Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails…

With AD Mark Hollis saying that he is "prepared to make the changes that will fill Spartan Stadium with Spartan fans that want to be there," what does that

With AD Mark Hollis saying that he is "prepared to make the changes that will fill Spartan Stadium with Spartan fans that want to be there," what does that mean? I would think the approach would be a carrot (reward program of sorts) instead of a stick...but honestly, what can the ADs office really do? Tickets are bought/paid for and there are certain rights that come with that purchase. How proactive can he really be, especially when the weather is less than ideal? Joe in Lansing

I think there are numerous things he can do. The problem is figuring out what one he likes and what one can pass the political mine field that he works in.

Hondo, I remember a few years ago you talking about shrinking student sections at the Breslin and Spartan Stadium. You said at the time that Hollis couldn’t admit it on the record, but multiple people had told you President Simon wouldn’t allow that. Could that be a problem? Carl

Yes, it could. President Simon is a brilliant politician and must be respected for that. She will move off of her agenda and plans when it is politically expedient for her to do so.

Hondo, once again, we hear post game (Nebraska) from a few players that some of them may have "let up" late in the game thinking that the game was over. This happened in the Oregon game and you wrote about it. Is this also a trend with this team? Or do you see it ending quickly? Is this a leadership issue with this team? Jackson, Drummond, and Calhoun are supposed to be "fun" guys. This is not a criticism of them as people, just a fan and alumnus looking for a reason as to another let up that almost turned into a complete disaster. Thanks, Dan from Chicago

I said in print, on radio, and TV that I thought this team had learned a lesson from the Oregon. They obviously have not. Can it be corrected? Yes. Will it be? I thought it was, so I guess from here on out they have to show me in the big games.

Hondo, I believe you’ve suggested more than once the Spartans need to learn to keep their “foot on the gas.” So, why (did) this happened a second time and if it can be changed before it becomes critical again? Thanks, Tim Price

Why? I think when Coach D said to run the ball and he later admitted, “Thought the knockout punch had been delivered.” Having three non-conference games that they were able to pull the starters in the first quarter in two and at the half in the other didn’t help. When Coach D changed the game plan it sent a message to the team. The wrong one.

We read Hollis' comments about students leaving early and understand, but it wasn't just students who left early; half the stadium was empty by the fourth quarter. Perhaps it is time to tell the TV people that our fans do not like 8pm games! We stayed until the game ended, and got home after 2:00 am. My wife continues to threaten never to go again to late games. HJ Buter 58 year season ticket holder

MSU TV rights are controlled by the B1G. If they want that game, they are going to get it. It is about money. MSU, long ago, gave up the fan relationship for the money. I don’t think MSU or the fans are wrong because it is reality. Fans wanted Narduzzi to stay and that took money; same with Dantonio, Izzo and the other coaches. Night games aren’t going away as the team remains good. That is a fact of life.

Hi Hondo, I'd like to comment on something that's been bugging me, our pathetic and embarrassing student section at Spartan stadium. Game after game the student section is only half full at best. I think it was embarrassing to see on national television a student section that was practically empty by the end of the third quarter. It certainly doesn't help the team stay motivated towards the end of a game, the team needs the fans. What do you think? Dennis Werner

I disagree on many fronts. They are paying customers. I reserve calling people embarrassing for other things. Filthy language or other dumb behaviors BUT on this one I would call it disappointing like Dantonio did, but not embarrassing.

Hondo Joe Rexrode of the Free Press recently said that an anonymous source at MSU said the only way to fix the student issue is to sell beer. Do you agree with him? You and Joe are the only ones I trust with anonymous sources. Carol Kjetna

I agree that it would improve student attendance. I talked with two members of the Board of Trustees who shared some other ways this week and BOTH said that as long as President Simon is at MSU that won’t happen. One went as far as to say, “Breslin has been begging us to be able to sell beer at concerts and events. They lose a ton of money and bookings because we don’t allow it and she (President Simon) won’t budge.”

What happened in the 2nd half? We were about as dialed in as that empty student section. Thankful for the win. Not excited about how it all went down... confused Spartan fan? Scott Lehr

You are not alone. Here is a sample of many other emails I got. This is NOT an endorsement of their opinions or a rejections. Just letting you people vent.

Hondo, I was a starting varsity QB for four years at my high school. Never good enough to play in college outside of D3 because of my size, but still I know the game. I am also a MSU student and I left early and I am not ashamed of it. When Coach D changed the game plan, it signaled to me that he thought the game was over so I left. It was late, I was cold, and I went back to study for a math test on Monday. Get off my (butt) MSU. I paid for my seats, I will leave when I want to. Kyle

Hondo, how can we complain about students leaving when you walk anywhere on campus and we look like we are in a foreign country. How many of those kids come from Michigan or America? Hardly any. We started as a Michigan land grant school, but as our school wants more and more money like the athletic program does we bring in students who will go back to their countries and not become season ticket holders and valued alumni. MSU gave up on our state a long time ago. Phil

Hondo, when MSU chose reseating to give people who gave more money (corporations and fat cats) the right to take seats from loyal every day fans they lost the right to complain about loyalty. MSU made this a business. We treat it like one. Pat Lee

Hondo, my boyfriend’s family has seats across from Mark Dantonio at the Breslin Center. Over half of the time the seats are empty. When he does come, he either arrives late or leaves early. Perhaps Coach Dantonio would be better served to let his actions speak louder than his words. Clearly if it isn’t a big MSU game in basketball or one with many of his recruits he doesn’t use the tickets HE IS GIVEN along with his multimillion dollar salary while others pay thousands for theirs. Stacey Engle

Hondo, this is simple. Hollis and Dantonio are paid a lot of money to be at the games. Fans are not. We have a lot to go. Maybe think more about the fan and fan experience. You gave up great parking at Munn for a stupid band practice field, you ruined tailgating at Munn and continuously talk away from the fan experience. We love Coach D and what he has done, but MSU has made this clear. It is a business. I know members of the board have scalped tickets before and even some on Hollis (Big donor) fan council. Why pretend. It’s a business. Loyalty got shipped out long ago. Jeff Saxton

Hondo, our fans disgust me. I am so on with Hollis and Dantonio. We suck. At least the weasels in Ann Arbor show up every game. Chris C. Novi, Michigan

Hondo, when MSU built the new tower press box area and called it a “Separate building” so they could sell alcohol to the big donors, add to it the reseating they killed loyalty. I don’t think they did anything wrong. My husband and I own a business and applaud it. We can afford a suite, but we wanted to stay in the stands. They continually make it about money then have the audacity to call out loyalty? Give me a break. Beth

Hondo, I used to go to mass every Easter and Christmas until I got tired of the Priest yelling at us every time because we weren’t there the rest of the year. I stopped going. I got the same feelings listening to the media beat us over the head with Hollis and Dantonio’s comments. Thomas M.

Hondo, we went to Oregon. Spent a ton of money. Watched the MSU players relax and lose a football game. They admitted it. I was freezing, tired, and cold and saw the MSU team relax against Nebraska. I left. Don’t like it? Get over it. Watching Nick Hill try to run between the tackles while Delton Williams sits on the bench and a game plan that became three yards and punt when we should have tried scoring 50 to move up the polls was boring. Sorry. We aren’t the biggest fan base, but we are smart. We need Narduzzi to run the offense as well. With his killer mentality we would have put 60 on the Huskers and be number four in the country today. Cassidy Price

There you go everyone. That is your weekly MSU football questions and answers article. Make sure you send your questions to SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put in the subject line Football Q/A. Thank you.