EAST LANSING – Jonathan Smith promised fans to come State of Michigan spring shows real football.
Although it’s not a football game in its truest form, and not for the entire two-hour window. But they will be scoring points.
Spartan Stadium opens for the final spring football practice at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, with MSU’s public unveiling under new coach Smith beginning at 2 p.m. And although the Spartans haven’t held a traditional split-squad game since Mark Dantonio’s last spring in 2019, Smith is planning to throw more than his predecessor Mel Tucker did in his three open practices at the stadium (there was no spring football in 2020 due to the pandemic).
“It’s going to be a little bit of offense and defense,” Smith said Tuesday after MSU’s 13th practice. “But the clocks will be ticking, trying to create a game atmosphere for the most part. … We’re going to try to get about four quarters in 10 running minutes and go on offense against defense. Let’s let the defense start with an advantage, in terms of points, and then play.”
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The event will air on tape delay at 4pm on the Big Ten Network, with BTN-Plus broadcasting live from 2pm.
Smith said he is undecided whether his assistant coaches and coordinators will operate in the press box on his next game day, but he said headsets will be used to get his new team some work on the communications system. It will also be a chance for MSU players to get back in front of fans for the first time at home since a Nov. 11 loss to Ohio State — the Spartans’ last two games of the 4-8 season were road wins. in Indiana and a loss to Penn State in Detroit.
“I’m anticipating a lot. I can’t wait for it,” sophomore forward Ashton Lepo said. “Has been some time.”
When the gates open, Smith and MSU players will be in the lobby taking photos and signing autographs for fans on signs that will also be distributed free of charge to those in attendance (no other items will be permitted). Free parking areas are designated in lots 79, 63 and 126, along with Ramp 7. Lot 62 is reserved for accessible parking.
However, it won’t be an entirely new environment for Smith and his team. MSU held its second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, heading across the street to Spartan Stadium to work as if it were a game.
“It’s cool, man. I can’t wait for it to be full,” said Smith, who coached there as a visiting assistant for Boise State in 2012. “But the grass and you can feel the atmosphere of a place like that, it’s going to be a great time.”
Portal opens
MSU lost a player on Tuesday, the opening day of the transfer portal for the spring window. Backup offensive tackle Braden Miller, a 6-foot-3, 314-pound native of Aurora, Colo., played 11 snaps in three games last season as a redshirt freshman.
Smith has not revealed whether he expects more players to join the spring roster – the portal window is open until April 30 – but he understands the new norm across the country means it is inevitable.
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“Those will be individual choices, but we’re kind of focused on finishing spring ball,” he said. “We are not unaware that the portal is open. But I think we have a good thing that guys want to be a part of. …It’s a little different than five years ago. You just need to learn how to navigate, and it’s different like that.
“Again, these are opportunities for these players in situations. I’m not completely in the portal. I think the origin of this was good. Finding new environments, changing environments, opportunities for guys to get a better start, a fresh start somewhere else, I think a lot of that is still good.”
After Saturday’s public practice, which is MSU’s 15th and last allowed under NCAA spring football rules, finals begin Monday for athletes. Smith said he and his assistants plan to meet individually with players in the coming weeks to gauge their feelings at the start of the summer.
“The priorities,” Smith said, “would be to find some clarity in the lineup over the next few weeks and move forward.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @crissolari.
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This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Michigan State’s spring showcase will feature real football
