In December 1999, about 50 football players gathered at Cowles House to plead the case for their running backs coach to lead the team. Three years and 15 losses later, MSU fans seem to be preparing for their own rally - one that would end with the ouster of head coach Bobby Williams from the squad.
Football experts were predicting the Spartans - equipped with Heisman hopeful wide receiver Charles Rogers - to come out near the top of the Big Ten and be a dark-horse for the national championship.
But after stringing together a list of embarrassing losses - 28-7 against Minnesota on Saturday, 44-16 at Iowa on Oct. 12 and 46-22 against California on Sept. 14 - many are left to wonder if the Spartans can even piece together a winning season. And that has students, alumni and the Green and White at heart steaming mad.
MSU fans are not shy about questioning their favorite team’s performance. Letters have littered The State News calling for Williams’ head. On Saturday, some tailgaters boasted signs and T-shirts that read “Fire Bobby,” and the student section could be heard chanting those same words. Williams’ ship is definitely in unfriendly seas.
Some Spartans are trying to come to Williams’ aid. They point to a 16-15 record overall, including two bowl victories. Everyone should be patient, they say, as the coach builds his own squad from the one left over from the Nick Saban era.
But Williams didn’t just take over some sinking ship. He took over a Citrus Bowl-caliber team. And he has buoyed that infrastructure with three top-20 recruiting classes.
Williams has a top-notch team when it comes to talent. And still, the Spartans are struggling to stay afloat.
Fans say MSU seems to be struggling in preparation, play calling, toughness and discipline - all issues central to the ability of the coaching staff.
This team seems to lack leadership. Even the team captains don’t seem to be stepping up.
Running back Dawan Moss has quit talking to the media and quarterback Jeff Smoker didn’t answer questions after his poor showing in Iowa City. This silence is a dangerous move for players who so diligently argued their coaches case such a short time ago.
No one is stepping up on the Spartan sideline; no one seems to be taking the blame or trying to push the team to excel. Williams keeps saying things are going to get reviewed and things are going to get better, but fans keep seeing the same dismal performances.
The sea of people waving tickets in the air outside Spartan Stadium seems to have been increasing recently, but few actually have been able to get rid of their unwanted seats.
And even those who go into the stadium steadily flow back out of the stands after halftime.
The tide is turning on MSU football, and the team needs to take serious action now to change course away from this storm. Otherwise, expect a tidal wave to come crashing down on Bobby’s world and the athletics department.
