As an University of Michigan football fan, it’s hard for me to admit when Michigan State does something right. It’s hard for me to admit when Michigan State gets slighted in any way. I have been a staunch U of M fan all of my life. Being a U of M fan meant that I would never admit to you that Michigan State football would ever be relevant. You always hate anything that Michigan State does no matter what. Sometimes though, you have to respect the opponent when they do something the right way.
Then incidents like Mark D’Antonio interview with Fox Sports radio was one of those moments.
If you haven’t heard about the incident, Mark D’Antonio is the coach of the Michigan State Football team. He is a remarkable coach that has taken their program to a plateau they haven’t reached in awhile (his accomplishments include helping MSU win the 2014 Rose Bowl, grooming NFL level quarterbacks, etc.). It’s safe to say that MSU football had surpassed U of M football in their rivalry, something that has angered Michigan fans for the past ten years. Simply put, D’Antonio is one of the best coaches in his profession.
Even as a U of M fan, I have to agree with how D’Antonio handled the interview. D’Antonio has always been a firm believer that his football program gets no respect despite their recent accomplishments. When a radio show doesn’t ask a relevant question about your program until the fifth question, that’s a sign of disrespect and ignorance to you and your players. When the radio co-hosts don’t even know the name of your football players that are competing for a vital job such as the quarterback position, that’s disrespect to you and your players. On top of all that, the radio hosts even insulted D’Antonio’s heritage by assuming he would eat pasta because he’s Italian. That’s stereotypical and horrific to bring that question up in an interview heard across the country. D’Antonio didn’t and shouldn’t have to sit through that interview. It’s safe to say that no football coach would sit through that interview.
