Many MSU players were upset that the university didn't inform them of John L. Smith's firing last month until after an announcement had been made to the media.

MSU officials didn't want that to happen again.

So, the day before the Spartans played Penn State, Mark Hollis, senior associate athletics director and one of the lead directors of the coaching search, met with junior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill and junior running back Jehuu Caulcrick and asked them what the players were looking for in a new coach.

While neither player would reveal what he told Hollis went wrong during Smith's tenure, both appreciated their input was sought.

"I just want to thank (the administration) for involving us, letting us have a say in what we thought would be beneficial for this program," Thornhill said Monday.

Caulcrick said Dantonio will be a players' coach like Smith — albeit a more hard-nosed one — but one who should help address the problems the players saw with the program.

"Thinking about all the stuff that we mentioned to him that we needed," Caulcrick said, "Coach Dantonio is the guy that we were talking about."