Congratulations to the Spartans and Coach Dantanio. I kinda wish Tre hadn't freaked out about this the other day so he could actually enjoy it, but I guess he could always do a flip-flop and start praising coach Dantanio and jump back on the recruting bandwagon.

Gray to Nebraska.
Demens to Nebraska.
Smith to UM.

Put all your money on it. Every last RED cent. Done deal. "Bank on it bitches."





p.s.-Dantonio is doing a great job recruiting! The whole lets bring in nobody plan seems to be working out beautifully. I've got this tune in my head sung by an old honky tonk with a harmonica. It goes a little something like this...I hope you can hear it too. "I've been stuck in the fucking ceeeeeeeeeelar all of my damn life. I've been stuck in the fuuuuuuuuuuucking ceeeeeeeeeeelar I just wish this program would die.".

Big Shocker. Dantonio sucks at recruiting so far though.

Smith has cancelled his announcement and moved it to the end of September. MSU has put out the full court press. Kalin Lucas called him and said "get your ass over here and let's win some "Champeenships." He is now going to attend a Gameday on both campuses to get a feel. Maybe he stays awake should he attend "Appleeatin' State" and Big Blue breaks out the brie & Pino Grigio. Kid is smarter than I thought.

Can you post a link to this? I havent seen anything that he had commited yet.

From what I've heard he visited MSU this weekend and pulled a 180. First, he was announcing soon, then postponed his announcement and was favoring Michigan. Now he's announcing tonight after a "dreamy" MSU visit and will announce for the Spartans.

From TheWolverine-

Earlier today-Josh spoke to sources this morning that have informed TheWolverine.com that Fred Smith will NOT be announcing this evening at 6:00 p.m. as planned. According to Smith's source, the four-star wide receiver out of Detroit would like to take a bit more time -- actually quite a bit more time. He would like to take visits to both schools during game weeks to experience the feel of a Michigan and a Michigan State football Saturday. Smith has not declared when he will now announce, but it is unlikely to occur until at least late September.

Michigan was thought to be the clear-cut leader for Smith's commitment tonight, but it now appears -- at least temporarily -- that the two schools may be drawing even with each other again. TheWolverine.com will have more on this breaking news throughout the day.

UPDATE-Well, seems like Smith IS ready to announce afterall. His coach, after calling Josh about an hour ago with the news he would take his time, just called Josh back up and say it's a go for tonight. Josh's opinion (BTW, he's on vacation which is why he's not posting himself) is that this one is starting to lean towards the Spartans. Smith visited MSU this weekend and when he came home had pulled a 180. Unless he puts a call in to Michigan's coaches this afternoon, it seems likely he chooses Michigan State this evening.

Crazy.

BTW no matter how this falls. This one is not over.

At the family dinner on Saturday they have a vote of where he should go and it was 15-2 in favor or UM.

His HS O-coordinator, who played under Coach D back when he was at MSU, drove Smith up to see MSU coaches.

Well this should cause Tre to get a boner and cum all over the place, it seems Izzo got on him and told him he could come play basketball.

So to me it boils down to this. He can play on a NC caliber FBall team and get a lot of playing time and a middle of the road BBall program at this point and get some minutes or he can play on a medicore football team and get a lot of playing time and a NC caliber BBall team and mop up minutes.

So even if this goes against MSU or UM, it might not be over until my signature.

"He can play on a NC caliber FBall team"


Nobody said anything about Florida, USC or Ohio State....I don't get it?

The presser is back on. Now WOTS is that U-M is putting on the squeeze. The old "Look we've got 2 other guys we're looking at for WR and if you wait until September the offer may not be there .." dealio. Yikes! Whatever. Good luck to him either way. Nice to be wanted, no?

20 minutes away and it is looking MSU.

Also hearing it is PT and not the hoop angle that would bring Smith to E. Lansing.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeah Boy! Boy did I need something like this to raise my Spartan recruiting spirits! Still a little uneasy about the slow start, but this helps big time. Dantonio needed a big name guy to commit and help out the process. This should prove to some other in-state guys that the big names out there are also believing in a rebuilding process. I thought there was no chance hence my Filly quotes above and looks like those were warranted with the stories that came out about him thinking all UM until his visit this weekend. Glad I was way wrong and I'll gladly eat my words!

