Jonathan Smith challenged his team to push through the dog days of fall camp, calling this a separation week.
That doesn’t mean the second-year Michigan State coach won’t have a little fun at the same time.
In an interesting collaboration between the Spartans’ football and hockey programs, Smith put on full goalie gear to face a few shots on the indoor practice turf on Tuesday.
Video shared on social media by the programs and offensive lineman Andrew Dennis – a former hockey player himself – showed players chanting Smith’s name before he strapped on all the goalie gear and received brief instructions. Freshman forward Ryker Lee, who was picked in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft, fired tennis balls at Smith, who squatted between a pair of blocking pads while surrounded by players and staff.
Smith, a former star quarterback at Oregon State, stopped Lee’s first shot before getting beat the following two. Lee went five-hole on his third and final attempt as Smith couldn’t get his glove or stick down to stop it.
Michigan State football is coming off a 5-7 record in Smith’s first season and hosts Western Michigan in the Aug. 29 opener. The Spartans’ hockey program won back-to-back Big Ten titles and will be among the favorites to claim the national championship this season.
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