Charboneau: Harbaugh mania casts shadow over Dantonio

It’s hard to believe that in late December, as Michigan State prepared to play Baylor in the Cotton Bowl in a matchup of top 10 teams, coach Mark Dantonio was annoyed.

But on the verge of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game after another 10-win season, that’s exactly how Dantonio felt. And it was because people couldn’t wait to ask him what he thought about Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh to be its next coach.

He didn’t come across as particularly upset, but when he arrived for his portion of media day on Dec. 30 for the Cotton Bowl, it didn’t take long for the question to come. Dantonio was diplomatic, said little about it, and emphasized he was focused on preparing his team.

But it all made sense.

The question had to be asked, as it was that same day to Ohio State’s Urban Meyer as they prepared to play Alabama in the national semifinal game. After all, the hiring of Harbaugh was huge news, and most would want to know the reaction of the Wolverines’ two biggest rivals.

It also made sense that neither wanted to talk about it. Michigan State and Ohio State had far bigger things on their plates — like competing in some of the biggest games of the year while Michigan had long since played its final game.

But fast forward through a long summer of Harbaugh news, and it’s starting to not make sense anymore.

The stories to this point have all been fine, some interesting, some cute, some a little uncomfortable — seriously, Jim, leave your shirt on. But in the summer, when there is little college football news, something different like Harbaugh is perfect fodder.

However, it’s about that time when the fodder should flitter away and the focus actually turn to — gasp — football.

With media days in the rearview mirror and most teams getting ready to start preseason camp with the first kickoff a month away, it seemed the Harbaugh-mania might actually fade a bit as the attention turned to the game, to the teams, to the players.

But then Dantonio went to ESPN on Wednesday.

And after he spent several hours appearing on multiple platforms, there is only one logical conclusion: Dig in for plenty more attention on Michigan and its coach.

Dantonio barely made it two minutes into his first appearance on “SportsCenter” before being asked about Harbaugh. Roughly an hour later, he was back on “SportsCenter” and the bulk of his segment was spent talking about Harbaugh.

ESPN host Cari Champion actually asked Dantonio if there was “some type of fear or unnecessary concern” after Harbaugh was hired.

Honestly, what was the expected response to that one?

“Panic, you mean?” Dantonio responded. “Is that it? I mean, he’s a proven football coach, but players make plays.”

As the day continued, so did the questions.

He was hit with them again on “College Football Live” and through stops on ESPN radio shows, including on “The Paul Finebaum Show” when the host wondered if all the attention bothered Dantonio or any of his players.

“We don’t worry about all that noise,” said Dantonio, seeming more perturbed than he was earlier in the day. “The game is played between the stripes on the field. Right now we’re in a pretty good situation. Other people will have to catch up.”

Other people, Harbaugh included.

There is no doubting the track record of the new Michigan coach. He has been successful everywhere he has coached, and it seems likely he’ll be the same with the Wolverines.

But the idea that by simply showing up, everything has changed and the clock has been turned back to the 1970s, and there will be the second installment of the Ten Year War seems pretty ridiculous.

Rolling Stone magazine disagrees, with a story this week giddy with excitement over the fact Harbaugh’s arrival has turned UM and OSU into the Big Ten’s big two once again. Forget that ignores any sort of recent history and the fact there are plenty of teams — Michigan State included — that just might have something to say about it.

They’re fired up at Rolling Stone, and as they point out, Harbaugh is strange … so that’s a legitimate reason to cast off one of the most successful programs over the last five-plus seasons.

Mercifully, games will begin in a few weeks, and hopefully the attention will be turned where it deserves to be turned.

Until then, Mike Dantoni — that’s how he was referred to at one point on ESPN — will keep getting asked about the coach of a program he has dominated.

“August camp starts, we’ve got to talk about players at some point,” Dantonio said.

We can only hope.

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/mattcharboneau