MSU's John L. Smith fired

MSU's John L. Smith fired:

"In 2003, his first season as Michigan State football coach, John L. Smith turned a 4-8 team into an 8-5 team. He installed an exciting spread offense. He won a Big Ten coach of the year award. He played Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl.

Everything has gone downhill since. No more bowls. Three straight losing records. Players in trouble with the law.

And Wednesday, with three games left in this season and two years left on his six-year, $1.5 million annual contract, Smith was fired by MSU.

He will stay to coach the final three games of the season."