Two interesting things to me about Dantonio/Michigan State:
1) how mundane his record was at Cincinnati, before being hired by MSU. He was only 18-17 there in three seasons, 11-11 in conf games, and the first season was in CUSA. The last two were in the Big East (still in the BCS back then).
2) MSU has had some great successes in the Big Ten under Dantonio. Most notably:
- in 2010 they tied to win the divisionless Big Ten with Wisconsin at 11-1 (7-1) and had beaten Wisconsin head-to-head, but yet somehow Wisc won the tie-breakers and went to the Rose Bowl just losing to TCU. MSU went to the Capital One Bowl and got creamed by Alabama, finishing 11-2 overall
- in 2011 they won the Legends division and beat Wisconsin in the regular season again to go 10-2 (7-1). They went to the first ever Big Ten championship game versus, who else, Wisconsin. And lost by 3 points. Wisconsin gets the Rose Bowl again, loses it again. MSU goes to the Outback bowl vs. Georgia, but this time wins in 3OT.
Those two years must have sown a lot of hatred in MSU fans' hearts for Wisco.
- in 2013 - 2015, they won two Big Ten championship games, won a Rose Bowl, won a Cotton Bowl, and got creamed in a CFP semi-final against Alabama. They went 36-5 overall in those three years, going 3-0 over Michigan, 2-1 over Ohio St (once in a championship game), and 2-0 over Penn St.
But for some reason, the last three seasons have been no where near as good. 2016 the wheels fell off. Good bounce back in 2017, but this season was only 7-6. Also went 7-6 in 2012, between the two high periods.
Wonder why so much inconsistency?