Bobby Williams had never been a head coach at any level when he took over for Nick Saban at Michigan State in December 1999. And although he won his first game -- beating Steve Spurrier’s Florida Gators in the Florida Citrus Bowl -- his relatively indistinct résumé was called into question when his first full season ended without a bowl, as the Spartans slipped from No. 5 in the country to 5-6 in 2000.

Last year, however, Williams shook off the criticism to lead Michigan State back to the postseason -- the Spartans upset Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Bowl and set the tone for what Williams thinks will be a successful 2002 season.

"I’ve always had high expectations," Williams told The Lansing State Journal. "This is my 13th year at Michigan State. And I always expect us to be one of the top teams in the conference. That’s what I expect. It’s what you expect. And it’s what everyone associated with Michigan State expects.

"I really believe this team has the ability to go out and play with the best in the conference. We’ve shown that ability at times. But we have to play at that level all the time. If we do, we have a chance to win every game we play."

Williams has done a couple of things right in his first two years -- he already has a win against arch-rival Michigan and he is 2-0 in bowl games. He has clearly earned the trust of the Michigan State administration, which extended his contract for two more years and gave him a $50,000 raise. The program also received a boost in the off-season with renovated new locker rooms, a redesigned uniform and most significantly a new grass field at Spartan Stadium.

"This looks like it’s going to be a fast track ... it’s pretty firm," Williams told The Detroit News. "And it’s going to be significant in recruiting. More and more student-athletes want to play on grass. Schools would use that against us that we had artificial turf. They can’t do that anymore. Everyone is excited by this. All the players love it. The general perception is grass is safer, but you’re still going to get injuries on grass. But you don’t get the turf burns."

The negative perception about grass is that it creates a slower game, but the Spartans’ star players aren’t worried about that.

"If you’ve got speed, you’ve got speed no matter where," wide receiver Charles Rogers told The Detroit News. "I don’t feel like we’ll lose a step going to grass. And grass gives a little more. Artificial turf feels like concrete."

Two years into his career, junior Jeff Smoker (6-3, 212) already has extensive starting experience after he was thrown into the fire as a freshman. This year, the offensive co-captain finally enters the season without having to look over his shoulder, and he could turn out to be one of the Big Ten’s most prolific gunslingers.

Last year he alternated with senior Ryan Van Dyke during the first five games, then took over full-time when Van Dyke broke his jaw at Minnesota. In the last six games, Smoker threw for 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions, and cracked the 300-yard barrier four times. He ended the season with 2,579 yards passing, with a school-record 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and he completed 63.4 percent of his passes. The Spartans were 4-2 with Smoker starting, and he finished the season as the Big Ten’s highest-rated passer.

The Spartans have an experienced backup in sophomore Damon Dowdell (6-1, 212), who started against Purdue last year when Smoker had to sit out with a separated shoulder. Dowdell finished 24-for-45 for 304 yards and two interceptions in the game, and the coaching staff is comfortable knowing he’s there in case Smoker goes down again.

Freshman Aaron Alexander (6-5, 195) and sophomore Amish Patel (6-0, 195) round out the depth chart.

The biggest hit to the roster came when tailback T.J. Duckett declared himself eligible for the NFL draft. In his three years at Michigan State he climbed to No. 5 with 3,379 career rushing yards, and last year he rambled for 1,420 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was taken by the Atlanta Falcons with the 18th pick in the first round of the draft, and his former head coach -- and position coach as a freshman -- has predicted greatness for his star pupil.

Senior Dawan Moss (5-10, 236) is the top candidate to replace Duckett in the starting lineup. As a 260-pound fullback last year, he gained 93 yards on 25 carries, but coaches weren’t happy with his conditioning, so during the off-season he lost 20 pounds to help keep him fresh.

"When I found out Duckett was finally going pro I thought this was my chance," Moss told The State News. "I shed a few pounds and have been working out, and I cut back on my eating."

