Bama-Michigan State Playoff Game Features a Coaching Reunion

December 24, 2015

Rick Nyman,

For the second straight year, Alabama faces the Big Ten champ in the semifinals of the college football playoffs. While the Tide doesn’t know a lot about their opponent in Michigan State, the two head coaches are very familiar with each other.

Nick Saban’s first head coaching job at a BCS school came at Michigan State, where he mentored assistant Mark Dantonio, the current head coach of the Spartans.

Said Dantonio-"You want to be able to run the ball. Power run. You want to be physical. You want to be tough. You need to have great knowledge of what you do. Those are the three things that he constantly preached. The three things that took nobility. Those are the three characteristics that I constantly talk about to our players."

Said Saban-"I spent ten years at Michigan State. Five years as a defensive coordinator, and we won one Big Ten. Five years as a head coach, and we didn’t win any Big Tens. We had one really good team at the end, but we didn’t win the Big Ten. And I think he has won three. So I think it’s unprecedented what he has done there."

Saban though has won four SEC titles at Alabama, and the Tide is favored to beat Sparty in the Cotton Bowl.

Said Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook-"You say that we are an underdog to Alabama? Is that whay you said? We love that role. We embrace it being the underdog."

Added Dantonio-"There’s an excitement here among our football team. I know there’s a great belief because we have played great teams here."

Of course the Tide was favored to beat Ohio State last year in the playoffs, but that showdown went to the Buckeyes.

Saban-"I think they felt a little entitled when they won the SEC Championship."

Said Bama defensive back Geno Matias-Smith-"The approach to it is practicing better. Running to the ball. Getting in shape because last year, defensive wise, we weren’t in very good shape. We didn’t run to the ball. We didn’t finish the game."

Bama might face the best quarterback they’ve seen all year in Connor Cook.

Reporter-"Their quarterback Connor Cook. Does he remind you of anyone?"

Said Smith-"Today he looked like Peyton Manning. (chuckles) I was telling my teammates that. He’s a good quarterback. I know secondary wise, we have to bring our A-game."
The Tide and Spartans kick at 8pm on December 31st in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas.