Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
110: Dantonio’s Moment in History
9/25/2019 11:32:00 AM | Football
Mark Dantonio arrived at Ryan Field a little before 9 a.m. last Saturday morning on an unseasonably warm and humid day for a Big Ten opener, walking the crisp green grass outlined by purple in a full gray suit, surveying the landscape where the Spartans and Wildcats would soon open conference play.
The 13th edition of his Michigan State team, where he has roamed the sidelines since 2007, soon followed behind him, still wearing their warm-ups fresh off the bus. It was a chance to get loose while envisioning what Dantonio said back during Big Ten media day in midsummer just a few miles south in Chicago: "Chase the moment."
For Dantonio and the Spartans, the goal all week was to go 1-0 – this time against Northwestern. Every week, go 1-0. And add them up at the end.
But history was also on stage, and a victory would put a "1" between that "1-0" to add up a much higher number – 110.
………………
Dantonio might have first walked to that press conference podium in the Clara Bell Smith Center auditorium back on Nov. 27, 2006 – the day he became Michigan State University's 24th head football coach – without any of his record-setting victories, but he did take the microphone knowing the potential of what Spartan football could be. All he had to do was look back at history. Both MSU's and his own. And marvel at the campus setting he was about to inherit as his home.
"When I first came here in (1993), when we played Michigan State when I was at KU (Kansas), and I came walking through that stadium, and I saw the fans and I saw the greenery, the trees, the Red Cedar (River), and the Big Ten football atmosphere, I remember saying to my wife, Becky, 'This is Big Ten football. This is unbelievable,'" said a reminiscing Dantonio a couple of weeks ago at a press conference after he tied the MSU wins record. "And so you could recognize that this was a special place at that time.
"I think still to this day, Michigan State is a national brand that you can walk in here and entertain people from anywhere in the country who walk in here about Michigan State Spartans. They know who they are."
Dantonio opened his introductory press conference by saying it was "a dream come true for me and our family." Then he outlined his vision for the program, describing the three pillars of what his program would feature: toughness, effort and knowledge. He also talked about the importance of family, community and graduating. And he stated this simple but prophetic phrase: "My vision here is to win championships – that's my vision."
Nearly 13 years later, Dantonio was preparing for his 162nd game as head football coach of MSU with a list of accomplishments that has placed him among the all-time greats in the history of Big Ten football. Only three other conference coaches (Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Joe Paterno) have won 11 games in a season five times, and only five other league coaches (previous three mentioned plus Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr) have reached the 10-win plateau six times. Dantonio has won a school-record three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and five bowl games, and is one of two coaches in Big Ten history (Meyer) to claim multiple conference titles, win a Rose Bowl, and coach in the College Football Playoff.
But the former coach that was on everyone's mind the past few weeks was the legendary Duffy Daugherty, who had won 109 games at Michigan State during his 19 seasons from 1954-72, all while claiming four National Championships (1955, 1957, 1965, 1966) and back-to-back Big Ten Championships (1965-66) during his tenure, not to mention 29 different first-team All-Americans and 13 first-round NFL Draft picks, including a remarkable four of the first eight picks in the 1967 draft. All of that was not lost on Dantonio as he had been approaching Duffy's school-record number of wins. But neither was Duffy's legacy.
Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty poses for a photo with five two-time All-Americans - Clinton Jones, Bob Apisa, Bubba Smith, Gene Washington and George Webster - from the 1965 and 1966 National Champion and Big Ten Champion Spartans.
"I really believe he was a pioneer in the integration of college football," said Dantonio, who then spoke of the 20 African-Americans on the 1966 National Championship and Big Ten Championship Spartan team, including 11 starters. "Duffy was ahead of his time. He recruited all across America. Brought players in from the South...He had so many players, so many great players playing here…I mean, the guy's on Time Magazine. I'm not sure if I'm as funny as he is, let's say that right now. But I think that he really was a bigger-than-life type person.
"So when I reflect on this…it really allows me to reflect back on history, on the history of college football, and really, what Duffy Daugherty did for the game of college football and what he did for the country in that respect in a lot of ways."
