Dantonio Takes Swift Axe to Winston and Jenrette

OK, so maybe in this case we should rush to judgment. Seems pretty clear to me.

Mark Dantonio has dismissed both DB Roderick Jenrette and RB/KR Glenn Winston from the football team for a violation of team rules. Both players are connected to the assault that took place on Sunday night at Rather Hall, just 90 minutes after the football banquet ended.

Good for MD for not putting up with any shenanigans and giving them the boot -- both were promising players for the Spartans, but obviously they couldn't get their act together outside as students or community members. The football team doesn't need these guys around, nor that type of demeanor. Actually, both have missed the last half of the season - Jenrette played a great game vs. Michigan before he broke his foot... and, Winston tore his ACL in the Illinois game.

Dantonio's response was swift and easy, as it didn't take him long to give them the boot. Winston owes the Spartan nation an apology, but particularly coach Dantonio. Dantonio stuck his neck out and gave him a second chance after Winston's 180-day stint in jail for assaulting Spartan hockey player AJ Sturges. Maybe Sturges was right: Winston should have spent a year in jail. My guess is he just might with this stupid act.

Sez the ES? What a couple of dummies, not to mention thugs. Good for coach Dantonio to get this embarassing trash off the Spartan team.

And, let us be clear. It's a free country - coaches can't stand guard over their players 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, or lock them in a closet, and coaches shouldn't be expected to. Athletes are people and need to take personal responsibility for their actions as well as respect the university for the opportunity to be a team member. If they don't have the value set to behave like adults and respect others, they should not be on the team. Dantonio guessed wrong on these two, but he also believes in giving people a chance. Winston and Jenrette had that chance and blew it -- Dantonio's swift response was the right move and he didn't hesitate. It will also help the team move on toward concentrating on the bowl game by quickly putting this mess behind them.

Michigan State favored by 12 over Northwestern

Fresh off the Spartans' ruining the Illini homecoming, 24-14, the Big Green returns to East Lansing for its own homecoming this week as a 12-point favorite over Northwestern. Ohio State is favored by 14 at Purdue; Iowa favored by 2 at Wisky; Joe Pa by 15 at home over Minny; Illinois by 2.5 at Indiana. FYI, Southern Cal is favored by 8 at Notre Dame. And, Michigan faces 1-3 Delaware State, ranked #187 by Jeff Sagarin. Speaking of Sagarin, here is his rankings of the Big Ten, including schedule strength:

#8. Ohio State, SS = 37
#9. Iowa, SS = 30
#21. Wisconsin, SS = 31
#28. Joe Pa, SS = 113
#37. scUM, SS = 47
#44. Michigan State, SS = 26
#54. Minnesota, SS = 46
#86. Indiana, SS = 61
#91. Purdue, SS = 23
#95. Northwestern, SS = 139
#112. Illinois, SS = 25

Here is your latest AP Poll for week 7, through October 11, 2009

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Florida (50)	5-0	1490
2	Alabama (10)	6-0	1430
3	Texas	5-0	1395
4	Virginia Tech	5-1	1283
5	Boise State	5-0	1199
6	USC	4-1	1161
7	Ohio State	5-1	1048
8	Cincinnati	5-0	1038
9	Miami (FL)	4-1	970
10	LSU	5-1	947
11	Iowa	6-0	919
12	TCU	5-0	917
13	Oregon	5-1	776
14	Penn State	5-1	597
15	Nebraska	4-1	576
16	Oklahoma State	4-1	559
17	Kansas	5-0	551
18	Brigham Young	5-1	490
19	Georgia Tech	5-1	453
20	Oklahoma	3-2	432
21	South Florida	5-0	330
22	South Carolina	5-1	319
23	Houston	4-1	192
24	Utah	4-1	76
25	Notre Dame	4-1	75

Dropped from rankings: Auburn 17, Mississippi 20, Missouri 24

Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh 58, Auburn 55, West Virginia 46, Mississippi 28, Wisconsin 27, Missouri 25, Arkansas 16, Central Michigan 6, Arizona 5, Michigan 5, Oregon State 2, Navy 1, Idaho 1, Stanford 1, Texas Tech 1

INJURY UPDATE: It's a bummer, but Glenn Winston is done for the year with a torn knee ligament (ACL). That's a big blow to MSU's kick return game; Winston was also the most physical of the MSU running backs this year.

Spartan injury update

Current word out of Spartan athletics: RB Glenn Winston with a knee sprain - MRI is pending; QB Keith Nichol with a bruised left elbow. RB Larry Caper is fine.

Confirmation of a BLOW OUT Spartan victory? Illinois fans booing relentlessly in the second half. You don't boo your team unless they're laying a turd.

MSU to retain "Kicker U" crown in 2009

A bit of a closer look at the Spartan special teams shows why MSU this year will likely retain its crown as "Kicker U." Add in the strength of MSU's kick and punt coverage and you can see why MSU gets an "A" for its special teams entering 2009:

Brett Swenson hit several crucial field goals last year, including the game winner vs Wisconsin and crucial kicks in wins over Iowa and Notre Dame. He was 22-of-28 (79%), although just 1-of-3 beyond 50; and, three of his misses were immaterial in the dominating performance over Michigan. Still, his 6-of-7 beyond 40 was impressive. He's a first-team All Big Ten performer. Similarly, Aaron Bates is an all-conference punter, and should improve on his already good 42.0 average and 22-of-71 punts inside the 20 of a year ago. While JoePa may have "Linebacker U", Michigan State has "Kicker U" -- and Swenson and Bates continue Michigan State's tradition as the best school for kickers in college football history. MSU's return game took a year off and was average in 2008... but should be improved with the return of Glenn Winston to the roster, who was the Spartans' shining returner on kicks with a 23 yard return average.

MSU has been very strong in its kick and punt return coverage under Dantonio, allowing only one score on 177 punt and kick returns (a measly 0.5%) the past two years -- on a short punt return (38 yards) at that. MSU coverage allowed just 21.1 yards per kick return in 2007, and 21.4 yards per return in 2008.... for punt returns, MSU allowed 7.9 average in 2007, and 9.7 last year. While MSU can improve on its 34 punt net average, not giving up scores or long returns demonstrates the solid coaching in this area.