Say this for new Michigan State athletic director Ron Mason, who wrapped up a 36-year career as the winningest coach in college hockey last season: He doesn't mess around.

With the Spartans football team, a team that had been expected to contend for the Big Ten title, crumbling on the field and off, and with coach Bobby Williams reportedly planning to make a public appeal for his job at his weekly press conference Tuesday, Mason made a preemptive strike, firing Williams after practice Monday.

Irish Slip, But Don't Fall Out Of BCS Bowl Mix

It's difficult to keep your perspective when you have swum through shark-infested waters, only to stumble and fall over a piece of driftwood on the beach before reaching the treasure chest. There are still some doubloons to be had, though, by Notre Dame, which was tripped up by Boston College 14-7. The Irish might have seen their national-championship hopes slip away amid those seven fumbles, three of them lost, and two interceptions. But they remain very much on track for a Bowl Championship Series bowl trip. If not the Sugar or Orange bowls, they could even make a rare appearance in the Rose Bowl if Ohio State winds up in the national championship Fiesta Bowl. "As disappointed as I am, as disappointed as our players are," Irish coach Tyrone Willingham said, "to my knowledge, we're 8-1." Willingham is not nearly as dramatic as one of his predecessors, Lou Holtz, whose comments about about being scared to death of this or that service academy were legendary. But Willingham still managed to sound the alarm as the Irish prepared to go after their 39th straight victory over Navy. "We have defended the option once this year. But it will come at us in a little different package," Willingham said, referring to the differences between the Air Force and Navy options. "They will do things a little bit different. What will be my greatest concern is that we don't take it for granted that we have played the option" and can handle it. Considering the struggles of Navy, most Irish followers will take it for granted that the Midshipmen won't pose too many problems. The trouble is, that was a widespread sentiment going into the Boston College game. As Willingham pointed out, Notre Dame still is 8-1. All but the most optimistic Irish fans would have jumped at that record if it were offered before the season began. Nobody in the Notre Dame community was happy about the BC loss. But Willingham knows, and his players know, there's still a lot to play for. -- Herb Gould

Williams might have weathered the losing. But with one team captain, quarterback Jeff Smoker, being treated for substance abuse; with another, tailback Dawan Moss, arrested for dragging a police officer with his car during a routine traffic stop, and with rumors of more troubles swirling, Mason pulled the plug.

"It wasn't one thing. It was the direction and the way the program was heading," Mason said. "If anybody was wondering if there was going to be a new coach, now nobody has to wonder. There will be a new coach."

Michigan State will have some good ones to choose from. That's because for all the turmoil of the moment, the program has a lot of pieces in place. The facilities are good, the fan base is good and the tradition is strong.

Recruiting is difficult because of the proximity of powerhouses such as Michigan and Notre Dame, but not impossible.

"A Big Ten coaching job is one of those opportunities that anyone in the coaching profession would be interested in," said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. "[The Spartans] have the facilities, and everything necessary, to have a successful program."

The new coach also will inherit a better talent base than many coaches who take over struggling programs. More than 30 players on the 44-man two-deep roster are underclassmen, and an abundance of them are freshmen and sophomores. Even assuming that star wideout Charles Rogers, who's a junior, opts to go pro, the Michigan State cupboard is not bare.

By dismissing Williams this early, Mason positioned the Spartans for a thorough coaching search that will give the next coach a chance to recruit well for the February signing period.

Among the names being mentioned is Bowling Green coach Urban Meyer, 38, who will be a hot commodity after a backwater football school into an unbeaten ranked team in two years. Meyer, who was receivers coach at Notre Dame in 1996-2000, knows the Midwest and is familiar with how high-profile programs operate. He's likely to be on many short lists, but Michigan State's early move on Williams will help.

Other names being mentioned include Iowa State coach Dan McCarney and Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, but it remains to be seen whether they're interested in moving. Among assistants, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Kent Baer are possible candidates.

Given that Williams was one of only four African-American head coaches in Division I-A football, Michigan State will want to be sensitive to that situation. Firing Williams now, when it was clear that rampant discipline problems were ravaging the Spartans locker room, will diminish complaints that the coaching change was about wins and losses, or any one particular problem.

But those who are appalled by the dearth of minority head coaches will be watching closely to see which direction the Michigan State administration goes.

