Brian Hoyer got his feet wet at the end of MSU's 2006 season, filling in for injured starting quarterback Drew Stanton, who has used up eligibility.

He's not just a substitute anymore.

Hoyer, now a junior, is running the show. No more standing on the sidelines wearing a headset and holding a clipboard — the surefire mark of a backup quarterback.

"It was a little different, not having someone above you there," Hoyer said last week, after the Spartans' first spring practice.

"But it's something I've been waiting for for the past three years, so I kind of embrace it and went out and tried to lead everybody in the drills, and I finally got a chance to (do) that."

Hoyer said first-year MSU head coach Mark Dantonio runs practices a little differently from former head coach John L. Smith, who was let go at the end of MSU's 2006 campaign.

"The format of practice — the periods are different, the drills are different, so you've just got to get used to that.

"That's all a part of it, and that's the part that I'm excited to do."

Hoyer said he and his teammates are still feeding off the energy the coaching change has caused — even though the Spartans were unable to practice in pads for the first two days of spring training.

"Coach Dantonio said, 'We're still in the honeymoon period, we're all hyped to get out there and play,'" Hoyer said.

"There was definitely a lot of energy out there (on the first day), a lot of people flying around the ball and making plays."

Hoyer played in eight games last season and threw for 863 yards. He tossed four touchdowns and three interceptions.

A tribute to the departed

Senior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill will switch numbers this season to honor his father, Charlie "Mad Dog" Thornhill, who died of heart failure in December 2006 at the age of 62.

Charlie Thornhill suited up at linebacker for MSU from 1964-66, earning three varsity letters.

Kaleb Thornhill wore No. 43 last season but will wear No. 41 from now on.

"I felt like it was an honor to wear this number," Kaleb Thornhill said.

"I just wanted to wear it one more time for the Thornhill family and for my dad. That was a decision I just made. I had one last season, and I felt it was the right time to do that.

"It's definitely just an honor and a lot of pride for him."

Kaleb Thornhill's older brother, Josh Thornhill, wore the number in high school, but Kaleb Thornhill has never worn the number before. Josh Thornhill also played football at MSU from 1998 until 2001.

Dantonio said he approached Kaleb Thornhill about the switch.

"I went to him and asked if he wanted to do that, and he did," Dantonio said. "That's to honor his father, and that's very fitting.

"His father was a tremendous role model for him as a person and a tremendous Spartan."