Let’s go back to Sept. 18, 2016, the day after Michigan State defeated Notre Dame and the high point of what turned out to be the worst season for the Spartans in coach Mark Dantonio’s 10-year tenure.
On that Sunday, though, life was good for Spartans fans. Michigan State was ranked No. 8 in the country and coming off a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance. Dantonio was dominating the rivalry with Michigan.
Spartans fans were, generally, the picture of contentment when it came to the state of their program and the competency of their head coach.
Michigan State fans would probably have been at the top of any satisfaction rankings on Sept. 18. A 3-9 season and off-the-field issues can burn up a lot of good will. Now, while no doubt most Spartans fans are confident Dantonio can right the program, he has to go out and do it.
Assuming that only the lunatic fringe among Alabama and Ohio State fans has issues with Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, what other fanbases should be totally cool with their coach heading into 2017?