Michigan State AD Mark Hollis more concerned with fans not showing up than booing

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis is more concerned over fans not showing up for home games than whether they boo when they're there.

Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio was not pleased with fans booing his decision to punt during his team's 19-16 double overtime loss to Iowa on Oct. 13, saying "I mean, get real."

Hollis said he never likes to see his teams get booed, but he wants fans that are emotional, adding that his concern was the people who were not in the stands. Hollis said, "If they're not cheering and they're not booing, they don't care."

The official attendance for Michigan State's game against Iowa was 70,211, but far fewer fans actually showed up in the rain. It was reported that only slightly more than half of the lower part of the student section was filled for the game.

Hollis insisted that despite any attendance problems, he was very happy with the direction of the program.

Michigan State takes on in-state rival No. 23 Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Ann Arbor.