Additionally, MD's roots are in the Big Ten. He lived and coached in Ohio for how many years??? He has no connections with the South (other than playing football at South Carolina and I believe he was a head coach at a high school down there for a year two back in the day). Dantonio was brought in to resurrect a once proud football program that has been down in the dumps lately. He saw what Izzo did with our hoops team (also a team that was rich in tradition) and realized that the MSU job was a dream job. MD's favorite team growing up was Ohio State, and his mentor is Tressel, so what better than to get to play your favorite team and mentor every year? Finally, MD is one that like to build from the ground up. You saw that when he was at Cincy and you're seeing that now with MSU. Why on earth would you go to a school like Tennessee where you have to deal with fans that expect way too much (like UK basketball fans) and you don't know the conference and recruiting territory that well? He's got a good thing going at MSU; he's not going to leave. One more thing, Dantonia put some of his own money into the Skandarlis building -- he has vested interest in the Spartans. So relax.

[MayoSpartan]

Mike Wright is laughing at us right now. The troll is always trying to plant a seed of doubt!

If anyone considers Mike Wright as a valid source you bought it hook, line and sinker!

SI, espn & Sportsline have n't mentioned MD's name in any vacancy rumor mill.

GO GREEN

Give Mark Dantonio a raise and extension... very soon, like tomorrow!