Mark Dantonio clamps down on information, access at MSU

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

East Lansing -- Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio took a bunker mentality to his press conference Tuesday.

Dantonio limited media access to two players for the entire week and didn't release a depth chart for the first time this season.

"We need to talk to the people that understand our situation," Dantonio told the media.

The Spartans (4-5 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) have three games left and are in danger of missing a bowl game. MSU must win three games to have a chance at the Champs Sports or Alamo bowls. Two wins would put the program in a position to possibly go to the Insight or Little Caesars Pizza Pizza bowls.

Dantonio was asked to explain why the media didn't get a depth chart. He first said it was because he was not sure how many players will be healthy enough to play against Western Michigan (noon Saturday, Big Ten Network).

But Dantonio said later in the press conference he expects to have everyone healthy for the Broncos.

This explanation came two days after he said "four or five" players experienced head injuries in last week's 42-34 loss at Minnesota.

Running back Larry Caper (concussion), safety Danny Fortener (head) and center Joel Nitchman (knee) were all injured in the loss.

Defensive end Trevor Anderson was banged up in the game with a lingering ankle injury and received limited playing time against the Gophers.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins and linebacker Greg Jones, two of the team's four captains, were made available Tuesday to the media and remained optimistic about the season.

"It's all about how you finish," Cousins said. "We have to finish strong."

Said Jones, "We have to be consistent and not point fingers."

MSU has won the last six meetings with WMU, including a 26-21 victory in its 2003 season opener.

If the Spartans lose Saturday, it would mark the first time two Mid-American Conference teams have beaten them in the same season.

Central Michigan left Spartan Stadium with a 29-27 win on Sept. 12, its first victory over MSU since 1992.