2001: 7-5, 3-5 in the Big Ten (tie for 8th)
Coach: Bobby Williams, 13-11 in two years at the school
Returning starters: 16 (8 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Top returnees: QB Jeff Smoker (166 com., 262 att., 63.4
pct., 2,579 yd., 21 TD, 8 int.); WR Charles Rogers (67 rec., 1,470
yd., 21.9 avg., 14 TD); S Thomas Wright (91 tackles), LB Mike Labinjo
(59 tackles, 5 sacks)
Outlook: Smoker and Rogers should form one of the best pass-catch
combos in the country, but the Spartans are looking for a successor
to tailback T.J. Duckett and they may be looking for a new coach
if Williams doesn’t deliver the goods this season. He is 5-11
in the Big Ten and four of MSU’s five losses last year were
to non-bowl teams.
Soundbite: “It is important to have a good running
game at times, but a team’s running game doesn’t have
to be dominant to win a title. A team needs to have a significant
offensive strength to win games, and that will be our passing game.”
— Bobby Williams
