Spartans try to rebound from Michigan loss
The result on the field last week was bad enough for Michigan State, but the fallout in the wake of a 21-7 defeat at the hands of rival Michigan was nearly as difficult to handle.
The loss stung, to be sure, as the Spartans lost to the Wolverines for the second time in three seasons and were effectively knocked out of the Big Ten East race.
But it was what happened before the game and the war of words after that became center stage as Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh called Michigan State’s actions “bush league” and called out Dantonio in the process. Dantonio quickly responded, calling Harbaugh’s comments “B.S.”
A day later during his weekly teleconference on Sunday night, the Michigan State coach was ready to move on.
“As far as everything prior to the game, I’m really not gonna bother commenting on it,” Dantonio said.
“I’ve never commented on a coach in the past. I’m not gonna comment on one now and the whole thing to me was sort of juvenile and things are gonna happen in rivalry games. I stand by what I said yesterday.”
It all began well before the game when Michigan State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) took its regular walk down the length of the field at Spartan Stadium, something it has done at all home games under Dantonio and something that never has created problems. While doing so, several Michigan players were at midfield and an altercation followed.
Michigan players said Michigan State was late to arrive and no one asked them to move while those on the Michigan State side say they were asked to move. It resulted in Michigan’s Devin Bush tearing up the Spartan logo at midfield.
Dantonio was just behind the players walking when the incident happened and didn’t appear to react to the players yelling at each other. After the game, Harbaugh said Dantonio was walking behind, “smiling the whole time,” to which Dantonio responded with the “B.S.” comment.
It continued Monday as Harbaugh likened what happened to a “Stormtrooper march,” but by Tuesday at his weekly press conference, Dantonio shut things down in an effort to turn the focus to taking on Purdue this week.
The Boilermakers and second-year coach Jeff Brohm are coming off an upset of Ohio State, their fourth consecutive win after opening the season with three losses.
“Coach Brohm has done a great job there since getting there last year and sort of turning the program,” Dantonio said. “Very good football team right now, playing hot, so we’re going to have our challenges.”
The Spartans (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) will attempt to turn things around as junior quarterback Brian Lewerke nurses a shoulder injury that limited him to just five completions against Michigan.
Redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi took over for Lewerke on the final series of the game and completed one pass as Michigan penalties allowed the Spartans to move into Wolverines territory. Dantonio said Lombardi got plenty of reps during the week and there was discussion about putting him in the game against Michigan earlier.
But Dantonio made the choice to stick with the junior who has been the starter since last season. And if Lewerke isn’t limited in practice this week, he’ll get the call again.
“He’s played a lot of football here last year and been very successful, and I think he’s got a live arm and I have a lot of confidence in him,” Dantonio said of Lewerke.
“Not that I don’t have confidence in the other guys, but we’re going to play the guys that we think are the best players at a particular point in time. If that changes, then we’ll make decisions on that.”
