College Football: Smith leaving Louisville for Michigan State.

Sports Network, The, December, 2002

Dec 19, 2002 (The Sports Network via COMTEX)

East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - Michigan State named John L. Smith the new head football coach of the Spartans on Thursday.

Smith had been the head coach at Louisville the last five years and coached the Cardinals in their 38-15 loss to Marshall in the GMAC Bowl Wednesday night in Mobile, Alabama.

"It was a tough deal to leave the University of Louisville," said Smith. "Our players, the administration who gave us support, the fans...it's like life. You've got to move on. The decision to come to Michigan State was very easy for me."

Smith walks away with a 41-21 mark as the Cardinals' head man. Louisville, which finished 7-6 this season after Wednesday's loss, won two straight...

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