The Michigan State Athletics Insider Podcast: A Michigan State podcast network
Oct 16, 2026 · 25 min · 15 segments
In this episode, we break down The State of Michigan State, covering the latest updates, analysis, and insights surrounding MSU athletics and the program as a whole. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…
Before we talk about the football team, and we will talk a little bit basketball, we're gonna go to Dan Bartholomew, the new athletic director.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I wanted Mark Hollis to get the job.
Uh, I was told that there weren't enough people with the guts to hire Mark Hollis, um, 'cause there were people that didn't want Mark, 'cause other people did, and people who did, who wanted Mark, but others didn't.
But if I could not hire Mark, Bartholomew would have been a guy I would have hired.
I think this was a really good hire for a guy in the state who knows the state well.
And I don't like in the entirety of how he did it, but I do respect what he did.
There's, it's a learning curve when you go from a Max school to a Big Ten school, but came out and basically threw a, uh, on the sword, and it's not his fault.
Some of it, they were waiting to see how Congress and everything else handles it, but basically comes out and says, "Michigan State is going to be competitive," which is top third in the Big Ten.
We're going to spend the money, and we're going to do it." I love that he came out and admitted they didn't.
I love that he came out and said, "We're going to." He put himself on the line.
"You're going to compete and be competitive in the upper third, or you're not gonna be here." Now, I'm not against Fitz.
When you're not spending the money, you're not gonna compete in this league, period.
Before we talk about the football team, and we will talk a little bit basketball, we're gonna go to Dan Bartholomew, the new athletic director.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I wanted Mark Hollis to get the job.
Uh, I was told that there weren't enough people with the guts to hire Mark Hollis, um, 'cause there were people that didn't want Mark, 'cause other people did, and people who did, who wanted Mark, but others didn't.
But if I could not hire Mark, Bartholomew would have been a guy I would have hired.
I think this was a really good hire for a guy in the state who knows the state well.
And I don't like in the entirety of how he did it, but I do respect what he did.
There's, it's a learning curve when you go from a Max school to a Big Ten school, but came out and basically threw a, uh, on the sword, and it's not his fault.
Some of it, they were waiting to see how Congress and everything else handles it, but basically comes out and says, "Michigan State is going to be competitive," which is top third in the Big Ten.
We're going to spend the money, and we're going to do it." I love that he came out and admitted they didn't.
I love that he came out and said, "We're going to." He put himself on the line.
"You're going to compete and be competitive in the upper third, or you're not gonna be here." Now, I'm not against Fitz.
When you're not spending the money, you're not gonna compete in this league, period.
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