Debate proposition: Dantonio is the best coach in the B!G.

Submitted by wolverine1987 on

I'm sure many negs are due this OP, but I just watched the MSU game and when I think of this:

-3-9

-lost best their WR and several contributors due to scandal

-are along with M, the youngest team in the nation

-have objectively, factually, worse talent than any of the league elite, including us

-are playing walk ons at key positions 

-had a terrible recruiting year yet are playing freshmen

-beat us at home and just beat PSU, another team with far superior talent to them...

I can't come to any other conclusion than the title of this post. I am all Harbaugh, and I think our future still is brighter than most in the league. I wouldn't want any other coach for Michigan. But damn IMO this is hard to refute. But I'm wide open to counter arguments. Have any?

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uofmfan_13

November 4th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^

He wins close games. He keeps his team close vs ranked opponents and wins more often then not. He finds QBs with seemingly average physical skills and instills in them intangibles and enough confidence to beat better defenses.

Joined: 01/27/2011

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mgobleu

November 4th, 2017 at 8:01 PM ^

I don't care what he is; if you want to sit here and fellate him, be my guest but I'm not gonna do it. Would you trade Harbaugh for him? I wouldn't.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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Hail to the Vi…

November 4th, 2017 at 8:02 PM ^

Weather is the ultimate equalizer and both played a factor in MSU's big wins this year. He's a great coach that has received great luck this year. I still think they will get trounced by OSU

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

uofmfan_13

November 4th, 2017 at 8:03 PM ^

Dude molds decent QBs out of no name prospects. Kirk cousins. Cook. This new guy Lewerke. Why can't Michigan do this? This is what is holding us back. We absolutely need a leader at QB. Screw star gazing. Just play the best guy.

Joined: 01/27/2011

MGoPoints: 2975

Eye of the Tiger

November 4th, 2017 at 8:21 PM ^

That ended in 2008. I think stability is key. And injuries. Since 2008, with (1) being a significant number of games with a first time starter and (2) being injuries to early season starter: 2008: bad QB performance (1) (2) 2009: meh QB performance (1) 2010: good QB performance (1) 2011: good QB performance (2) 2012: good QB performance (1) (2) 2013: meh QB performance (1) (2) 2014: meh QB performance 2015: good QB performance (1) (2) 2016: meh QB performance (1) (2) 2017: bad QB performance (1) (2)

Joined: 09/14/2009

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Eye of the Tiger

November 4th, 2017 at 8:03 PM ^

Hard to compare him to Meyer because Meyer has done more but has so many structural advantages, and has had since he started at UF. Nobody does more with less then Dantonio. I think that's a fact at this point. He does a fantastic job developing players and can be a very clever in-game coach too. The only knock on him, really, is that MSU often seems listless against lesser opponents. They looked bad against Northwestern, until the 4th quarter. Then they looked very good against PSU. Okay that and the fact that MSU never seems to be able to turn success into recruiting success. But do they even need it?

Joined: 09/14/2009

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Alumnus93

November 4th, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^

I've been saying for a decade now, that Bo dropped the ball when not hiring him from Cincinnati as the one guy who.could.beat Tressel, after he beat Lloyd repeatedly. Though I do think they use steroids.

Joined: 09/10/2009

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jabberwock

November 4th, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^

I've been saying he's #1 or #2 for many years around here.  It's usually welcomed about as you'd expect.

I want to punch him in the face every time i see him, but what he does is absolutely impressive.

Joined: 07/04/2008

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93Grad

November 4th, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^

Nobody does more with less. They are younger and far less talented than we are. Related question, is there any doubt that Harbaugh is the 4th best coach in the division?

Joined: 07/26/2011

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Mpfnfu Ford

November 4th, 2017 at 8:07 PM ^

In a trash weather game. Sparty could be playing Bama, and if you told me it was going to be a monsoon I'm taking Dantonio. He can't recruit worth a damn, but he gets his guys ready and if he can get some crap weather to nullify athleticism advantages, he'll beat you damn near every time. 

Joined: 05/19/2012

MGoPoints: 6469

Hail to the Vi…

November 4th, 2017 at 8:08 PM ^

He punches above his weight class perhaps better than any other coach, but he's not on the same level as Satan (autocorrect but I'll leave it), and Meyer. And I think over time Harbaugh will prove to be a better football coach too. Mark has a 10 year head start after all.....

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

Doc Mango Gibbs

November 4th, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^

I personally think Mark Dantonio is one of the most overrated coaches in the country.  He's lost 44 games in ten years at MSU.  He's the 37th winningest active coach in college football.  40% of his seasons at MSU have seen 6 or more losses. 

Yes, he's had some good years, the highlight of which came from one of the most unlikely plays in college football history.  Most of his good years capitilzed on two powerhouse programs having the worst stretches in their history.

He's a solid coach who gets a lot out of shitty players, and that's about it. 

Joined: 10/23/2017

MGoPoints: 2775

newtopos

November 4th, 2017 at 8:36 PM ^

Each of these years, MSU finished top-6 nationally, while OSU was being coached by Urban Meyer (not Luke Fickell).  How was MSU capitalizing during that stretch, while being in the same division as OSU, who finished 10th, 1st, and 4th nationally?

Joined: 09/26/2009

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Mpfnfu Ford

November 4th, 2017 at 8:42 PM ^

The Good Lord could come down from heaven riding a cloud and take over Michigan State and it ain't going to change the fact that they're Michigan State. I mean, they actually had Nick Saban as their coach and he never won the conference there. Left to go to LSU who hadn't won anything of note in 30 years and won a national title there, but couldn't do it at Michigan State.

I just hate that crap of quoting a coaches overall record as if every job in the country is equal and any "truly great" coach would be able to win anywhere. It's poppycock. This sport ain't fair. Being able to win with the deck stacked against you at a shitty job is amazing. 

Joined: 05/19/2012

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Jimmyisgod

November 4th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^

Their receivers are really talented. Their QB is really really talented. Talent in D is really good. They have a couple walk ons, but this team has just as much talent as PSU, objectively. Dantonio is a great coach though. Best in the conference? I'll still take Harbaugh.

Joined: 01/24/2012

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uofmfan_13

November 4th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^

And sick of big ten divisions and scheduling. Big ten west is a joke. Go back to leaders and legends crap. Oh, and please push delany the 30 yr goober out as commish.

Joined: 01/27/2011

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Human Torpedo

November 4th, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^

Me thinks though Paul Chryst for his sheer consistency is right with him. Before you say "Oh but he's in the West", hey the Western Division has some dang good programs now. Look at resurgent Northwestern and now Iowa (who Wisconsin plays next before us)

Joined: 01/15/2016

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Wolfman

November 4th, 2017 at 8:26 PM ^

I had forgotten all about Paul, who when you consider the length of time he's been at the helm-same as Harbaugh-has a much better record through 3 years. Talk about getting the most out of 3*s and below, this guy has to be up there with anyone.  This entire debate could also point to just how good the oaching has become conference wide. Not unlike the mid 90s (I think) when we had Barnett, Tiller, Pat coming into NW, Saban at State, possibly one or two I'm missing. 

Joined: 07/23/2008

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Matte Kudasai

November 4th, 2017 at 8:21 PM ^

Can’t call that late hit with the game on the line. But of course they did.... Crazy how the refs have Msu back time after time. Good coach but not the best and definitely doesn’t have an ounce of integrity.

Joined: 05/04/2016

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