After starting the season 4-0, many thought recruiting would become easy for MSU head coach John L. Smith.
Since then, though, the team has fallen to 5-5 overall and the opposite is being said for the Spartans recruiting efforts.
But has it really become harder?
"It hasn't," Smith said. "It's no better, no worse. It's probably better than when we first got here. We have a bundle of guys coming in this weekend. It's a big recruiting weekend for us."
Smith said fluctuations in records during the season don't impact recruiting.
"I think the bottom line does," he said.
The Spartans have already received seven verbal commitments for the 2006 class. Two of those seven are Eric Gordon, a linebacker from Traverse City, and Charlie Gantt, a tight end from Birmingham. Both are rated at four stars out of five by the recruiting service www.rivals.com.
"We've got some good guys," Smith said. "We have to continue to work and find those guys that want to be here.
"You're never happy with where you are. You're always disappointed that you didn't get this guy or that guy. You're always disappointed that the guys down the road got them. That's the way it is in this business."
Party poopers
Throughout the past few seasons, MSU has generally been good for one surprise upset a year. Last season, they took out undefeated No. 4 Wisconsin on Senior Day.
For this year's Senior Day, the No. 5 team in the country, Penn State, rolls into East Lansing looking to secure the Big Ten title.
If MSU can defeat the Nittany Lions, the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game will be the Big Ten Champion and receive the lucrative bid to a Bowl Championship Series game. Smith could be helping his arch rival earn millions of dollars by winning this weekend's game.
"I would be glad to do that for them," Smith quipped.
Happy Birthday?
Smith lost track of the calendar and accidentally forgot his wife's birthday, which was Saturday.
Today is Smith's birthday.
"I didn't think it was her birthday," he said. "I thought (today) was her birthday. I thought mine was Thursday.
"You can't imagine the number of anniversaries I've missed and the number of birthdays I've missed. If they don't put it on the calendar and make it a holiday, I usually miss it."
Injury update
Smith confirmed that senior wide receiver Aaron Alexander (foot) is done for the season and will not be applying for a medical waiver that would allow him to play another season. Alexander has yet to return to practice.
Smith also said senior wide receiver Kyle Brown (ankle) is expected to be ready to play against Penn State despite re-aggravating the injury during the Minnesota game.
Senior offensive tackle Stefon Wheeler (ankle) was sore after Saturday's game, but is also expected to play this weekend.
"Hopefully (today) he can be ready to go," Smith said.
Accolades coming in
Senior safety Eric Smith, senior offensive guard Gordon Niebylski, senior center Chris Morris and junior quarterback Drew Stanton were named first team Academic All-District for District IV.
District IV covers all schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. The four players were the most from any school on the first team in that region.
