Remembering the rivalry: Rich Rodriguez, Mark Dantonio 'don't share tea and crumpets'
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seems, at times, to have a deep-rooted hatred for rival Michigan.
He chastised the Wolverines for their mock moment of silence after winning at Spartan Stadium two years ago, even got personal with Mike Hart, making fun of the running back’s stature when Hart referred to MSU as “little brother.”
But Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday he’s on good terms with Dantonio, a coach he’s known since their days together in the Big East.
“We don’t share tea and crumpets,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t trade text messages every day or anything like that, but we’re friendly.”
Rodriguez set foot in the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry for the first time last year. Michigan State won, 35-21, but Rodriguez said the game was everything he expected: Intense, emotional and passionate.
“I didn’t go into it blind saying, ‘Oh, this will be just like a normal game,’” Rodriguez said. “It’s not. It’s not a normal game.”
As such, Rodriguez said he’s “closing ranks” this week in preparation for Saturday’s showdown with MSU.
Media won’t be allowed to watch the start of practice Wednesday, and Rodriguez joked that assistant athletic director for football Scott Draper will keep one eye on the bridge overlooking Michigan’s practice field this week.
“Not that I don’t trust anybody out there, but we’re so close to each other and coaches being paranoid, I guess, we just said, ‘Hey, it’s just us now,’” Rodriguez said. “Our guys understand how much focus really has to go into this ballgame. And again, I don’t think I have to do that, particularly with our older guys. But our younger guys need to understand that this is a little different.”
Rodriguez said rivalry games he’s been a part of have always taken on a different tone. One time, he had a quarterback who was harassed so bad by opposing fans that he had to shut off his phone for a week and temporarily move out of his apartment.
After last year’s loss, Rodriguez said he heard from some disgruntled Michigan fans who couldn't wait until this year.
“You hear a little grief, but we heard a little bit of grief about everything,” Rodriguez said. “That line goes across the street, too, so it wasn’t like it was something unique or singled out. And it wasn’t something that was unexpected. We lost to an in-state rival and that wasn’t fun. Hopefully you don’t have to do that too many times.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
scottyb029
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 2:57 p.m.
I think we will see D. Rob. get more play time this week. Tate will still play but limited. It will throw the Spartans off, run pass run pass...which will we cover??? I see a high scoreing game with Michigan out on top.
A2D2
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 10:30 a.m.
By the end of the season, Dantonio's record will fall to 35-35, while Rich Rod will be 13-11 or so, and just starting.
blue
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 9:11 a.m.
I'll never forgive Dantonio for making fun of Mike Hart after losing in classic Sparty fashion, no less. Hart's "Little Brother" comments were more playful than anything, and Dantonio's just seemed awkward and cruel. Coaches should never ever talk smack about opposing players. It's completely out of line.
Theo212
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 7:12 a.m.
I don't see another win on Sparty's schedule. RR will dominate them to lengths unseen even under Bo or Lloyd. And very soon we will own the state in basketball, too. How miserable it must be to be an msu fan.
miatamich
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 5:56 a.m.
I'm no Sparty fan, but Dantonio's career record of 35-28 is no indication that he's a bad coach.
richagain
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 5:56 a.m.
Dantonio loves OSU. Yes he does lay down every year for his bucks Maybe when we storm accross the field to take our trophy we can have a "moment of silence" on the 50 yrd line. sssssshhhhhhhh!
tomhagan
Tue, Sep 29, 2009 : 2:25 a.m.
Dave... Dantonio started the whole "Moment of Silence" thing with his comment after the Appalacian state Game. Michigan then followed by beating Sparty and doing their own Moment of Silence for Dantonio, mocking the old fool. Let's be blunt and honest about this whole thing: Mark Dantonio is Classless. He is also an average to bad Head Coach (as evident by his career record). His continual sniping at Michigan, making snide remarks in the press...is absolutely classless. Neither Rich Rod, or Carr, or Bo or any coach at Michigan or otherwise would make such classless comments. It is great to see Sparty get beaten repeatedly and team morale apparently falling apart as well...why? Because Dantonio in all his classless bluster didnt realize that in Sparty's case: The Fall came, well before any Pride.
uminks
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 9:53 p.m.
IU is probably a better team than some pre-season prognosticators have predicted. I don't think IU will be the league cellar dwellers this season. It should be a close game at East Lansing. Keys: Will UM offense score over 30 points once again, and will the UM defense be able to contain to some extent the MSU defense. If Fourcier can survive getting clobbered again, I think we will out score MSU and win the game 34-30. However, if Fourcier doesn't play much we could be in trouble with the more 1-D Robinson. The other advantage is that MSU will be under pressure to win and U-M may be more relaxed and able to have more fun on offense which could result in lots more points on the score board.
tater
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 9:04 p.m.
I agree about Dantonio. And when RR starts spanking Tressel the way Tressel did Carr, Tressel will leave. I hope he stays long enough to "even" his record against UM, though.
raddes
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 6:23 p.m.
Putting the UM/MSU rivalry aside...I'd be leery of a coach who comments how HE still cheers for another b10 team. By Steve Grinczel November 18, 2008, 2:28PM EAST LANSING -- In the fall, Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio roots for Ohio State every week except when the Buckeyes are playing the Spartans. I'm not sure I want my head coach so close to another program in my own conference. Here's an idea Dantonio, why don't you make OSU your rival! Or do you enjoy laying down each year to them---45-7, 24-17, 38-7? Wake up Sparty, your coach is just biding time until Tressel leaves.