Two minority possibilities are Minnesota Vikings receivers coach Charlie Baggett, a former Michigan State quarterback who was a Spartans assistant coach in 1995-98. When Baggett played for the Spartans, his roommate was Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham, who also was his backup. Another coach who deserves consideration is San Jose State coach Fitz Hill, who has molded a flashy offense-oriented team that played a number of power-conference schools tough this year, highlighted by its upset win at Illinois.

Around the Big Ten

Illinois
Jon Beutjer, who led Illinois' fourth-quarter rally in an 18-7 loss at Penn State, will start at quarterback when the Illini travel to Wisconsin. Beutjer drove the Illini to a touchdown that ended Penn State's streak of 11 quarters without allowing a TD, and led another march to the Penn State 3-yard line before having a tipped pass intercepted as Illinois lost 18-7. "Jon did some really good things Saturday and we feel he gives us the best chance to win," coach Ron Turner said in making his third quarterback change this season. After Dustin Ward started the first two games, Beutjer started the next four games, then yielded to Ward for the last three games. Beutjer, who threw for 10 touchdowns and 1,071 in his first three starts, is 1-3 as a starter. Ward is 2-3. ... Fullback Carey Davis, who aggravated a nagging injury in the second quarter at Penn State, has a sprained left knee and is listed as questionable for this week.

Indiana
The Hoosiers used up the redshirt of Chris Taylor in their 41-37 loss at Northwestern. The freshman runner, pressed into service by Brian Lewis' season injury (torn ligament in thumb), responded with 102 yards on 21 carries, and scored a touchdown. "When Lewis went down, we really didn't any other choice," said new coach Gerry DiNardo, who has only 62 scholarship players, far below the allowed 85. ... The Hoosiers will meet Michigan State in the Frustration Bowl this week. IU has lost three straight; Michigan State has lost its last four.

Iowa
If Ohio State and Iowa win out, the Buckeyes would receive the automatic bid to a Bowl Championship Series game. But if Ohio State moves all the way up to a berth in the national championship Fiesta Bowl, Iowa's situation is not clear yet. The Hawkeyes, who have risen to No. 6 in both major polls, would be a candidate for one of the BCS' two at-large berths. But Notre Dame and Texas also are in that hunt at this point, and Rose Bowl officials might find it hard to pass on a rare chance to take the Fighting Irish. Where would that leave Iowa? Anywhere from a BCS bowl -- the Rose, Sugar or Orange -- to the Capital One Bowl, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl.

Michigan
The Wolverines -- still upset about their humiliating 34-9 home loss to Iowa and the clock controversy that led to their 26-24 loss at Michigan State last year -- took out their frustrations on the Spartans. Their 49-3 victory over Michigan State was Michigan's largest in this instate rivalry since a 55-0 win in 1947. Last year's clock debacle, running back B.J. Askew said, "was on my mind a lot during two-a-days and spring ball. That made it even more important for us to win this one." The rout of the Spartans came after an edgy week of practice, quarterback John Navarre said: "Everybody was crabby, walking around with a chip on our shoulders. Everybody had the attitude that we were going to get up and keep pushing."

Michigan State
Here's how low the Spartans sank to precipitate the firing of Bobby Williams. Their 49-3 loss at Michigan was their worst in 55 years, and morale also was at a record low. "Look at the score, 49-3. Anybody would be embarrassed with this," said star wideout Charles Rogers, who was held to 75 receiving yards, far below the 118.6-yard average he took into the game. "After a team starts scoring on us, people give up," sophomore tight end Jason Randall said. Athletic director Ron Mason said his decision to fire Williams was influenced by a response Williams gave. Asked if he had lost his team, the coach said he didn't know. "If he wasn't sure, who was?" Mason said. "To me, that was the most defining moment." Offensive coordinator Morris Watts was named interim head coach to finish out the season.

Minnesota
Glen Mason tried to take the gloom off a 34-3 loss at Ohio State by reminding Gophers fans that losing to one of the nation's top teams isn't the end of the world, even if it ended Minnesota's Rose Bowl hopes. "We are 7-2. How many teams are better than 7-2?" the coach said. "It's amazing to me, especially since I've been at Minnesota, that everybody thinks the world swings on one game. It doesn't. You just regroup. You can't allow yourself to get caught up in the hype." ... Minnesota hosts Michigan this week in a pivotal game for the two teams' bowl prospects.

