Forced to choose between staying close to home or heading to a more stable Oklahoma program, Nichol understandably chose the Sooners.

The Spartans had just fired John L. Smith, and as a 17-year-old kid, Nichol said he needed the security Oklahoma offered. However, being that far from home was stressful on both him and his parents — who drove 14 hours from Lowell to Norman, Okla., each Friday night to arrive in time for his Saturday afternoon games.

So Nichol made the decision to transfer to MSU after his freshman season.

“I didn’t want to do that to them,” Nichol said of his parents. “I really wanted to come back to Michigan State, and I loved coach Dantonio from getting recruited. (I) saw what he was doing and the things that he was really putting into the program (and) wanted to be a part of it”

Because of NCAA rules, he sat out the 2008 season. Then-backup quarterback Kirk Cousins — the man Nichol would have to compete with for the starting position in 2009 — got all of the second-team repetitions behind now-NFL quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Nichol never would see the starting job. In 2009, the Spartans went with a dual-quarterback system, which tried to highlight the strengths of both Cousins and Nichol. But after a relatively unsuccessful 6-7 year, Dantonio scrapped the design and converted Nichol to a full-time wide receiver role.

It was the right move, but nonetheless a tough one on all parties. To this day, Nichol admits he still hasn’t fully adapted to playing as a wideout. He had only 22 catches in 2010 and only 12 catches so far this year.

However, last Saturday, when Nichol hauled in a 44-yard miracle Hail Mary pass from Cousins to beat then-No. 4 Wisconsin with no time left on the clock, it all came full circle.

“It’s really just a tremendous blessing and a great experience, the entire ride.” said Nichol on Tuesday after practice, recalling not only the play, but his time as a Spartan.

Cousins also reflected on the play and spoke about how happy he was to share that moment with Nichol.

“He works so hard,” Cousins said. “His work ethic is second to none, and you can’t say enough about the guy. For him to have the game-winning touchdown on a play that really will forever be remembered in terms of Spartan history, I think is really neat.”

It was the former quarterback’s only catch of the game.

It’s likely Nichol won’t be remembered in the top class of Spartan receivers the way his teammate B.J. Cunningham might, but Dantonio said Tuesday there is an equally great impact Nichol has left on the Spartan football program.

“I think he’s the model for our football team in terms of sacrifice and commitment and trust for our program,” Dantonio said. “He’s done a tremendous job.”

Kirk on Crick
Earlier this season, Nebraska All-American defensive tackle Jared Crick, one of the top defensive players in the country, suffered a torn pectoral muscle, and the school announced he would miss the rest of the season.

Although unfortunate, the loss of a first-round NFL-caliber defender certainly comes as an advantage to the No. 9 Spartans. However, Cousins isn’t expecting any less of a challenge with Crick sidelined.

“He’s a big time player, and the fact he’s an interior (defensive) linemen ­— those guys can really control games,” Cousins said. “When you lose a guy like that it hurts, but they’re also a program that recruits well and has talent. It’s not like they completely drop off the table when he’s not in there.”