Junior Tyrell Dortch (5-10, 197) is trying to recover from a gruesome injury, when he broke his leg in two places at Wisconsin and needed state-of-the-art surgery and more than two weeks in the University of Wisconsin hospitals to save the leg. He converted from cornerback to tailback last year and was off to a good start, with nine carries for 60 yards, before the injury.

He will be challenged for the top backup spot by junior Mike McConnell (6-0, 203), who caught the coaching staff’s eye in spring ball.

Senior Tim James (5-8, 171) and sophomore Keith Trotter (5-8, 195) round out the depth chart.

With Moss moved to tailback, the Spartans are looking for a new fullback. Junior Mark Goebel (6-2, 216) is the top candidate, although sophomore Jason Bradley (6-0, 249) will push for the spot after he recovers from off-season knee injury that caused him to miss spring practice. Sophomores Mitch Herrema (5-11, 233) and Nick Thompson (6-3, 243) provide depth.

The Spartans have to replace No. 2 receiver Herb Haygood and his 808 receiving yards, but they’ve got their superstar back in the lineup.

Rogers (6-4, 200), a junior, could have gone pro, but instead returns to see if he can top his record-setting numbers as a sophomore. His 67 catches, 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns were all school records, and the yardage mark was the second best in Big Ten history, trailing only Wisconsin’s Lee Evans, who broke the record last year.

If this spring is any indication, Rogers is ready for an encore. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash in spring drills, and has added a selection to the Playboy All-America team to his already lengthy list of accolades.

Cornerback Cedric Henry had already seen enough of Rogers in spring drills to know that the Spartans have a legitimate superstar on their hands.

Senior B.J. Lovett (6-4, 207) will have the first shot at replacing Haygood. Last year he caught 12 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, and he enters this season with a clear understanding of the job in front of him.

"Chuck is the No. 1 receiver, and we can’t help but try to match his performance," Lovett told The Lansing State Journal. "All of us are different. I just want to show I’m tougher than the other guys."

"The other guys" are junior Ziehl Kavanaght (5-11, 178) and freshmen Ben Steckler (6-4, 196) and Robert Strickland (6-3, 208).

"They all do different things," Smoker told The Lansing State Journal. "The difference is that Chuck does it all. So when in doubt, I’m still going to throw it to him."

Freshman Todd Acchione (6-0, 167) and sophomore Paul Cummings (6-0, 177) round out the roster, while incoming freshmen Agim Shabaj , Kyle Brown and Matt Trannon could also challenge for playing time immediately.

Tight end Chris Baker is gone after making 24 consecutive starts and setting the Spartans’ career tight end records with 133 catches, 1,705 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomore Jason Randall (6-5, 245) is the leading candidate to replace him, but he’s getting a strong push from sophomore Eric Knott (6-3, 257), who returns to tight end after a year on the defensive line.

Seniors Eric Easter (6-4, 225) and Brian Dieckman (6-3, 233), junior Matt Walters (6-2, 241) and freshman Ryan Woods (6-4, 237) provide depth.

The main goal for the offensive line this year is to reduce the pressure on Smoker. Last year the Spartans allowed 33 sacks in their eight conference games, easily the most in the Big Ten, and Smoker has battled through injuries the last two years thanks to the constant hits. All five starters return, and the cohesiveness that began to develop at the end of last year must continue if the Spartans are to make a push for the Big Ten title.

Senior Ulish Booker (6-7, 305) missed spring practice recovering from injury, but he should be back in plenty of time to return to his starting spot at left tackle. His bookend on the right side will be junior Steve Stewart (6-5, 310). Junior Joe Tate (6-5, 283) and sophomore William Whitticker (6-6, 298) return at guard, while junior center Brian Ottney (6-6, 309) was voted co-captain by his teammates this spring and will be counted on for leadership.

Another player who could make an impact -- at least as an inspiration, if not on the field as well -- is senior Paul Harker (6-3, 297). Last year he suffered one of the most frightening injuries of the college football season at Notre Dame, when he collapsed on the sideline and had to be rushed to a local hospital. He missed the rest of the year with nerve damage to his neck, but he’s back for a fifth year to give it one more shot and is currently listed at second on the depth chart behind Tate at left guard.

