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Michigan State

32Mine

Freshman
Jan 31, 2004
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How is it possible that a university in East Lansing, that must compete with talent from that school in Ann Arbor, is one of football's final four and No. 1 in the latest AP basketball poll?

East Lansing? I don't get it.
 
good coaching along with receiving a full share of the B10 money helps. They have a chance to be in the final 4 for hoops and football since Izzo always has a top team too.
 
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Not really. Stanford has won the Director's Cup every single year OTHER THAN the very first, 1993-94, which was won by UNC. MSU, while a very, very good one, has never even finished in the top 8.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACDA_Directors'_Cup
I could be wrong, but it always seems like Stanford cleans up on things like Water Polo and Swimming and Golf and things like that. No doubt Stanford has a great athletic department, but I agree with the OP and others...in the sports that matter (football and men's basketball), they have been as good as anyone and you could easily make the argument that they have no business being that good considering they have such strong competition locally.
 
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Stanford by a mile and a half. Won the NACDA Director's Cup for most success in collegiate athletics 20 years in a row, including last year. And they do it with smart kids.
 
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I could be wrong, but it always seems like Stanford cleans up on things like Water Polo and Swimming and Golf and things like that. No doubt Stanford has a great athletic department, but I agree with the OP and others...in the sports that matter (football and men's basketball), they have been as good as anyone and you could easily make the argument that they have no business being that good considering they have such strong competition locally.

Every sport "counts" and I agree, they are a GREAT athletic department, but they simply are NOT the best in the nation (which is what I was responding to...). If you want to say that, year-in and year-out, there's nobody better than MSU in the 2 biggies, then maybe the argument can be made, sure!
 
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I am a big proponent of having a well rounded department. Stanford is the model. They are good or great at everything they do.

I'm not sure your average east coaster realizes how amazing Stanford is as an institution. Across the board, there is no equal.
 
I am a big proponent of having a well rounded department. Stanford is the model. They are good or great at everything they do.

I'm not sure your average east coaster realizes how amazing Stanford is as an institution. Across the board, there is no equal.
In sports.
 
Every sport "counts" and I agree, they are a GREAT athletic department, but they simply are NOT the best in the nation (which is what I was responding to...). If you want to say that, year-in and year-out, there's nobody better than MSU in the 2 biggies, then maybe the argument can be made, sure!
Over the past ten years, MSU is 24th in total wins in football.
 
Best combination of football and basketball coaching in the nation. Player development and recruiting based on fit into system is tremendous in both sports.
 
I think MSU has been really great in football and basketball over the past five years or so. Longer term, you can make an argument for Ohio State.

Izzo's been coaching them for 21 years and has made 18 straight NCAA tournaments. His first 2 years he missed the NCAA with records close to .500. Ever since then he doesn't miss a beat. 2010-2011 season only won 19 games which was a real off year for him.

I try to watch every Michigan State basketball game for the last 3-4 years. I'm shocked at how much development you see from year-to-year with his kids. I remember Denzel Valentine as a freshman, Talented and athletic, however, at times played out of control and extremely streaky. Completely different player now. One of the best players in the country and can take over as a PG from Tum Tum without any ball handling degradation.

Izzo was very influential in the decision to hire Dantonio in 2007. He worked closely with Hollis to bring him in and the two are extremely tight, as well as, continue to learn from each other in the coaching profession.
 
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I can understand Palo Alto, a beautiful campus, great academics with wonderful temperature in the middle of Silicon Valley. But East Lansing? Izzo and Dantonio are probably the best combo in the two sports that matter.
 
How is it possible that a university in East Lansing, that must compete with talent from that school in Ann Arbor, is one of football's final four and No. 1 in the latest AP basketball poll?

East Lansing? I don't get it.

It's a carefully crafted conspiracy perpetrated by East Lansing gazzillionaire Larry Page (Google co-founder & CEO). Page was born & raised in East Lansing but attended Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a result, the space-time continuum was altered beyond repair.
 
Same way everyone at that level succeeds. Everyone pointed in the same direction, great leadership, funding, support.

How isn't the question. Implementing it is the hard part.

The only thing you left out and it is important is ...... ALUMNI/FAN SUPPORT
People open their wallets, they even opened their wallets during the bad times.
 
