WEBVTT 1 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:15.560 Well, a pleasant good eaton everyone. It is Thursday, February eight, 2 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:20.039 twenty and twenty four. Welcome to the only show about Spartan Dogs hosted by 3 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:24.920 Spartan Dogs. This is Sparta MSU. I'm your host, Jason Sprayhorn, 4 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:34.200 along with my co hosts Otis. The Boss Wiley ju Chew Culcrik is backstage. 5 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:37.079 He'll be here in a moment, don't worry. And he's wearing a 6 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:41.399 nice The nice digs for everyone too. But this is your first time, 7 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:44.439 we want to welcome you to the show. If this is not your first 8 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:49.560 time, we absolutely thank you for all of your loyalty and your longtime listening 9 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:52.799 of our show. We're around one hundred and forty almost one hundred and fifty 10 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:56.960 here episodes in county, but listen. Do not forget to hit the like 11 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.759 of subscribe buttons and join us in a chat with parties that everybody's there having 12 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:04.840 a good time already. It's primed and ready to roll. And don't forget 13 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:07.560 to follow us on all of our social media handles. At this is parta 14 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:15.000 MSU. Let us know where are you watching us from Otis Without further ado, 15 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.599 we need to bring on a man who's been working his butt off ever 16 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:25.040 since taking the job here at Michigan State for the last two plus months on 17 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:29.719 the recruiting trail, building a staff, doing all the necessary things, and 18 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:34.120 he's got a process behind that. JAYU and I ask him a lot of 19 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:38.840 these questions and more in this interview that we have right here with head coach 20 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:44.640 of Michigan State University Football Jonathan Smith, as he joins the show. Well 21 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:51.680 out further Ado, we welcome Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith joins. 22 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.200 This is part of MSU. Welcome to the show, Coach Smith. Been 23 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.719 a long time since you've been in east Lands, just a few, what 24 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.959 about sixty plus days. I'm just really excited to get you here to kind 25 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:07.680 of get to see and let the fans know who you are. And you 26 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:10.840 know, I'll just start right off and ask you know, so, how 27 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:14.680 did you you know, coming out of the pass at Deena, California, 28 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:16.680 and you're going down to Oregon State to play your ball, how'd you get 29 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:22.439 into coaching? Uh? You know, I played high school all the way 30 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:23.919 back to even lit Leau. When it start and drawing hand, it plays 31 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:28.439 on my hand with the with the guys in the neighborhood. And I always 32 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:32.319 just loved the schematics of football, and then I also love just that I 33 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.039 think it's still toiate team game, right. You got so many guys on 34 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.360 a team, and uh, you know, some play offense, some play 35 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:43.680 defense, the special teams, the contributions from so many always like that. 36 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:49.560 Had an experience playing college football Oregon State, which was phenomenal because when I 37 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:51.639 went to college, I thought I wanted to be a high school coach, 38 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:57.159 but after experiencing college football, I knew I wanted to stay at that level 39 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.599 and that age group, the schematics that comes with calle and then dove into 40 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:05.080 college coaching, made some different stops and all of that, and I've really 41 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:07.000 enjoyed every stop I've made. I learned a lot. It's a lot of 42 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:10.479 great people in this thing. And I like the idea too of working with 43 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:15.599 eighteen to twenty two year olds give or take, just in that stage of 44 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:21.680 their life, kind of helping them with all kinds of things beyond just football. 45 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.680 And I've really enjoyed that part and now excited about this opportunity here to 46 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.840 start anew with a new group of guys in the locker room and diving into 47 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:35.479 them and heavy recruiting first sixty days, but really looking forward to the day 48 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:38.360 to day now now that you know recruiting has kind of ended this period. 49 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.840 Day to day just being around these guys. We've had a team meeting this 50 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.960 morning. They've been lifting, working and getting to know those guys and moving 51 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:52.599 forward towards spring Wall. Yeah, that's awesome, and you know, coach 52 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:57.479 welcome to East Lanson. You know, we talked to coach Antonio and we 53 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.879 talked about, you know, what does it take to building a coaching staff. 54 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:01.319 One of his things was, I want a guy that I can sit 55 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:04.000 in the car with for three and a half hours while we go recruited. 