Julius:

Saban left becoause of a meddling administartion and a meddling board of trustees who wanted to call the plays and call the players. They also wanted Saban to do all sorts of “cute” TV and other publicity crap that IS NOT NICK SABAN. Saban has a “prickly” personality. He’s as much a “prima donna” as the next major college coach. Can you say “Bobby Bowden,” “Urban Meyer,” “Charlie Weiss?” Saban was moving the team in the right direction, albeit the “thugs” that were present at that time. He wanted a contract befitting a rising star, but the administration didn’t like him; didn’t like his “pricli-ness.” So they let him walk…and the rest is history: a death spiral into mediocrity that continues to this day. Saban has gone on to win the National Champuionship at LSU and will win one at ‘Bama, if not this year then next. BTW, we lost the Ingram kid to Saban because his Dad, Mark Ingram (ex MSU) told him that Saban was his best bet at success.

The administration at MSU leaves Izzo alone, but can’t for whatever reason leave the football program alone. Too many armchair QB’s with too much time and too much power.

As for Dantonio, I don’t think we’re on the right track. The koolaid drinkers will bash me, I’m sure, over and over again. But, I just don’t think this program is headed for anything other than 7-5 and ther occasional 8-4 seasons. Spartan fans are OK with mediocre, having dined on crap for decades. With Saban we could have had caviar; with Dantonio it’s little more than chopped steak.

Too bad this once very proud football program has lapsed…and will continue to lurch along leaderless into oblivion.