By Raymond Rolak
EAST LANSING, Mich. – After his post game press conference,
Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio had a mild heart attack and was hospitalized Sunday morning.
“This morning, in the very early hours, not long after the football game, Coach Dantonio began experiencing some symptoms,” said Dr. Chris D’Haem, who performed the procedure to restore blood flow. “He is young, in excellent shape and fortunately, his heart damage is very minimal. He’s going to do very well and we’re very optimistic he’ll have a full recovery.”
The Spartans defeated Notre Dame 34-31 in a game that ended just before midnight Saturday night. After Michigan State lined up for a 46-yard field goal that could have forced a second overtime, holder Aaron Bates threw a pass to Charlie Gantt for the winning touchdown. It was a trick play that astounded the opposition, the spectators and the nationally televised audience.
D’Haem said Dantonio began experiencing symptoms of a heart problem around 12:30 a.m., including a squeezing sensation in his chest. “Fortunately, he got in a very timely fashion,” D’Haem said. Dantonio’s wife, Becky, along with the MSU staff members had insisted that he go to Sparrow Hospital.
“This is a time for the Spartan Nation to come together, to rally, not only to Coach Dantonio and his family but in everything that we’re doing here,” athletic director Mark Hollis said during a news conference. “We know coach will return to the sidelines very soon.”
Dantonio certainly isn’t the first high-profile coach to experience health problems.
Florida coach Urban Meyer was hospitalized with chest pains in December after his Gators lost the Southeastern Conference championship game to Alabama. Also, former Michigan coach, Bo Schembechler was sidelined twice while coaching because of heart incidents.
Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly shook hands with Dantonio after the game at midfield, and he began his news conference Sunday by wishing Dantonio well. “On behalf of the Notre Dame family we are in thoughts and prayers for Coach Dantonio and wish him a speedy recovery. I Look forward to seeing him back on the sidelines,” Kelly said. “We didn’t get in until about quarter of four this morning. I went home right away. When I came back in the office Brian Hardin, our sports information director, gave me the news. I had told him it was a gutsy call, regarding the fake field goal attempt.”
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez also released a statement. “The Michigan football program sends our thoughts and prayers to Coach Dantonio and his family,” Rodriguez said. “We hope for a full and speedy recovery.”
Dantonio is in his fourth season at Michigan State, with a record of 25-17 and three bowl appearances. But the victory on Saturday night might have been his most memorable, because of the opponent and the direct role he played in the outcome.
“Like we said all along, we needed one big momentum play. We just didn’t know when it would come,” Dantonio said after the game. “I don’t really know where to start or end, but it was a big night for the Spartans.”
Treadwell is in his seventh season on the Michigan State staff. He coached receivers from 2000-02 and has been the offensive coordinator since 2007. “There’s some great carry-over that’s already in place, and we will just fill the gaps,” Treadwell said. “We look very forward to Mark’s speedy recovery.”
The Spartans host Northern Colorado on Saturday. “It’s our job as assistant coaches just to keep the team moving forward, to keep them focused on the task,” continued Treadwell.
Photo by J. Knight/ROLCO SPORTS NETWORK
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