Dantonio tied Daugherty's win total on Sept. 7 during MSU's second game of the season, a 51-17 domination of Western Michigan, and was presented a game ball in the locker room following the victory by the four 2019 captains.
The moment was not lost on Dantonio, but he was still focused on the present. "It's much more rewarding when you get the win and everything is going correctly, and you have positive things going on both sides of the ball," he said upon reflecting on the game-tying win. The immediacy of the season was in full swing, however, and following a tough loss at home to Arizona State, the attention shifted toward conference play. First up was Northwestern, who had clawed the Spartans three straight years.
………
Senior defensive tackles Raequan Williams (No. 99) and Mike Panasiuk (No. 72) celebrate after a defensive stop against the Wildcats.
The Spartans opened the game in Evanston with surgical precision, driving the field 75 yards on nine plays in just 3:18 for the day's first touchdown. Elijah Collins' 5-yard TD run that capped the drive looked like it was over before it began, but the Detroit native kept fighting, kept moving, and eventually emerged from the pack at the line of scrimmage into the end zone.
Next up, it was the defense's turn – and at Michigan State under Dantonio, it's been impossible to understate the importance of defense on the program's identity. The Spartans have ranked in the FBS Top 10 in total defense six times in the Dantonio era and four times in scoring defense. To put that in perspective, only MSU and Alabama have ranked in the FBS Top 10 in total defense on six occasions since 2011.
Against the run, the numbers are astounding – seven years in the nation's top 11, including twice at No. 1, along with six first-place finishes in the Big Ten. Dantonio has undoubtedly cemented his legacy as one of the top defensive coaches in the country.
Right on cue, senior All-Big Ten linebacker Joe Bachie started things off with a 9-yard sack, igniting a quick three-and-out for the Wildcats. But Northwestern points seemed imminent following a Cody White fumbled punt return deep in Spartan territory, and the defense appeared a little shook, as the Wildcats drove the ball to the 7-yard line for first-and-goal. Isaiah Bowser's scamper on first down appeared to tie the game at 7, but his knee was ruled down at the 1, setting up the stage for MSU's defense to make a stop. And it did what it does best.
The Spartans stuffed the run three straight times, capped by Mike Panasiuk's 2-yard TFL on fourth down. Pananiuk, a nearby product of Roselle, Illinois, leapt into the air – as much as his 6-foot-4, 293-pound would let him – and ran back to a rousing sideline while the thousands of Spartan alumni and fans in the stands cheered on. The goal-line stand set the tone for the rest of the afternoon in a contest that the Spartans would never trail.
………………
Matt Seybert had the first two touchdown receptions of his career last Saturday at Northwestern.
MSU increased its lead to 14-3 late in the second quarter as Brian Lewerke found Cody White on third down for an 11-yard score, culminating an impressive 11-play, 62-yard drive in only one minute and 15 seconds to close out the half.
The Spartans carried the momentum over from the late first-half touchdown into the second half, extending their lead all the way to 31-3 just six plays into the fourth quarter.
Dantonio has always been the first one to credit his players for the success he's enjoyed at Michigan State. They have been a mixture of highly touted recruits, overlooked gems and emerging walk-ons, blending together and constantly developing, ultimately resulting into a record-setting run to 110 victories. It's how Dantonio built and sustained his program.
Exhibit A of this credo of developing players was on full display in the first few plays of the fourth quarter. On offense was fifth-year senior tight end Matt Seybert, a former walk-on who transferred from Buffalo, sat out a season in 2016, and bounced back and forth from offense to defense his first two years at MSU. And yet here he was on Saturday, starting his third game of the season and catching a career-high two touchdown passes from Lewerke.
On defense, former walk-on defensive end Drew Beesley, who redshirted in 2016 and played in just three games his first season in 2017, recorded a career-high two tackles for loss and his first career interception off a deflected pass on the third play of the fourth quarter, leading to Seybert's second touchdown reception three plays later. A Beesley pick setting up a Seybert score – the Michigan State way was continuing to show itself for all to see in eventual win No. 110 for Dantonio.
