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Numbers don't lie: Michigan State football troubled by excessive penalties

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Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio speaks to the media on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, in East Lansing. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING — One of Mark Dantonio’s early missions at the outset of his Michigan State football coaching career was working to eliminate foolish flags.

False starts. Holding. Late hits. The type of transgressions that stop offensive drives and extend them for opponents.

His Spartans have a significant penalty problem three games into this season.

MSU committed 10 penalties for 91 yards in Saturday’s 10-7 loss to Arizona State, their second time in three games to open the season with double-digit infractions.