After MSU football head coach John L. Smith was fired Wednesday, his basketball counterpart, Tom Izzo, said he wanted to be involved in the hiring of Smith's replacement.
On Monday, Izzo reiterated those statements and took some personal blame for the way Smith's tenure at MSU played out.
"I think I let (Smith) down because I didn't know him as well, I didn't jump in there with the help I could give him," Izzo said. "A lot of us let him down, if you want the truth. I really mean that."
Whoever is named the new football coach will become MSU's third coach of the decade. The last two — Smith and Bobby Williams — struggled to put their teams near the top of the Big Ten standings in seven combined seasons.
Izzo, entering his 12th season as head coach, also struggled in his early years. He compiled a 33-28 overall record and 18-18 conference record in his first two seasons and failed to get the Spartans into the NCAA Tournament. But Izzo weathered that adversity and has since established himself as one of the nation's best coaches, leading MSU to four Final Fours, four Big Ten championships and an NCAA title.
"(Smith) wasn't afforded the same opportunities as a lot of people we have here, and I don't think that was his fault," Izzo said Monday. "When you don't have support, you get caught making decisions that maybe aren't best for the long haul, and it's about damn time we get it straightened out where we're going to make the best decisions for the long haul."
One of the hottest names continually mentioned as a head coaching candidate is former Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, Izzo's best friend since their days together at Northern Michigan.
Reports circulated that Mariucci's agent had said he wasn't interested in returning to coaching, but Izzo said he "didn't know where the agent thing came from."
"I think (Mariucci) could do the job, and I think there's some other guys out there who could do the job," Izzo said. "We've just got to get the one that fits us best and the one that's excited about being here."
Back in action
Sophomore running back Javon Ringer was supposed to be done for the year after injuring his knee against Illinois last month. But five weeks later, he was back on the field on Saturday against Purdue. Ringer finished with 10 carries for 36 yards.
"There's a great story on that young man, having his knee severe enough where they said, 'This is it,'" Smith said. "All I can say is what a great story, what an inspiration."
Ringer returned to practice Oct. 31 and participated without contact. Then on Wednesday, he practiced with full contact.
Smith said Ringer's knee tightened up enough to play, and trainers have said it has 120 percent of the strength of his good leg.
Ringer leads the team with 474 yards and a 6.7 yards per carry average.
Finally fitting
As a result of injuries, Smith has been forced to play musical chairs on the offensive line for most of the season. But with two games left, he might have found the right tune against Purdue.
"I thought that was probably the best combination we have come up with as of yet," Smith said of an offensive line that had senior Kyle Cook playing left guard and junior John Masters filling in at center.
After starting all 11 games at left guard in 2005, Cook had been playing center this season. But junior Kenny Shane and senior Daniel Zynn — who have both spent time at left guard this season — are out with season-ending injuries, so Smith was forced to move Cook to fill the position.
