"We're looking forward to the moment," Dantonio said this week. "Our football team has always done a great job in terms of focusing on the present, focusing on the moment.
"But especially in your first game, I don't think people look too far in advance."
The Broncos host No. 5-ranked MSU at 7 o'clock tonight in a game that will be televised by ESPNU.
The Spartans are 7-1 in their last eight season-openers. But the last time they lost their first game of the season was also the last time they started a season on the road, falling in 2008 at California, 38-31.
"We've got long memories here," Dantonio said.
Long enough to recall how the Spartans' offense struggled in the 2013 season opener against Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium. It was a hard-fought 26-13 Spartan victory over the Broncos that saw the MSU defense score two touchdowns.
Fleck said he recognizes that this is a better Michigan State team, as the Spartans lofty ranking implies.
"Whenever you face a top five team, it's
different than just a top 25 team. When you're in the top five, those
guys are the best in the country, there are so many NFL draft picks,"
Fleck said. "They are exceptional players, and they have an exceptional
head coach that has them believing in each other and has them as a team.
That's the scariest part of the Spartans.
"I'm sure it will be packed, and there will be a lot of green there," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio.
"However, I think we have the same type of thing when you look on our side of the ball."
Dantonio noted that what Fleck did last season en route to winning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors was no less than amazing, staging the nation's biggest turnaround by going from 1-11 to 8-5.
The Broncos have nine starters back on offense and another seven returning on defense. The Spartans have seven starters back on offense and now only five on defense after the Aug. 12 season-ending injury to outside linebacker Ed Davis.
"We've got our work cut out for us, but I think we're a pretty darn talented football team as well,'' said Fleck, whose team returns nine players that garnered All-MAC honors in 2014. "It's going to be a wonderful evening on Friday night, and it's going to be a memorable night, I know that. Not only for Kalamazoo and East Lansing, but the state of Michigan."
Dantonio said he also is looking forward to the environment.
"To me, as long as it's packed, it's all the same," said Dantonio, asked if he felt a smaller stadium would make the crowd any less of a factor. "I'm sure it will be packed and there will be a lot of green there, so it will be exciting."
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Broncos 11-2, and this is their first trip to play football in Kalamazoo.
Dantonio noted that what Fleck did last season en route to winning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors was no less than amazing, staging the nation's biggest turnaround by going from 1-11 to 8-5.
The Broncos have nine starters back on offense and another seven returning on defense. The Spartans have seven starters back on offense and now only five on defense after the Aug. 12 season-ending injury to outside linebacker Ed Davis.
"We've got our work cut out for us, but I think we're a pretty darn talented football team as well,'' said Fleck, whose team returns nine players that garnered All-MAC honors in 2014. "It's going to be a wonderful evening on Friday night, and it's going to be a memorable night, I know that. Not only for Kalamazoo and East Lansing, but the state of Michigan."
Dantonio said he also is looking forward to the environment.
"To me, as long as it's packed, it's all the same," said Dantonio, asked if he felt a smaller stadium would make the crowd any less of a factor. "I'm sure it will be packed and there will be a lot of green there, so it will be exciting."
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Broncos 11-2, and this is their first trip to play football in Kalamazoo.
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