Ranking Mark Dantonio’s 100 wins: 2010 MSU rolls UM in Ann Arbor for win No. 17

Welcome back to the rankings, and welcome back to another win over UM!

This is the third one in the rivalry to make the list so far, so that means six more are coming. If you missed the other 82 games on our entire countdown, take a gander here.

Let’s get into it.

Win No. 17

Oct. 9, 2010: No. 17 MSU 34, No. 18 Michigan 17

This one was coached and enjoyed by Mark Dantonio from the press box, coming weeks after his heart attack scare.

Even from the press box, Dantonio and his squad controlled the game to keep Paul Bunyan from moving out.

Let’s look more into Dantonio’s third of eight wins against these guys, shall we?

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

How They Won

This game was a tug-o-war match.

And by tug-o-war match, I mean it was close for about 20 minutes. Then MSU pulled the rope on their side. The MSU continued to drag them into the parking lot. And, as rude as ever, they just ended up taking the whole rope home.

MSU was the first to strike with a 61-yard run by Edwin Baker, leading to this famous photo:

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

Halfway through the second quarter September Heisman winner Denard Robinson made it a 10-7 Wolverine lead. From that point on, MSU stomped them into the ground with a 27-7 run from that point out.

Le’Veon Bell scored on a 41 yard run to make it 14-10. On the next drive, Dan Conroy buried his first of two field goals to make it 17-10 walking into halftime.

Then it got really fun.

Kirk Cousins connected with Mark Dell for a 41-yard score. Later that quarter Larry Caper made it a trio of running backs to score, adding his eight-yard touchdown to put the game away at 31-10.

Well, it wasn’t really over. Conroy tacked on another field goal in the fourth to cap the scoring at 34-17. Better luck next year, Wolverines.

Actually, wait a second. Maybe not.

What This Win Meant

Paul Bunyan started to hang up wallpaper in his trophy case at this point.

“I’ve been here a while, it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere,” he thought. “Might as well make this place mine.”

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

It was the first time since 1965-67 that MSU three-peated against UM. After this it was clear — MSU under Mark Dantonio is the big kid on the block now.

This win also gave the Spartans bowl eligibility, which is pretty decent considering this was in week six.

Later on the Spartans eventually lifted up the Big Ten Championship trophy, so any win during this season was a big one. It’s just a little more sweeter when it’s against those guys.