Mark Dantonio on how Michigan State tries to prevent complacency

Published Aug. 11, 2015 11:45 a.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio was asked on media day in East Lansing if he has seen any signs of complacency in his program as it has put together back-to-back 12-win seasons with major bowl wins.

This has become a frequent query as a program forged in hard work that identifies as the underdog has seemingly come of age under Dantonio.

The Spartans' mentor replied no, adding, "We're not built that way here.

He also explained how he tries to prevent his players from getting too comfortable with their status.

"We compete against each other here, so we go a lot of ones-vs.-ones," Dantonio said. "When you go ones-vs.-ones, you've got to measure up on the field, right now, right at that point in time, otherwise you get defeated in practice.

"We've always come to work in winter workouts, we've always come to work in our bottom line program, summer camp, and I don't sense any complacency at all."

He credited strong leadership from his seniors year-in and year-out for maintaining motivation within the program.

"They're now into their last turn, their last three or four months here, and they understand the urgency of the situation, what has to happen and what they have to do to lead because that's been the nature here, I think, of what we've tried to do," Dantonio said.

Maintaining the hunger might continue to be a challenge if the Spartans continue their ascent in the college football world, but Dantonio sounds confident he has the answers if that happens.

"I don't sense the complacency," he said. "I think our guys have goals in mind, goals internally, what they want to do, and I think right now in summer camp right now, I think our guys are motivated on those.

"Now, we need to be able to stay motivated, too. That's a key, too. Can't fall away."