Go State!


p.s.- I love how a UM fan starts the thread with Doc Tre quotes. Classic shit. The Spartan fan they love to hate I guess.

BTW Filly, I stand by my feelings that I had on recruiting. Prior to today, we had 3 commitments. That is unacceptable. And prior to this weekend, Gray/Demens/Smith our top offensive priorities were going elsewhere after having MSU #1 on this lists. Therefore, I think criticism was totally warranted. I did stand by Dantonio as a coach after Wil Ledzema ripped him and I did say that a commitment from Gray or Smith might change my mind. BUT, I stand by what I said. I think criticism was overdue with the way things were going.

Glad the Spartan staff started to get things going in the other direction.

Now we need Marquise Gray to commit to State over other finalists of Oregon and Minnesota. He is definitely underrated.

Now we need Marquise Gray to commit to State over other finalists of Oregon and Minnesota. He is definitely underrated.

Offered a spot at the Elite 11. Turned it down(couldn't due to some Indiana rule).

LMAO at Tre and his flip flop. Nice to have you back Tre.

Nice way to turn it around on others for posting your quotes. As if you would not have been one of the first to do likewise.

LMAO at Tre and his flip flop. Nice to have you back Tre.

Nice way to turn it around on others for posting your quotes. As if you would not have been one of the first to do likewise.

A flip flop is when you take a stance on something and then completely change your stance later.Like this:
Artermis wrote: Smith is coming to UM.
Follow it with:

Artermis wrote: 20 minutes away and it is looking MSU.

I specifically said above that I stand by my previous criticism. NOT A FLIP FLOP IF YOU STAND BY WHAT YOU SAID.

It is this type of non-stop derailing personal posts that are ruining our board and Glenn, Jethro, and I along with those that run the site are currently addressing it in the board room. Absolutely REACHING in attempt to start terrordome shit with an individual is out of hand. Want a battle? Take it to the terrordome. The entire purpose of your post Art was to start shit and you didn't even have a basis for it this time.

Now we need Marquise Gray to commit to State over other finalists of Oregon and Minnesota. He is definitely underrated.

I want Gray bad, I love him on film. Looks like a future star QB to me. I have no idea why he isn't a four star. Whatever.

State's biggest mountain to climb in his recruitment is State's system. Dantonio will run more of a pro style offense. He needs to convince Gray that he can better prepare him for the next level with this offense and he needs to let him know that he'll tweak the offense to allow Gray to run at times.

Gray has said that he would like to play in a spread offense. He loves MSU and their coaches, but wants to be in a spread. I think our biggest competition here is Oregon. Lots of appeal there. Gray could come in with some big time WRs available to him and be fantastic as a freshman or sophmore. Dell and Smith along with possibly Sanni? Damn. He'd be a monster commitment.

Congrats to you MSU fans..Smith is a nice pick up...I honestly believe he chose MSU because he could play basketball as well...Which is fine..I just wish he would have chose MSU to concentrate on football...In my opinion only, I believe it will take away from his football commitment. It is just something I believe no matter what school.. He will be a good compliment to Mark Dell..

By the way, if someone wants to meet up Sept. 28th... Detroit Cass Tech with Michgan Commit Cissoko will be playing Detroit Southeastern with both MSU commits Fred Smith and Charles Burrell.. Should be a good one..I know I'll be there

Congrats to you MSU fans..Smith is a nice pick up...I honestly believe he chose MSU because he could play basketball as well...Which is fine..I just wish he would have chose MSU to concentrate on football...In my opinion only, I believe it will take away from his football commitment. It is just something I believe no matter what school.. He will be a good compliment to Mark Dell..

By the way, if someone wants to meet up Sept. 28th... Detroit Cass Tech with Michgan Commit Cissoko will be playing Detroit Southeastern with both MSU commits Fred Smith and Charles Burrell.. Should be a good one..I know I'll be there

I think once he gets to MSU, the basketball thing will become less of an interest to him. I think he'll join the team and have fun with the boys winning a lot of games, but he'll have football #1. I think it is just a nice incentive to maybe be part of a national championship bball team or at least a BT, FF team. Who wouldn't want that on their resume? You look at his physique and there is no doubt this kid is all football. I just can't shake the David Boston comparison in terms of his body with the one rivals pic. http://a412.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_e588888195a08f1b098396cf5a55e15b.jpg

"I had a lot of people in my ear telling me what I should do," Smith said. "I just had to go with my heart and where my heart was, was Michigan State.

