Michigan-Michigan State rivalry 'so personal for so many people in this state'
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, left, and Michigan coach Brady Hoke are both expecting a tough game when their teams meet on Saturday.
Illustration by Rich Rezler, from AnnArbor.com file photos
This week will be a little harder than the ones that preceded it.
Hoke said the game Saturday (Noon, ESPN) between his No. 11 Wolverines (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) and the No. 23 Spartans (4-1, 1-0) will be his team's toughest challenge yet, despite a road win last week against Northwestern.
"Last week, half of Ryan Field was maize and blue," he said Tuesday during his weekly teleconference with reporters. "I have a feeling this one’s going to be a little bit different."
Dantonio delivered a similar message 10 minutes later regarding the unbeaten Wolverines.
"They’re 6-0 and confident," he said. "When you haven’t lost yet, it’s tougher and tougher to beat that football team because they just find a way."
If Michigan is to continue that trend, Hoke said his team will have to do two things.
First, the Wolverines will have to find a way to contain Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, who is one of the nation's premier defensive tackles. The Wolverines can counter with one of the nation's best centers in senior David Molk, but Hoke said the senior will have help, likely from either of the guards.
"When you have a guy who is dominant and has dominated the other teams they’ve faced and has that kind of athleticism, we’ll always look to help if you can," Hoke said. "You can’t always do that. But I think that’s always part of it."
Second, Hoke said the Wolverines can't start slowly again, as they did last week on the road against Northwestern. They committed three turnovers and allowed 297 yards en route to falling behind by 10 points at halftime.
They scored 28 consecutive second-half points to earn a 42-24 win, but that might not happen this week in East Lansing against a team that has beaten them three consecutive times.
"I think they're bringing their 'A' game, whether you're in this game or not," Dantonio said of the Michigan State crowd. "If you've got green on, you're in the game.
"It's so personal for so many people in this state."
Michigan is Michigan State's No. 1 target. It's been that way since Dantonio arrived at MSU five years ago.
“From Day 1, we’ve pointed toward (winning this game)," Dantonio said. "There were people that said we couldn’t. We wanted to make a point and we’ve made the point.”
The Spartans haven't beaten Michigan four times in a row since 1959-62.
Other topics from Hoke's teleconference:
What makes the rivalry great
Hoke, as he did Monday, credited the fanatacism of the fans for making the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry so intense.
"It’s a great football game because of the passion of both schools and the alums of both schools and the fans," Hoke said. "Obviously, you have two schools that people feel very strongly about, and they’re great instistuitions, and it’s just a fun atmosphere to play a football game in."
The 6-0 start
Did Hoke expect to start the season 6-0?
"I never, ever look at a schedule that way, to be honest with ya," he said. "We’re just trying to get to 1-0 against Western Michigan, and then move forward from there.
"I think the thing I like best about our football team is they seem to really respect and like each other, and not let each other down in how they perform and how they prepare to perform."
Michigan's potential
For as much as Hoke likes his team, he knows it still is leaving something on the table. He said Michigan's inconsistency has held his team back.
"In a lot of ways, we haven’t scratched the surface (of what we can be)," he said. "We (lack) consistency with the toughness you’ve got to play the game of football with."
The status of Martin Robinson
Hoke said sophomore safety Marvin Robinson did not make the trip to Northwestern because of an injury he sustained Thursday during practice. Hoke did not elaborate, but did say he expects Robinson to make the trip to East Lansing.
Robinson has played in five games this year and has nine tackles.
Michigan State's best receiver
Hoke said Michigan State receiver B.J. Cunningham is one of the most complete wideouts the Wolverines will face this year.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Rufus
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 6 a.m.
Like most Michiganders I have friends and family who went to both schools. It's a great rivalry, but without all the silly hate rhetoric that flows out of OSU against Michigan, and unfortunately sometiems vis. versa. I want State to beat everyone except U of M. Truthfully, if OSU losses 10 straight I'm good with that. I don't hate OSU, I just think their program is corrupt and unethical. My only knock on MSU, was last year, when they let Ringer go from the jail house to the playing field. I Think Dantonio was influenced by his years as an assistant at OSU. We are both Michigan schools, we should both show class and integrity.
Mick
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.
You know what, I think we need to stop this little brother crap, no really. I just don't think it's becoming of us as a fan base to continue this nick name that Mike Hart bestowed upon them. I don't think Coach would've allowed that to happen if it was under his watch. It is a fine university in itself with a huge enrollment, their fans are also Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons Fans like many of us are, so I say let's chill on this "little brother" business. I think Coach Hoke would frown upon that type of talk, he respects the opposition, I'm gonna try to follow that way of thinking.
Engineer
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
State sooo badly wants to be like Michigan they can hardly stand it. Their math is terrible however. They continue to trail in the series by more than 30 games yet to hear the sparty arrogance you would think they evened it up. Sorry chumps but your academics and athletics are second to Michigan and yes you are little brother.
mun
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
It got personal for me last year, when I went to the game and saw more spartan fans on the way to the game and back.
