Rittenberg (and others) come out firing at Dantonio
Very well written. Logic is used, which is nice.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/18736/not-buying-dantonios-tru…
Dantonio comes off soft on discipline. He looks like a win-at-all-costs coach who puts standards aside before the nation's No. 5 team plays a huge game at Iowa. Michigan State looks like the Land of Second Chances, the program where you can wear a jumpsuit and a jersey in the same day.
MOD EDIT: altered title to include discussion of all media coverage of the situation.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:23 PM ^
It is a well-written article that points out the hypocrisy in Dantonio's position so far. That said, we've had one massive thread to vent, and I rather focus on upcoming opponents than about what is happening in EL. Let MSU dwell on it alone.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
From your keyboard to God's laptop. Well put. The day the MSU/Dantonio threads aren't clobbering all the others in post numbers will coincide with the day that our fans collectively get that old swagger back that comes with being Michigan.
Michigan Ag College and constipation grimace Dantonio have us distracted right now. It can't be denied. Give them credit for that.
The day will come when MSU will reset to strict off topic giggle fodder where it belongs. Like a teenager suddenly beating acne and waking up with clear skin, we'll be refocused on years of championships.
Can't wait.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^
We did get a shout out in one of the responses to his article in the comments section
Get a real job and go work for mgoblog so your trash writing won't be so biased and tilted against the rest of the big ten.
That's big time right there
October 28th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^
Nice. ESPN = fake job, MGoBlog = real job. Cook 1 - Rittenberg 0
October 29th, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^
I would personally be ok with having Rittenberg come on board to MGoBlog... I will give away every mgopoint I have to get more content!!!!! /addict
October 28th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
Dantonio comes off soft on discipline. He looks like a win-at-all-costs coach who puts standards aside
How does this make the meathead any different from Tressel?
Nice to see the mainstream jump on this a year after the geek beatdown, Winston etc. as opposed to "talkin' bout practice" at M
October 28th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
Dantonio becomes the first coach to attempt to redefine "zero tolerance"
“I have been asked about last year’s statement regarding zero tolerance. Zero tolerance means exactly that. We have no tolerance for Chris L. Rucker’s actions. I repeat, I have no tolerance for his actions. He was immediately suspended. He has served his civil punishment, and there are other internal disciplinary measures nobody will know about outside the program. Again, zero tolerance does not mean automatic dismissal.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^
the fact he said
Zero tolerance played into that decision. After being given a second opportunity, there is a zero tolerance policy; meaning that if there are any issues whatsoever, it's a done deal. And so those two will remain dismissed. There is no way to back in the door. They are done.
and then explains that zero tolerance actually means "being really upset and executing limited discipline immediately"? wow.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
Just understand that he starts at -x, where x>=2.
October 29th, 2010 at 2:52 AM ^
October 29th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
Are you sure there are disciplinary measures? Are you sure it wasn't nothing?
October 29th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
Maybe a disapproving sideways look will work with the young man
October 28th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
Rittenberg said he was totally going to call out Coach Dantonio if he reneged on his "zero-tolerance" quote, if I recall correctly. I like when people stick to their word.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
The pink pony speaks the truth. In fact, I can't think of a single time a pink pony has been wrong about Michigan football.
October 29th, 2010 at 8:38 AM ^
I don't think he came out firing. He says, "I like Dantonio, [but]..." and (paraphrasing) it is possible to root for your team, love your coach, etc. and still question what he does. It sounds to me like he is begrudgingly criticising him but feeling the need to defend him at teh same time.
October 29th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Maybe it was a bit soft, but Rittenberg is the first it seems to go this far. In that sense I'll take it. To me the whole situation with Dantonio is a tad rediculous to be overlooked. At least some discussion is now happening.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^
If this devolves into half what the other thread did, it will be vanquished with quick resolve.
/warning
October 28th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
Just wanted to get the article out. Lord knows it would have vanished into a pit of despair in the other...