As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter and eventually found itself nearing zeroes, the smiles began to surface on the Spartan sideline, as members of Dantonio's staff greeted him after a fourth-down stop with just 13 seconds remaining. Always coaching, down to the very end.
But with the last tackle secure, Dantonio took off his headset with a big smile, appearing to finally recognize the moment at hand, before running out to meet Wildcat head coach Pat Fitzgerald at midfield. The two had a longer-than-usual conversation after the game, as Fitzgerald, already the winningest coach in Northwestern history, shared his thoughts to Dantonio on the milestone.
"Congratulations to Mark Dantonio – he's the all-time winningest coach in a story book Big Ten program," said Fitzgerald after the game in his post-game press conference. "It's hard earned and well deserved and I want to tip my hat to him and all the guys and staff and families who have been part of that program. It's an amazing accomplishment and on behalf of our program we want to congratulate his staff, his players and the Dantonios. Behind any successful coach is an amazing woman and I saw her after the game and just congratulated them. It's not easy, so congratulations to Mark and Becky and the entire program."
Following his post-game TV interview on the field, Dantonio turned around to hug his wife Becky, and other members of his family who made the trip to Chicago. A scene that no one could have possibly imagined 13 years ago was now a reality. Mark Dantonio was the winningest coach in the 123-year storied history of Michigan State football, a program that has won six national championships and nine Big Ten Championships, and has featured 313 NFL Draft picks, 86 first-team All-Americans and 14 College Football Hall of Famers, including four coaches.
After a few more handshakes with family, friends and staff, Dantonio found his way over to the Spartan faithful to sing "Victory for MSU" in front of the Green and White fans who had supported them all afternoon. He then walked the length of the field, nearly six hours after his arrival and this time in his MSU coaching gear, back toward the Spartan locker room at the other end of the stadium with Becky, the day's goal of going 1-0 in the Big Ten complete.
As he walked up the unique grass hill in the southwest corner of Ryan Field, he gave high-fives to Spartan fans of all ages lined up along the edge of the bleachers. The line extended all the way from the end zone to the locker room as those who stayed wanted to share the historic occasion.
Dantonio finally found his way into the cramped and muggy visiting locker room to a raucous applause from his players. When he inched toward the middle of the room, he was presented a ceremonial game ball from Becky and two of the game day captains and Chicago natives, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk. And as customary following a Spartan win, he cued up his team to sing the fight song.
But this time, rather than counting up how many points the Spartans had scored, it was going to be a much higher number: 110.
"Can we count it up?" asked a smiling Dantonio to his team.
"Let's go! 110!" shouted back Williams.
Sure, it was a longer cue, but as the crescendo built higher and higher toward the historic win total, the locker room erupted in jubilation for their head coach. Everyone there understood the magnitude of the moment.
Soon, the music was blaring, and the Spartans could feel good about their day's work in defeating the defending Big Ten West Champions in their house.
Dantonio exited into the training room for his post-game radio interview, where he was surrounded by his closest friends, staff and family. He had a chance to sit down for the first time in hours.
"I want to congratulate all of our players, all of our past players, all of our coaches, all of our past coaches, the administration, the donors, the people who have really made this possible," said a humbled Dantonio.
He then walked back through the locker room and under the bleachers of the south end zone toward his press conference. But before he faced the cameras in a crowded post-game media session, he stopped to take it all in on the concourse.
"It's a culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people," Dantonio remarked, "whether it's my immediate family, or all the players that have been through here, all the coaches that have been here, the administrators, the supporters, the donors…It's a group effort. That's what it signifies to me."
The short-term focus all week had been to go 1-0 to start Big Ten play. And when you take them all one at a time, that's ultimately how you end up at 110…and counting.
Mark Dantonio and his wife, Becky, walk off the field toward the locker room following MSU's 31-10 win over Northwestern.
....................
Written by Ben Phlegar, MSU Athletic Communications; photos by Matthew Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell photography; video by Justin Garant and Richard Houcque, MSU Spartan Vision.
