Mark Dantonio treats fourth downs as opportunities, not admissions of defeat.
Hours after college football fans witnessed a clear coaching blunder in Ann Arbor — don’t worry, Michigan fans, Jim Harbaugh was not the guilty party — the coach who resides up Interstate 96 showed a mastery of risk/reward.
Twice on fourth down, Dantonio had his Spartans go for glory. Twice they made it, and both times the drive’s reward was a touchdown.
If Dantonio had played it safe on fourth-and-1 at the Oregon 21 in the second quarter and fourth-and-6 from the Ducks 34 in the third, his team would not have taken down No. 7 Oregon 31-28. And fifth-ranked Michigan State would not have established itself as a threat both to topple Ohio State in the Big Ten East and to make the four-team College Football Playoff.
“Coach D likes to roll the dice,” quarterback Connor Cook said. “We’re thankful. (He) likes to put the ball in his playmakers’ hands. It’s great he has confidence in us to do that.”
Center Jack Allen said the fourth-and-1 decision was “an obvious call … We weren’t going to not get it.”
It was quite a contrast to what took place 65 miles away, where Oregon State coach Gary Andersen tried to punt his way to victory as a two-touchdown underdog in the Big House.
With 1:29 left in the first half, Andersen’s Beavers faced fourth-and-3 from the Michigan 39. Why not go for it? Michigan’s offense had produced just 130 yards, so a failed attempt was a minor risk.
“I thought it was a logical decision,” Andersen said. “I never thought of not punting, frankly.”
Nick Porebski’s punt was perfect, frankly, rolling out at the 3. But an illegal formation negated it, and then long snapper Ryan Navarro air-mailed one that was covered on the Oregon State 3. It was the equivalent of a 94-yard penalty, all thanks to Andersen’s faulty logic.
“A fortuitous play for us,” Harbaugh said.
It flipped the game. All but handed a free touchdown for a 17-7 halftime lead, Michigan trounced its downtrodden opponent in the second half, yielding just 4 yards of offense on 16 plays for a 35-7 victory.
Harbaugh is eager to establish a winning culture in his first season. Fed up with his team’s sluggish start Saturday, he went ballistic after a legitimate roughing-the-punter penalty. He screamed, mimicked a kicking motion and stalked an official, allowing his play sheets to scatter to the ground.
“That cracked me up,” safety Delano Hill said.
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Harbaugh cracked a smile after the game while thanking interim athletic director Jim Hackett for a present — a maize watch to commemorate his first coaching victory at his alma mater.
But asked about his emotions while running through the tunnel, Harbaugh took the opportunity to downplay his role, saying he felt “a very small part of” the win.
Harbaugh is the modern embodiment of Bo Schembechler, who famously declared in 1983: “No man is more important than the team. No coach is more important than the team. The team, the team, the team.”
Reflecting that, Harbaugh attributed the victory to Michigan’s scout team, saying the group excelled in practice.
“Guys were really challenging (the starters), not just out there,” he said.
Michigan’s dominant defense featured drive-killing plays by linebacker Mario Ojemudia, who snuffed out a quarterback draw, and end Chris Wormley, who registered a demoralizing sack.
Safety Jabrill Peppers, on his way to an All-Big Ten — check that, All-America — career, smashed Hunter Jarmon to break up a fourth-quarter pass.
Strangling defense, strong rushing by De’Veon Smith (126 yards, three TDs) and just enough of a passing game by Jake Rudock (18-for-26, 180 yards, one interception) proved a perfect formula for these Wolverines, who did it in a way Schembechler would have applauded.
Harbaugh reflects him, right down to this: At Schembechler’s yearly banquet, the loudest ovation would go to the winner of the Champion’s Trophy, awarded to the top scout player.
Asked if he sees the parallels between Harbaugh and Schembechler, Rudock said: “Yeah, they’re both hard-nosed guys and have such a passion and desire to win.”
Don’t forget: Team, team, team.
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein