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Michigan State Football: 5 overreactions to BYU loss

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

What are the top five overreactions concerning Michigan State football after its Week 6 loss to BYU?

Michigan State football fans were harsh following the Spartans’ 31-14 loss to BYU on Saturday, and it might have just been a reactionary phase. The first couple of hours after a loss are always toughest and that’s when fans say the most ridiculous things.

Heck, every fan base is guilty of spewing nonsense when it’s angry. A few losses can drive an entire fan base mad, and that’s exactly what this three-game losing streak has done to Michigan State faithful.

The Spartans haven’t won since the Notre Dame game, going from 2-0 to 2-3 in just a matter of weeks. Michigan State was ranked No. 8 and now it’s not getting a single vote in the AP Poll, which it shouldn’t.

Let’s take a look at some of the ridiculous overreactions the fans have been guilty of this past weekend.

5. Damion Terry isn’t the answer, either

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Damion Terry (6) runs with the ball during the second half of a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

So 10 pass attempts and you already know a player isn’t the answer to the quarterback issues? Sure, Damion Terry threw a costly interception in BYU territory when Michigan State was driving, but he did come off the bench ice-cold with very little preparation.

Also, he was leading the offense down the field on multiple occasions, something that Tyler O’Connor couldn’t do in three-plus quarters. Michigan State scored on the opening drive, but other than that, it was a quiet day for the Spartan offense.

Terry came in and gave Michigan State a much-needed spark, completing 6-of-10 passes for 63 yards, dispelling any rumors that his arm was not made to play quarterback at the college level. He also added 29 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Why not give him at least a few drives against Northwestern to prove himself and then make the switch to Brian Lewerke if it doesn’t work out? Fans can’t possibly know that Terry isn’t the answer from less than a quarter of action.

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio walks the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Mark Dantonio is lost

“Mark Dantonio is just lost out there. He doesn’t have control of this team.”

First of all, if you know anything about the 10th-year head coach, you would know that he is never at a loss for answers. He has been in sutuations like this before and he has come out victorious.

Heck, just look at the 2012 season in which he had a mediocre starting quarterback in Andrew Maxwell. Luckily, Le’Veon Bell was there to bail out poor QB play, but the head coach knew his team was going to have a down-year after Kirk Cousins graduated and he still overcame tough losses to make a bowl.

Even back in 2009 when Michigan State was 1-3 to start the year, he got things turned in the right direction and even beat Michigan on his way to another bowl berth.

Dantonio is never ‘lost’ nor has he lost control of his team. His players respect him more than any player-coach dynamic in the country. These kids look up to him like an idol and they hang on his every word.

This team isn’t producing right now because of many factors, but Dantonio being ‘lost’ is definitely not one of them.

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Colby Pearson (3) is tackled by Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyson Smith (15) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. The secondary is not good

False. If you think Michigan State’s secondary has been bad this season, then you must be giving the offensive line a pass. For the second straight game, the Spartans went without a sack and for the third straight contest, the opposing quarterback was given all day to throw the ball.

How can this be fixed? Just look back at the Notre Dame game for a prime example. The Spartans blitzed DeShone Kizer relentlessly in the first half and through most of the third quarter, taking a 36-7 lead. Then, Michigan State backed off, gave Kizer all day to throw and he picked apart the defense with short and intermediate passes.

You can’t blame the secondary for getting tired after covering receivers for 4-5 seconds each time because the defensive line can’t find its way into the backfield. That’s an entirely different issues which also needs to be addressed this week.

Tyson Smith was solid all game long against BYU, Darian Hicks didn’t get to play much, Montae Nicholson played well, recording 17 tackles, and Vayante Copeland had another solid game. Sure, there were some completions where the receiver was wide open, but for the most part, the secondary played well.

In fact, the defensive backfield held BYU to just 138 passing yards, the Cougars’ lowest amount of the season.

Oct 1, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio walks his team onto the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Indiana Hoosiers beat the Michigan State Spartans by the score of 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

2. ‘Michigan State football is dead’

One of the most classless overreactions I saw from the weekend wasn’t from members of the Michigan State football fan base, but rather from MLive‘s Michigan coverage Facebook page.

It was a picture of Michigan State running out of the tunnel before the game a few years back and in front of it was a tombstone that read, “R.I.P MSU Spartans Football 2010-2015.” What’s wrong with that phrase? Nothing, it’s just poking fun a a rival, but the picture they used was incredible tasteless.

Sure, a picture of Michigan State players running out of the tunnel would have been fine, but they chose the one photo with No. 6 Mylan Hicks in front. In case you haven’t been keeping up to date with current events, Hicks was murdered two weeks ago at a Canadian bar.

MLive definitely owes family members and friends some apologies, but other than that, it was a rival poking fun. Still, to think that one bad season of Michigan State football means that the program is dead makes it seem like people don’t follow Dantonio much.

Programs have off-years and the amount of talent Michigan State lost from last year’s playoff team was immense. A down-year was expect, but no, Michigan State football is not dead.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio leaves the field after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

1. Mark Dantonio should be on the hot seat

Believe it or not, this is the second straight week in which I have seen some fans call for the head coach’s job. Not only is this hilarious, but it’s also quite concerning. If there are fans out there that believe Mark Dantonio should be on the hot seat after three losses in a down-year, then I’d like to see when they started watching Michigan State football.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 takeaways from loss to BYU

For those who have been fans through the Nick Saban, Morris Watts, Bobby Williams and John L. Smith eras, you know just how bad it can get. This three-game skid is just a rough patch, something that every football program encounters at some point in time.

People have become so spoiled that they look at LSU, Oregon, USC, Notre Dame or even Texas and think, if their coaches are in hot water, why shouldn’t Dantonio be? Easy answer: because Mark Dantonio has been one of the most successful coaches in college football over the past decade.

Also, Michigan State isn’t known as a traditional football power, so finding someone better than Coach D would be unrealistic. He has been arguably the best coach in program history and there is no way Mark Hollis would ever replace him until he wanted to retire.

Dantonio has earned the right to retire a Spartan, and there’s no arguing that.

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