November 1, 2006
BREAKING: Smith out as Spartans coach at year end
Michigan State is putting together a previously unscheduled press conference to address the departure of Head Coach John L Smith. It is not clear if Smith is being fired or has resigned.
ESPN is reporting that Michigan State will buy out the remaining years on his contract to the tune of somewhere between between $3.2 million and $4 million, so it's more apparent that Smith was fired rather than resigned, regardless of what it may be called in the papers tomorrow.
Details to follow.
Smith will stay on and coach the Spartans through the end of the season, including a possible bowl game.
"The performance on the field has not lived up to what we hoped it would be," athletic director Ron Mason said during a news conference Wednesday. "It comes time to make a change, and that's where we're at."
The immediate attention now turns to who will replace Smith. Given the popular thought that the Spartans were prepared to see Smith through the end of the year, I'm really inclined to think that MSU has someone in mind. I know that everyone is saying Steve Mariucci, so maybe there's fire in all that smoke.
Comments:
msubo said:
posted on November 1, 2006 4:25 PM — 72.255.2.72 — link — abuse?
The game in reference is the Ohio State game when MSU totally dominated the first half only to try a field goal, have it blocked and returned for a touchdown. After that the game was history even though we still had a 17-14 lead at halftime instead of a 20-7 lead. That was the Notre Dame moment of this year when they packed up and decided not to play anymore.
John L. should never have been hired in the first place. Steve Mariucci was available and we passed him over for who.... a no name from Louisville who turned around a... who cares program. I admit, Louisville is good and fun to watch now, but that is all Bobby Patrino. Now they (Louisville) are competing for a BCS bid and MSU is in the toilet.
The MSU head coaching position will never be a highly sought after position by an established and reputable coach. We are the second University in Michigan and more recently a Basketball school.
We need to hire Mariucci just to save our recruiting. If I was a top player, I would never even consider MSU. We are on national TV (Fox, ESPN, ABC, NBC) every week throughout the nation and I would never want to be embarassed week after week like they have have been doing for years.
It is so hard to be Green, but I will never stop my passion for MSU. However, PLEASE, hire the right person to recruit, coach and grow these young players. I am sick of being 5-6, 5-7 after 3-0, 4-0 starts.
Start the bandwagon for Mariucci and I promise we will be competitive in 2 years.
GO GREEN........GO WHITE
IrishJT said:
posted on November 1, 2006 6:06 PM — 71.207.226.16 — link — abuse?
I'd like to think that Brady Quinn has at least "something" to do with the demise of this cocky SOB!! Good riddance. Maybe Southwest Indiana State has a receivers coaching job that he is under-qualified for and can perform with mediocrity.
BigWarEagle said:
posted on November 1, 2006 7:32 PM — 67.34.195.148 — link — abuse?
MSUBO,
Dont sell Michigan State short as a top job. The job will be a very attractive opening for many name coaches and coordinators. The Big Ten is ready for a third big time program to step up and Michigan State could very well be it. Mich and OSU will always dominate the conference but with the inconsistencies of Purdue/Penn St/Iowa there is room for Mich St to go Big Time. Wisconsin is good enough to be that third team but does not get the credit it deserves nationally. Jeff Fisher would be great at MSU.M GO BLUE said:
posted on November 3, 2006 9:10 PM — 216.46.210.165 — link — abuse?
C'mon! I loved John L.! I wish state would have given him a lifetime contract. I could plan on Michigan beating state 9 out of 10 years as long as he was around......but even pete caroll could'nt beat Michigan with the smelly spartans =)
GO BLUE!
P.S. Perhaps the slime fans should realize that Michigan State is not a big time football school,and try sticking to basketball.
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TrojanHorse said:
posted on November 1, 2006 1:59 PM — 155.104.37.17 — link — abuse?I can't say 1. I'm surprised 2. that I blame MSU and 3. that I care
seriously, this guy was just a really bad fit for the Spartans.
After the ND game this was sealed signed and delivered today.
What I remember him most for was the meltdown at halftime of a game last year after a botched special teams play. I don't even remember the play except that the other team scored and he lost his marbles going into the break.