Reasons for and against successful 2019 season for Michigan State football
By Ryan Kay
Michigan State football is coming off a disappointing 2018 season, but why will the Spartans turn things around in 2019 or why will things remain the same?
The Michigan State Spartans are coming off of a disappointing season with only having won seven games, finishing fourth in the Big Ten East division and losing their bowl game to Oregon.
Expectations were high last season but multiple injuries to various starters, lack of offensive production and losing three games by three points or less crushed them. However, there are reasons for optimism and most importantly, if the Spartans can stay healthy, there is no reason why they can’t compete for a Big Ten title.
Even though last season’s results were not viewed as a success due to the high expectations of winning the Big Ten East and earning a trip to the Rose Bowl not being met, there were positives from last season that will help Michigan State this year.
However, many national experts had the Spartans winning the Big Ten and contending for a College Football Playoff spot prior to last season and Michigan State did not come close to either of those predictions.
If you look at Mark Dantonio’s long-term record and not that of his record the past three seasons at Michigan State, he has been highly successful as the head coach of the Spartans. The fan base has began to sour a little and it is evident by last season’s attendance numbers.
Even though in this day in age with social media driving the “instant satisfaction” movement and more and more fans ignoring long-term success and even seem often to forget about past team accomplishments, Michigan State fans must look at the bigger picture.
Dantonio and his players have not forgotten what it takes to be successful and what is need to accomplish their goals. Under the leadership and guidance of their head coach, the Spartans have captured three Big Ten division titles (2011, 2013 and 2015) won or shared three regular season Big Ten titles (2010, 2013 and 2015), five bowl game victories (2011-2014 and 2017), 11 bowl game appearances and a playoff appearance in 2015.
Under the head coaching tenure of Dantonio, Michigan State had five 11-win seasons in a six-year time period. The Spartans won 12 games in 2015 and broke a school-record winning 13 games in 2013 — Michigan State also won the coveted Rose Bowl after that 2013 season. The Spartans also have been one of the very select few teams to beat Urban Meyer and Ohio State multiple times in the past decade defeating the Buckeyes in 2011 (Luke Fickell), 2013 and 2015.
Michigan State with Dantonio as its head coach has a record of 8-3 versus in-state rival Michigan since 2008.
The above reasons are prime examples of why fans, college football writers and analysts, outside observers should give Michigan State and Dantonio the benefit of the doubt and most importantly one last chance to earn their trust.
On the flip side, the pessimistic, unenthusiastic and uninterested Spartan faithful do have valid reasons for doubting the success of Michigan State for the 2019 season.
There will be reasons, explanations and valid arguments for why the Spartans may fall short of high season expectations and even more for why Michigan State will meet and even exceed those expectations.