The 13th edition of his Michigan State team, where he has roamed the sidelines since 2007, soon followed behind him, still wearing their warm-ups fresh off the bus. It was a chance to get loose while envisioning what Dantonio said back during Big Ten media day in midsummer just a few miles south in Chicago: "Chase the moment."
For Dantonio and the Spartans, the goal all week was to go 1-0 – this time against Northwestern. Every week, go 1-0. And add them up at the end.
But history was also on stage, and a victory would put a "1" between that "1-0" to add up a much higher number – 110.
………………
Dantonio might have first walked to that press conference podium in the Clara Bell Smith Center auditorium back on Nov. 27, 2006 – the day he became Michigan State University's 24th head football coach – without any of his record-setting victories, but he did take the microphone knowing the potential of what Spartan football could be. All he had to do was look back at history. Both MSU's and his own. And marvel at the campus setting he was about to inherit as his home.
"When I first came here in (1993), when we played Michigan State when I was at KU (Kansas), and I came walking through that stadium, and I saw the fans and I saw the greenery, the trees, the Red Cedar (River), and the Big Ten football atmosphere, I remember saying to my wife, Becky, 'This is Big Ten football. This is unbelievable,'" said a reminiscing Dantonio a couple of weeks ago at a press conference after he tied the MSU wins record. "And so you could recognize that this was a special place at that time.
"I think still to this day, Michigan State is a national brand that you can walk in here and entertain people from anywhere in the country who walk in here about Michigan State Spartans. They know who they are."
Dantonio opened his introductory press conference by saying it was "a dream come true for me and our family." Then he outlined his vision for the program, describing the three pillars of what his program would feature: toughness, effort and knowledge. He also talked about the importance of family, community and graduating. And he stated this simple but prophetic phrase: "My vision here is to win championships – that's my vision."
Nearly 13 years later, Dantonio was preparing for his 162nd game as head football coach of MSU with a list of accomplishments that has placed him among the all-time greats in the history of Big Ten football. Only three other conference coaches (Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Joe Paterno) have won 11 games in a season five times, and only five other league coaches (previous three mentioned plus Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr) have reached the 10-win plateau six times. Dantonio has won a school-record three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and five bowl games, and is one of two coaches in Big Ten history (Meyer) to claim multiple conference titles, win a Rose Bowl, and coach in the College Football Playoff.
But the former coach that was on everyone's mind the past few weeks was the legendary Duffy Daugherty, who had won 109 games at Michigan State during his 19 seasons from 1954-72, all while claiming four National Championships (1955, 1957, 1965, 1966) and back-to-back Big Ten Championships (1965-66) during his tenure, not to mention 29 different first-team All-Americans and 13 first-round NFL Draft picks, including a remarkable four of the first eight picks in the 1967 draft. All of that was not lost on Dantonio as he had been approaching Duffy's school-record number of wins. But neither was Duffy's legacy.
Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty poses for a photo with five two-time All-Americans - Clinton Jones, Bob Apisa, Bubba Smith, Gene Washington and George Webster - from the 1965 and 1966 National Champion and Big Ten Champion Spartans.
"I really believe he was a pioneer in the integration of college football," said Dantonio, who then spoke of the 20 African-Americans on the 1966 National Championship and Big Ten Championship Spartan team, including 11 starters. "Duffy was ahead of his time. He recruited all across America. Brought players in from the South...He had so many players, so many great players playing here…I mean, the guy's on Time Magazine. I'm not sure if I'm as funny as he is, let's say that right now. But I think that he really was a bigger-than-life type person.
"So when I reflect on this…it really allows me to reflect back on history, on the history of college football, and really, what Duffy Daugherty did for the game of college football and what he did for the country in that respect in a lot of ways."
Dantonio tied Daugherty's win total on Sept. 7 during MSU's second game of the season, a 51-17 domination of Western Michigan, and was presented a game ball in the locker room following the victory by the four 2019 captains.