56 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:09.039 For you, what does that take? Because you've put together a heck of 57 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:13.240 a coaching staff right now that seems like it's such a good fit and mesh 58 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:17.879 well with the mentality that is East Lamps And what does that take for you 59 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:23.279 to putting together coaching staff? Yeah, we put a lot of thought into 60 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:27.279 it. You know, started with some core guys that I've been with for 61 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:30.839 a while, knew that wanted them to come over here, and they did 62 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:34.079 a phenomenal job at previous places but speak the language, no kind of the 63 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:38.879 expectations, schematics, those kind of things. So there's a core group that 64 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.199 came over at the same time this opportunity. I felt like it was important 65 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:46.040 to fill the staff with some guys that have ties to the area, been 66 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.560 in the conference before, and we were able to land a few of those 67 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:53.079 guys. And you know, Joe Rossi and Chad Will, both of them 68 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:57.560 coordinated in this league, know the recruiting paths we want to get on in 69 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.319 those things. And then I think it's important have some guys that have been 70 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:02.720 at the place played at the place, and so we feel awesome that, 71 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:08.160 you know, coach Hawkins willing to be a part and stay on with that 72 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.720 piece. And then Dimitri Martin, who who have played here back in the 73 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:15.759 day. I've actually known him for a long time and competed against him and 74 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:18.480 he's done phenomenal work at a bunch of different spots. So kind of where 75 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.839 it landed. I think we've got some elite coaches, some background in the 76 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:25.839 area, but also some elite people. You talk about the guys that want 77 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.160 to be you know, the type of husband's fathers that I value. So 78 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:34.800 we're trying to create an environment where they could do both, and they were 79 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:41.000 excited about I think jumping on board on this thing and getting started. Coach, 80 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:45.199 you know, you have a diverse staff, absolutely, and it seems 81 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:47.000 like a lot of great men that you just described there, you know, 82 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:51.240 as you took on the job and you're looking at you know, you hear 83 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.720 presidential candidates talk about the first hundred days. You know, in football, 84 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:59.439 maybe it's a sixty ninety one hundred and twenty day playing that you may have. 85 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:04.680 Yeah, what's the process for you behind coming to the Midwest and developing 86 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:09.480 those relationships and what would be an unfamiliar territory so to speak. I know 87 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.800 you have a staff in place, but what is that process for you to 88 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.360 get to know all the local coaches in that three hour radius that you talk 89 00:06:15.399 --> 00:06:18.160 about. Yeah, there is a lot when we first got over here, 90 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.959 but the first day we could get out recruiting on the road was in Detroit, 91 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:27.800 starting right there with high school coaches and meeting a lot of players. 92 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.000 There's a lot of players around that area. I wasn't going to you know, 93 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.360 just because everything was moving fast in December, right you got the transfer 94 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:38.079 portal open, you got your current roster, introduced yourself to try to sign 95 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:42.199 a signing class in the middle of December. Was going to allow that timeline 96 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.560 to dictate on the hiring of the ten position coaches. And we were pretty 97 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.439 thorough on that. So early on, you're juggling, You're juggling learning the 98 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:53.000 current roster, getting on the road, want to recruit, need to interview 99 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:56.240 a few coaches to add, and we were able to do all of that. 100 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.680 The signing date. I felt really good about kind of the high school 101 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:02.480 talent. We would be able to add. Some of those guys we had 102 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:06.240 deep rooted relationships with already, some of those guys were committed to the place 103 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:10.319 already, and then yeah, we were find the nugget or too. There 104 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:15.240 was completely new Michigan state wise. A lot of work went into that, 105 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:16.480 and you know, I sit here, I talk about like kind of what 106 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.720 I have my approach. You got you got to surround yourself some really good 107 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:23.279 people, and there was a lot of work done on the recruiting side, 108 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:28.240 even the current roster helping us out on the recruiting and that. And then 109 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.519 you know, the transfer portal, it closes whatever it was the first week 110 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:34.399 of January, so we were able to add some guys there positions a need. 111 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:41.360 It felt really good kind of those first thirty days through December staff where 112 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:45.879 we got it at diving into the current roster. Guys were current roster exploring 113 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:49.600 