
That was brutal. No two ways about it. State was man-handled in a manner I haven’t seen in years. No need to go into a deep analysis, we were beat in all three phases.
The worst part was that we didn’t even seem to care. They were fired up and played with emotion.. They took the game to us. We treated this game like we were playing Indiana or Rutgers.
I fully expected to see Keep Dantonio signs in the stands. It won’t be long.
So now what? I’ve been preaching that we need to see how the season goes. There were plenty of games left and a chance to make for a good season. I was not part of the pitchfork and torches brigade.
After the meltdown versus Illinois, I started rummaging around the tool shed.
After yesterday’s debacle I’ve found the pitchfork and lit the torch. I’ll sheepishly, reluctantly join the crowd but I’ll being staying far in the back. I have too much respect for what he’s done. I’ll treat it more like a vigil than a vigilante.
All coaches get an expiration date at the time of hiring. It’s just not known when until it’s time to scratch off the ticket. It’s time.
The worst part was that we didn’t even seem to care. They were fired up and played with emotion.. They took the game to us. We treated this game like we were playing Indiana or Rutgers.
I fully expected to see Keep Dantonio signs in the stands. It won’t be long.
So now what? I’ve been preaching that we need to see how the season goes. There were plenty of games left and a chance to make for a good season. I was not part of the pitchfork and torches brigade.
After the meltdown versus Illinois, I started rummaging around the tool shed.
After yesterday’s debacle I’ve found the pitchfork and lit the torch. I’ll sheepishly, reluctantly join the crowd but I’ll being staying far in the back. I have too much respect for what he’s done. I’ll treat it more like a vigil than a vigilante.
All coaches get an expiration date at the time of hiring. It’s just not known when until it’s time to scratch off the ticket. It’s time.

I’ve heard the arguments for Mark to stay. Can you trust the new AD and President to get this right? Not by themselves, but a Committee involving Mark himself, Izzo and input from MD’s friends, Dabo, Tressel, and Urban would surface some good candidates. Candidates that know what it takes to win at State.
How do you know that there is someone that is better than what we have? You don’t. No one does.
For every great hire there are three that range from bad to OK. We misfired with Muddy and Bobby. John L Smith got things going after Bobby but fizzled when teams learned how to defend his offense. Perles made huge strides after Muddy including a Rose Bowl win but eventually got too big for his britches and wore out his welcome. Saban was a great coach in the wrong spot for both sides.
There’s been a lot of talk about Luke Fickell in Cincinnati. I like his track record. After going 4-8 his first season, he’s gone 20-3 and is the leader for the group of 5 New Year’s spot.
In many ways his resume is the same as MD’s, defensive coach at Ohio State, HC at Cincinnati, well entrenched with the Ohio high school coaches. It’s worked before, it could work again. It’s the safe choice. Yet, maybe the background is too identical to MDs. Can lightning strike twice?
I’ve always been a fan of hiring young, up and coming HC from smaller programs. I was a fan of Mario Cristobal (Oregon) when he was at Florida International and Matt Rhule (Baylor) when he was at Temple. The pickings are fewer this year but Fickell fits that bill as does Mike Norvell (Memphis) and Billy Napier (UL Lafayette).
How do you know that there is someone that is better than what we have? You don’t. No one does.
For every great hire there are three that range from bad to OK. We misfired with Muddy and Bobby. John L Smith got things going after Bobby but fizzled when teams learned how to defend his offense. Perles made huge strides after Muddy including a Rose Bowl win but eventually got too big for his britches and wore out his welcome. Saban was a great coach in the wrong spot for both sides.
There’s been a lot of talk about Luke Fickell in Cincinnati. I like his track record. After going 4-8 his first season, he’s gone 20-3 and is the leader for the group of 5 New Year’s spot.
In many ways his resume is the same as MD’s, defensive coach at Ohio State, HC at Cincinnati, well entrenched with the Ohio high school coaches. It’s worked before, it could work again. It’s the safe choice. Yet, maybe the background is too identical to MDs. Can lightning strike twice?
I’ve always been a fan of hiring young, up and coming HC from smaller programs. I was a fan of Mario Cristobal (Oregon) when he was at Florida International and Matt Rhule (Baylor) when he was at Temple. The pickings are fewer this year but Fickell fits that bill as does Mike Norvell (Memphis) and Billy Napier (UL Lafayette).

It’s a gamble but no more than seeing if Dantonio still has it in him. How many coaches reach the peak, fall and then reach the heights again? The closest is the way Iowa sticks with Ferentz. Ferentz might not have achieved all the heights that MD did, but he never had the lows either.
After his first winning season in 2001 he had only one losing season, 2012 4-8. We need to win out including a bowl win from having our second losing season in four years.
And let’s not ignore the downside if Dantonio sticks around for another year, losing the best players on defense, no obvious choice at QB to replace Lewerke and a much more difficult schedule. If he has a third down season in six, imagine the pitchfork crowd then. Seems like it would be better for Mark to retire now with his reputation still intact than to be fired, the flames tarnishing a stellar record.
Retire now while there is still stability and a program appealing to up and coming candidates, not a torched waste land.
And if Dantonio decides to stay? He’ll be allowed to. Izzo would support the decision and no one would be able to stand to Dantonio and Izzo. I would support the decision and hope for the best. But I truly believe that in two years we will be in better shape with new blood, re-energized recruiting, and the support of MD than we would be with MD as HC over the next two years.
And to you scUM fans - It will never be over
After his first winning season in 2001 he had only one losing season, 2012 4-8. We need to win out including a bowl win from having our second losing season in four years.
And let’s not ignore the downside if Dantonio sticks around for another year, losing the best players on defense, no obvious choice at QB to replace Lewerke and a much more difficult schedule. If he has a third down season in six, imagine the pitchfork crowd then. Seems like it would be better for Mark to retire now with his reputation still intact than to be fired, the flames tarnishing a stellar record.
Retire now while there is still stability and a program appealing to up and coming candidates, not a torched waste land.
And if Dantonio decides to stay? He’ll be allowed to. Izzo would support the decision and no one would be able to stand to Dantonio and Izzo. I would support the decision and hope for the best. But I truly believe that in two years we will be in better shape with new blood, re-energized recruiting, and the support of MD than we would be with MD as HC over the next two years.
And to you scUM fans - It will never be over