Mental preparation may outweigh physical preparation on head football coach Bobby Williams’ priority list this week.
After last week’s terrorist attacks and the resulting cancellation of Saturday’s home game against Missouri, getting ready for a big-time game like Notre Dame takes on a whole new spin.
“This has been a very difficult time for everybody all over this country,” Williams said. “We got through this past weekend and now will try with the task of moving forward.”
The Spartans - who practiced Saturday and took Sunday off - will alter practice plans, Williams said, as they gear up for Saturday’s road trip to No. 23 Notre Dame.
“The schedule will be changed to the type of practice plans the team is used to during the middle of the week on a game week,” Williams said. “You get to a point, somewhere around Thursday or Friday, where it becomes a mental game because you tone down your practice time.”
And the players seemed to notice the change Monday.
“The intensity was cranked up just a little bit for today’s practice,” senior tailback Little John Flowers said. “Today was like a Tuesday practice, we went hard and got a lot of things accomplished.”
That hasn’t been easy for the team that - like the rest of the nation - is trying to cope with last week’s horrific attacks.
“It was weird practicing on Saturday, but the whole situation has been weird for all of us,” senior wide receiver Herb Haygood said.
If the team can focus and win its fifth straight game over the Irish, it will be the first conference team to top a ranked opponent this season.
So far, the Big Ten 0-4 is against Top 25 teams.
“I think we’re up to the challenge this weekend, especially against Notre Dame on national TV,” Haygood said.
The team will try to end that streak under sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker’s leadership.
Smoker will start again against Notre Dame, Williams said. Senior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke will see playing time early as well.
In the Central Michigan game Sept. 8, Smoker started and completed 15 of 23 passes, for 196 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also scored on a three-yard rush.
Van Dyke was 3-of-6 passing, for two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Both signal callers say they’re still happy sharing time.
“It’s always been that way,” Van Dyke said. “When I go on the field, Jeff is supporting me, and when Jeff goes on the field, I’m supporting him. The team knows that and that’s what’s most important.”
