"It's a good challenge, but I feel like the future is very bright," says MacIntyre.
This is coach MacIntyre's first experience as a head coach at the college level, after 20 years in the profession. He knows he has his hands full with this program.
"Probably the first biggest challenge right now is making sure these young men keep believing and keep fighting and striving to realize how good a program we can be. It's also a process. I'm not just trying to build a team, but build a program," says MacIntyre.
The players seem to have bought into MacIntyre's style of no excuses, no regrets.
"I would say I'm an energetic, disciplined coach that really pushes a young men. I like to always tell them I care more than anyone else cares for them, so I make sure they do the right thing, I make sure I push them," says MacIntyre.
A coach is only as good as his staff and MacIntyre brought in former San Francisco 49er Super Bowl champion Bryant Young to help out.
"Bryant's doing a great job. He's a phenomenal man and has great football knowledge, the players respect him and he's a huge asset for us," says MacIntyre.
The Spartans want to run the ball, but will take advantage of their depth at receiver and will play a 4-3 on defense. Their schedule has no creampuffs, as they kick off the season against top-ranked and defending champion Alabama.
"It is a great opportunity for the young men and it's helped us in recruiting this year, but it is a tough foe to open up with as they are an excellent football team," say MacIntyre.
Upsets do happen, especially early in the season.
"It definitely can be done, it doesn't happen very often, but you always have to believe you're going to win every game you go into," says MacIntyre.
Well, if they can't beat Alabama, they get Wisconsin the week after.
