Ringer talks about MSU’s new regime
As one of the MSU player representatives at Big Ten Media Days, Javon Ringer spoke with reporters on Tuesday about the differences between the former coaching regime at Michigan State and Mark Dantonio’s approach.
It seems like MSU fans heard the same sort of things after Bobby Williams left but we’re hopefully optimistic that he’s right.
On how the Spartans are going to be different this year:
I would have to say the new attitude Coach Dantonio has brought to the team. When he first came here, he wanted everyone to be strictly business. Whatever has happened in the past stays in the past. He wanted things to be his certain way. Everybody stepped their game up and we knew we needed to get down to business. Everyone has a different attitude.On increased emphasis on the running game:
We have more of a run-based offense now. Under Coach Dantonio, the emphasis is on the running game. So now I know that I’m going to be getting 20 or more carries a game. I’m going to get some opportunities to show what I can do in a game. Personally, being a running back, I’m very excited about it.On the team’s new attitude under Coach Dantonio:
In the past, a lot of the players would get serious when they needed to get serious, but they would joke around a lot. A lot of that is cut out. There is a time to laugh, and there is a time to get to business. I can see that in everyone. Our approach in meetings, in the weight room and during our runs we all respect and like what Coach Dantonio is trying to do. His attitude motivates us.
In the same press release head coach Mark Dantonio also spoke to MSU’s past and about coaching in the Big Ten.
On past struggles for MSU Football:
It has nothing to do with ability, it has nothing to do with semantics. It has to do with handling adversity on the field and playing hard every single play. The first thing we have to do is come together as a football team…We have some talent on this football team. We need to stay healthy. We need to get our young players involved, our freshmen and our redshirt freshmen, we’ll bring them into the program and we’ll get them to focus as players.On parity in the Big Ten:
I wasn’t here last year, but I watched a lot of film of last year and learned a lot. I think there’s always a team in the Big Ten that’s going to surprise people. There’s always someone that’s going to come out of nowhere. When I was an assistant here in 1999, I think we were picked 9th (in the preseason poll) and we went 10-2. I believe that as each program moves forward and gains confidence, everyone can give themselves a chance to win. And that’s what is exciting, the media exposure that is here right now is because this is a great conference.On what it means to be a head coach in the Big Ten:
It means I as a coach have achieved. It means my family has achieved. We have reached the highest level of coaching in the country. That’s something everybody wants. You want to be the best at what you do. I’m very excited about it. I’m very comfortable here.