On Sunday afternoon, a report surfaced from CBS that talked about head coaching candidates for the UCLA job, and Jonathan Smith's name was mentioned.
The second-year head coach is from Pasadena, Calif., and it might make sense for him to want to move closer to home while still leading a Big Ten program, but the job is just not great. DeShaun Foster was run out of two just three games into his second season and the addition of Nico Iamaleava this offseason has done next to nothing for the offense.
UCLA is bad.
Still, there had been speculation that Smith might consider the move, and it warranted a write-up. After posting the news on social media, it was met with a surprising reaction. It wasn't everyone, but the majority of responses were along the lines of "they can have him".
Which surprised me.
A year ago, the hiring of Smith was dubbed as the best of the offseason leading into 2024 by multiple major outlets, and fans were excited about stealing the Oregon State coach who rebuilt that program from the ground up. He turned Oregon State into a contender after it had been a Pac-12 bottom-dweller for decades. He proved he could build programs. But it takes time.
So when I posted the story and it was met with Spartan fans who were salivating at the idea of losing Smith to UCLA, and almost celebrating and encouraging it, I was shocked.
People seem to forget where the program was when Mark Dantonio took over. Heck, they forgot where the program was in his third season. He had started 1-3 with a loss to Central Michigan, and fans were already calling for his job. Mind you, just a few years earlier, the program was in a dark place after firing John L. Smith and it felt like it would be decades before it would contend.
Dantonio silenced all the doubters and ended up winning 10-plus games six times over the next eight seasons. He became an all-time great, and it's because he was given time to build the program.
The same happened when Dantonio retired and Mel Tucker took over. Tucker was given a grace period, and even after a 2-5 season in 2020, fans were optimistic. He responded by winning 11 games, including the Peach Bowl, but he fizzled out in the following seasons before he was fired. Still, fans were patient because they knew he was facing a big rebuild.
The program that Smith took over from Tucker and interim coach Harlon Barnett was in an even worse spot than when the previous staff took over from Dantonio.
And here we are in year two, sitting at 3-0 on the season with a vastly improved quarterback under center, and fans are already hoping Smith leaves for UCLA so the program can start over again? What are we even doing here?
What happened to the patience that we granted Dantonio and Tucker? Smith doesn't get it because he's not fiery or flashy? Because he didn't beat Michigan in his first matchup? Neither did Dantonio.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Smith is going to be the next Dantonio or even have similar success to the Spartan coaching legend, but at least give him a chance to prove that he is or isn't headed in the right direction. It's year two and the Spartans are 3-0. Let's not wish his departure, because I'll tell you that it will lead to an even darker period of MSU football.
The enemy of progress is doubt in the coach and program. Let's avoid that this early on.