NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
A snowy afternoon greeted Michigan State football’s new head coach.
But before he arrived at Lansing’s Capital City Airport, Jonathan Smith delivered his first message to Spartan fans from the private jet carrying him to his new home.
Prepare for winter. For now. And believe that better days are coming soon.
“I’m not gonna sugar-coat, there’s some work to do,” Smith said on a video posted to MSU football’s social media accounts while he was still in flight. “There is no doubt. We know that.”
So do Spartans fans and the rest of the Big Ten and college football worlds.
New Michigan State football head coach Jonathan Smith arrives in Lansing on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.
STOCK WATCH: A few players ended season with a flourish
The 44-year-old left his alma mater, Oregon State in Corvallis, for East Lansing, with the hiring announced Saturday afternoon, hours after the Spartans season-ending loss to No. 10 Penn State in Detroit on Friday.`
The vision Smith began selling to players and fans is one of “a new era, a new opportunity.” One that, after the turmoil of the past three months, those stakeholders hope will more closely resemble the stability Mark Dantonio created over his 13 seasons in turning MSU into a perennial bowl team and Big Ten championship contender.
Searching for a ‘Program win’
Four years ago, Dantonio directed his team to a win over Maryland in what no one realized then would be his last game as coach at Spartan Stadium. After that 19-16 victory, he handed out hats to his team for achieving a sixth win and bowl eligibility for the 12th time in his 13 seasons.
Stitched on the back were two words: “Program win.” Many scoffed at it in the moment. They felt it a silly gesture of settling for mediocrity from the man who drove MSU from a conference speedbump when he was hired in late 2006 to victory…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jonathan-smiths-mission-michigan-state-110610199.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2023-11-27 11:06:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
