Harlon Barnett Post-Game Interview
As much as I enjoy shaudenfreude, I have to admit it's starting to feel a little bit cruel with Michigan State. Yes the Hitler thing is hilarious, and I'll never stop finding the term "Mel Tugger" hilarious and they probably deserve everything coming their way from years of on field and off field violence, but there is something so inept and pathetic about them now. As an interesting counterpoint, the post-game interview with Harlon Barnett was fascinating to me. Some points from it:
- He openly admits he's in a difficult position
- He's just trying to hold the team together, but going forward is going to demand accountability on and off the field
- Signal stealing is common in the Big Ten, and the practice of having the QB run to the sidelines is something they've done in the past to counteract it
- Doesn't expect much to come from the signal stealing investigation and he never thought the threat to not play the game was serious
If Michigan State is willing to hire a coach like that going forward, it could really change their program and take the poison out of the rivalry. Of course hard to be optimistic about that happening:
Harlon Barnett talks 49-0 loss to Michigan | Michigan State football - YouTube
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
I honestly feel for Barnett. Seems like a decent enough guy.
Even if he coaches the Spartans
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
Seconded--seems like a good guy caught in a bad spot.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:02 AM ^
I noted that when he and Harbaugh shook hands after the game it was not just a perfunctory gesture, It seemed genuinely cordial. And as Harlon turned and started to go he turned back and smiled because one of them apparently said something else.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:13 PM ^
That almost assuredly rules him out from taking the position permanently. MSU’s AD and BoT are either evil or incompetent or both, and the trait they value the most is a flexible approach to morality.
Anyone who wants to truly change that institution will be up against powerful trustees.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:38 PM ^
MSU AD and BoT are evil or incompetent or both?
They’re smart enough not to hire Hitler as their next Head Coach.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:56 AM ^
Are they?
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:28 AM ^
Let’s be honest, he is 0-5 as interim coach. That is not completely on him, but you can’t sell that to a fan base no matter how good he would be for the culture.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
Never heard of the guy till the news about Melvin exploded.
I feel bad for him too. He seems like a good guy.
I haven't piled on my Sparty friends over the win even though they went ape shit over the alleged call stealing news.
The Michigan Difference and Spartans Will.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
I remember him growing up. He was a very talented safety for MSU in the 80's when they had the talented 4-3 stunt defense that the 70s Steelers used.
He's very loyal to the program and will do whatever he can (to his credit obviously). Some posters on this board are spot on: The BoT are the problem up here and they don't know how to get out of their own way. They haven't righted the ship after the Nasser scandal. This is going to take them decades to figure out.
I expect them to regress and go back to a simple hire that won't be too expensive. They swung for the fences with Tuggernuts and calamity ensued.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:39 AM ^
They hired John Engler to clean up the Nassar mess. They have learned nothing but trying to cheat the system as much as possible. They have gotten exactly what they deserve.
I am shocked the department of education hasn’t gotten involved in that University. It’s such a mess of piss poor leadership
October 23rd, 2023 at 5:27 AM ^
BTW, that "Spartans Will"? They stole that sign, aka, slogan from Northwestern, whose recent years-long fundraising campaign had the slogan "Northwestern Will."
October 23rd, 2023 at 7:41 AM ^
I tried to console my Sparty buddies by congratulating them about the fine performance of their frisbee dog.
Barnett does seem like a good guy, caught in an awful spot. Their new coach will probably broom him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he winds up back in EL at some point.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
Correction: SpartanSwill
October 23rd, 2023 at 5:30 AM ^
I had the same thought. I'm glad BlueinGreenville posted this, which I considered doing myself.
Barnett was straightforward, no evasion and little coach-speak, as he explained his situation and how he saw his role.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:40 AM ^
He needs to get out of EL like yesterday.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
I have respect for any coach in an interim position, it's a thankless and difficult task. I have particular respect for the things he said in the post game, and I think it was obvious he meant them. Good on you, sir.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
Yep, he's in a horrible spot.
I also think Harbaugh, despite the probable bitterness from the sign stealing bs, did not put 60+ on MSU last night as to not completely shit on Harlon Barnett. He seems to have some respect for the guy, no spite like with 3rd base or Di'gorniantino, and probably doesn't want to wreck the guy's future coaching possibilites.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:46 PM ^
Di'gorniantino
Lol--thanks for the chuckle.
On a completely separate note, I suddenly seem to have an urge for frozen pizza.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
I never cease to get a chuckle out of the endless different spellings of Mack Danktoenails' name.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
He's not the real coach. He's Di'gorniantino.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
Are we making fun of Mark De'Ornery again?
