Smith Reviews 2004 Football Season

Dec. 9, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Two years into his rebuilding project at Michigan State, John L. Smith has a 13-12 record.

That's a better result than some would have expected, given what Smith inherited when arriving from Louisville after the 2002 season. But the results don't satisfy the Spartans' head coach, particularly this season's 5-7 mark.

"As a team, we didn't underachieve and we didn't overachieve," Smith said Wednesday of his second campaign in East Lansing. "But we've got to sneak up and overachieve. ... we should overachieve more than we did. So we're definitely not satisfied with that year."

Michigan State's record this season was in line with what most preseason publications had predicted. But the team's inconsistency left coaches and players frustrated.

The Spartans showed how good they could be by dominating previously unbeaten and fourth-ranked Wisconsin 49-14 on Nov. 13. That came just two weeks after a heartbreaking 45-37 triple overtime loss to then No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The same Spartan team, however, managed to lose at Rutgers and Penn State -- teams that finished a combined 8-14. A season-ending 41-38 loss at unranked Hawaii sealed the Spartans' fate as a losing team.

"We didn't accomplish what we wanted," linebacker David Herron Jr. said. "We wanted to go to a bowl game and send our seniors out as winners."

The Spartans blew a lead against the Warriors, as they had against Michigan and Ohio State earlier in the season. The inability to keep fourth-quarter leads was one of the most frustrating aspects of Michigan State's season.

But the Spartans have reason to be optimistic headed into next year. The Spartans should return eight starters and several more players with experience on an offense that ranked 11th in the nation this year by averaging 460 yards per game.

Quarterback Drew Stanton and all of his top wideouts should be back next season. Running backs Jason Teague and Jehuu Caulcrick also will return.

Stanton said he has not yet decided whether he will have surgery to repair damage done when he separated his shoulder in the middle of the season. It is also unclear whether Stanton's backup, Stephen Reaves, will return or seek a transfer.

Three of Michigan State's five starting interior offensive linemen -- Stefon Wheeler, Kyle Cook and Chris Morris -- should be back. They anchored an offense that ranked 14th nationally in rushing yardage (238.5 yards per game) and 39th in scoring (29.42 points per game.)

Defense will be Michigan State's biggest question mark headed into next year. Six of 11 starters should return from a unit that struggled at times this season, and was particularly vulnerable to allowing big plays at crucial times.

The Spartans will return Brandon McKinney and Domata Peko on the defensive line with end Clifton Ryan. Herron returns as a starter at linebacker, along with Eric Smith and Jaren Hayes in the secondary. The Spartans also are hopeful that linebacker Seth Mitchell, who missed the season with a knee injury, will be able to play next year.

Recruiting speed -- particularly in the defensive backfield and at receiver -- will be a priority. Smith may turn to junior college transfers, much like departing senior running back/kick returner DeAndra Cobb, to help in that area.

Smith said he is scouring the junior college ranks for help at defensive back, linebacker, defensive line, offensive line and wide receiver.

"We're coming off a losing season, and that changes everybody's attitude," Morris said. "We are going to have to work harder to reach our goals."

By TIM MARTIN, The Associated Press