The face of MSU's football program

Quick, first reaction -- who is the face of the MSU football program?

The current coach, Mark Dantonio? A legend, such as Biggie Munn or Duffy Daugherty? George Webster? Kirk Gibson? Lorenzo White? A current star, such as Javon Ringer?

Click on this link and let your opinion be known.

Comments

[New_Prep_Guru]

I bet a majority of non-Michiganders would name Perles and Saban if you asked them what person they associate with MSU football the most.

[rg]

I'm probably a little older than most of you, which may be why I think of Bubba Smith.

[prm]

Zeke the wonder dog

[Rob]

Unfortunately, given 40+ years of mediocrity, I don't believe there IS a true face to Spartan football. Way too much turnover and inconsistency. If anybody, Dantonio would be it. That's how short term any sense of success and pride in the program carries. Sadly, most people outside of the state can only relate to U-M. Much like they would relate to Izzo and MSU basketball.

[Ted]

Plaxico Burress...as in Super Bowl ring.

Who else has really made it.

My generation would say Duffy as the National Championship tie is still extremely memorable to all football fans.

Locally maybe Bubba and the impact he made on the community driving around in that Corvette...amazing the cars the players had back then eh?

[stone]

at this point, its rapidly becoming coach D. we tried with Stanton, but the ND melt down and the collapse of the helmet pretty much capped that off. (he was not a lucky guy)

but coach D right now, and its getting stronger

[Spartan Brother]

As a qualifier, I graduated 40 years ago next month. Personally, I would say Biggie Munn since he built the program to national prominence. But then Duffy was perhaps our most colorful and well known representative. Currently, among Spartan fans I believe it has to be Coach D.

For me it is hard to identify a single player as the face of the program. For a long time it might have been Bubba, because he was such a colorful character in addition to being a dominating player. But I think our outstanding player of all time was George Webster. So who knows? Maybe it's Sparty!

BTW Ted, when I was in school in '66, Bubba drove a white Olds Toronado with "Bubba" painted in small green letters on each door.

[tien_3]

Sparty.

[tanfan]

Trevor Barnes

[Fletch]

Bolley

[pulling69]

That kid with the green wig at the home basketball games...His ugly mug is recognized and hated by 67.3% of the United States.

[Hondo]

Tom Izzo

[bluto]

Yo Hondo.. its for the Football program.. ya dummy!

I say dantonio

[The Server]

It's clrealy between

Amish Patel and Damon Dowdell

[B Man]

Clearly the fans (especially the season ticket holders) who show up despite the team's failures are the face of the program.

[Rob]

AMEN! B Man. You hit the nail on the head. The greatest fans in the world who fill or nearly fill Spartan Stadium week in and week out for 40 years of mediocrity. And no offense to the other people's comments or their ages, but how pathetic is it that we would consider Biggie Munn as the face of MSU football....a coach that retired retired 50 years ago before many of us were born! Wow.

[Sonny]

Sorry to correct once again, but Bubba drove a white Buick Riviera, not a Corvette or an Olds Toranado. I know because I rode in it. He could never fit into a Corvette.

[Oz]

First of all, whoever said Zeke the wonder dog should have all their posting rights revoked. It's hard to argue with Bubba Smith - I'm only in my 30's but my parents described games they attended and how it gave them chills when the crowd was chanting "Kill Bubba Kill!" I will also throw out Scotty Green. He typified hard nose, slobber knocker football. Plus, he helped us beat UM both years at home during my time on campus.

[313Spartan]

Muhsin Muhammad

[David]

Ted: as for your question of "who else has really made it?" {besides Plaxico}, I'd argue that there is PLENTY of love to go around when it comes to former MSU wide receivers. Derrick Mason played in a Superbowl w/the Titans. Andre Rison caught a TD pass in a Superbowl for the Packers. Musin Muhammed has played in 2 Superbowls, and caught a long bomb in the 1st one vs. former wolverine Ty Law. Mark Ingram played in a Superbowl w/the Giants. That Plaxico caught the game winning TD pass in this last Superbowl is terrific, but he's hardly the only Spartan to find success in the NFL, especially @ the WR position.

{I'm now waiting for a U-M blogger to say the obligatory "Nope, you MSU fans drempt all that up!. Yeah, right. Whatever.}

DSR

[LeeBee]

In the spirit of the blog, a lot of names flashed through my 60+ year old mind -- a togh thing to do now days. Duffy, Biggie, Earl Moral, Clarence Peaks and the Hawaiian barefooted place-kicker. but first and Foremost -- Bubba.

[steve]

Earl Morrall and Morten Anderson

[Jerry landry]

I would say the Spartan Logo and the Sparty Statue have endured the coaching changes over the years. Spartan Stadium also has to be mentioned. Coach Dantonio has not even earned a footnote.

[rg]

Hey, Spartan Brother...We graduated the same year. Remember how hot it was on the floor of the Stadium?

I remember that car, though I don't recall what model it was. I do recall once seeing Bubba's car in the driveway loop at the union. HIs brother Tody was getting out of the passenger side.

They sure made cars BIG back then!

[Steve M]

Coach Dantonio, as it should be for the next 30 years! He's just getting started.