At the beginning of the season I made a bold prediction: John L. Smith would either be fired midseason or at the end of the season. Well, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong... John L. Smith was fired today at precisely the three-quarter mark in the season. Nostradamus I ain't.

Seriously though, John L. Smith is gone, and I couldn't be happier. The guy was a cancer on the MSU football program, and now that this rootin' tootin' shit-for-brains coach is gone, I hope and pray that we can bring in someone new and start moving in the right direction.

I do have one humble request as MSU's leaders search for a replacement: DON'T HIRE STEVE MARIUCCI! Just because he's buddies with Tom doesn't mean it's a good idea. Whatever Ron Mason and the board decide, for the love of God, they need to make their choice before George Perles gets on the board of trustees. Otherwise, we're really screwed.

UPDATE: Stories from the LSJ here and here. State News here. Rampant speculation about Smith's replacement can be found here.