By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

On Sunday the Michigan State Spartans found out that they were headed to the Valero Alamo Bowl to wrap up the 2009 season.

Unfortunately, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has been talking more about the suspension of eight players off his football team and the two players permanently kicked off the squad than answering questions about the Spartans’ upcoming opponent.

The removal of two players and the suspension of eight others, who will not take part in the upcoming bowl game, stemmed from a Nov. 22 fight in a dorm that involved both players and fraternity members.

The police are still investigating the campus fight. No charges have been filed in the incident.

Among those suspended were starters Chris L. Rucker (defensive back), Mark Dell (receiver) and B.J. Cunningham (receiver).

“Obviously with the situation that happened last week, we’re extremely disappointed,” Dantonio said on Saturday. “We talk all the time about our choices as people and about making the right choice. I think it’s a very traumatic experience for this program, and we have got to be able to get past this situation.

“Also, I think it’s extremely devastating for the families that are involved in this. I’ve talked to every family that has been involved with this, and you know, a lot of people are reeling, so my heart goes out to those people for what they are going through, as well. But in the end, I do believe that this will bring us closer as a football team, and it will give us strength. And we may not see that now, but I do believe that that will happen for our football team.”
Dantonio said that he is going to let the investigation run its course. He believes that a thorough investigation is important for the program. He also said that there is a lot of speculation and a lot of different stories out there, but he wants to get to the bottom of the incident and get the truth.

“I want to make a special statement to the Michigan State University Police,” he said. “I really believe that they have acted very responsibly in this situation, and I personally respect and appreciate the way in which they have gone about this situation and handled our players that are in question, our program and the entire incident. I greatly respect that.”

While he is looking forward to going to a bowl game and playing for the university, players and the school’s fans, he made a point to say that those involved in the fight, will not take part.

“To me, bowl games are a reward,” Dantonio said. “They are a reward for our football team, and they are a reward for our fans, as well. The opportunity to play on this football team and the opportunity to play in a bowl game is a privilege. It’s not a right. It’s not a given right.
“With that said, all those present there at the incident in question will remain on indefinite suspension and will not make the trip, or play in the bowl game and that will be for obviously violating team rules at this point. We will know later as it continues on,” he added.

Dantonio noted that with a program as big as the Spartans’, there are going to be problems, the same type of problems that exist in the real world.

But what he will not stand for is having those problems impact the type of program he wants to have at Michigan State.

“But in regards to this, our integrity will not be in question as a program, in terms of how we handle the problem,” he said. “I think it’s very important that we look at things and we handle this problem with strength and resolve and that’s exactly what we will do. We are going to remain committed to helping our young people on and off the field, and we are going to remain committed to trying to do exactly the right thing in all situations.

“Nearing New Year’s Day, because I don’t know what bowl game we are going to go to but there are three things we are going to get done. No. 1, we are going to handle this situation and we are going to resolve it. After it’s resolved, from a judicial standpoint, I will take action accordingly. No. 2, we are going to represent ourselves off the field at that bowl game as we have in the last two bowl games. We have had no problems and we are going to treat people with respect and handle ourselves as gentlemen. And No. 3, we are going to gain ourselves respect back as a football team and as a program, on and off the field. And it’s my goal and my intention to win that football game and we will be extremely motivated to do that, as a program, coaches and players alike.”

With that address, Dantonio said that his squad began preparing for its upcoming bowl game by practicing at least two and a half hours with the squad going “live” for about 60 minutes “so to get our feet back up underneath us,” he said.

None of the players involved in the incident will have anything to do with the preparation for the bowl game.

“The players are suspended indefinitely and that means this entire building is off limits and anything that has to do with this football program, including their academic area,” Dantonio said. “They are not to be in there at points in time when the rest of our football players are in there, including our training room.”

Since the investigation is still continuing, Dantonio was unsure if there would be more suspensions forthcoming.

“I’m going to allow the investigations to take place, and I’m not going to involve myself in that. I’m going to react to what’s there. And when they give me things, then I’ll react,” he said.