I took a Michigan State fan on his 1st time in New Jersey to Rutts Hut at 7pm explaining to him this was the best hot dog place in New Jersey and he ordered scrambled eggs...i immediately put him on the next bus back to New York City
 
I can understand Palo Alto, a beautiful campus, great academics with wonderful temperature in the middle of Silicon Valley. But East Lansing? Izzo and Dantonio are probably the best combo in the two sports that matter.
Not sure why you're so hung up on East Lansing. There are plenty of good college football and basketball programs in glamourless places. The right coach can build a winning program anywhere. It just takes longer and is more work in some locations.
 
Not sure why you're so hung up on East Lansing. There are plenty of good college football and basketball programs in glamourless places. The right coach can build a winning program anywhere. It just takes longer and is more work in some locations.

They have been a big time program in both sports for a long time.
 
Lots of people around nation confuse Michigan and Michigan St. Its like they share an identity. If there was a Rutgers and a Rutgers State you would get the same thing
 
The right people in place and Stability.

How long has Izzo and Dantonio been there?

Without question if good coaches are in place and stay, people trust that and want to be apart.

(On a smaller note - one reason why I chose Bentley was because I wanted to play for a coach, Yetten, who had been there for 30yrs. Stability in life is crucial.)
 
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It has a lot to do with Dantonio. He maybe the best coach in College Football. Michigan was recruiting 5* players and getting their asses handed to them by Dantonio with 2 & 3* recruits.
 
I think the real question is how did we end up in the best football conference in the country with a great TV network?
 
As far as the schools that are the best at Football and MBB, MSU is way up there with the very best. OSU, Wisconsin, Florida, UCLA and Michigan are the others off the top of my head.
 
Best combination of football and basketball coaching in the nation. Player development and recruiting based on fit into system is tremendous in both sports.
Louisville has been very good in football and basketball and so has Notre Dame including womens basketball.
 
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Louisville has been very good in football and basketball and so has Notre Dame including womens basketball.

No doubt both Louisiville and Notre Dame have tremendous teams and coaching in both sports. That said, I'll take Dantonio and Izzo over their combinations. Can't deny Dantonio's record over the last 3 years with a Rose Bowl win, Cotton Bowl win and now a Playoff game. Izzo is ridiculous. Made the Final 4 last year and I'm telling you the team this year is better than last year. Thought they would miss Dawson and Trice, and while both were really good, however, this year the team is really deep and doesn't miss a beat. For today, Michigan State would beat Lousiville and ND in both sports. Shoot, Michigan State just beat Louisville in the B1G - ACC Tournament and they beat Lousiville in last year's Elite 8 to get to the Final 4.
 
How is it possible that a university in East Lansing, that must compete with talent from that school in Ann Arbor, is one of football's final four and No. 1 in the latest AP basketball poll?

East Lansing? I don't get it.
1) First, East Lansing is a great place to live...if you haven't spent some time there you should
2) Everything about MSU espouses class
3) They have incredible support statewide...from the legislature to the press to the people. Go shopping anywhere within 100 miles on game day and you're going to see multitudes of people in MSU garb.
4) They have pride...something NJ and Rutgers both don't have.

That being said, WE can change that. To quote a great philosopher of our time:

"I have a message for fans, supporters, administrators, players, basically anybody that loves this program: We need to create some positive energy around this program," Ash said. "It's going to take an extreme amount of work. It's going to take a lot of the right people going in the same direction. Organizational alignment here in this athletic department and in this football program is going to be essential to our success.
"Everybody is going to have a role. And I'm asking that everybody be the best that they can be at whatever job that is that you have to do; for us and this program to reach our goals of being one of the best football teams in a great conference here in the Big Ten."
 
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Not really. Stanford has won the Director's Cup every single year OTHER THAN the very first, 1993-94, which was won by UNC. MSU, while a very, very good one, has never even finished in the top 8.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACDA_Directors'_Cup
Agree RE Stanford. My nephew just started on a team at Stanford and the facilities and details for even the minor sports is amazing.
 
It's all about their coaches. Gonna be interesting to see how far they slide when Dantonio retires/leaves. I believe he is either 60 or 61 and has had some health issues in the past. Like him or not, what he has accomplished at MSU is remarkable.
 
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