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Dantonio’s retirement and college football’s transfer portal: A Blitz Podcast

By John Mitchell

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during the second half of their game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 23: Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during the second half of their game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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The Saturday Blitz podcast crew discusses Mark Dantonio’s abrupt retirement from Michigan State and more college football news in this week’s episode.

After 13 seasons in East Lansing, Mark Dantonio announced his abrupt retirement from Michigan State last week. In the first topic of this week’s Saturday Blitz Podcast, Zach and John discuss Dantonio’s career and give their thoughts on the Spartans coaching search.

Michigan State has thus far swung and missed at their big targets, including Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, who had long been rumored to have interest in a potential opening in East Lansing. With so much competition from blue bloods in the Big Ten East, the Michigan State job isn’t as desirable as many fans hoped it would be, despite the prolonged run of success Dantonio was able to lead the Spartans to.

Who are the realistic targets for the Michigan State job now? Would they be better off going the interim route this late in the process for 2020 and then reassessing after the season?

Naturally, with Dantonio making the decision so close to National Signing Day last week to retire, our hosts discuss the transfer portal and the continued hypocrisy by college football coaches to serve their own self-interests and fight against their players having the same right.

Recent comments made by UConn head coach Randy Edsall and Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente only further stoked the fire this week.

In the final segment, Zach and John took a peak toward the 2020 season by taking a look at Bill Connelly’s annual returning production stats. This stat is usually a good indication on which teams could be in-line to take a big leap up the standings, while others could be on their way to a regression after a strong 2019 season.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

The Saturday Blitz Podcast is part of the FanSided Radio Network at Spreaker. The show goes live every Wednesday morning. You can reach John Mitchell at @jlmitchell93 and Zach Bigalke at @zbigalke on Twitter.

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