Team preview: Michigan State

Originally Published: July 28, 2004

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2004-05 college football season, exclusively on Insider.

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COACH AND PROGRAM

On the heels of head coach Bobby Williams' failed three-year tenure, Michigan State turned to John L. Smith, whose five straight bowl appearances at Louisville had transformed the Cardinals into the class of Conference USA.

Smith promptly orchestrated an 8-5 turnaround season at MSU, returning the Spartans to a bowl and doing so with his usual football-flinging flair.

Of course, Smith's only mistake may have been making the Spartans too good too fast. After Michigan State zoomed to a 7-1 start and a No. 9 ranking in the Associated Press poll, fans were entertaining even rosier visions. Then came November's back-to-reality three-punch: A 27-20 loss to No. 11 Michigan, followed by a 33-23 defeat at No. 7 Ohio State, capped off by a 56-21 drubbing at Wisconsin.

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