MSU football has found itself in a familiar and uncomfortable situation.

It's football staff has once again missed out on recruiting highly touted prep players, such as Saginaw High linebacker LaMarr Woodley. He signed with Michigan and that has become a recurring theme for MSU.

A key problem for MSU head coach John L. Smith was he only had about a month to recruit, whereas most collegiate coaches were scouting as early as last season. But a lack of time is not the only issue for the Spartans. ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said there's another reason why recruits are drawn to U-M instead of MSU.

"They've been a school that has great tradition," Lemming said. "So does MSU, but it's Michigan's time now. John L. Smith has a great staff and I believe he will do well at Michigan State."

Lemming said Smith needs more time and he expects better results next season. Even Smith said the Spartans need to win to compete with anyone in recruiting.

Still, the Spartans have to deal with U-M's 11 national championships, 823 Division I-A wins and 18-16 all-time bowl record. The Wolverines' last national championship was in 1997. They haven't had a bowl-less season since 1974.

And then there's MSU.

The Spartans have brought home 6 national titles, 572 division 1-A wins, 16 bowl appearances and a 7-9 record in bowl games. They also have not won a national championship since 1966 and did not make it to a bowl game last season.

MSU inked 20 student-athletes to it's 2003 recruiting class and U-M snagged 17. According to the online recruiting magazine Rivals100.com, the Wolverines have two five-star recruits and 11 four-star recruits. The Spartans have no five-star recruits and one four-star recruit.

"You feel the rivalry against a team like Michigan and the other Big Ten schools," Smith said. "We're going to start at home and concentrate on (the state of) Michigan."

Meanwhile, MSU, which will have to be without Woodley's services, will perhaps get a glimpse of his skills at Spartan Stadium on Nov. 1 when U-M comes to East Lansing.

Losing prospective student-athletes happens for many reasons and sometimes, decisions come down to something as simple as a friendship.

"LaMarr going to U of M was the icing on the cake," said Saginaw High running back Jerome Jackson, who is a friend of Woodley. "I think I would have gone there regardless of him, but that was an added incentive."

Staff writer Jason Carmel Davis contributed to this report.