The moment was not lost on Dantonio, but he was still focused on the present. "It's much more rewarding when you get the win and everything is going correctly, and you have positive things going on both sides of the ball," he said upon reflecting on the game-tying win. The immediacy of the season was in full swing, however, and following a tough loss at home to Arizona State, the attention shifted toward conference play. First up was Northwestern, who had clawed the Spartans three straight years.
………
Senior defensive tackles Raequan Williams (No. 99) and Mike Panasiuk (No. 72) celebrate after a defensive stop against the Wildcats.
The Spartans opened the game in Evanston with surgical precision, driving the field 75 yards on nine plays in just 3:18 for the day's first touchdown. Elijah Collins' 5-yard TD run that capped the drive looked like it was over before it began, but the Detroit native kept fighting, kept moving, and eventually emerged from the pack at the line of scrimmage into the end zone.
Next up, it was the defense's turn – and at Michigan State under Dantonio, it's been impossible to understate the importance of defense on the program's identity. The Spartans have ranked in the FBS Top 10 in total defense six times in the Dantonio era and four times in scoring defense. To put that in perspective, only MSU and Alabama have ranked in the FBS Top 10 in total defense on six occasions since 2011.
Against the run, the numbers are astounding – seven years in the nation's top 11, including twice at No. 1, along with six first-place finishes in the Big Ten. Dantonio has undoubtedly cemented his legacy as one of the top defensive coaches in the country.
Right on cue, senior All-Big Ten linebacker Joe Bachie started things off with a 9-yard sack, igniting a quick three-and-out for the Wildcats. But Northwestern points seemed imminent following a Cody White fumbled punt return deep in Spartan territory, and the defense appeared a little shook, as the Wildcats drove the ball to the 7-yard line for first-and-goal. Isaiah Bowser's scamper on first down appeared to tie the game at 7, but his knee was ruled down at the 1, setting up the stage for MSU's defense to make a stop. And it did what it does best.
The Spartans stuffed the run three straight times, capped by Mike Panasiuk's 2-yard TFL on fourth down. Pananiuk, a nearby product of Roselle, Illinois, leapt into the air – as much as his 6-foot-4, 293-pound would let him – and ran back to a rousing sideline while the thousands of Spartan alumni and fans in the stands cheered on. The goal-line stand set the tone for the rest of the afternoon in a contest that the Spartans would never trail.
………………
Matt Seybert had the first two touchdown receptions of his career last Saturday at Northwestern.
MSU increased its lead to 14-3 late in the second quarter as Brian Lewerke found Cody White on third down for an 11-yard score, culminating an impressive 11-play, 62-yard drive in only one minute and 15 seconds to close out the half.
The Spartans carried the momentum over from the late first-half touchdown into the second half, extending their lead all the way to 31-3 just six plays into the fourth quarter.
Dantonio has always been the first one to credit his players for the success he's enjoyed at Michigan State. They have been a mixture of highly touted recruits, overlooked gems and emerging walk-ons, blending together and constantly developing, ultimately resulting into a record-setting run to 110 victories. It's how Dantonio built and sustained his program.
Exhibit A of this credo of developing players was on full display in the first few plays of the fourth quarter. On offense was fifth-year senior tight end Matt Seybert, a former walk-on who transferred from Buffalo, sat out a season in 2016, and bounced back and forth from offense to defense his first two years at MSU. And yet here he was on Saturday, starting his third game of the season and catching a career-high two touchdown passes from Lewerke.
On defense, former walk-on defensive end Drew Beesley, who redshirted in 2016 and played in just three games his first season in 2017, recorded a career-high two tackles for loss and his first career interception off a deflected pass on the third play of the fourth quarter, leading to Seybert's second touchdown reception three plays later. A Beesley pick setting up a Seybert score – the Michigan State way was continuing to show itself for all to see in eventual win No. 110 for Dantonio.
As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter and eventually found itself nearing zeroes, the smiles began to surface on the Spartan sideline, as members of Dantonio's staff greeted him after a fourth-down stop with just 13 seconds remaining. Always coaching, down to the very end.