their options in the portal, which understood, but we were getting a good 114 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:54.759 amount of those guys back added through high school. We got I think it's 115 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:58.120 nine high schoolers started school in January and there'll be a year for spring ball, 116 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:01.480 and so because there's a lot going on, but we targeted the current 117 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:07.360 roster and the recruiting and then the second piece was finalizing the staff. Yeah, 118 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.720 and uh, you know, definitely I thank you all of those things 119 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.839 that you talked about. That process, you know it was it takes time, 120 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.439 It takes patience going into that, but I think you know, absolutely 121 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.439 knocked it out the park. And especially you know, from being a former 122 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:26.680 player and being in a text group with former players and just seeing day in 123 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:30.600 and day out Michigan State. This person's coming and this person's come in. 124 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:33.159 You know, the text that's going around to in this former player's chat like, 125 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:37.600 hey, coach Smith's really getting it done. What do you attribute that 126 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.559 the success that you've had in that short time with recruiting too, you know, 127 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:43.559 and you always look for the right fit, and so trying to be 128 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:48.840 authentic to you know the vision of what we're trying to do here. I 129 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:52.480 think there's a lot at Michigan State that sells itself. This thing's a national 130 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:56.240 brand, the history of tradition of this place, the pride to the former 131 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:00.000 players. That was another thing that wanted to be intentional, trying to get 132 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:03.919 face to face with the former players. We had that zoom call just introducing 133 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:07.960 myself, that kind of thing. Former players help on the recruiting. Recruiting 134 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:11.720 cyber also your current roster, and so we did just kind of dove in 135 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:15.639 it that way, authentic, this is the vision, and we were able 136 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:20.759 to land the recruits. Awful lot of that coach. You know, we've 137 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:28.759 had Aiden Childs on the show and he and his family spoke very highly of 138 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.919 you. What is your relationship with Aiden going back to his high school days. 139 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.000 Yeah, it's just really proud of proud of him. Does go all 140 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:41.159 the way back to high school and recruiting them that takes. That's a process 141 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:46.080 of recruiting. Get to know Nikki, Aiden, Adrian Good people, I 142 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:50.039 mean just good people. And then Aiden, you know, arrived at Oregon 143 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:54.480 State, spent a year there coaching them. Talented football means a lot to 144 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.200 him, but he's really a good person. You know, school did well 145 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:00.879 in school, He's well liked on that team and and all of that. 146 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:05.399 And so feel fortunate that, you know, we've built a close relationship and 147 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.159 he felt like what was best for him is to come over here, and 148 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:13.919 we're excited to be working with him again. Yeah, so coach, I'm 149 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:18.559 for being a running back, a former running back, streaming alignment. I'm 150 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:24.840 excited that we have an offensive coach. You know, you know it's been 151 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:28.279 a while, you know, because we've had a lot of defensive line to 152 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.600 coaches before, but you know, so offensively, you know what can Spartan 153 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:35.679 fans expect to see, you know, in Spartan Stadium and you know this 154 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:41.399 season offensively. Yeah, obviously my background is on offense. We do got 155 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:45.279 offensive coaches that run that show. Brian Lingeran been with him a long time 156 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.639 on the offensive Society'll hit that up. We're looking for some balance offensively. 157 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:52.279 We want to make the thing physical, but it's ultimately about scoring points. 158 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.480 And so You've got to have multiple ways to be able to do that. 159 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.559 Running the ball, run, the set up pass and vice a versus pass 160 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.320 the set up to run. You know, a lot of it does boil 161 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:05.240 down to the quarterback. You want to put that guy in good situations, 162 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:07.639 what he's comfortable with and how you know, building this thing off of the 163 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:13.320 quarterbacks skill set is something we always try to do. I do recognize now 164 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:16.039 being this head coach for six years. You know, there's three facets of 165 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:18.960 this game, and so each year I feel like more and more be able 166 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.840 to take a greater picture of, you know, what's best for the team 167 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.799 to win. And sometimes that is playing an offense where you score a bunch 168 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.120 of points or an offense where you're you know, putting the defense in good 169 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:33.600 