Yes? Good.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
He sounds like a good man who’s been put in a tough spot, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’d be a good choice for permanent Head Coach.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:46 PM ^
He’s in an impossible position. One can’t really judge him as a head coach in this pathetic situation.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:47 PM ^
Fuck him. His players, his charges, were still doing shady shit during the game. Actions > words.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
Jesus unwad your panties.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:57 PM ^
Speaking so freely, I don't think he's wearing one.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
To be honest, with the exception of the dude who rightly got tossed, I think they kept their shit together fairly well. Their home crowd was booing and heckling them, and there were Let’s Go Blue chants in the crowd of a prime time home game. I can only imagine their frustration. There was some chippyness in the second half but they didn’t completely thug-out. Mork’s teams were worse than that when they were winning.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:00 PM ^
Well. I think that's credit to Barnett and Tuck not cumming
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:31 PM ^
Mork’s teams were worse than that when they were winning.
100%...Mork's teams were WAY worse. Like the time they twisted at Denard's head in a scrum and could've broken his neck. And the dumbass officials didn't see it happen. Mork was a dirtbag above all else.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
The only thong worse than being a sore loser is being a sore winner.
Good on ya, Coach Barnett. And fuck Dantoni.
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
The officials did a very nice job too. They were flagging literally anything that was close to being unsportsmanlike conduct. Frankly, it's how this series needs to be officiated given how MSU acts in it
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
I wish I could give this -100. No need to be like that. There is enough hate and vitriol in our social fabric. Why not be better.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
Take a step back and imagine Mork doing this interview. Do you think he would have said those things? That should tell you how you should react. But you do your thing
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:50 AM ^
Right. Regarding sign stealing question, Mork would have said something like "its typical from that program".
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^
Lighten up, Francis.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:02 PM ^
You call me Psycho. Anyone calls me Francis, I'll kill ya.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:47 PM ^
I gotta give Barnett credit for standing up and doing his best in the face of this stuff. It’s different when he’s dealing with off the field stuff vs being dantonio or tucker’s transfer majoring in assault. I can’t understate my disdain for dantonio and Spartans during his era.
The vocal Spartans are insufferable, but I still enjoy them being a 6-8 win team with annual loses to us. Now I just feel sorry for them
October 23rd, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^
Some of their people are decent, but I can't feel sorry for them. Especially after they gloated as we went though our Dark Ages 10-15 years ago.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
I don't expect to go back to the Bump & Duffy Show days, but this rivalry doesn't need to be as toxic as it has been since Groucho Mark. As heated as the rivalry is with OSU, it never sunk to those depths. You can be intense rivals, and not sink to those depths.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:52 PM ^
The only way that happens is if someone comes in, respects Michigan, and beats Michigan. Or at least beats them enough.
Either that or we have to wait a generation or two that didn't grow up on Dantonio.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:08 PM ^
As some people pointed out before the game, the real toxicity in the rivalry is (I) message board poseurs, (ii) egged on by a handful of media click bait types and (III) a thug mentality on the team itself by Dantonio and uncorrected by Tucker. Most all UM and MSU fans have friends, family and colleagues who are fans of the other school, and they get along just fine 49 weeks of the year between Football and Basketball (not to discount hockey) without slinging D Cells and edge-sharpened quarters into the opposing stands even on those weekends. This can be fixed in a single season with the right hire.
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
I feel sorry fort he next guy they hire, because that fanbase is demanding Urban Meyer and he'll be unfairly compared to what could have been if they only hired Meyer.
I think they are at least 2 coaching changes away from stability as a program.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
The right head coach can fix that. The real question is, will MSU hire that person?
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
I was accused last year as being some kind of Tucker lover, so maybe this won't be a winning argument for me, but if we can turn back the clock to after the game in 2022, what we had at MSU was:
- A coach who was 2-1 against Michigan
- A coach who did not constantly troll Michigan
- A coach and administration that suspended their players and publicly took responsibility and apologized
- A fan base and media that immediately turned on their AD, their coach, was ready to fire him, longed for the days that Dantonio would have told Michigan to shove it, and praised Izzo for pointing out that Michigan was to blame
Really here I am making the case that even what I said would help isn't good enough.
I don't expect Harlon Barnett to get any blowback for being respectful because their fans are dead inside at the moment and they know he's not going to be around next year.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
You have good points. The mugging showed a failure to coach discipline, but the response of MSU, whether it came from Tucker, the AD or the President and BOT was entirely appropriate, and a stark contrast from Dantonio.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:46 AM ^
Uh..." entirely appropriate" is stretching it.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^
Perfectly said man. OSU and Michigan hate each other but it never sunk to the lows iof the Dantonio days in this rivalry. He was without a doubt the proprietor of the toxicity.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
Unfortunately it produced results for him for a time. The perpetual victim and slighted mentality--taking on the evil empire.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
It produced results which is why they can't let it go.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:10 AM ^
When I was in my mid-20s I realized that I focused and played much better when I was in a state of deep anger, so I’d intentionally put myself there when I’d play any sports. When I had kids I realized that I’d rather be a decent sentient being than a “winner.”
I do feel badly for Mork, it’s hell to carry that level of vitriol and self-pity around daily.