Freshman Stefon Wheeler (6-5, 308) and sophomore Sean Poole (6-6, 297) are the leading backups at tackle, with junior Joe Patrick (6-5, 310) in reserve at guard and freshman Chris Morris (6-4, 285) in the No. 2 role at center.

Sophomore Dave Rayner (6-2, 209) won the starting job three games into last season after David Schaefer missed four of his first five field goal attempts, including three misses in a one-point loss at Northwestern. He finished 8-for-14 on field goals and hit four of his last five, but he was only 2-for-8 beyond 30 yards on the year, so his job is not necessarily secure.

Rayner could be challenged by junior Michael Servis (6-1, 198), while junior Chris Christoff (5-8, 175), sophomore Mandale Dade (5-10, 194) and freshman J.J. Danhof (5-9, 176) also could fight their way into the mix.

Last year the Spartans finished eighth in the Big Ten in total defense and eighth in run defense, and were the second worst in sacks with just 12 on the season. That adds scrutiny to the development of the defensive line, which has been challenged by Williams to improve its performance.

"We haven’t had a dominant pass rusher in two seasons," Williams told The Detroit News. "Sacks are one of the biggest indicators of winning and losing. You give up too many sacks, you’re going to have a hard time winning. You get sacks, the field position works in your favor. Those are critical areas. Sacks have been a concern for us."

Gone from last year are starting defensive tackle Josh Shaw, who finished fifth on the team with 54 tackles and nine tackles behind the line, and defensive end Nick Myers, whose four sacks were second best on the team.

Junior Kyle Rasmussen (6-4, 270) and sophomore Kevin Vickerson (6-5, 285) will start at defensive tackle. Rasmussen tied for fifth on the team with 54 tackles last year although he was slightly undersized, at least by Big Ten defensive tackle standards. Vickerson came off the bench in eight games and made 13 tackles, including one sack.

Junior Greg Talpin (6-5, 260) returns at one defensive end, coming off a 27-tackle season. Sophomore Matthias Askew (6-6, 287) has the edge at the other end spot, but many others will get a look during the season as defensive coordinator Bill Miller continues to search for pressure on the quarterback.

Sophomore Clifford Dukes (6-3, 250) was the top pass rusher during spring drills, and although he suffered a shoulder injury this spring he should be full-strength and pushing for a starting job in August.

Other candidates on the line are sophomores Darrell Hamilton (6-4, 236), Greg Yeaster (6-1, 269) and Lonnie Simmons (6-3, 288).

The Spartans took a big hit when middle linebacker Josh Thornhill gave up his senior year to enter the NFL draft. Thornhill finished fourth in the Big Ten with 101 tackles in eight conference games, and his 128 stops on the season included 15 behind the line of scrimmage. He will be missed as much for his leadership as for his performance, as players like freshman Seth Mitchell (6-2, 242) still had much to learn from him.

"We’ve been spoiled," Miller told The Detroit News. "[Thornhill] did so much in terms of coaching other guys out there and getting guys lined up and setting the front and making the adjustments. You sometimes take him for granted. Seth is going to be that type of guy eventually, but I think we’ve got to be careful what our expectations are of him."

Mitchell looked to have a line on the starting spot in the middle, but he needed minor surgery in the spring to clear up a slight knee injury. He should be back in time to compete for the starting spot in August.

Junior Mike Labinjo (6-2, 254) will move from strong side to middle linebacker until Mitchell returns. Last year Labinjo finished third on the team with 64 tackles, and his 17 stops behind the line led the team. Sophomore Ronald Stanley (6-0, 220) also returns to the starting lineup after a 43-tackle season that included two sacks.

Junior Monquiz Wedlow (5-11, 192) came off the bench to make 38 tackles last year and appears to have the lead on the starting strong-side spot, depending on Mitchell’s recovery. Sophomore James Cooper (6-3, 220) and freshman Michael Bazemore (6-3, 240) will push for playing time as the season progresses.

