By AP
EAST LANSING, MI – Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says his team's sixth win had special significance, but not as much as a seventh win would.
After rallying from an 11-point deficit this past weekend to beat Purdue 40-37 and become bowl eligible, the Spartans (6-5, 4-3 Big Ten) can take a major step on Saturday with a triumph over Penn State (9-2, 7-2).
Dantonio's program is headed to a third straight bowl, something Michigan State only has done from 1987-90 and 1995-97. And with 22 wins in his first three seasons, he has more victories in that span than any coach in school history.
At his news conference on Tuesday, Dantonio spoke of Penn State's Joe Paterno as a coaching icon and said the credit for the Spartans' turnaround goes to three straight selfless senior classes.