Will Mark Dantonio have second-year troubles like John L. Smith?
In a word, no—and here’s why. John L. Smith’s teams were like Pedro Cerrano in Major League II: they had no marbles. Late-game collapses were the hallmark of his teams. Michigan in 2004, Ohio State in 2005, Notre Dame in 2006…this tortured a fan base that had just gone through the Bobby Williams era. For those that aren’t as familiar with the Spartans, this was like going to the new Indiana Jones flick and having George Lucas personally kick you in the groin on your way out. Then Mark Dantonio came along and brought mental toughness (and Jobu). Sure there were some growing pains, but MSU is returning some excellent players. Greg Jones, Javon Ringer, and Brian Hoyer will all be impact players in the Big Ten. The team was very close last year in Year One of the Dantonio Era. Look for them to begin winning some more of those close games and return to the postseason. Question: Which players will the Spartans miss most? Answer: On defense, it’s no question. Jonal Saint-Dic was quietly one o