Despite getting almost no pass rush, the Spartans still finished the season rated third in the Big Ten in pass defense, a testament to the strong play of its secondary. Graduation claimed strong safety Lorenzo Guess (47 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions) and cornerback Duron Bryan (60 tackles, four picks), but three players with starting experience return.

Senior Thomas Wright (6-1, 196) is back at strong safety after finishing second on the team with 92 tackles last year. He was selected as a captain by his teammates this spring and will be a key leader in the secondary.

Sophomore Jason Harmon (5-11, 188) will start at free safety after seeing action in four games last year, while senior Broderick Nelson (6-0, 175) returns at one cornerback spot. Nelson led the Spartans with five interceptions last season.

But the most important development in the secondary could be the return of Henry (5-10, 182), a senior who is back after missing all of 2001 to concentrate on his academics. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2000 and a possible Jim Thorpe Award candidate before his grades slipped last year. He says he was able to turn the year off into a positive.

Second-teamers are senior DeMario Suggs (5-11, 192) and sophomore Roderick Maples (5-10, 180) at cornerback and sophomore Robert Flagg (6-2, 192) and freshman Eric Smith (6-2, 194) at safety. Junior Jeremiah McLaurin (5-11, 180) and sophomore Damien Fortson (5-11, 170) will also push for playing time.

Four-year starter Craig Jarrett is gone, and Servis, who sat out last year after surviving a harrowing car accident, is trying to replace him. But his performance in spring practice wasn’t strong, and he’s going to battle Rayner for the punting duties. In the final scrimmage of the spring, Servis punted six times for an average of 33.0 yards.

"Mike has not had the spring that I know he would have liked," Williams said in a news conference on the final day of spring practice. "He definitely has not had the spring that I would have liked him to have. He still has a ways to go. We’re going to take a very good look at [freshman] Brandon Fields when he gets in here in August and see what he can do. We have a long way to go in our punting game."

Senior Jeremy Rolinski (5-10, 165) could also push for the spot.

Special teams coach Sal Sunseri left the team to take a job with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. He has been replaced by Danny Crossman, who comes to East Lansing after three years at Georgia Tech, where his teams were known for outstanding punt and return units. The Spartans finished No. 1 in the Big Ten in kickoff coverage last year, allowing only 15.1 yards per return, so Crossman has some talent to work with.

Rogers starred on the punt return team last year, averaging 10.5 yards on 13 returns and breaking one for a touchdown. Haygood led the Big Ten last year with a 29.3-yard average on 15 returns, and he brought back two for touchdowns. He will be replaced by Henry and Harmon.

Sophomore Andrew Petterson (6-0, 200) is slated as the long-snapper.

Speed and versatility are the hallmarks of the Spartans’ recruits this year. Williams focused on getting skill players and athletes who can play on either side of the ball. But the jewel of the class is Farmington Hills (Mich.) quarterback Drew Stanton (6-3, 220), the top-rated signal-caller in the state, whose size and rocket arm spell success at the next level.

David Richard (6-2, 230) of St. Louis was one of the top running backs in Missouri and is already being tabbed as the next Duckett, a bruising tailback who could play as soon as this fall.

Wide receivers Shabaj (5-10, 185) -- Stanton’s high school teammate -- Brown (6-1, 195) from West Bloomfield, Mich., and Trannon (6-7, 215) from Flint, Mich., could also push for playing time. Brown was the Michigan state 100-meter champion as a senior, while Trannon could play basketball as well.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

Even with Duckett gone, not many teams can match the offensive firepower that Smoker and Rogers will demonstrate this fall. The defense has a strong back seven, the special teams won’t miss a beat with their new coach, and both units will benefit from Henry’s return.

Another plus is the schedule -- eight of the Spartans’ 12 games are at home, including five straight to start the season and seven of the first eight.

Rice, Iowa and Michigan are the only teams on the schedule that were better than .500 last season, as MSU misses Ohio State and Illinois in conference play. This could be the year Williams brings home the Big Ten title, or at least gets the Spartans back to a BCS bowl.