Michigan State University Athletics
Chances Are, Spartans Will Take Quite A Few
8/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - He has run with the bulls in Spain, jumped from an airplane at 14,000 feet and climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Michigan State's John L. Smith clearly is not afraid to take risks. So why should his coaching style be any different? Smith employs a pass-happy spread offense and a go-for-broke defense that caused 29 turnovers, the most in the Big Ten last season, but allowed 27 touchdown passes, also the most. During spring ball, Smith wasn't afraid to move two of his best running backs to defense. And last season he didn't hesitate to deploy backup quarterback Drew Stanton on special teams. Some would rip Smith for that call, given that Stanton blew out his right knee on punt coverage during the Alamo Bowl. But neither Smith nor Stanton regrets the decision. Carpe diem. Seize the day. Many people say it, but how many live it? "You want them to understand: Life's very short," Smith said. "The dear Lord only gives you so many snaps. Don't waste a snap. Don't waste a day." Smith hasn't wasted a day since being hired Dec. 19, 2002, to clean up the mess left by Bobby Williams. Smith, coming off a solid five-year run at Louisville, took a 4-8 Michigan State team and doubled its victory total in his first season. A nice start, but if you think Smith is satisfied, he'll point to a sign in his office that reads: Rose Bowl. "Hey, we're going to get there," he said. Click here for the rest of Teddy Greenstein's season preview that appeared in The Chicago Tribune on Aug. 8.
