If you’ve paid attention to Michigan State football and their athletic department today’s news that Mark D’Antonio has stepped down as head football coach isn’t really a shock.
A victim of his own success where 11-plus win seasons became the standard in the early part of last decade, D’Antonio’s Sparty Party has come to an end after a couple of 7-6 seasons and a 3-9 run in recent years.
It’s hard to believe that some of the well-known issues in the Michigan State athletic department don’t play into this, whether it’s the disgusting happenings of Larry Nasser or the recent recruiting allegations that have popped up in his program.
I discussed the chances of this happening last fall on the College Football News Podcast with Pete Fiutak. I just thought it would happen in January, not hours before national signing day.
I said just above it’s not a shock that he’s not back in 2020, but it is shocking he leaves in early February.
So why now is the question?
A few ideas of why now makes sense to me:
1. He just picked up a four million dollar bonus from the university. I have no idea if he’ll have to pay it back (I’d assume so without seeing any of the actual contract) but I’d probably sit around in a job I have no interest in for an extra 40 bucks, now go and add five more zeroes to that.
2. Who is the replacement? It’s not exactly the prime time to go searching for a big time candidate. Chances I would think are high that someone already on his staff would at least get a shot for a year like Luke Fickell at Ohio State in 2011.
3. Pulling a Pete Carroll? I always associate running from issues with the NCAA with how Pete Carroll exited USC after 2009. Punishments coming? Get him to Seattle immediately. Same story here without the leap to the NFL? I don’t believe so but it’s at least worth discussing.
D’Antonio finishes his run at Michigan State 115-57 overall and 63-39 in Big Ten play. Those 115 wins are the most in program history.
D’Antonio’s resume includes 12 bowl appearances in 13 seasons with the Spartans, three Big Ten championships, and a 13-1 season in 2013 that resulted in not just a conference title but also a Rose Bowl Championship.
That one loss in 2013 was of course in South Bend, a 17-13 Notre Dame win.
D’Antonio finishes with a 4-5 record against Notre Dame in his time at Michigan State.
Now the question becomes does the job go to a current assistant or does it go to a former D’Antonio staffer like Pat Narduzzi or Like Fickell?
And is there more to the recent allegations that led to this? No doubt plenty more to come. Stay tuned.