With 10 years experience on the Air Force Academy’s football coaching staff, Ron Burton has some personal feelings about Saturday’s game in East Lansing, Mich. Burton is in his third season as the defensive line coach at Michigan State.
But any personal feelings are far behind the coach’s goal.
“As a coach, you’re always trying to win the next game and this is the next game,” Burton said by phone after practice Wednesday.
The No. 4-ranked Spartans (2-0) are 26-point favorites over Air Force, and they’re coming off a huge home victory over Oregon. Burton said the Spartans know enough not to overlook the Falcons (2-0). He remembers the second game of the 2012 season when the Falcons went to Ann Arbor and played heavily favored Michigan to the wire in a 31-25 loss.
“Air Force players work hard and they understand the challenges they face,” Burton said. “But we’re a very blue-collar team too.”
Making things even more difficult for Air Force this week is the loss of starting quarterback Nate Romine to a knee injury.
Karson Roberts, a senior from Houston, has taken over for Romine.
“We know we’re going to see something new from them,” Burton said of the Falcons’ game plan. “They have a veteran team and they always have the ‘next man up’ mentality.”
Burton, meanwhile, is pleased with his coaching path.
“It was a privilege coaching at Air Force,” Burton said. “I miss being around the people who lead our country. But coming to Michigan State has been a great opportunity.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or
