Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Justin Dantoniois an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at Michigan State University, a position he has held since the 2007 season, presiding over one of the most successful eras in the program's history. He's led the Michigan State Spartans to three Big Ten Conference championships, and seven victories over archrival Michigan in eight years. In 2013, he coached Michigan State to its first 13-win season and the program's fifth trip to...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth9 March 1956
CityEl Paso, TX
We are pretty banged up in some areas on our team, but our attitude was outstanding this spring, and we look forward to the 2006 season.
We actually don't feel any pressure. I mean, we see what they are going through, but it hasn't changed our mindset. We have to be successful for us, period. Other programs' success or failure does not add to the pressure we put on ourselves.
I firmly believe if we get that ball in there, it's a football game. I don't know if we were going to win, but it's a football game. ... We weren't the same team in the second half.
I would allow anyone to play. Whatever we can do to help, we'll do.
He's a better kicker than he showed last year. He's had an outstanding spring. He's been very, very consistent throughout the spring.
He certainly played well in the fall. He's a guy with a lot of ability - a big, strong guy.
He has great eye-hand coordination. He's a big-body receiver who also played linebacker. He's just a great athlete, with great running ability after the catch. We're very, very excited to get him.
I am very excited about this class because we have guys that can contribute now with the young guys that now have experience after one year under their belt.
Today will give us a good opportunity to continue evaluating where we are and how we need to get better.
Tony plays so hard and he is so smart. He is a winner who makes plays and has made himself a starter this spring.
We would not take a guy at this late date if he couldn't help us. When you watch him on film, he looks like (an impact player). He catches the ball very well over the middle. We hope he is that type of player. You never know until they get here, but he was one of the top players in the Pittsburgh area last year.
Nick Davila had a good day yesterday. He's another guy that's got game experience. Tony Pike for the first time since he's been here has made gains in winter conditioning and feels more confident as a player. He's a Cincinnati guy and he's got a lot of talent.
The thing I've always said about Connor, and mentioned to Coach Kennedy, he's going to compete, I don't care what it is, he's going to compete. He's going to know what to do and play hard.
That's not an excuse. We've got to grow up in a hurry.