October 28th, 2010 at 11:02 PM ^
...mentioned in the pit of despair before you posted this.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
Well, you have just proven my point then. The pit of despair is very hard to navigate.
October 29th, 2010 at 1:33 AM ^
and its full of R.O.U.S.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.
(and if they did they'd be in the Fire Swamp, not the Pit of Despair)
October 28th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
I agree with what you're saying. One "AAARGH STATE" thread is enough.
I actually read about it on ESPN first (usually I get my news from Mgoblog first) and saw Rittenberg's post. After reading that I immediately came to mgoblog thinking, "How many comments will the board topic about Rucker have?"
264 replies does not disappoint. I haven't read any of them, but I'm sure it's as insane/awesome as I can imagine.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
It peaked around 294. Two trolls were removed in the meantime, and if I really wanted, there's about 7 handles that I was considering negbombing, who weren't trolls for a) feeding trolls or b) saying stupid things.
[mod edit: WAY more than two]
October 28th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^
...it will be vanquished with quick resolve.
Resolve: Not just for dog pee anymore:
October 28th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
What, no second chances on mgoblog?
/ducks
October 29th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
Outstanding warning, formerlyanonymous. You are quickly becoming my favorite moderator. I love a warning before the hammer drops. Somehow, it makes an eventual vanquishing even more powerful.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
Rittenberg is stepping up his game with well written articles. Maybe ESPN actually has someone worth listening to concerning college football
October 28th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
Rittenberg is finding his voice a little more this season, and I think it's partially because I think he finally feels like he has agency within the Big Ten media community. He is one of many voices, but he is presenting facts and the opinions that follow from them. He's pointed out several times in the past week that it's a blog, which means it is opinion fueled at times. He ticked off Purdue fans this week because he was not happy that none of Purdue's quarterbacks would have media availability, which seemed like a reasonable vent for a person who needs media availability to better do his job. What I liked about that run (besides this tweet that started it was that Rittenberg quickly learned from his Twitter followers that there was a strong misconception among many of them about his role. It seemed like a moment of clarity.
Essentially, Rittenberg is going to keep building his brand by writing quality pieces and run the risk of offending fan bases from time to time. If he picks his "battles" carefully, I really think he will be a very valuable voice in the Big Ten football media.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
...looking forward to reading Mitch Albom's next column. First time in about a decade for that.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:49 PM ^
and really long.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
At the end of each paragraph, Mitch will type, "zero tolerance", that is Albom's own special style.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:01 PM ^
...so. This is why I typed that.
Maybe Dantonio isn't even considering bringing Rucker back. If so, he should say it. In college football, a coach is there to mold young men, on the field and sometimes with tough love off it. I am not advocating throwing Rucker out of the Spartan family. After eight days in jail, he needs support, now more than ever.
But playing in a big game -- playing in any game -- is a privilege, and Dantonio should be sending that signal, even if it costs him a great player. Because there's something bigger at stake here.
It's called character.
And the coach shouldn't be quiet about it. He should shout it to the rafters.
Now that Dantonio has shown confirmed he lacks character, it will be interesting to see if Mitch sticks to his guns or not.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
describing a conversation he had with Rucker while in jail with details of his clothes written while Albom was in New York
October 29th, 2010 at 7:43 AM ^
Given Dantonio's weaselly statement about why Rucker was reinstated, I don't see Albom reversing course on this.
In the meantime, Wojo has come out against the move as well:
Dantonio just took Michigan State's special run and needlessly swaddled it in controversy, and I'm astonished he did it. Mere hours after being released from jail, senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker was reinstated Thursday and back at practice, and I honestly don't know how Dantonio can think the decision is good for his program.
...
Each case is different. Each kid is different. Absolutely. Then don't set up some vague discipline code that shifts according to circumstance. Dantonio said Thursday that "zero tolerance does not mean automatic dismissal."
