Don't expect the Michigan State football program to think their newly minted ranking will go to their heads.
For a program that's been constantly overshadowed and disrespected during the offseason, finally receiving one avenue of respect, doesn't mean its mission is accomplished.
"What I've said to our football team, which is what I believe, is that these early-season rankings are based on what you have done. What we've done this year is we beat an Oregon team that played for the national championship last year, and what we did last year, we beat a Baylor team, and the only two teams we lost to were in that championship game," head coach Mark Dantonio said.
Some national pundits have the Spartans now ranked as the top team in the country, but Dantonio recognizes that his team isn't where it needs to be to compete for championships in November and beyond.
"Right now we're 3-0. I don't think we've played our best football yet, but we've played -- I guess if you really want to look at it, I think, I believe -- I believe that Oregon won 13 or 14 games last year, is that correct? And Air Force won 10 and Western won eight. So I don't know if anybody's played teams that have won that many games," Dantonio added.
The real test for the Spartans as they prepare for a hungry Central Michigan team this weekend will be keeping the focus on continuing to develop. The team's defensive and offensive statistics are well below where they've been in past years, and at times, sloppy play has shown itself.
"We need to focus on the moment, but I think that our past has given us a little bit of a footprint in college football right now. So people know who Michigan State is based on our past and right now we're doing the job. There are no perfect games out there, just look across the country. But we've gotten the job done and we're 3-0," Dantonio said.
Central Michigan stunned the Spartans in East Lansing back in 2009 and will give their best shot on Saturday. An upset would likely put a stop to the major goals the Spartans are reaching for.
"It's a hard climb up, it's a quick drop down, but we are where we're at. This (ranking) should pay dividends later on as long as we continue to do our job and focus on the moment and that's what we're trying to do. Just focus on the moment, do your job, don't be entitled, take the work ethic that we've had in the past and use that to our advantage. But with that said, Central comes in here ready to go and they have a good football team."
