I Predict Obama Will Go 7-5 in His First Year

Now Serving Football Politics

Hey, football fans. Remember this bum?

Ah, John L. He was the kind of man with the integrity and class to switch schools before his squad's bowl game (he took the MSU job right before Louisville's bowl that year, which they lost without him), blame a kicker for his own shortcomings, and make the occasional slip-up when talking to reporters.

He was known as an aggressive coach, keen on the spread offense and an adventurous, risk-taking attitude - a "cowboy" in many respects. Known for sky-diving and mountain-climbing, he was also quite fit for his age (if not his job). He once started a second half with an onside kick, in a game he was winning. (In stark contrast to most of his time at MSU, he won that one.)

Enter Mark Dantonio. After their horrific experience, MSU figured it was time to bring change to their football program. They hired a man who couldn't have been more different from John L. Smith. Dantonio is known for being a calm coach, who instills caution and discipline in his team. Under his tenure, MSU's strength has become its ground game, and their coach has conducted himself with a class that Spartan fans find refreshing.

Once unable to experience any emotion other than despair, there's now a cautious optimism among Michigan State fans, who while excited, certainly don't think that Dantonio is some kind of football messiah. They're just glad they didn't end up with that coach who's eerily similar to John L. Smith, Rich Rodriguez...