Wolfman

February 2nd, 2017 at 8:17 AM ^

Mexico didn't miss yesterday, but I sure in the hell did. Of course this was news to me when I decided to gor from Tuesday to Thrus. Please don't misjudge access to information in Mexico as sub standard based on the behavior of an old gringo that falls into old habits with regularity. 

Although there is some pleasure in meeting signing day with a heightened level of apprehension and doubt, I must say I enjoyed walking up late.........very late Weds to discover the final two pieces to the class were in place. 

turtleboy

February 2nd, 2017 at 8:28 AM ^

Objectively, Steve Lorenz said on the podcast yesterday they still had a pretty solid class, by their low standards. A hilarious, and at times tragic recruiting class, but still a solid-ish one.

Glennsta

February 2nd, 2017 at 10:38 AM ^

That's been the Sparty Football Meme all along; they don't need 4- and 5-star players because D'Antoni will coach them into winners.

Unfortunately for Sparty, we are not doormats any more.  Plus Penn State is starting to pick it up.  You can reasonably pencil Sparty in for 3 in-division losses for the foreseeable future.

We are going to dominate in-state recruiting for a while.

blueturtle

February 2nd, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^

The surge for MSU came when UM was in the midst of two bad coaching hires, Penn St was reeling from Sandusky, and OSU was just gearing up under Urban. Dantonio can no longer get more out of his players than some others. The "we don't get no respect" approach only goes so far.

alum96

February 2nd, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^

For the kid let's keep him out of the conversation but in pure MSU terms of it has happened a week from now it would have been better for us...So Lynn Henning could write a new story about second chances ...And the MSU faithful could say "trust Dantonio" and Mark could get directions to the jail and drive him direct to their S&C training.

war-dawg69

February 2nd, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^

They took a kid last year with several arrests in high school. He plays DE. I'm sorry I just don't see the character angle. I just see a program that was doomed the day JH showed up in AA. Dantonio reeks of desperation and he should. Major panic attacks 3-9 times a day. LOL

Late Bluemer

February 2nd, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^

They said everything was fine and that it was just the kind of class that Coach D wanted.  Seriously though, the way that the TV news around here panders to the Sparty's is hilarious.  After giving a solid two minutes to Coach Harbaugh, the stellar signing class, and the Signing of the Stars event they put Dantonio on for a minute and talk about his high character, high effort kids, blah blah blah as if they are trying to make it seem that their class if really the equivalent of ours in the end.

NateVolk

February 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^

Yeah. Lot more page views and viewers for them keeping the MSU - Michigan rivalry stoked. That has always meant pumping up MSU and trying to find fault with Michigan. Michigan fans will tune in and click their team's content no matter the weather. MSU fans will only pay attention when they are having success or what passes for it. 

The coverage is totally different in many cases. Think about if the Rather Hall group assault or the Wonder's Hall basketball assault had happened at Michigan. It would have been front page news for weeks. No way would any of the athletes involved been allowed back on their teams. 

Totally different standard. The media knows where it's bread is buttered.

saveferris

February 2nd, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^

Yet if you take a look at the RCMB, the board is a picture of disinterest on NSD.  There's virtually no threads on any of their incoming players.  The silence over there is pretty deafening.

They'll all talk tough, but deep down they know Harbaugh has the train moving and their seat at the big kids is pretty much over.

saveferris

February 2nd, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^

It also bears noticing how much of a Chinese fire drill the MSU recruiting cycle was this season.  MSU looked more like a program that had to scramble because of a new incoming coach as opposed to a guy who's starting his second decade of heading a program.

Somehow, Dantonio is supposed to turn that into a cohesive product that will consistently compete year-to-year with Michigan, OSU, Penn State, and even Maryland out-recruiting him?

These clowns are back where they belong, the corner of the classroom.