Michigan State fifth-year senior Justin Kershaw spent three years playing under former Spartans coach John L. Smith.
He knew what the Spartans needed when Smith was fired with three games remaining in the 2006 season.
"What Michigan State needed was a level of discipline, and that's the biggest difference under coach [Mark] Dantonio," Kershaw said. "He's a no-nonsense type of guy, and that's exactly what you need when you're coaching 18- to 23-year-olds."
Smith's laid back, easy-going demeanor didn't always translate to the discipline that Kershaw says has the Spartans 9-2 heading into Saturday's game against Penn State.
In 2005, Michigan State had an opportunity to take a 20-7 lead against Ohio State but disorganization on the sidelines thwarted the opportunity. Michigan State was out of timeouts and had an opportunity to stop the clock by spiking the ball but chaotically tried to line up for a field goal.
Michigan State attempted the field goal with 10 men on the field, and the Buckeyes blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown.
In 2006, Illinois and Michigan State fought at midfield when the Illini tried to plant a flag at midfield. Smith slapped himself afterward in a reference to Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis saying he was hit by a Michigan State player a week earlier.
The emotional outburst has been a YouTube hit. Smith was fired, and a lack of discipline left with him.
Michigan State hired Dantonio, who spent five years working with current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel at Youngstown State. Dantonio also worked under Alabama coach Nick Saban when he coached Michigan State.
"From when he got here, it was all about mental toughness and attention to detail," quarterback Brian Hoyer said. "I remember first winter conditioning. It was brutal. They wanted to see if we would break."
Those winter workouts, Kershaw said, were designed to end the school's futile finishes. Before Dantonio arrived, Michigan State finished a combined 5-19 in the final four games of the season from 2001-06.
The Spartans were ranked No. 15 at a point during the 2003 season but sputtered to a 1-3 finish.
Last year's team also could have folded. Instead, the Spartans beat Purdue and Penn State -- which held a 31-21 lead in the fourth quarter -- and played in the Champs Sports Bowl.
"If we changed the culture, I think the things we've changed is that we have a very unselfish attitude and a lot of younger players step up," Dantonio said. "We have experienced players who are second team players who play very well throughout the season. I think because of that, we have good chemistry, which has created a great culture."
Dantonio has also instilled accountability across the board. Kershaw said his coach got on his case at one point when he didn't have an elbow pad to protect a bad elbow.
"He doesn't care who you are," said Kershaw, a defensive tackle. "Whether you're Javon Ringer or a trainer, you better be doing your job, or he's gonna call you out on it. ... Some people were shocked, but a lot of people knew that's what we needed in terms of being successful."
Michigan State last played at Beaver Stadium with a floundering coach who was finishing the string before searching for another job.
The Spartans have bigger aspirations Saturday.
If Michigan State beats Penn State and Michigan upsets Ohio State, the Spartans will play in the Rose Bowl, and Kershaw said the groundwork was laid during the winter workouts.
"As far as pushing ourselves physically and breaking ourselves and making us quit to see how mentally tough we are when we're tired, it starts at the top and it goes all the way down to the bottom," Kershaw said. "You're held accountable for how tough you are around here."
