Spartans Capatilizing on Wolverine Woes

Perception is often reality. And in college football recruiting, that saying holds doubly true. Right now, in the State of Michigan, the reputations of the Big

Perception is often reality. And in college football recruiting, that saying holds doubly true.

Right now, in the State of Michigan, the reputations of the Big Two are heading in opposite directions. While the University of Michigan is still struggling to bottom out from the transition that replaced old school Lloyd Car with the flashier model known as Rich Rodriguez, Michigan State has grabbed the reigns where Carr seems to have left off, establishing a rock solid program that draws talented, loyal football players. It does so because MSU is a great school, but it does so as well by attracting prospects holistically, bringing their parents and guardians into the process, establishing a culture that stands out, even against the programs with rock solid reputations of their own. Doubly true when compared to a program sustaining some PR bumps and bruises.

First, a look at UM. For the Wolverines, it's been an amalgamation of events that have nicked up its seemingly once-untouchable reputation, beginning with the protracted buyout after Rich Rod's sudden departure from West Virginia. That might have been a blip of bad press, written off as rivals working the media trying to score points, but there's so much more.

Much more significantly have been the defections. Player after player, from established veterans like Justin Boren and quarterbacks in waiting like Ryan Mallett to verbally committed recruits like Shavodrick Beaver, has decided there are greener pastures elsewhere. No, MSU has not been a direct beneficiary (unless one assumes Larry Caper and Edwin Baker would have split up their services had Carr still been running a more conventional offense and, let's say, ethos, at UM.) But when your biggest rival is hemorrhaging talent, it's impossible not to get a little better by comparison.

But perhaps the biggest blow to the Wolvies in the past couple years has been the recent allegations revealed by the Detroit Free Press. A number of current and former players have allegedly independently corroborated each others' stories, claiming the football program essentially cheats: practices go to long, voluntary workouts don’t seem to be voluntary and coaches inappropriately monitor team activities in the offseason. Rodriguez has denied the allegations of infractions.

When Boren left the UM program, he cited the erosion of "family values" as a key reason why he jumped ship. Words and phrases like those linger, especially when compared to the sterling track record Mark Dantonio is building at Michigan State.

While UM has been heading for its nadir, MSU has been the ascendant power in the State and quite possibly the Midwest. The competition within the program is fierce, the coaching staff says and does all of the right things, and the talent level recruiting wise has blasted through the roof.

Much of the success can be traced to the style and attitude Dantonio has established at MSU. Poor excuses are not tolerated; off-field issues are taken care of immediately and not left to fester; practices and workouts are executed with rigorous discipline, leading to better performances on the field; players and coaches alike have bought into the philosophy Dantonio has established, and the entire program appears to be moving forward as a united entity.

Nominated last year for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award, Dantonio finished as one of the final 15 coaches honored by fellow college football coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from around the nation. Dantonio is routinely praised by national commentators and his peers in the Big Ten. The reputation Dantonio is building at Michigan State would be impressive even without the stumbling, bumbling follies UM has graciously handed to MSU and its other rivals. Those missteps matter, perhaps most on the recruiting trail.

When a player like Larry Caper waits to announce his commitment to MSU because he wants both his parents to be able to share the experience with him, like he did last year, you're witnessing an example of what it means to play football at MSU. Recruits, and the families that support them, have a much easier time deciding where to spend the next four to five formative years of their lives. When you fiercest rival for talent in the state and region can do little but shoot its reputation in the foot, leg, hand and arm, you're going to benefit. And if names like Baker, Caper, Mike Sadler, Mylan Hicks, William Gholston, Andrew Maxwell, Joe Boisture, Fred Smith and Chris Norman don't give you pause to consider who the dominant recruiting power is in the State of Michigan, well, my friend, you just might be a die hard Wolverine