Eric Meyer
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 3:12 a.m.
yeah - i had a meh experience a couple of years ago at a game in EL, ran into a couple of knuckleheads at the game. Doubt they went to MSU. Either way, I like to think these are the exception rather than the rule. Live out in Denver now, and the sides get along quite well. (we can all agree to focus on not liking OSU...) :)
Mick
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
3 wins in a row over M while we had the WCIMFH, that guy is now gone. We will not be out-coached in this game. MSU is going to have to play a much superior game than U-M to win. MSU will not have any room for error, they will have to play a perfect game. See, this is the problem opposing teams will have in the future and by future I mean this Saturday and onward. Teams will start being in a panic because they will realize that our coaching is so good at making adjustments that the opposing players will start feeling the pressure of having to excel to the utmost, always. I Like our chances greatly this week, we are going to be a hard team to beat for anyone. I really think that opposing teams and their fans fear U-M more than we fear them anymore, which didn't take that long for that to happen.
EightySeven
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Whats up with the picture from this story? Is it photo shopped? These two coaches have never been on the same field together have they?
mun
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 1:14 a.m.
It is photo shopped. Look at the dividing line just beyond Brady Hoke's right elbow.
Matt Patercsak
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
I need Michigan to win this game. I cannot deal with another year of MSU bragging and Mark Dantonio's cocky subtle swag. It will be without a doubt the toughest test so hard, and one of the toughest of the season. If we can be tough upfront and take care of the football I think we will come out ahead. What a tone this game would set for the Hoke era! what a message it would send to the Spartan faithful! "your time is over, i hope you had fun, but its our turn to run the table". they're only going to get better. the slots are going to fill with the right athletes over time, and they will soon become outstanding. but beating them now, in this game, with this class of seniors, would cast a looming shadow in the shape of a block M over east lansing, and the spartan faithful would have nothing to think but.. "they came into our house, hit us in the mouth, and beat us..." I want to hear the silence....badly
Eric Meyer
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
While I love to provoke the Spartans a bit in the weeks approaching the game, I hate to see the folks who get really nasty about this. Uh... remember that this is a game, played by kids who were in high school in the last couple years. I'm also incredibly happy that we've now got two coaches who are solid guys, in addition to having built great teams. Hoke and D'Antonio are both doing things the "right" way, and we can expect a tough, honorable game. That being said, GO BLUE and kick the crap out of MSU!!!!!!
braggslaw
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
Everyone has family members and friends in both camps. Don't take it personal and don't be nasty. Two great schools in the state.
MRunner73
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
When Michigan HAD to start well against SDSU, they did. Maybe this game is on the road for the Maize and Blue, but Michigan will have to continue with their Red Zone efficiency. It was last year at the Big House when Denard threw that first pic in the end zone that the tide turned for us. MSU did come ready to play, much more than us, much to my dismay, last year. I have no doubt that Brady Hoke will instill the passion of this rivalry to his players in this year's edition. That will go a long way. This should be a good battle. Michigan has been battle tested by winning a close one against ND and then the second half blowout against NW on the road. I know we're ready and I think they can win it. GO BLUE!!!
Dusty
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
The original plan was simply to write about the spread offense coming to one of the country's most conservative programs and publish a series of stories to a national magazine, in the hope of turning them into a book coauthored by Rodriguez, similar to the one I wrote with Bo Schembechler in 2007. But after the team finished 3-9, however, it was obvious the story was far from over, and that I'd need to write it myself. I was looking at sunk cost. If I bailed then, I'd have nothing to show for it. But if I came back for another year, I might have a great story to tell. That same reasoning held after the second season, too. To Rodriguez's credit, he didn't flinch.
RudeJude
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
Cool story, bro.
Mick
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 4:47 a.m.
Say what?
Candy
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
I think the game is much more personal for the Sparty fans in this state. Perhaps it goes back to the years when the Spartans were a mediocre team at best (under Perles and Williams, for example). I work with a couple of Sparty fanatics, and they get so riled up and angry about anything good that happens to the Wolverines. That makes me hope even more that the Wolverines knock their smelly green socks off this Saturday. Go Blue!
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
Dantonio: . "There were people that said we couldn't. We wanted to make a point and we've made the point." --- Well Coach, you have NOT made the point in the five years you've been head coach at MSU. Three wins in a row only look impressive if you ignore that you were playing the WORST Michigan team EVER! I've always said that we should appreciate having a football rival in MSU (and MSU is a better rival in basket ball!) but we should appreciate the academic aspect too. The state of Michigan should have two great colleges in sports and academics. But - when it comes to just fan talk, I think MSU is still the Little Brother trying to better U of M, the Big Brother. Go Blue! (Green, please try to keep up.)
hotpants
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 6:11 p.m.
I think people fail to remember that each school is strong in different academic areas. Michigan State has some of the best programs in Supply Chain Management, Veterinary Medicine, Packaging, Nuclear Physics. It all depends on what you decide to go to school for, so please do some research before making such claims.
TIC
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 6:50 p.m.
Games like this makes sports so great. Big game for both sides and bragging rights for another year. But, at the end of the day, it's only sports and the big game is not really all that big of a deal in the overall scheme of things. That being said, GO BLUE! Let's leave ELansing with a giant smear of blue all over their green field.