Dantonio faces old boss Saban in playoff

He stepped up big in three of Michigan State’s three closest games, running for 103, 97 and 60 yards in three-point victories over Oregon, Purdue and Iowa.

When Saban deferred to Dantonio after another joint question, the Spartans coach pulled out one more.

Alabama will take its second shot at reaching the College Football Playoff Championship Game when it takes on Michigan State in Thursday’s Cotton Bowl. And, quite frankly, a lot of the things that we do are patterned after the things that I learned from him, whether it’s technique in the secondary, in the back end a little bit, or defensively, or just structure of the entire program, recruiting. Both are led by two of the best coaches in football in Nick Saban and Mark Dantonio. “And as a coach, you know what it takes, the hard work that it takes, the togetherness that it takes, the culture that you have to sort of establish to have a winning program”. Saban watched Dantonio’s coaching career progress, always impressed. I think Michigan State will be able to contain Henry and I expect Sparty to win the Cotton Bowl in a tight game 31-30. He arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007 after two unsuccessful years as the head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Saban and Alabama have set the standard since, going 98-18 with three national championships and four Southeastern Conference titles. For the second straight season, the Crimson Tide will take on a Big Ten squad in said College Football Playoff. Dantonio said with a nod to Saban and a playful jab at the media throng, who greeted the response with a collective guffaw.

Despite his record as the Spartans head coach, Dantonio is not satisfied. I have just said really our seniors have done another outstanding job as a group in terms of leadership. “Whether it’s win the game late in the game or win the game in the fourth quarter, I think that kind of competitive grit is something that you have to have a tremendous respect for”. The last time Alabama played Michigan State in football, the Crimson Tide won in dominating fashion, 49-7, in the Capitol One Bowl to finish off the 2010 season. Mark Dantonio is one of the best coaches in the game, and he’s going to have his team ready to win this football game. “And we’re looking forward to our moment”. If Robinson and his stud-filled defensive line have their way in the trenches, it could spell trouble for the running game and Cook, who may still be battling through some pain in his shoulder. It doesn’t apply where the Tigers are concerned. Michigan State came from behind to beat Baylor on January 1st in last seasons Cotton Bowl Classic.

Clemson has Dabo Swinney at the helm of the coaches.

We will try to go easier on you because we know Nick doesn’t like to face tough teams out of conference, so we will try to be just like the Florida Gators and play only defense and leave our offense at home. However, it is the program Saban left in part because he felt the Spartans could never compete at this level. And the way this team plays – good defense, don’t turn the ball over on offense – they don’t give you much.

Quite simply, both teams will line up and run it right at each other – may the best team win. The lone matchup between the teams came in the 2011 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. L.J. Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes all put up 100-yard games at various points this season. The Spartans are +16 in turnover margin on the year, and they don’t commit penalties that would drag them down.