EAST LANSING, Mich. – Respect.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio was asked why it seems like there is more respect in his team’s games with Notre Dame rather than the Michigan game.
“It has something to do with way back with Notre Dame playing us home and away,” said Dantonio, who takes his team to South Bend on Saturday. “U of M would only play Michigan State at home.”
It also has to do with other factors – like Wolverines tailback Mike Hart’s “Little Brother” comment after Michigan’s comeback win in 2007 at Spartan Stadium and the folks who had “GO BLUE” skywritten over East Lansing before MSU’s Saturday win over Youngstown State.
Dantonio joked about somebody knowing his Zanesville (Ohio) High football coach was in attendance and meant that as a salute to the Blue Devils. Dantonio gritted his teeth when answering the question about the invasion of air space before smiling and adding, “Lot of money for that in Zanesville.”
The Wolverines, between 1915 and 1952, played only two games against the Spartans in East Lansing. It wasn’t until MSU turned the Big Nine into the Big Ten in 1953 that home-and-away scheduling began.
The Fighting Irish began scheduling both ways with the Spartans in 1948, and that is generally credited as one of the reasons MSU was admitted to the premier conference.
The Spartans actually have a higher winning percentage over Notre Dame (28-47-1, .375) than Michigan (32-68-5, .329), and both teams have much at stake in the 3:41 p.m. kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium (NBC).
The No. 22 Fighting Irish (2-1) already lost at Michigan, 41-30, and could drop out of the rankings and forgo any shot at playing in a second consecutive national championship game by losing. Notre Dame barely survived a less-than-formidable Purdue team with a 31-24 win Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind., and hasn’t been as tough to move on as it was last season.
Michigan State (3-0) wants to not only take an undefeated record into its Oct. 5 Big Ten opener at Iowa, but also needs to prove it can beat somebody other than Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State.
“It’s a high-profile game for us,” Dantonio said, “and we’re going to find out a little about who’s who.”
Just who is Connor Cook?
Is he the quarterback who struggled mightily in the first two games or the one who threw four touchdowns with nary an interception Saturday against Youngstown State?
“He got a boost of confidence in his play,” Dantonio said of Cook throwing for 202 yards in the first half plus one second-half series. “I’m sure he is looking forward to the opportunity. This helps his mindset as he goes into his first Big Ten road game.”
Cook attended Walsh Jesuit High in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, but said he didn’t root for Notre Dame despite going to the Catholic school near Cleveland.
“No,” Cook said, “I was a Big Ten fan.”
But the redshirt sophomore is up for the game.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Cook said. “It’s the stuff you dream of growing up.”
The game also can be an accurate barometer of how MSU will do in Big Ten play. It lost, 20-3, last year to the Irish in East Lansing, and never got on track offensively. The Spartans were limited to 50 yards rushing on 25 carries, and have only four rushing first downs in their last two games with Notre Dame.
A go-to back has yet to develop as Dantonio seeks the best replacement for Le’Veon Bell. Jeremy Langford (200 yards on 44 carries), Nick Hill (179 yards on 25 carries) and Riley Bullough (82 yards on 21 carries) all figure into the mix. Bullough converted from linebacker late in spring football drills and is inexperienced, but his ability to mix it up and get yards after contact could make him better suited to this matchup.
Notre Dame has 357-pound Louis Nix III and 322-pound Stephon Tuitt anchoring its 3-4 front along with 290-pound Sheldon Day.
Dantonio said that’s the reason for starting 326-pound Jack Conklin at right tackle over 298-pound Fou Fonoti, who also has played over an undisclosed injury.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Dantonio said. “It’s one of those games where you take stock.”
EXTRA POINTS:
--- Dantonio said he’s likely to make decisions on red-shirting players such as quarterback Damion Terry and receiver DeAnthony Arnett after the sixth game.
--- Dantonio said starting strong safety Isaiah Lewis, who missed the Youngstown State game, and starting outside linebacker Taiwan Jones, who came out with an injury against the Penguins, both are probable for Saturday.
--- Only Southern Cal (35 wins) has more than MSU’s 28 against Notre Dame, and Dantonio is 3-3.
--- The Irish have won nine consecutive home games, and have not reached 10 straight in 14 years.
--- Notre Dame’s quality placekicker-punter Kyle Brindza is from Plymouth Canton High.
--- The Spartans lead all FBS teams with 177 yards allowed per game and a 68.14 pass efficiency rating on defense.