But with the last tackle secure, Dantonio took off his headset with a big smile, appearing to finally recognize the moment at hand, before running out to meet Wildcat head coach Pat Fitzgerald at midfield. The two had a longer-than-usual conversation after the game, as Fitzgerald, already the winningest coach in Northwestern history, shared his thoughts to Dantonio on the milestone.
"Congratulations to Mark Dantonio – he's the all-time winningest coach in a story book Big Ten program," said Fitzgerald after the game in his post-game press conference. "It's hard earned and well deserved and I want to tip my hat to him and all the guys and staff and families who have been part of that program. It's an amazing accomplishment and on behalf of our program we want to congratulate his staff, his players and the Dantonios. Behind any successful coach is an amazing woman and I saw her after the game and just congratulated them. It's not easy, so congratulations to Mark and Becky and the entire program."
Following his post-game TV interview on the field, Dantonio turned around to hug his wife Becky, and other members of his family who made the trip to Chicago. A scene that no one could have possibly imagined 13 years ago was now a reality. Mark Dantonio was the winningest coach in the 123-year storied history of Michigan State football, a program that has won six national championships and nine Big Ten Championships, and has featured 313 NFL Draft picks, 86 first-team All-Americans and 14 College Football Hall of Famers, including four coaches.
After a few more handshakes with family, friends and staff, Dantonio found his way over to the Spartan faithful to sing "Victory for MSU" in front of the Green and White fans who had supported them all afternoon. He then walked the length of the field, nearly six hours after his arrival and this time in his MSU coaching gear, back toward the Spartan locker room at the other end of the stadium with Becky, the day's goal of going 1-0 in the Big Ten complete.
As he walked up the unique grass hill in the southwest corner of Ryan Field, he gave high-fives to Spartan fans of all ages lined up along the edge of the bleachers. The line extended all the way from the end zone to the locker room as those who stayed wanted to share the historic occasion.
From the entire @MSU_Football faithful...
Thank you, and congratulations, Coach! 👏 pic.twitter.com/VnsPWmLA0Y— Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) September 21, 2019
Dantonio finally found his way into the cramped and muggy visiting locker room to a raucous applause from his players. When he inched toward the middle of the room, he was presented a ceremonial game ball from Becky and two of the game day captains and Chicago natives, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk. And as customary following a Spartan win, he cued up his team to sing the fight song.
But this time, rather than counting up how many points the Spartans had scored, it was going to be a much higher number: 110.
"Can we count it up?" asked a smiling Dantonio to his team.
"Let's go! 110!" shouted back Williams.
Sure, it was a longer cue, but as the crescendo built higher and higher toward the historic win total, the locker room erupted in jubilation for their head coach. Everyone there understood the magnitude of the moment.
Soon, the music was blaring, and the Spartans could feel good about their day's work in defeating the defending Big Ten West Champions in their house.
The face coach @DantonioMark makes when @MSU_Football wants to count to 110...😊👍🏈#GoGreen | #ChaseTheMoment pic.twitter.com/y7UZMAnUw3— Spartan Vision (@Spartan_Vision) September 24, 2019
Dantonio exited into the training room for his post-game radio interview, where he was surrounded by his closest friends, staff and family. He had a chance to sit down for the first time in hours.
"I want to congratulate all of our players, all of our past players, all of our coaches, all of our past coaches, the administration, the donors, the people who have really made this possible," said a humbled Dantonio.
He then walked back through the locker room and under the bleachers of the south end zone toward his press conference. But before he faced the cameras in a crowded post-game media session, he stopped to take it all in on the concourse.
"It's a culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people," Dantonio remarked, "whether it's my immediate family, or all the players that have been through here, all the coaches that have been here, the administrators, the supporters, the donors…It's a group effort. That's what it signifies to me."
The short-term focus all week had been to go 1-0 to start Big Ten play. And when you take them all one at a time, that's ultimately how you end up at 110…and counting.
Mark Dantonio and his wife, Becky, walk off the field toward the locker room following MSU's 31-10 win over Northwestern.
....................
Written by Ben Phlegar, MSU Athletic Communications; photos by Matthew Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell photography; video by Justin Garant and Richard Houcque, MSU Spartan Vision.
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