Deja Vu in East Lansing?

Michigan State head coach John L. Smith commented during yesterdays press conference while slapping himself in the face, after the Spartans loss to Illinois.

Michigan State was so listless and unmotivated, it was outplayed in every aspect by a team it beat 61-14 a year ago. The Illini had lost its last 10 Big Ten games, and 24 of 25 dating back to 2003.

Afterward, Smith said the Spartans were flat all week in practice in the aftermath of the collapse against the Fighting Irish.

"We have to look at ourselves and say that it was our fault as coaches, we didn't get our kids prepared to play the game," Smith said. "And if you go out unprepared emotionally and mentally, you're going to lose and you deserve to lose."

Is it Deja Vu in East Lansing?

After losing at Michigan, 49-3, in 2002, Bobby Williams was asked by a reporter if he lost the team? Williams responded with the infamous line, "I don't know," which infuriated athletic director Ron Mason so much, he fired Williams two days later.