Vandals, Spartans coaches on missions
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Last September, Dennis Erickson was playing lots of golf and wishing he was coaching college football while his old buddy John L. Smith was savoring Michigan State’s 4-0 start, including an overtime victory against Notre Dame.
What a difference 11 months makes.
Erickson is back on the sidelines, trying to revive the University of Idaho program for a second time. Smith, in the words of a Detroit columnist, faces a put-up or shut-up season.
Erickson’s debut – part II – comes today against the odd backdrop of facing Michigan State and Smith, who is on the hot seat after two consecutive losing seasons. Smith, 18-18 entering his fourth season but just 2-10 in November and December, reportedly needs to win eight games and guide the Spartans to a bowl game to keep his job.
“We don’t talk about his status,” Erickson said of his conversations with Smith, who served as defensive coordinator for Erickson’s first seven seasons as a head coach, including a 32-15 run at Idaho from 1982-85. “People forget where that program was at when he took it over. He’s going to be there a long time. He’s got a good team. They’re better this year than a year ago.
“We don’t get into that other stuff. That’s for you guys to speculate.”
Erickson, of course, has his own worries entering today’s game, which kicks off at 9:10 a.m. PDT at 75,005-seat Spartan Stadium. He inherits a program coming off six straight losing seasons.
“I was up there this summer visiting my mother and I went through McCall, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint and that entire state is fired up about Dennis being back,” said Smith, who downplayed speculation surrounding his job security. “That’s great to see again, but I hope he waits ‘til after this weekend to get it going.”
Erickson, long devoted to the spread offense and the passing game, indicated last month that Idaho’s personnel might force him to a more run-oriented attack. After fall camp, though, Erickson feels a little more comfortable with his aerial options.
“We’ll throw it around, maybe more than I thought we might,” Erickson said, “but we’re going to have to run it and our tight ends are pretty good.”
Idaho will go against a Spartans defense that is relying on three JC transfers and six returning starters to spur a turnaround from 2005.
The Spartans ranked 77th in scoring defense (28.7 points) and 87th in total defense (409.5 yards) last season.
“We’ll be better, but that’s where we need to improve,” said Smith, who watched his 2005 team begin to unravel at midseason with an overtime loss to Michigan and the inability to protect a fourth-quarter lead against Ohio State.
Smith has few concerns on the other side of the ball. Senior quarterback Drew Stanton, who ranked 10th nationally in pass efficiency a year ago, would likely finish second in numerous all-time MSU passing categories if he posts numbers similar to last year’s 3,077-yard, 22-touchdown season.
“I know Drew very well,” Erickson said. “He was from Oregon originally and I’ve followed him closely. I see a quarterback that might be the best in the country.”
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Stanton, who has two 100-yard rushing games in his career, is surrounded by a stable of weapons. Javon Ringer rushed 817 yards and averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a true freshman last season. He’ll also return kicks. Four of the top five wide receivers are back, including 6-6 Matt Trannon, a three-year letterman on Michigan State’s basketball team.
Some new faces in the Vandals secondary figure to be tested. True freshman Shiloh Keo will start at safety and JC transfer Stanley Franks joins Reggie Jones, who missed half of last season with a detached retina, at cornerback.
The matchup is “not very good if you look at it that way, but we’re looking for our guys to step up,” Erickson said.
Notes
UI defensive tackle Alex Toailoa has cleared up his academic issues and should be available. … Jaron Williams is expected to start at middle linebacker. … Idaho opens with a road game for the eighth straight season, though the 2001 contest against Washington State at Martin Stadium was technically called a Vandals home game. … Michigan State linebackers coach Mike Cox, a Coeur d’Alene native, was a three-year starter and receivers coach Blaine Bennett was a letterman at UI during Erickson’s first stint as head coach.