situations and learning you know, let's face it, November, weather games, 170 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:37.879 all of that. It's not about just scoring points. It's about it's about 171 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:43.200 winning games. So flexibility I like to hear that, which is great and 172 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:48.279 coach. I know today because this is recorded, this is going to come 173 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.519 on tomorrow night actually when people get a chance to see this interview. So 174 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:56.039 the signing day has happened. This is National Signing day as you sit and 175 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:01.480 you have I think twenty two players in this class, but you know not 176 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:05.799 to go over every player, and there's a lot of them that we're going 177 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.399 to cover in detail as we continue to go on, and I know you're 178 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.679 going to give a presentation on that. I'm sure, but there is a 179 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:16.240 big chunk of guys that are going to be preferred walk ons, and you 180 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.279 know, the word on the street is that these guys are not just your 181 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.000 everyday run of the bill walk ons, and their feedback with you has been 182 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.360 through the roof. Now does your playing days because you were they walk on 183 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:33.360 at Oregon State prior to being the starting quarterback for Power five University, does 184 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:37.720 that help resonate and be able to locate talent like this? I think the 185 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.559 story helps because I did live the experience and some of me I see some 186 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:48.720 real real value of that portion of adding to your overall roster. Right, 187 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:52.799 we're going to do it in all ways, but guys that choose to walk 188 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:56.000 on at our place, they're equal opportunity. They're going to be treated just 189 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:58.440 like everybody else. That's how I experienced it. I trying to tell the 190 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.879 story when I was studo recruited out of high school. The head coach at 191 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:05.759 the time, Mike Riley was his name, promised me. He's like, 192 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:07.639 hey, you've come up here and you can be treated just like everyone else. 193 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.320 The only difference is going to be that you'd be paying for it. 194 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:15.919 He lived up to that with opportunity and how I fit in and had an 195 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:18.320 experience as a player, and so now I'm just trying to recreate that exact 196 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:24.039 experience for every walk on, whether they're joining us this summer or they're on 197 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.840 the roster currently, you know, equal opportunity and it is. There's a 198 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.440 lot of good players in the state. We only got a certain amount of 199 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:37.919 scholarships to be able to give out, but I do feel serious value with 200 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:43.360 every guy that we were able to add to the roster. Yeah, absolutely, 201 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:46.919 coach. So coming to East Lanson, you know, obviously it's it's 202 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.200 different than the West Coast. They're definitely different than you know, Court Vallis. 203 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.440 But what are some of the things that you had to you know, 204 00:13:54.559 --> 00:14:00.399 adjust to and pick up with, like East Lanson logo lingos such as someone 205 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:05.840 says go green and I definitely, you know, you just learned all the 206 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:09.279 time. I will say, it's been great in regards to the reception, 207 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.879 how welcoming people are. I want to learn a lot of the traditions. 208 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:15.799 Had a four player in here yesterday talking about old school handshake that I have 209 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:20.799 to learn. And oh really you got you on the sparting dog head sake, 210 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:26.440 which is awesome, Which is Uh, it's been fun. I'm in 211 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:31.360 embracing that and I get being here two months, couldn't be more excited to 212 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:35.360 kind of about the environment and the culture around this place, this state and 213 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:39.559 diving into it all right, And uh, you know east Lands and fun 214 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.039 place. You've only been there a couple and you in that process, you 215 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:46.159 had to recruit, you had to bring us staff, So I don't know 216 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.200 how much you got to enjoy the outside of east Lands in there. So 217 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.399 is there a favorite spot for food right now that you that you find in 218 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:56.440 East Lansing. We've gotten around some of us. We take these guys to, 219 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:00.519 you know, recruiting visits and bodies and Capital Prime and it's a really 220 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:03.519 nice face dag Woods. I've been to a couple of times. Yeah, 221 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.360 and that there's there's a lot of options around here. And again, give 222 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:11.960 me a little bit more time to explore. But those those few places I've 223 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:15.159 been to a couple of times. I gotta say, you want a lot 224 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:18.879 of people over when you were at Dagwoods, because a lot there were people 225 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:24.600 send him as coach Smiths and Dagwood he's one of us. Yeah, it's 