MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Four reasons: MD isn't going to get any congeniality votes, he does what he thinks is right and doesn't care what others think, defiant to anyone who disrespects his program, and he wins.

That will certainly rub some people the wrong way, especially a certain fan base accustomed to people deferring to their historical greatness.

Your boyfriend ( Ferentz) isn't hated, despite the kidney thing, because no one gives a shit about Iowa football. If only he had revolutionized the Big Ten like Hayden Fry and Chuck Long

Nice guys finish last

John L Smith was liked by everyone in the big ten (especially Lloyd Carr). Look how far that got him

Statements like that make him awesome not a villain.

Winning a NC with OSU, as Dantonio did, I believe helped set his mind that UM isn't special. UM will no doubt continue to be a serious competitor in the B1G every year. But the days of yore with grainy footage of Bo losing yet another Rose Bowl are gone.

MSU, Wisky, and Nebraska will also be in the mix every year for the B1GC and BCS. Its just a new era, and MD gets it. The sooner UM fans understand that, and stop pining for the old days ala Notre Dame fans, the less frustrated they will be.

It's all just spin from the Blue Wall that was controlled by Canham and has brainwashed two generations (at least) of Michigan fans.

Even during the 10 Year War Period where M and OSU fans dominated the B1G, and is generally considered the "up" period by fans of both schools, the B1G was not the dominate college football conference...not even close. The Big 8 was chugging along with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and even Colorado in later years winning or sharing a lot of MNC's in the era prior to the BCS.

In that 1968 - 1997 time frame Big 8 teams won or shared 11 Poll MNC's among 4 Schools (and many other outside the two major polls). In contrast B1G teams had 2 (Michigan in 1997 and OSU in 1968)

The SEC had 6 among 3 teams. 4/6 from Alabama.

Kidney failure?

People are questioning Rittenberg about it in the ESPN chat right now.

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Dave (Detroit): So because Michigan fans don't like him, Dantonio is considered a villain? That is pretty funny, Adam.

Adam Rittenberg (12:08 PM): As I mentioned in that post, it's all in fun, Dave. And yes, Dantonio fits the villain role in part because of the things he has said and done in relation to Michigan. He's also not regarded well among Iowa fans after last year's contest, which featured some questionable "injuries" from Michigan State defenders.

Mark Dantonio (East Lansing): Why am I a villain? I guess if standing up to people marginalizing my players and the success of my team makes me a villain, then it is true... but why is there that perception around me in the Big Ten? What is a larger factor, my success on the field, or my mouth off the field? I just wanna be loved!

Adam Rittenberg (12:17 PM): I actually don't think that's true, Mark (it's not really Dantonio, folks). I don't think you care that much about how you're viewed outside of Spartan Nation. I actually think you like being the bad guy -- just a little. You defend your players, which helps you with them and with the fans. But the outside perception is you've repeatedly challenged Michigan, you didn't suspend Gholston (while the Big Ten did), you told players to fake injuries at Iowa, you've allowed players to go from jail to the practice field, etc. And yes, the biggest factor is your success. If it isn't obvious, to be a coaching villain, you have to be successful. And you have been incredibly successful at MSU so far.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/43922/ncaa-fb-with-rittenberg

You did read that he said the outside perception of Dantonio is that he did those things, right?

THIS!!! I don't recall Dantonio admitting to faking anything. That is just so not his style. Someone please call lil Adam out for journalistic malpractice. Effn HACK!

Yep. If you notice, the top 3 villians are all winners. Bieliema, Meyer, Dantonio. All are arguably the most successful coaches in the league as far as accomplishments and W/L record.

Also, if you look nationwide at the "villians" of college football, Saban, Les Miles, Lane Kiffen, etc. are likely at the top of that list. No surprise that they are also winners. In college football, good guys finish last.

Shocking that rittenberg considers him a villain because two of the douchiest fanbases in the league dont like him (remarkably enough they're the two teams Rittenberg repeatedly takes shit for for propping up when it's been wholly under served). The faking injuries thing to beat a team that barely broke the 20 point mark is pathetic. But I guess you have to admire Dantonios dedication to the fake injuries. Sitting out Strayhorn the rest of the year really sold the bit. JS is a real team player to forego the rest of his senior year to stick to the plan.

In a fucking state that produces no in-state talent (NONE) and competes with a goddam Big 12 team to boot for those 2 or 3 recruits each year.

You have no idea how hard it is to win at Iowa while still leading one of the cleanest programs in history.