EAST LANSING — Jonathan Smith promised real football to fans coming to Michigan State's spring showcase.
But it's not a proper football game, and it's not a full two-hour slot. But they'll keep score.
Spartan Stadium will open for the final spring football practice on Saturday at 12:15 p.m., and MSU's open day to the public under new head coach Smith will begin at 2 p.m. And while the Spartans haven't held a traditional squad scrimmage since last spring in 2019 under coach Mark Dantonio, Smith said his predecessor Mel Tucker held three open practices at the stadium. (Spring football was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic).
“It's going to be a little bit of a back-and-forth,” Smith said Tuesday after MSU's 13th practice. “But the clock is ticking and we're trying to create a game-like atmosphere for the most part. … We're going to get about four-quarters of a 10-minute running clock and play offense versus defense. I'm going to let the defense lead me in points and then play.”
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The event will be broadcast on tape delay on the Big Ten Network at 4 p.m., and BTN-Plus will live stream it starting at 2 p.m.
Smith said it has not been determined whether assistant coaches and coordinators will work from home in the press box where games will soon be played, but headsets will be used to get new staff jobs over the communications system. He said it would be. It's also a chance for MSU players to get back in front of fans on their home field for the first time since losing to Ohio State on Nov. 11 — the Spartans' last two games of the 4-8 season were road wins. Indiana lost to Penn State in Detroit.
“I'm really, really excited. I can't wait,” sophomore offensive tackle Ashton Repo said. “Long time, no see.”
Once the gates open, Smith and MSU players will be on the concourse taking pictures and signing posters for fans. Posters will be distributed free of charge to attendees (no other items may be brought in). Free parking areas are designated along Ramp 7 in Lots 79, 63, and 126. Lot 62 is reserved for disabled parking.
However, it's not an entirely new environment for Smith and his staff. MSU held its second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, traveling across the street to Spartan Stadium for a game-like effort.
“Sounds good, dude. I can't wait for it to be full,” said Smith, who coached there as a visiting assistant at Boise State in 2012. “But you can have the grass and feel the atmosphere of a place like that. It's going to be a great time.”
Portal opens
MSU lost a player on the first day of the spring transfer portal on Tuesday. Braden Miller, a backup offensive tackle from Aurora, Colo., is 6-foot-7 and weighs 314 pounds and played 11 snaps in three games as a redshirt freshman last season.
Smith did not say whether he expects more players to make spring rosters (the portal window is open until April 30), but he said new norms across the country I understand that it means it is inevitable.
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“It's going to be an individual choice, but we're kind of locked in on finishing spring ball,” he said. “We don't realize the portal is open. But I think we've done some good things that people want to be a part of. …It's a lot different than it was five years ago. Just navigate. You have to learn to do it, but it's different.
“Again, for these players, opportunities arise depending on the situation. I'm not completely down in the portal. I think the origin was good. Finding a new environment, the environment I think a lot of that is still a good thing, the change, the opportunity for the players to get a better start, a fresh start somewhere else.”
After Saturday's open practice, which was MSU's 15th and last practice allowed under NCAA spring football rules, the players' final games begin on Monday. Smith said he and his position assistants plan to meet with players individually in the coming weeks to gauge their feelings heading into the summer.
“The priority will be to get some clarity on the roster over the next few weeks and move forward,” Smith said.
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com.follow him @chrysolari.
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