Minneapolis, Minn. — The sun was shining brightly over East Lansing during the month of September for the MSU football team.

The team started out 4-0 and was riding high after an overtime victory at Notre Dame followed by a 61-point effort at Illinois.

Then, something happened. Clouds slowly started to take over the sky. Nothing went right for MSU.

Junior kicker John Goss missed two crucial field goals in a 34-31 overtime loss to Michigan.

Two weeks later, in a play that could end up defining the Spartans season, a coaching blunder allowed Ohio State to block a field goal and return it for a touchdown at the end of the first half. The play turned the momentum as Ohio State went on to win, 35-24

Now, after dropping its fifth game in six tries, the question has to be asked: Has the team quit and given up on the season?

The answer, despite the self-admitted lack of emotion in recent games and lackluster efforts, is no.

"If anybody's out there that's quit, I don't want them out there, but I don't think that's the case at all," junior quarterback Drew Stanton said.

Sophomore wide receiver Terry Love doesn't see anything to indicate that the team is giving up on the coaching staff.

"It's not bad chemistry within the program," he said. "It's not anything like that."

But questions still linger.

"Our character's not where we'd like it to be from a mental toughness standpoint," MSU head coach John L. Smith said. "But we're good character guys. I've always said that about these guys."

Despite that, comparisons are being made to the ill-fated 2002 season under Bobby Williams when the team imploded en route to a 4-9 record. But is that a valid assessment?

"No, no, not at all," senior offensive guard Gordon Niebylski said. "Those days, we were getting killed by 50 every game. I'll flat out say that everybody did quit. I don't think everybody's quit (this season)."

Yet, there is some evidence of the wheels falling off the bus.

"We've got to put the people out there that are going to play," senior safety Eric Smith said.

Stanton echoed that sentiment.

"It goes back to people wanting to compete and people wanting to go out there and play and giving to each other," he said.

Smith said the team knows its hot start doesn't mean anything now.

"4-0 doesn't get you anywhere," John L. Smith said. "You've got to finish the season."

Now, the Spartans are left with one game to decide whether the sun will set early on their season or not.