New Head Coach -Mark Dantonio

[kelbail21]

I've mentioned this on other threads but I want this name to be recognized, talked about and hopefully considered when the time comes. Mark Dantonio. Dantonio's staff has been together eleven years at Michigan State. They have turned a perennial sub .500 Spartan footbal lteam into a national powerhouse playing tough, fundamental football that will translate immediately into the NFL.. Take a look at the NFL'ers they've produced and you'll see this group of coaches can "Coach 'em up". By the time players leave Michigan State, they are NFL ready. They've done this without the recruiting clout of an Alabama, an Ohio St., a Michigan or a Notre Dame. They are a cohesive group that have successfully built strong, aggressive hard hitting, ball hawking defenses with well balanced, powerful offenses that have also been effective throwing the ball. I don't know if I've ever seen a Mark Dantonio team get outhit in a game.
Mark Dantonio is 59 years old. He's seasoned. He's passionate. He's tough. And he's a WINNER!
Recently I've heard talk of Jim Mora Jr. as a possible candidate. I ask you. Look at the resumes. Look at their two programs now, Michigan St. vs UCLA. They are about equal in recruiting clout. Look at the recent players to come out of both schools. Look at the consistency in play and the ability to beat any team in the country. They've gone twelve rounds in slugfests with Micjigan and Ohio St. and run photo finishes with Oregon. Any style football, anytime, any place. Not many sharps bet against Dantonio and the Spartans. Currently, they are #2 in the nation. Their last two Quarterbacks are Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. Look at the consistency in staff. We have some young talent and we need some coaches that know how to implement effective schemes and get the most out of every player. These guys, for a change, know WTF they are doing and they do it in all phases of the game year in and year out.
Passion? Michigan planted a U of M flag into the Michigan State field before the game. This was Dantonio's post game reaction.

[Driven_Phinsane!]

I have to say that i don't know much about Dantonio but it's pretty impressive what he's done to turn that program around, especially being able to beat Michigan 6 out of the last 8 when previously they could pretty much never beat 'em...One thing i wanted to add, do you really think Ross a diehard Michigan supporter & alumni would hire a guy from MSU?? I guess it's possible if for nothing else but to stop him from beating up on Michigan every year!

[kelbail21]

That is funny. I wondered if Ross could be so Michigan that he could not even consider Dantonio. But I like your thinking. That's a very strong selling point that it would weaken MSU.

[cuchulainn]

Personally, I'm hoping for Dan Campbell to turn around our team and season. Not really wanting another Mora, Mangini, etc... or some college coach who has never dealt with grown mercenaries as opposed to kids fresh from home... not saying he couldn't do it, but the record of guys jumping from college HC gigs to the Pros is not good. Jimmy Johnson is one of the few who made it. Most fail and bail before their contracts are up.

[Tarpon Guide]

I'm not sure the Dolphins are over the Saban Experiment they did several years ago.....

[Dolfan1]

Personally, I'm hoping for Dan Campbell to turn around our team and season. Not really wanting another Mora, Mangini, etc... or some college coach who has never dealt with grown mercenaries as opposed to kids fresh from home... not saying he couldn't do it, but the record of guys jumping from college HC gigs to the Pros is not good. Jimmy Johnson is one of the few who made it. Most fail and bail before their contracts are up.

Yeah, I think I'd like to give Campbell the next 12 weeks to prove himself before I break out the tar and feathers.

[cuchulainn]

Yeah, I think I'd like to give Campbell the next 12 weeks to prove himself before I break out the tar and feathers.

Agreed. Plenty of time yet before we need to start hunting yet another HC.

[DolphinsFreak]

I guess I am in the minority here but I don't really want this season to be salvaged. The odds of Campbell being the next Cowher or being able to take this team to a playoffs I think is just setting fans up for disappointment. Dan Campbell is a tight ends coach who's first job was with the Miami Dolphins. We ALL know what kind of coaches the organization has had while Campbell has been here. Our only hope is that he is a genius and he was taking notes the past 6 years of WHAT NOT TO DO. Usually when an assistant is promoted and succeeds it is because he comes from a good coaching tree and has picked things up from intelligent coaches who have done something in this league. NOBODY that has coached this team in the past 18 years has done anything worth taking notes on, and that applies more so to those that were here in the past six years. Campbell won't be able to right this ship, he is now the captain of the Titanic, and the longer that Coyle and Lazor are still employed by this organization the faster it will sink.

For the record, I am against hiring a college coach. I am all for doing a FULL house cleaning and going after THE BEST head coach, with NFL experience, and avoiding ALL coaches that don't have NFL experience. I want a head coach that has a ton of ties to other coaches with NFL experience too. In my opinion the Dolphins have been run by college coaches since Parcells took over and I think it's time to rid ourselves of that mans stench and clean house from top to bottom and find REAL coaches, NFL caliber coaches with fat resumes. JMO

[hawkfinfan]

Dantonio had a heart attack a few years ago. I doubt he would take the Fins job. Actually surprised one of our many HC's over the years hasn't had a stroke.