John L Smith/MSU Job

[cincibuck]

Originally Posted by TheMile

I'll be surprised if it's not Mariucci.

1. But Mariucci left his heart in San Francisco, High on a hill it calls to him...

2. On the bright side, Michigan State goes off our schedule for two years every so often, but Michigan has to play them every year.

3. And of course, we know that's the REAL Rivalry Game.

[osugrad21]

Sporting News

Michigan State still sorting out coach search

Posted: November 8, 2006

Associated Press

While some schools are gearing up for a bowl run or to play their chief rival, Michigan State is trying to figure out who will coach next season.
The university has not conducted formal interviews since firing coach John L. Smith last Wednesday. The Spartans are looking for their ninth coach since 1973 -- the most by any Big Ten school.

Some on campus want a coach with ties to the school, and the candidate who seems to have the greenest roots is Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur.
He played at Michigan State from 1983 to 1987, finishing his career as a captain the last time the Spartans played in the Rose Bowl.
George Perles hired Shurmur in 1988 as a graduate assistant and he stayed on the staff until 1997, also working for Nick Saban. Shurmur's stock might have improved on Tuesday when Perles was elected to Michigan State's Board of Trustees.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, a former Saban assistant, is another possible candidate with ties to the school.
Two early campaigns appear to be running out of steam. Perhaps too much has been made of Steve Mariucci's interest in coaching at Michigan State, where his best friend, Tom Izzo, is the basketball coach. And, it seems that Butch Davis is more interested in the opening at North Carolina.
Some at Michigan State hope the school looks closely at coordinators from major programs, perhaps such as Bo Pelini or Gene Chizik, defensive coordinators at LSU and Texas, respectively.
After passing up an opportunity to hire Urban Meyer four years ago, when he was at Bowling Green before going on to Utah and Florida, the Spartans may be receptive to another young coach who is nearby. Brian Kelly has turned around Central Michigan's program quickly after winning two straight Division II national titles at Grand Valley (Mich.) State.
One outside-the-box possibility is Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, whose profile and reputation has risen by helping the second-ranked Wolverines stay undefeated.
"That would be fun, wouldn't it?" Michigan coach Lloyd Carr responded this week. "Well, Biggie Munn, I think he's the winningest coach in the history of Michigan State. He coached here for Fritz Crisler. I can remember Bill McCartney when he was an assistant here expressed an interest in that job, and it just made a lot of people very angry. But the truth is it's a great job. There are a lot of people that would love to be the head coach there."

[buckeyebri]

The Sparty fans have been wondering when Basketball season starts since early October.

I just can't see Saban coming back after the way he left. He really [censored]ed off the Spartan faithful with his late night flights to LSU on the University plane. Stranger things have happened though, maybe he didn't burn that last rope on the bridge.

No shot at Davis now with the contract in place at NC. Pelini is an interesting choice and is certainly due for a shot at a head coaching position.

I still think Mariucci is the man. Rumor has it he was in Grand Rapids at the Lowell vs. Muskegon playoff gaming talking to players.

I agree with Mili that there MSU can get the talent. They always seem to pluck some good talent out of OSU.

[pianobuck46]

Chizik's due--I'm going with him.

[BB73]

si.com
Izzo: Mariucci won't consider MSU

Spartans hoops coach says best friend won't take job


EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Don't expect to see former Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci standing along the sidelines at Spartan Stadium, according to his lifelong friend, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo.

The Spartans are interviewing candidates to replace football coach John L. Smith, who is being forced out at season's end. Smith has a 22-24 record in his three-plus years with Michigan State and is 4-6 this season.

Mariucci, fired by the Lions 11 games into last season, had been mentioned as a possible successor. Izzo said that won't happen.

"He just felt the timing was not right for him between family and the NFL," Izzo told The Detroit News on Thursday. "I think he still has a point to prove there."

Izzo and Mariucci became close friends growing up in Iron Mountain, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They attended Northern Michigan together in the mid-1970s. Izzo said he and Mariucci often talked about finding a way to work together.

"It's like this was our chance," Izzo said. "It's a little sad for me."
Izzo added: "Michigan State never offered him anything in any way, shape or form."

The Spartans have interviewed Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly, Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and Louisiana State defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, the newspaper said.

[ScriptOhio]

John L. Smith a candidate for Iowa State?

Who's Iowa State's next coach going to be? Candidates include Michigan State's John L. Smith, Texas defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, Texas-El Paso coach Mike Price or LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.
-- Iowa City Press Citizen

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ege/index.html