Remembering the rivalry: Rich Rodriguez, Mark Dantonio 'don't share tea and crumpets'

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seems, at times, to have a deep-rooted hatred for rival Michigan.

He chastised the Wolverines for their mock moment of silence after winning at Spartan Stadium two years ago, even got personal with Mike Hart, making fun of the running back’s stature when Hart referred to MSU as “little brother.”

But Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday he’s on good terms with Dantonio, a coach he’s known since their days together in the Big East.

“We don’t share tea and crumpets,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t trade text messages every day or anything like that, but we’re friendly.”

Rodriguez set foot in the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry for the first time last year. Michigan State won, 35-21, but Rodriguez said the game was everything he expected: Intense, emotional and passionate.

“I didn’t go into it blind saying, ‘Oh, this will be just like a normal game,’” Rodriguez said. “It’s not. It’s not a normal game.”

As such, Rodriguez said he’s “closing ranks” this week in preparation for Saturday’s showdown with MSU.

Media won’t be allowed to watch the start of practice Wednesday, and Rodriguez joked that assistant athletic director for football Scott Draper will keep one eye on the bridge overlooking Michigan’s practice field this week.

“Not that I don’t trust anybody out there, but we’re so close to each other and coaches being paranoid, I guess, we just said, ‘Hey, it’s just us now,’” Rodriguez said. “Our guys understand how much focus really has to go into this ballgame. And again, I don’t think I have to do that, particularly with our older guys. But our younger guys need to understand that this is a little different.”

Rodriguez said rivalry games he’s been a part of have always taken on a different tone. One time, he had a quarterback who was harassed so bad by opposing fans that he had to shut off his phone for a week and temporarily move out of his apartment.

After last year’s loss, Rodriguez said he heard from some disgruntled Michigan fans who couldn't wait until this year.

“You hear a little grief, but we heard a little bit of grief about everything,” Rodriguez said. “That line goes across the street, too, so it wasn’t like it was something unique or singled out. And it wasn’t something that was unexpected. We lost to an in-state rival and that wasn’t fun. Hopefully you don’t have to do that too many times.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.