Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio did something rare Monday morning.
Less than 36 hours after the Spartans fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes, he watched the film one more time.
It's something he only does after big games: MSU's 2011 Big Ten Championship loss to Wisconsin, OSU's 2003 loss to Michigan that spoiled the Buckeyes' National Championship hopes.
Dantonio needed to double check. He had to make sure his players gave their best effort, that not once did they give up in the 49-37 loss.
"I put the film back on and looked at it differently in a different alignment of things just to ask myself and answer to myself, were we playing hard?" Dantonio said. "Were we competing? Did we quit? And the answer is no, we kept playing, and we were playing hard through the very end. That's what you ask your players to do, and they did that."
There's no doubt that the loss was a disappointment. The Spartans had high hopes and aspirations, and greater expectations lead to greater disappointments if unsuccessful.
Failure is inevitable through all walks of life, though. And oftentimes you'll learn more about yourself, the ones next to you, your leader, or who you're leading after failure. It's how you respond that reveals your true character, which is what every player on MSU's roster is going through as the team regroups for Saturday's game against Maryland.
"It's very important that when things go poorly for us, that we do respond," Dantonio said. "That's very important to the structure and to the overall philosophy of this program. It goes beyond winning and losing."
It will only get better or worse for the Spartans moving forward, and Dantonio was assured by his players that he can expect the former.
MSU shouldn't have any trouble rebounding against the Terrapins. Maryland ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring offense and seventh in passing offense, and 12th in total defense. Quarterback C.J. Brown leads the team in rushing with 380 yards, but will be without his top receiver against MSU.
Junior Stefon Diggs will miss Saturday's game due to a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct against MSU. He ranks second in the conference in receptions.
The matchup marks the first Big Ten meeting between the two teams, and their first game since 1950. While it's an unfamiliar team in unfamiliar territory, Dantonio is looking forward to seeing a lot of green and white sprinkled through Maryland's blackout.
"I would expect there would be a lot of Spartan fans there from the East Coast," Dantonio said. "I would think there are going to be a lot of people there that are going to make that drive to Maryland, whether you're from New York or wherever. But we'll see. So it will be an exciting atmosphere, I know that."
After a disappointing loss to the Buckeyes, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Spartans make a dominant statement against the Terrapins. They have nothing to lose, and still so much to play for.
"First of all, the season is not done yet," Dantonio said. "You just don't know what can happen because there is a lot of parity in college football today, but even beyond that we've got a lot to play for. Our hopes are to be a Power Six football team in terms of playing in one of those games."
The Spartans still might be able to achieve that. It will all depend on how they respond to the recent adversity, and they'll get their first chance to do so Saturday.
