Dantonio, Narduzzi cap 11 years with emotional win

ARLINGTON, Texas – Mark Dantonio and Pat Narduzzi shared an incredible win, and a good cry, in the last of their days as employer and employee.

For just a moment, caught on the ESPN cameras, Dantonio and his outgoing defensive coordinator let the red-eyed emotion show today at AT&T Stadium. No. 7 Michigan State had just completed a 20-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat No. 4 Baylor 42-41 in the Cotton Bowl, wrapping a dizzying couple of weeks that saw Pittsburgh court and land Narduzzi to be its next head coach.

"It's tough," Narduzzi said of that moment. "That's my boss and a guy I love. It's not easy, it's not easy. Been with him for 11 years, and it's never easy."

Asked what was said during that moment, Narduzzi said: "Nah, that's personal. You guys want to do a soap-opera show or something?"

And with that, back to the tough-guy persona. And on to Pittsburgh. Narduzzi will watch the Panthers play Houston in Friday's Armed Forces Bowl in nearby Fort Worth, then go full-bore into his new job.

And his wife, Donna, was emotional about that as well outside the victorious MSU locker room. As usual, she was not able to watch any of the key plays late in the game, keeping her head down as Tammy Barnett – wife of MSU defensive backs coach and incoming co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett – kept her apprised.

"This was bittersweet," Donna Narduzzi said. "We already know we have a wonderful Pitt family to go to. But at the same time, we have to leave behind our Spartan family."

Winning this for Narduzzi, who has been Dantonio's defensive coordinator for all eight seasons at MSU and three before that at Cincinnati, was a talking point for the Spartans entering the game. It looked extremely unlikely with Baylor's offense moving and scoring at will, and MSU down 41-21 early in the fourth quarter.

"You want the best for your people," Dantonio said in his most extensive statements on him since the Pitt announcement. "To win the last game like that for coach Narduzzi ... will be a memory for life. He's been incredibly loyal here. He's an extremely hard worker. He's been extremely successful. And now it's time for him to grow. He'll grow as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. They're getting a great football coach and a great person and a guy who is going to impact young people."

And they're getting a guy who isn't afraid to show some emotion.

"It's a better win than the Rose Bowl because it's this win," Narduzzi said. "It's the last win and it's my last win wearing green and you change colors the next day and move in a different direction. But I'll be with the Spartans and I'll be green for the rest of my life."

Trash talk and nearly more: Emotions were different before the game, when some Baylor and MSU players had words and had to be broken up on the field. This capped a week marked by some big talk, most notably from Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman, who got a sack early at the expense of left tackle Jack Conklin, then was silent for the rest of the day.

MSU sophomore running back Delton Williams said the Spartans have never seen a team that talks as much as Baylor.

"This is the most talking we've heard since I've been playing," MSU freshman defensive tackle Malik McDowell said. "I don't really like teams that talk too much. We're more of a humble team over here, they were real cocky. And we end up pulling it out."

Said Narduzzi: "Our kids have got class. We won the game with class. I'll leave it at that."

Tidbits: MSU senior starting right guard Connor Kruse suffered a knee injury and missed his final game, while senior starting left guard Travis Jackson had an undisclosed injury and was replaced late by freshman Brian Allen. … Jeremy Langford had 162 yards for his 10th straight 100-yard game, and his three rushing touchdowns tied him with Javon Ringer (2008) for the MSU single-season record of 22. Langford finishes second on the career list with 40, behind Lorenzo White's 43. … MSU is now 2-0 all-time against Baylor, and Baylor's minus-20 yards rushing was a bowl record for the Spartans.