EAST LANSING - Mark Dantonio's view of October was shaped early in his career.
The Michigan State coach, who was a graduate assistant at Ohio State under Earle Bruce and was the defensive coordinator on the Buckeyes' 2002 national championship team, knows it's a critical month. A successful October can lead to contending for a Big Ten title.
The Spartans are one game into October and it started with a thud as they were upset in a 29-19 loss at home to Northwestern on Saturday.
"The main thing (is) that we stay focused and we stay together, don't get pulled apart as individuals and as a group and keep pushing forward," Dantonio said, "and that's what we'll do.