When Keith Nichol was offered a football scholarship by former MSU head coach John L. Smith two years ago, he didn't toil over the decision for six months like most recruits — he accepted the offer right away and planned to play for the Spartans in 2007.

Since the Lowell High School quarterback's decision, it seems like everything in the MSU football program has changed. Former MSU quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier left for the St. Louis Rams after the 2005 season, and Smith was fired as head coach early this month.

After Mark Dantonio officially took the reins of the program Monday, the situation became a little more stable.

Nichol and his father, Gary, have a history with Dantonio, having met both him and current MSU quarterbacks coach Dan Enos while in Cincinnati for a recruiting visit.

"He's a great choice — a quality man," Gary Nichol said.

But there is still a question whether Nichol and MSU's other verbal commitments are willing to commit to the program after all the upheaval of the this month.

Defensive back Quincy Landingham switched his commitment from MSU to Wisconsin earlier this month, and offensive lineman Jack Cornell Jr. reportedly has been heavily pursued by Nebraska since Smith's firing.

Nichol has other options open, as well. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops visited the Nichols in Lowell on Sunday, Gary Nichol said, and Keith is scheduled to make an official visit to Oklahoma this week.

"We have always stayed the course about his feelings about MSU," Gary Nichol said. "But in the interim — ever since things started to fall apart — we've been hearing from multiple other schools. It isn't about MSU versus anyone.

"He feels and we feel an obligation to look around, to be absolutely certain: Is this the right school for him? There is no shortcut — we have to go see and talk to the other program."