Toward the end of last season, MSU head coach John L. Smith was leading Louisville to its fifth straight bowl game. One year later, Smith has turned around a troubled MSU program and has earned the Big Ten Coach of the Year award.
Smith is the first MSU coach to win the award since George Perles in 1987 and the fourth MSU coach to win it in Spartan history.
Despite the recognition, Smith remained humble about receiving the award Tuesday, as he praised the effort of his assistant coaches and players.
"We're not into individual awards, it's a team deal - it's a team award," Smith said. "First of all, the credit goes to the coaches, and then it goes to the players.
"What it signifies to me is what the team has really done this year, so it's an award for them as much as anything."
The Spartans finished 4-8 last season, fired then-head coach Bobby Williams during the season and hired Smith in December. The well-traveled coach exceeded all expectations and finished 8-4 (5-3 Big Ten), not to mention landing a bowl game trip - something that has impressed athletic director Ron Mason.
"I'm pleased John L. Smith was selected Big Ten Coach of the Year," Mason said. "John L. should be recognized for the huge turnaround.
"This season has been something special. I know John L. and the team are excited about heading to a bowl and having an opportunity to win nine games."
Smith said he would make sharing the award official by adding an "S" to the trophy to represent his staff.
"There's never anything such as coach of the year, it's always coaches of the year," he said. "We're going to add an 'S' to the end of it."
He also was somewhat surprised to receive the honor, assuming the award would have gone to Michigan's Lloyd Carr.
"Normally it always goes to whoever wins the league championship," Smith said.
Smith said the award will be used as a tool to continue improving MSU football.
"We just have to build on this; we have to accept this as a program-builder," Smith said.
Smith wasn't the only one to earn a conference honor. Six Spartans players received awards as well.
"That shows what we've been trying to talk about all year long about the team concept," Smith said. "That if you play as a team, you play together, and it doesn't matter if you have individuals; you don't need individuals."
Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker, senior offensive lineman Joe Tate, senior offensive tackle Steve Stewart, senior defensive end Greg Taplin and junior defensive end Clifford Dukes all received All-Big Ten second team honors. Redshirt freshman punter Brandon Fields was named to the coaches' second team but also cracked the media's first-team list.
Fields finished third in the nation in punting, averaging 46.3 yards per game. He was named the Big Ten special teams player of the week three times this season.
Smoker led the league in passing (269.9 yards per game) and total offense (262.4 yards per game) after setting four single season records in 2003.
Tate recorded 37 pancake blocks and Stewart racked up a career high 26.
Taplin led the team in tackles for a loss (13) and sacks (10). He finished second in the conference in sacks.
Dukes recorded 54 tackles, six sacks and scored a touchdown on a fumble return against Michigan.
Wolverines senior running back Chris Perry was named offensive player of the year in the conference, while Ohio State senior defensive end Will Smith picked up defensive honors.
