As my dad would say, a lot of Spartan fans came to the game on Saturday disguised as empty seats. About a quarter of the ones who did show up weren't wearing green and white. Todd Shulz nails it:

Even so, it was stunning to see roughly a quarter of the 73,498 seats (paid attendance) occupied by fans in Ohio State gear at the outset of the game. Three hours later, they had plenty of elbow room to celebrate their team's 14th straight win. Most of the green was gone and you could have squeezed the city of Columbus into the southeast corner.

Afterward, embattled MSU coach John L. Smith claimed not to have noticed. But you can bet President Lou Anna Simon, athletic director Ron Mason and MSU trustees did.

When it comes to big-time college football, nothing gets the attention of the decision makers like gaping tracts of aluminum. It's a rare sight at Spartan Stadium, where the loyalty of the legions is legendary, especially when compared to the results they've received in return.

MSU fans haven't seen a conference title since 1990. They haven't seen a Rose Bowl team since the 1987 season. Heck, they haven't seen a winning team since 2003. They've suffered mightily, swallowing disappointment, ticket increases and the introduction of seat license fees along the way.

And yet, year after year, game after game, they've shown up. Until Saturday.

If it was a statement on the state of the program, or the fate of Smith, it was a powerful one. If there's a decision to make about the coach, the fans have more to say about it with their pocketbooks than Simon or Mason, who, by the way, have plenty of good luxury suites and club seats available. Maybe MSU fans finally realized their collective clout.

This is the one thing Lions fans haven't done: quit going to the games. Fans are fed up, and they're protesting with their asses by staying home.

The Spartans (3-4 overall, 0-3 Big Ten Conference) have five games left, starting with next week's trip to Northwestern. All five are winnable, if Smith and his banged up crew can keep their wits about them on the road and out-duel mediocre Minnesota and Purdue teams at home.

"I'll never give up," junior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said. "I know my teammates will never give up. I know coach will never give up. We're not quitting on each other. I'm with my teammates and coaches no matter what."

Still, one must wonder whether Spartan fans have finally had enough. Has their seemingly infinite patience been exhausted? Has their stoic suffering reached its breaking point?

It sure looked that way Saturday. If so, you can dot the first "i" in "finished" for Smith.

One can only hope. Here's some more links:

• SN: Sea of red
• SN: MSU squanders opportunities
• SN: MSU might not win again this season