226 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.759 a good spot, man. It's like it's crowded down. You get around 227 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:31.120 and I learned that you go on a game night, Yeah, yeah, 228 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:35.840 does you know? And that that's awesome because you know when you're thinking about 229 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.840 the different places to go eat, that's that's George Blaha, you know, 230 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:43.240 our long time played by play announcer for football. That's his favorite spot after 231 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:48.279 a game, post game stuff. But coach, when you look at there's 232 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:52.399 coaches like coach D'Antonio. When he had downtime, he liked to do yard 233 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:56.440 work. I know, there's guys like Nick Saban. I don't think whoever 234 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.080 was downtown until just now right, And then there's guys to say, you 235 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:03.159 know, I want to go to the western side of Florida and look at 236 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:07.879 that sun set over the back. What does Jonathan Smith like to do outside 237 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:11.480 of coaching. Yeah, well, it definitely starts with my family. I 238 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.679 got three kids, you know, high school or eighth grade or fourth grader, 239 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:18.080 and so spending as much time with them, their events, those type 240 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.879 of things. I enjoyed reading. When I do get some downtime with this 241 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.240 travel, that's allowed for to do some of that. Pretty simple, man. 242 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:29.799 We also love the part of ball and working and when it's downtime it's 243 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:34.639 kind of with the family. Yeah, real quick, I think I say 244 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:41.600 it right. What is it Oregon or Oregon? Oregon? Yeah? And 245 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.240 a what type of music does come smith? Listen to you? That's interesting, 246 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:48.519 we're just talking. I'm kind of across the board. I mean, 247 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:51.840 I just had some Tracy Chapman playing and then it turned into George Straight, 248 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:56.279 Chris Stapleton, and I have BB King on last you know, yesterday. 249 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:00.879 I'm baby, I'm gonna mixed bag on that stuff. Okay, lose seal, 250 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:08.319 we'll tell you know. So, I mean, I think I know 251 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.720 the answer to this, But in your mind, what sets you apart from 252 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:15.839 a lot of other coaches. If I'm a recruit just wanting to look at 253 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.759 Michigan State really hard, what sets you and your staff apartment? You know, 254 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.559 we definitely try to be authentic in regards to just being open honest. 255 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:26.279 This is the vision on how we want to do it, being abill thoroughly 256 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:32.119 explain why we think the recruit fits, whether position, schematics, location, 257 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:36.400 what they want to chase On the school education side, which I've been impressed 258 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:41.519 with that walking in here our current locker room, there's over thirty majors represented. 259 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.240 Guys are chasing different majors, which I think is important because you can 260 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.960 accomplish both being a big time player and chasing dreams of championships but also the 261 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.920 National Football League. At the same time, you can chase being top notch 262 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:57.119 in the classroom making sure these guys are leaving with a degree, and so 263 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:03.119 we emphasize those things. Uh. In the recruiting process, it's big on 264 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.200 the relationship and the people. You can spend so much time playing this game, 265 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.680 right, there's high demands of time, and then school you can be 266 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:14.519 around people NonStop, and so the people we got into building I think sells 267 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:18.960 itself. M hmm. That's awesome man. Yeah, absolutely, Coach. 268 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:26.720 You know, just a little tidbit. If this ain't go green, go 269 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:33.240 white. Yeah you've got that bound yeah, uh yeah, one last thing 270 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:37.480 before to let you go you've been to a couple of basketball games. Yeah, 271 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.400 you know what, how what have you taken with the resident center experience 272 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.599 that is own and all that awesome atmosphere. Awesome atmosphere. I've been to 273 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.279 like four of them. Now. I enjoy watching this team compete. I 274 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.759 think this team competes and goes. Coach Izzo has been so welcoming as well, 275 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.599 just trying to pick his brain on this place. Coach D'Antonio the same 276 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:59.839 way. I've been with him a couple of times. That's what I'm back 277 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:03.720 to. These people around here, just welcoming and willing to help. But 278 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.480 you take myself, families been too the basketball games. Recruits going to the 279 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.559 basketball games, that atmosphere, and it's not just that one. I went 280 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.960 over to hockey as well at things big time. Oh yeah, seeing that 281 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:18.359 take off. So I'm excited to continue to get around other sports. And 282 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.960 what are you looking forward to for one time for football season in Spartan Stadium? 