Dantonio to Vols?

Submitted by jokenjin on

First of all, Stewart Mandel has a decent MailBag section on SI.com where one reader compares Fulmer's departure to Carr's departure and while there are certainly some similarities, there are some major differences, i.e. Carr is not a jackass. I wonder if he's still stinging Woodson winning the Heisman over Manning. Probably.

Anyways, I'm getting off track - while reading ESPN they have a preliminary list of candidates for the Tennessee job, including Lane Kiffin, Tim Brewster, Will Muschamp, Brian Kelly and Mike Leach. However, one name that gets some mention is Mark Dantonio. How ridiculous would it be if MSU had a second coach leave for an SEC team? While I'd love to see it, I personally don't see it happening:

Saban is a different animal by himself and Dantonio, while I hate to admit it, has slightly better character than Saban. While Saban could never penetrate the stranglehold of Michigan for Michigan recruits, Dantonio has done a nice job lately of getting recruits in Michigan while RR has gone nationwide (this is a topic that would make for a great and long diary entry, but that's not happening here) to snag recruits. Saban also had to deal with a Michigan program at one of the peaks of their greatness in the late 90s - early 2000s. Dantonio is getting a Michigan program in it's infancy under a new coaching staff and could grow into a great rivalry.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Thanks for reading.

MGoBoard
coaching change

gmbblue

November 7th, 2008 at 11:12 AM ^

You can win a national championship at Tenn., I am not so sure you can at MSU.  I just think you get better material at Tenn then MSU.  I would imagine they could also pay him twice as much.

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jblaze

November 7th, 2008 at 11:19 AM ^

While he seems to be doing well at MSU, he has never beaten a ranked team (so far 0 and 5). I'm not sure why Tennesee would want him at this stage in his career.

I guess if MSU upsets a top 3 PSU team in a couple of weeks, that this would change, but I see them getting blown out again.

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Jay

November 7th, 2008 at 11:55 AM ^

With all due respect, I am clueless as to why there are so many UM fans who refuse to see what a terrific job Mark Dantonio is doing with his program thus far. The 0-5 record against ranked opponents means nothing at this stage of his career at MSU. He has made inroads with both Michigan high school coaches as well as coaching staffs in Ohio. They'll probably finish with a top 15 recruiting class this year when all is said and done. Considering the parody that we see in college football these days, I think its certainly possible that he gets MSU into a national title game one day.

One other thing to ponder about Dantonio. He inherited a team that was built by John L. Smith to run the spread. Somehow, he's found a way to have back to back winning seasons and will probably be going to a New' Year's Day bowl even though he completely switched their offensive philosophy and now run a pro style offense. They also have done this with a frighteningly medicore quaterback and questionable talent on the offensive line. Imagine that? 

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gmbblue

November 7th, 2008 at 12:07 PM ^

I think for all those reasons you suggest is why he is going to be in high demand.  The big ten is way down right now, when its up with ND in the mix as well I would imagine it will be alot tougher to win a NC or go to the Rose Bowl with 15-30 ish rated classes.

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Rush N Attack

November 7th, 2008 at 12:16 PM ^

I hear what you're saying....and I'm not saying he's a bad coach by any means, but I am clueless as to everyone is all over his tip like it's got magic honey coming out of it.

If his kicker misses that kick against Wiscy, everyone would have been talking about Same ol' Sparty. I mean, he just doesn't impress me, but then again he doesn't have to.

I mean, THIS impresses you?

"He has made inroads with both Michigan high school coaches as well as coaching staffs in Ohio. They'll probably finish with a top 15 recruiting class this year when all is said and done."

Again, I'm not saying he's a bad coach, or anything ike that, but I guess I just don't see what all the fuss is about. I certainly don't think he's the second coming of Nick Saban like Sparty seems to think.

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jblaze

November 7th, 2008 at 12:33 PM ^

wasn't doing a good job, but at this stage in his career (1.5 years at MSU) I don't think he's a serious candidate at Tennessee (which like Michigan is a top 10 coaching job).

If they wanted someone like that, they would rehire Cutliff from Duke.

Also, I know John L was a spread guy, but having a guy like Ringer at RB makes any O transition easier.

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Magnus

November 7th, 2008 at 11:25 AM ^

You can win a national championship at MSU.  It's happened before.  Who knows?  Saban might have contended for a national championship if he had stayed at MSU.  Tennessee does have a better chance, though, because of their recent history and their closer geographical location to talent-heavy SEC country.

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lhglrkwg

November 7th, 2008 at 12:07 PM ^

i dont think dantonio is going anywhere. msu is on the rise, he's doing well in recruiting, they just beat us for the first time in 6/7 years, and i'm sure they love him over there. he's got no reason to go to UT where it seems to be a mess right now and he's got 10x the expectations.

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WolvinLA

November 7th, 2008 at 12:30 PM ^

One big reason: dollars.  Dantonio doesn't make much money as far as head coaches are concerned.  Tennessee would pay him a lot more money.  That's usually why they go.

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chitownblue (not verified)

November 7th, 2008 at 1:40 PM ^

Taking my opinion of MSU and Tennessee out of it: Tennessee is a better job, and would doubtlessly pay him more. However, this would be the 2nd job that he only spent 2 years at. It's unclear he can "build" a program, or whether it's just that he's not the trainwreck John L. was.

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Yinka Double Dare

November 7th, 2008 at 1:51 PM ^

Urban Meyer only had 2 years at BGSU, then 2 years at Utah.  Dantonio has proven to be a decent enough coach (though he doesn't have the record Meyer did), and his recruiting has been solid this year at school that isn't a typical recruiting power.  Tennessee has been and can be a recruiting power again.  I don't think his short terms at his two jobs would hurt him as far as getting the job.

MSU fans seem to think he won't leave for any job other than tOSU.  I'm not so sure -- SEC coach money is a LOT more than he's making right now.  But who knows if UT is even interested in him.

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The Squid

November 7th, 2008 at 1:52 PM ^

Additionally, UT might be a better job, but it's probably also a harder job. Whoever takes the UT job is going to have to be a phenomenal recruiter because Tennessee does not have a lot of instate talent and doesn't have too much cachet outside of the Southeast, which means that they have to go up against the other SEC powerhouses who already have a leg up recruiting their own instate talent. It's not exactly clear if Dantonio has that kind of recruiting chops.

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ShockFX

November 7th, 2008 at 2:25 PM ^

Exactly.

 

Also, MSU lost to Cal, got blown out by OSU, barely squeaked past Wisconsin, and played a ton of other uninspiring teams.  Also beat the worst Michigan team ever because of 3-5 big plays due to screwups that are not going to happen in the future.  I'm decidedly not worried by Dantonio or MSU in general.

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Chrisgocomment

November 7th, 2008 at 2:20 PM ^

nah.  I think he's around for a long time.  Like said before, I think the only job he would even think of leaving for is tOSU.  He's a midwest guy and I think he is in the right spot.

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