John L. Smith “Resigns” from Sparty Implosion Squad

Michigan State coach John L. Smith was forced to resign yesterday after three and a half seasons of random highs, countless lows, and a bevy of embarrassing, shameful moments, most of which occurred this season.

“The Notre Dame game broke everyone’s heart. The Illinois game broke everybody’s spirit.”

And the Indiana game? That broke John L. Smith.

Smith, 22-23 in East Lansing, will be allowed to finish the season with Michigan State and hopes to become bowl eligible, as it would be “a heck of a going-away party.” The Spartans are experts at pulling defeat out of the jaws of victory but finding two wins out of Purdue, Minnesota, and Penn State may not be difficult.

JoePa will roll over in his grave before he’s downed by a fired coach at Happy Valley, so we can leave Penn State out of it. But Minnesota is nothing short of awful and Purdue’s “basketball on grass” offense has gone from high-flying juggernaut to the YMCA hoops affair my dad signed me up for when I was 8 years old. I remember that league well… it featured 8-foot goals and final scores like 12-6 and 10-8. But every once in a while, the losing teams in those contests managed more points in one game than Purdue (13) in their last three Big10 contests.

If Sparty builds up enough steam, they may be able to down the Mighty Chippewas of Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl.

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At his “got resigned” press conference, Smith declined to speak about his performance as a coach, answered two random questions, and then ended the meeting by making a kissing noise to a female reporter who tried to ask a question. Now that’s class.

To honor his departure, I’d like to share my favorite two moments from the Johnelle Era — the halftime meltdown from 2005 OSU and, of course, the post game slap of 2006. It’s only a shame there isn’t more of this caught on tape.