By Pat Caputo
A five-hour plane ride. An opponent that has pushed its way into the top 10 in recent years, at least until taking a tumble the second half of last season. For Mark Dantonio and his Michigan State Spartans, opening the season at Cal Saturday night is akin to trying to break through a brick wall. There are easier ways to begin the season. At home. Against a Mid-American Conference team. Or some squad from, say, the Sun Belt Conference. There is a downside to playing, to facing strong opponents on the road in inter-sectional games. Michigan State's not-too-distant past, for example, includes utter embarrassments at Nebraska and Oregon. The last time the Spartans faced Cal it was at home, in 2002, and they were crushed by 24 points. It was the turning point of Bobby Williams' tenure as Spartans' head coach.
Dantonio, who is entering his second season with hope up following a surprising seven-win season in 2007, doesn't see it that way. "It's a maturing issue for our team," Dantonio said Tuesday. "It's the travel. It's the playing the first game away from home." Getting blown out would toss cold water on the momentum the Spartans are carrying into this season. There are potential benefits, though. What if they were to beat Cal? It would mean instant credibility, the type the Spartans didn't really receive last season. It would probably mean an early spot in the Top 25.
The Spartans were only 3-5 in the conference in 2007. Their signature victory over Penn State was at home.
Cal is being forecast for the middle-of-the-pack in the Pac 10 standings. The Bears lost six of their final seven games last season, but only after they pushed for the top spot in the polls for the second straight year. Their stars are gone, both at running back and receiver, including the much-hyped DeSean Jackson.
Cal's starting quarterback, Kevin Riley, is inexperienced. What is said most about Cal is it has great linebackers. Maybe that's why the point spread has Cal as only a field goal-to-touchdown favorite over the Spartans, who have concerns of their own. The most notable is replacing Devin Thomas at wide receiver, Jonal Saint-Dic and Ervin Baldwin at defensive end, inside running threat Jehuu Caulcrick and tight end Kellen Davis. Other than running back Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer, those were the Spartans' primary playmakers last season. They represented 75 percent of the Spartans' touchdowns, and nearly half their sacks. If Dantonio is spooked by the notion his team has lost much of its firepower on both sides of the ball, it isn't showing. He exudes a quiet confidence the Spartans' faithful particularly appreciates after the zany John L. Smith, the ever-grouchy Williams and the oh-so-uptight Nick Saban.
He doesn't take offense to questions. He just answers them. But will his players? "Last year at this time, nobody asked about Devin Thomas or Jonal Saint-Dic or Jehuu Caulcrick," Dantonio said. "Somebody is going to elevate their play on this team. We'll find out who they are soon." One has to be Hoyer. He was consistently outplayed by opposing quarterbacks during the final stages of close games last season. The Spartans lost several tight games. That can be good news or bad, depending on whether it was progress keeping games competitive, or a sign the Spartans lack the necessary finishing skills, particularly at QB.
"We were in that situation enough last year that, as coaches, we should know what to call and do," Dantonio said. "We've got players who have been in that situation before." It's not like the Spartans can build to a crescendo. Their season is off and running -- in prime time from the West Coast.
Memorial Stadium on Cal's campus is as scenic as it gets. It's on hill, overlooked by another hill. You can see the entire Bay Area from the top of the stands. It is, honestly, a breathtaking view. Dantonio estimates more than 10,000 MSU alumni and fans will be in attendance. It's not their view looking outside the stadium that will be examined so closely, however, but rather what takes place on the field.
Are you ready for some football? The Spartans better be Saturday night. It's a high-risk, high-reward venture. After losing so many close games last season, a respectable effort in defeat would provide little solace. "This is what we play for," Dantonio said. "We're not in position for a 'tier-up game.'" Either the step forward or step back the Spartans take Saturday night could be considerable.
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