Biggest mismatch in Michigan-Michigan State series of late has been coaching, and Brady Hoke and co. have to be better

Column: Biggest mismatch in Michigan-Michigan State series of late has been coaching, and Brady Hoke and co. have to be better | MLive.com
Since Lloyd Carr left in 2007, Mark Dantonio and his coaching staff have been -- without question -- the X-factor in this series. Dantonio's staff has coached circles around Michigan almost without exception, and it's why the Spartans have won five of six in this series.

And most recently, that's all been on Hoke.

In 2011, the Spartans showed up with a thirst for blood. The Wolverines were forced to go through a bush-league uniform switch just before kickoff, and didn't appear prepared to physically handle what Dantonio's team was dishing out.

And even when Michigan did find a way into the football game, the Wolverines dialed up one of the more questionable calls during the Hoke era when Al Borges and company opted for a play-action pass on 4th and inches inside the MSU red zone down seven. The play, obviously, blew up. And Michigan lost.