"It feels real good to get the decision over with. It took a lot of thinking. I was confused a lot and then I just went with me heart. I went to church today and thought about it and I am comfortable with my decision."

Smith had 37 catches for 10 touchdowns and more than 600 yards last year for Detroit Southeastern. He also had eight interceptions.

Smith acknowledged that there were times when the University of Michigan was his leader.

"My family was strong about Michigan," Smith said. "They talked Michigan, Michigan, but I had to make the decision that was best for me because I have to be there for four years.

"It was a real hard decision. They (Michigan) have a real nice program. I respect their program. I just felt that my heart wasn't there and I'm comfortable with the decision I made.

"College is about my education, and socially you have to be at a place that you like for four years.

"It seemed as though Michigan State recruited me harder. They just made me feel comfortable, gave me some situations to where I feel like I can be a player that can really turn the program around and get the program going."

So what was one of the things that stood out to the 6-foot-2, 207-pound athlete about Michigan State University?

"The environment," Smith said. "It seemed like everyone was a family and I also want to play basketball at Michigan State."

Smith is considered on of the top basketball players in Michigan for the class of 2008. He will be able to join the Spartan squad once he finishes up football and play for Tom Izzo with fellow Michigan standouts like Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas. Smith could be playing in front of his hometown fans and friends when the Final Four hits Detroit in 2009.

Lucas and Smith were AAU basketball teammates for The Family.

"Kalin was calling me," Smith said. "He was saying he wanted me to be a Spartan Dawg."

What did the MSU coaches tell Smith that they liked about him?

"My character, they said I am a nice kid," he said. "They also said that I was athletic and could stretch the field and a big play wide receiver."

The Spartans made Smith a top priority early on in the recruiting process. According to Smith, that high level of interest by Michigan State made an impact on him.

"When I saw the head coach (Mark Dantonio) at my high school I knew they were serious about me," Smith said. "I have seen numerous coaches on their staff at my school. They (MSU) came hard."

Smith took a liking to Dantonio.

"He was real positive when I talked to him," Smith said. "He was real upbeat and stayed positive and I felt like the things that he told me were real.

"They felt like I could be an impact player early, as a true freshman they could utilize me."



Look for Smith to make an early impact at Michigan State
Smith gives the Spartans two prospects ranked among the top five players in Michigan by SpartanMag.com for the class of 2008.

Smith's primary recruiter for Michigan State was running backs coach Dan Enos, a holdover from the previous staff who had recruited Detroit for Dantonio when both were at Cincinnati. Enos has been handling much of the Detroit area as well as Oakland County for the Spartans. His roots and familiarity with the area have already paid off.

Dantonio indicated when he was hired at Michigan State last December that recruiting Detroit would be a top priroty for him and his staff. That foundation is starting to pay dividends.

"I've known Dan Enos for quite some time but the fact that Coach Dantonio came and basically went to every school in the city to lay down the foundation of his new program, that's unheard of," said Detroit Southeastern head coach Donshell English. "I've never seen a head coach come out and do some of the things that he has done. I think that set a lasting impression on Fred and his family because those guys seem so sincere and they are trying to do what it is to get Michigan State back into the upper echelon of the Big Ten. So they are doing a fantastic job up there.

"The city has a lot more to offer than some people realize and that's what he is trying to do."

Dantonio and his staff made an early, positive evaluation of Smith and wasted no time getting in on him.

"They (MSU) love everything about him (Smith)," English said. "They love his athleticism. His physique is ready-made for college football right now. He should be ready to play next year. They like that he is a humble kid. He is just basically an all-around great kid."