283 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:25.400 Well, yeah that I'm glad we got a little time till we get 284 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:32.640 there, but definitely looking for that the home field advantage, this passionate fan 285 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:36.359 base to be able to experience that kind of on the correct sideline because the 286 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.960 first time I experienced it, I was at Bois State like twelve years ago. 287 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:42.039 Yeah, oh yeah, and we got beat pretty good. So imans 288 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:47.039 just get on the other sideline and have this fan base and that that stadium, 289 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:49.559 the atmosphere help us, help us win a bunch of games. Oh 290 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:56.200 I remember that game, that's the Le'Veon Bell Leap game right right? Yeah, 291 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.160 Well, coach Man, we're really excited to have you here in east 292 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:03.119 Lands and and we'd love to have you back on the show before the season 293 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:06.960 starts. I mean, don't be a stranger here at all. We'd love 294 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.920 to have you back. I know you have a huge schedule, busy schedule 295 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:14.200 going on right now with signing day happening and a lot of other obligations, 296 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:18.480 but we so appreciate your time, coach, and for real, have a 297 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:22.119 great rest of this spring going into the spring season. And good luck to 298 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:26.200 you and go Green Yeah, go White Man. I appreciate you having me 299 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.920 having me on and I look forward to doing this again. Yeah. And 300 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.599 if you ever need an in that ricks, I got you, coach Land 301 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:42.720 Shark Rigs everything. Choose your guy, Choose the guy. Really good conversation 302 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:48.559 there with coach Smith, Jay you always bringing the energy. It was great 303 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:52.880 to hear him in his vision, you know, hearing how as a walk 304 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:57.759 on, how he looks at other walk ons, Andre, not just guys 305 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:03.079 that are there for fodder necessarily, these the guys that he's looking to develop. 306 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:08.000 This is very similar to what we saw coach D'Antonio finding talent, finding 307 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:11.160 diamonds in the rough. And I can see. I mean, this guy 308 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:15.799 has a vision for the future. Talking about writing plays in his hands in 309 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:18.200 the Little League, I mean schematics. This is what's on his mind. 310 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:22.400 He's a reader, a family man, and exactly what Michigan State needs for 311 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:27.240 its head football coach. And I'm happy for one to have him as the 312 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:30.799 head football coach at Michigan State University. And I know what you guys do 313 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:37.000 too. Special programming note, there will be no show next Tuesday, and 314 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:44.000 out of respect and memorial for those involved in a horrific tragedy that happened on 315 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:47.240 campus one year ago. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by, 316 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:51.079 but out of respect for those families and those lives lost, we will 317 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:55.960 not have a show next Tuesday. Otis and Ju had to run over to 318 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:00.759 the thirty sixth inning. What's that? That's the Father Welch Memorial Dinner. 319 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:07.359 It's being held at the American Polish Center Cultural Center over in Troy, Michigan. 320 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:12.880 This is where one of our own, Mike McNamara, runs this special 321 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:17.920 event. It's benefiting students at the University of Detroit, Mercy and Loyola High 322 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:23.039 Schools in Michigan State University head football coach Jonathan Smith is going to be honored 323 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:30.359 with the Hank at Guire Memorial Award. How about that? So we get 324 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:32.279 a lot of Coach Smith. You know, it's getting his feet on the 325 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.920 ground, He's getting his feet up under and as soon as he takes a 326 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:38.799 breath, we want to honor him because we are excited about the upcoming season. 327 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:41.960 Twenty twenty four is going to be fantastic and talkt to a great start 328 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:47.440 so far. So for otis Wiley, jay U Culchrick, I'm Jason Strayhorn. 329 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:51.079 This is Sparta MSU. Have a good night, God bless you, 330 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:56.680 and go green. This is PARTA. MSU is a combined presentation of playflas 331 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:02.319 Sports Properties in Michigan State Sports Properties. The show is produced by Tony Le 332 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:08.759 Barbara Tony Gstella and Processed driven Consulting. Additional supports provided by Brendan Duravage on 333 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:14.920 location Technical support provided by Good Fruit Video. Be sure to follow our host 334 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.880 Jason Strayhorn, ju Culprit and Otis Wiley on social media to stay up to 335 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:22.200 date with all the latest. This is part of news. Please like and 336 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:26.119 subscribe by visiting our link tree and tell a friend to do the same. 337 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:30.759 Thank you for your support and as always, go green.