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Mark Dantonio discusses season-ending ‘program win,’ opportunity to go bowling
By Paul Harvey
Published:
It has been a rough season in East Lansing, but the Spartans will indeed be going bowling.
The 2019 season actually got off to a good start with Michigan State going 4-1 to open the season. Unfortunately, a five-game losing streak, punctuated by a brutal October schedule and a huge blown lead vs Illinois, doomed any hopes of a strong year.
To their credit, Mark Dantonio and Michigan State didn’t quit after those results and battled for back-to-back wins to end the year. That gives the team a 6-6 record, good enough for a bowl game.
RELATED: Rapid Reaction: Michigan State earns bowl eligibility with late defensive stand vs Maryland
Following Saturday’s season-ending victory over Maryland, Dantonio addressed the win and potential bowl destination. He labeled the win over the 3-9 Terrapins as a “program win,” citing similarities to the 2012 season.
Chris Solari with the Detroit Free Press shared Dantonio’s comments, including his thoughts on the season as a whole and potential bowl opponents:
Dantonio: "Tight game. A program win, much like I talked about coming into the game. Like we had in 2012. Program win and we're going bowling."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 1, 2019
Dantonio thinks MSU will play a Power 5 opponent in a bowl game. "I'll be excited wherever we go." Says all of the bowl trips have been positive experiences.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 1, 2019
Dantonio: "Sometimes when you're working for a must-win, you press a little bit." Says it has not "been an especially enjoyable year, but it's been enjoyable being around our players."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 1, 2019
Dantonio: "I think our football team, we've been locked in all year." Says he feels MSU has "never come out flat" at beginning of games. "You gotta maintain that through a game."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 1, 2019
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.