I think once he gets to MSU, the basketball thing will become less of an interest to him. I think he'll join the team and have fun with the boys winning a lot of games, but he'll have football #1. I think it is just a nice incentive to maybe be part of a national championship bball team or at least a BT, FF team. Who wouldn't want that on their resume? You look at his physique and there is no doubt this kid is all football. I just can't shake the David Boston comparison in terms of his body with the one rivals pic. http://a412.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_e588888195a08f1b098396cf5a55e15b.jpg

I hope so...I honestly believe playing both sports hurt Trannon who could have been a beast on the football field had he concentrated only on football..Yes he was talented enough to do both but he could have led the spartans to bigger things on the football field...jmo..

Great move for him. Michigan is pretty loaded at WR so he'll get a chance to be a star at MSU. Plus he clearly has a better bball program to join, even it's temporary.

I don't think basketball kept Trannon from becoming a star at State. Sometimes it is just not meant to be. Once football season is over, the fball players have some down time and the only thing they do really is work out and lift. Trannon was doing that during bball season and he probably was helping himself even more because of the great physical activity for his legs, hand eye coordination, etc. with basketball. Had he not played, I don't think he would have been a better fball player because he wouldn't have been doing all that much more once his fball season was done. Look at a guy like Antonio Gates, his basketball only helped him become agile, helped develop great hands, improved his leaping ability, etc. More examples would be Andre Rison who played bball at State and became a legend on the football field along with Kirk Gibson who was a two time All American WR at State only to go on to become a legend on the baseball diamond. I believe one sport helps another if handled the right way.

Great point on the 'preparing for the pros' angle with Gray.

Great point on the 'preparing for the pros' angle with Gray.

Let's just hope MarQueis sees it that way after thinking it through.

I think (of course I haven't seen a down of Spartan football under MD) right now Oregon would be better at preparing him for the pros. State has an advantage over Minnesota in that regard, but I think if that's the only selling point, Oregon would have the advantage.

I think (of course I haven't seen a down of Spartan football under MD) right now Oregon would be better at preparing him for the pros. State has an advantage over Minnesota in that regard, but I think if that's the only selling point, Oregon would have the advantage.

You might say that intially off of Oregon currently having a better program, but if you look at history, I don't know that it would be true. Oregon has produced some good teams, but very bad pros. I think they are a system school that works for college, however I'll take MD preparing kids for the pros over Oregon any day. Maybe I'm throwing too much love too early, but I just flat out love his resume and who he's learned from.

You may be right. Time will tell. Obviously guys like Akili Smith and Joey Harrington aren't headed to Canton. However, there aren't exactly dozens of QB's drafted every year. If it were me and I wasn't a 5 star QB going to a top 10 program, I might choose the system school so it would at least give me good enough numbers to get the conversation going with NFL scouts.

You may be right. Time will tell. Obviously guys like Akili Smith and Joey Harrington aren't headed to Canton. However, there aren't exactly dozens of QB's drafted every year. If it were me and I wasn't a 5 star QB going to a top 10 program, I might choose the system school so it would at least give me good enough numbers to get the conversation going with NFL scouts.

Good point. I'd probably put a good system just above sweet Nike uni's when making my decision. haha Not gonna lie, the Oregon appeal has me worried in this recruiting battle. Not worried about freaking Minny.

I was wondering how long it would be before uniforms were mentioned. lol

I think that Fred Smith and Mark Dell have to sell this to Gray. Both are better than anything Minny has, so that would at least only give us one team to beat.

I forgot to congratulate my Sparty Brothers on this one. It's a pretty huge deal for Dantonio. Even though you might say that UM didn't "need" him, to get a UM guy away like this is a great start.
I don't really buy the "didn't need" him argument; todays player thinks he's better than anyone who's ever played the game before him. This shows some savvy on Dantonio's part.

I forgot to congratulate my Sparty Brothers on this one. It's a pretty huge deal for Dantonio. Even though you might say that UM didn't "need" him, to get a UM guy away like this is a great start.
I don't really buy the "didn't need" him argument; todays player thinks he's better than anyone who's ever played the game before him. This shows some savvy on Dantonio's part.

A rational post from Zip? WTF? Was your wife at the keyboard or what?

Not so fast there, Spock breath. I consider any compliment to Sparty to be completely irrational.

Not so fast there, Spock breath. I consider any compliment to Sparty to be completely irrational.

hahahaha, best post ever! You're my boy Zip! Zip, you're my boy!