Eric Boggs
As an Ohio State fan, there’s no denying the impact Mark Dantonio has had on the college football landscape, especially for Michigan State and even for the Buckeyes. On Saturday night, Michigan State will honor their legendary coach as he’s inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Spartan Stadium Ring of Honor. This is well deserved for a coach who not only transformed Michigan State football but also played a significant role in shaping one of Ohio State’s most cherished seasons—2002.
Dantonio’s career, which spanned several decades, saw him rise from a defensive assistant under Jim Tressel at Ohio State to the head coach at Michigan State, where he took the Spartans to new heights. With 114 wins, six seasons of 10+ victories, a Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl title, and a College Football Playoff appearance, Dantonio solidified himself as the winningest coach in Michigan State history. But for us Buckeyes, Dantonio’s story starts in 2001 when he arrived in Columbus alongside Tressel.
Dantonio was the mastermind behind the Buckeyes’ dominant 2002 defense, one that smothered top-20 offenses like Texas Tech, Washington State, and Miami in the national championship game. That defense featured two consensus All-Americans, Mike Doss and Matt Wilhelm, and became a vital part of Ohio State’s national title run. It’s easy to get lost in the heroics of Craig Krenzel and Maurice Clarett, but without Dantonio’s defense, we might not have had that magical season.
His philosophy and approach were largely shaped by his time with another Buckeye nemesis, Nick Saban. Before joining Ohio State, Dantonio worked under Saban at Michigan State in the late 90s, where he learned the defensive principles that would later define his coaching career. The connection between these two defensive minds was undeniable. As Dantonio once said, “He’d start a sentence, and I’d finish it, and vice versa.” Their shared understanding of defense, especially in the secondary, would go on to influence entire generations of football.
While Dantonio’s tenure at Michigan State brought pain to Buckeye fans—particularly in 2013 and 2015 when his Spartans crushed our championship dreams—there’s a deep respect for what he accomplished. Those close games, his defensive schemes, and his ability to build a winning culture in East Lansing cemented him as one of the best coaches in Big Ten history.
As we prepare to face Michigan State on Saturday, it’s important to recognize Dantonio’s place in the story of Ohio State football. His time in Columbus was foundational in creating the identity of our defense in 2002. And while his Spartans were a thorn in our side, especially under Urban Meyer, it’s clear that Dantonio’s legacy will be celebrated far beyond the green and white of East Lansing.
Here’s hoping the Buckeyes can honor his career the best way we know how—by leaving Spartan Stadium with a win.
