Nick Saban: Dantonio has done a better job than I did at Michigan St.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban had some kind words for the man he hired when he was the head coach of Michigan State in 1995.

Speaking to the Detroit Free Press on Sunday, Saban called Mark Dantonio’s current tenure as Spartans coach better than his five-year stay.

“He’s certainly done a better job than I ever did there, I’ll tell you that,” Saban said.

Dantonio was a defensive coach under Saban at Michigan State from 1995–2000 before moving on to become the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. He then coached Cincinnati for three seasons, and was hired back by Michigan State as the school’s head coach in 2007.

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Since then, Dantonio has gone 87–32, and won three Big Ten titles. Saban was just 34-24-1 with the Spartans, never finishing above second place in the Big Ten standings before leaving his post in 2000 for a head coaching gig with LSU.

Dantonio’s Spartans will play Alabama on Dec. 31 in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the national championship game.

- Kenny Ducey

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