Wolverine Liberation Army

With the big rivalry game coming up between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, the WLA thought this would be a good opportunity to shine a light upon a side of MSU Football Head Coach Mark Dantonio that few people might know about.  In this exclusive interview we discuss with Mark Dantonio, or “Chuckles” as he goes by on stage, his passion for stand up and improv comedy.

WLA: Good morning coach.

CMD: Good morning to you.  No pun intended.

WLA: So, most of us know you as the most succesful football coach at Michigan State since John L. Smith, but few of us know about your love of stand up comedy.  Tell us a little bit about that.

CMD: Of course.  You’ve probably heard of Miami University being referred to as “The Cradle of Coaches?”  Well, I grew up in Zanesville, Ohio, which is also known as “The Cradle of Comedy.”  So, it’s kind of impossible not to love stand up, being from there.  As a young man, I’d ply my trade with the “Zanesville Zanies” improv group.  It was just really funny and hilarious.

WLA: What kind of comedy do you do during your sets?

CMD: I do a lot of observational humor.  ”What’s the deal with little brothers?  If they’re physically taller than you, then can they really be your little brother?”  Hilarious stuff like that. [stares straight forward angrily]

WLA: What about impressions?

CMD: I do impressions.  Bobby Knight, Barry Bonds, Bill Belichick.

WLA: Could you do one right now?

CMD: Sure.  Here’s some Nick Saban.  ”Hi, I’m Nick Saban.  I stole Mark Ingram away from Michigan State by funneling several thousand dollars to him through a booster.  I keep my players eligible via academic fraud.  One I got liquored up on rumple minze at a coach’s convention in Orlando and sucker punched Mark Dantonio.  I’m Nick Saban.” [shaking, visibly]

WLA: That’s pretty good.

CMD: I practice that one everyday in front of the mirror.  Sometimes in the nude.

WLA: So, are you doing any sets any time soon?

CMD: I’ve just signed a contract to do some sets throughout the state.  I’ll start in Mt. Pleasant, cruise over to Kalamazoo and then hit Ypsilanti on my way back to East Lansing.

WLA: Nothing in other states?

CMD: I like to focus on Michigan.  As you know, if you’re building a winning national comedy program, you’ve got to lock down the homebase and not get caught up in going to places like New York or Chicago or LA.  Dave Coulier was from Michigan and he’s pretty much the best stand up comic ever.

WLA: You’ve had some success lately in Detroit.

CMD: Well, yeah.  I kind of do a Dantonio’s Comedy Jam when I’m down there.  Wassup, wassup D-Town, Coach Diggety Dan in the hizzie.

WLA: And it says here you’re going to be playing the Laff Haus in Frankenmuth on Sunday.

CMD: Yes, come for the chicken, stay for the hilarious jokes that I will be telling.  And apple strudel. [stares straight forward angrily]

WLA: We’re just about out of time, so just a couple more questions.  What’s your favorite joke you ever told.

CMD: Remember that one about Mike Hart being short?  Pure gold, Jerry.  Pure gold. [pounds fist against table]

WLA: Is there one joke you’d like to leave us with?

CMD: Sure.  You know how to do a knock knock joke?

WLA: Ummm, yeah.

CMD: OK.  Knock, knock.

WLA: Who’s there?

CMD: Pride comes before the fall.

WLA: Pride comes before the fall, who?

CMD: Pride comes before the fall and a new defensive coordinator comes before the spring.  YOU FUCKIN’ LISTENING NARDUZZI?

Well, on that note, we’d like to thank “Chuckles” for joining us and wish him good look with his stand up work.

Popularity: 3%