These are not last year’s Michigan State Spartans. Fresh off an upset win over then No. 9 Iowa, John L. Smith’s team is the talk of the Big Ten conference.
The Spartans (4-1) were led by quarterback Jeff Smoker, who threw for 218 yards, and linebacker Mike Labinjo, who had four solo tackles and the game clinching interception with less than two minutes to play. Labinjo was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week in the Big Ten.
In his first season in East Lansing, Smith has successfully implemented the spread offense he ran at Louisville.
“[Michigan State is] playing with a lot of confidence,” Illinois head coach Ron Turner said. “Smith has them spreading the ball around well offensively.”
Minnesota coach Glen Mason also gave credit to Smith.
“Everything is a function of coaching,” he said. “Their record [is good] and he deserves all of the credit he is getting because he is an excellent coach.”
Purdue head coach Joe Tiller attributed MSU’s early season success to a more effective defensive scheme.
“The defense they have [at Michigan State] is underrated,” Tiller said.
Smith laughed off the hype concerning his team and said that he didn’t want his players to look past their weekend meeting with Indiana.
“We’ve made a lot of progress,” he said, “but I am a little worried about overconfidence throughout the team.”
New stipend proposal
Another hot topic of conversation has been the possibility of awarding college athletes supplemental stipends in addition to scholarships. The proposed stipends would cover room, board, tuition and books. Most coaches felt that players in very poor financial situations should be allowed to receive more federal grant money, but not a stipend.
“Improvements in Pell Grant Funds and emergency funds for players in need have improved dramatically over the last few years,” Indiana head coach Gerry DiNardo said. “These areas are making changes [for the better].”
“Paying every player a stipend is not the answer,” Smith added.
Some coaches thought the stipend was a good idea, but that players should have to work a small amount of hours per month for it.
“In the early 1960s, when I was a student-athlete, I used to sweep the floor after basketball games for a few hours each month,” stated Tiller. “That used to give me just a little extra pocket change. Stipends are not out of line, [especially] for players in need.”
Big game in Iowa City
This weekend’s marquee game is No. 11 Michigan at No. 19 Iowa. The Hawkeyes (4-1,0-1), a BCS team a year ago, are trying to avoid opening 0-2 in conference while Michigan (4-1, 1-0) looks to build on last weekend’s 31-17 victory over Indiana. Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr felt that the key to the game was controlling Iowa’s physical 3-4 defense. The Wolverines hope to avenge their 34-9 home loss to Iowa last year, their worst home defeat since 1967.