He can make all those arguments and defend his decision and pray Rucker proves him right. But this is not a fake-kick gamble that might cost him a game. This is a gamble with his program's reputation, and it's disappointing he took it.
It's clear the pundits are lining up against Rucker's reinstatement.
EDIT: Rosenberg also has a column out in the Freep this morning criticizing the move. So that's Rittenberg, Albom, Wojo, Rosenberg, and, yes, Drew Sharp against. (Sharp was ahead of the curve on this, having written a column on Oct. 16 saying that Rucker should not play another down for MSU.)
October 28th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^
.... unless its someone that can contribute to your team and winning is all that you care about. I mean the guy spent time in PRISON! Normal for most college students ... right?
October 28th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
as he should. dantonio has now reinstated two players who were jailed on the day they were released. no, "you have to do X to earn your way back" or anything of the like. he's sending a bad message and a journalist's job is to point that out. kudos to rittenberg.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
Won't say boo to Dantonio. Last time Drew Sharp tried to show him up St. Mark made him wimper like a whipped puppy. The coaches in Spartyland are not subject to the same treatment as other coaches. Remember when Izzo had his I-never-really-was-going-to-leave-you presser and totally dressed down Lynn Henning?
October 28th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
A) Guys who grew up under the guidance and tutelage of their MSU coaches to go on and be successful at the next level (NFL), or
B) Guys who were never made to understand what discipline and self control are, never learned consequences, and were likely confused by the all bark/no bite repercussions handed down by their coaches (JL Smith too) at MSU, then went on to be kicked off the team or end up in legal trouble?
The real question is, if the head coach is not man enough to do it, why doesn't he ask the AD to play bad cop? Does he really think the same group of guys that consistenly cause trouble are the ones to be entrusted to make the right decision? Really?
October 28th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
Bah, the comments in that article were so annoying I ended up posting this:
It doesn't matter, MSU is the the most overrated team in the country. Ride your [national good will] and trick plays into the national spotlight Dantonio, but don't expect to make gutless decisions and expect not to get flak. It's amazing how MSU thinks one good year makes them the greatest CFB team in the Big 10. Next year, you'll regress and won't have another good season for another 40 years. You guys are college football's #### green cicadas. Can't wait til you crawl back into the ground.
Probably a little dickish, but it's just plain irritating seeing them all just come out of nowhere.
[mod comment: mocking a coach for having a heart attack really has no place on this Board - GB. edited]
October 28th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
Can't rail on trick plays when they work... Sad as I am to say it. And dropping the heart attack line is just plain terrible, especially considering Bo had, what, three of them during his coaching career at Michigan?
Why can't we just take our lumps and admit they're having a pretty damn good year? Let them be the idiots.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
Yes. This.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
i find it ironic that a fanbase (RCMB) that mocked Indiana and the "Believe Train" push for a bowl game/goodwill also mocked a Notre Dame student who died filming his beloved would likely raise hell and claim all UM fans are soulless bastards for this comment.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:41 PM ^
If you can somehow censor/remove/edit the very insensitive part of my post that'd be superb, I don't want to come off like a soulless bastard.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:56 PM ^
That ND accident post is... just wow. There's a special place in hell for that kind of soulessness.
October 30th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^
read the whole thread, but really 14 pages dedicated to that topic... WOW!!! i love how they keep claiming that they don't obsess over the on goings at other schools...
October 28th, 2010 at 11:12 PM ^
I meant it more along the lines of how it's being portrayed in the media and making them think they're the miracle or cinderella team. By no means did I mean it as an insult to people suffering from heart problems (I've had two close friends die from them, as well as both my grandfathers). I understand how it could've been taken the other way and probably should've chosen my wording better... I blame beer.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:16 PM ^
Beer isn't an excuse. It's stupid to use any kind of reference to a coach's medical issues to rail on his team. Especially if you're a Michigan fan.