CHICAGO -- New Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio continued to stir the pot when he offered some insight into his expections for the Spartans in 2007 at the Big Ten Kickoff Media Days.
A determined interviewer was trying to get Dantonio to stick his neck out in light of the fact so many preseason publications have MSU finishing near or at the bottom of the league. Dantonio could have shut the line of questioning down, like so many overly cautious football coaches would. Instead, he displayed a pleasingly sly sense of humor that may not always come through on a first meeting or TV sound bite.
"Oh, you want a projection," said Dantonio, feigning an initial lack of understanding. "You want me to go out on that limb."
"Just a little bit," the interviewer said sheepishly, though he must have sensed that because Dantonio wasn't being beligerent, he was on safe ground.
"Just a little bit?" Dantonio said. "I know there are going to be some pitfalls, (but) I will be disappointed if we don't go to a bowl game. I think we have that ability. I honestly do."
OK, it wasn't quite the same as flat-out saying saying, I guarantee we're going to a bowl.
But, it's close enough because it's the opposite of saying five wins would be good enough because it would be a sign of improvement as we build toward the future.
Dantonio's bold non-prediction prediction about MSU getting to a bowl - MSU Spartans Insider - MLive.com
08-03-2007, 06:00 AM
Mark Dantonio's prediction 
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