Northwestern
The Wildcats, who travel to Iowa this week, won't have long to savor their 41-37 victory over Indiana. But the victory, which ended a five-game losing streak and 10-game Big Ten losing streak, provided some relief in what has been a difficult season. Jason Wright continued to excel, rushing for a career-high 219 yards and four touchdowns. The four rushing TDs tied the NU record held by Damien Anderson and Mike Adamle. ... Randy Walker burned Derell Jenkins' redshirt, sending in the freshman quarterback in relief of Brett Basanez in the second quarter. "We need him, and he needs to play more," said coach Randy Walker, predicting a quarterback controversy next season.

Ohio State
The Buckeyes, who moved up to No. 3 in both major polls and No. 2 in the BCS standings after a weekend of upsets, are downplaying their jump ahead of Miami in the hunt a berth in the Fiesta Bowl national championship game. After a weekend in which Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Georgia and NC State fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, they know it's too early to start packing for Tempe yet. Before their traditional finale at home against Michigan, they have what might look like a pair of tuneup games, at Purdue and Illinois. But the Buckeyes also know an upset by the Boilermakers or the Illini would not be bigger than some of last weekend's surprises. ... The Buckeyes are 10-0 for the first time since 1996 and the 10th time in school history.

Penn State
An 18-7 victory over Illinois leaves Penn State 6-3 and eligible for a bowl for the first time in three years. Considering the Nittany Lions' remaining schedule (Virginia, at Indiana, Michigan State), they could be in line for a solid bowl trip if they take care of business down the stretch. ... Larry Johnson rushed for a school-record 279 yards, topping the 257 yards he piled up against Northwestern on Oct. 19. The highlight was an 84-yard touchdown, the longest Penn State scoring run since 1968. Johnson needs to average 116 yards in Penn State's final three games to break Lydell Mitchell's 1971 school record of 1,567 yards in a regular season.

Purdue
Quarterback Brandon Kirsch broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right (throwing) hand during a fight at a fraternity party, but could play when the Boilermakers take on Ohio State this week after an open date. Coach Joe Tiller sounded optimistic, but said he might not make a final decision until game day. Kirsch, a true freshman who emerged as the starting QB in October, broke his hand while celebrating hours after leading Purdue to a 42-13 victory at Northwestern, which halted a three-game losing streak. If Kirsch can't go, Kyle Orton, who was the Boilermakers starter for the first half of the season, will start.

Wisconsin
Because they are playing 13 regular-season games, the Badgers (6-4, 1-4 Big Ten) need one more win to join the five Big Ten teams that are already bowl-eligible. And because their last two games are at Michigan (7-2) and at home against Minnesota (7-2), the Badgers' home game vs. Illinois (3-6) shapes up as their best chance to pick up win No. 7. The problem is, Wisconsin faces a number of distractions and key injuries this week. On the injury front, quarterback Brooks Bollinger reportedly suffered his second concussion in three weeks at Iowa Saturday and tailback Anthony Davis was recovering from a deep stab wound in his left thigh, the product of a domestic dispute. In addition, star wideout Lee Evans, who's sidelined for the season with a knee injury, was arrested on a marijuana-possession charge while driving to the Iowa game with friends.

Around the Independents
Connecticut snapped a four-game losing streak, beating Florida Atlantic 61-14 behind a career-high three touchdowns from freshman running back Terry Caulley. ... Quarterback Dan Orlovsky matched his career high with three touchdown passes as the Huskies set a school record for points scored. ... Navy has not had smooth sailing since its emotional season-opening 38-7 victory over SMU. A 51-30 rout at Tulane left the Midshipmen 1-7 heading into this week's meeting with traditional rival Notre Dame. ... Navy hasn't beaten the Irish since 1963, when Roger Staubach led the Midshipmen to a 35-14 victory on the way to winning the Heisman Trophy. ... Navy forced five turnovers in its season-opening victory over SMU. Since then, it has forced seven turnovers in seven games. ... Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham wouldn't rule out the possibility of having the Irish don their green jerseys in the future. "That will be a decision made when I feel like it's appropriate," Willingham said. But don't look for ND to wear green anytime soon. After their 14-7 upset loss to Boston College, Willingham seemed to spend as much time talking about the green jerseys as he did talking about Notre Dame's five turnovers. "The color of the jersey had nothing to do with us not winning the football game, or holding onto the football," he said. ... South Florida won its 17th straight at home, routing Division I-AA Charleston Southern 56-6 as it piled up 525 offensive yards. The Bulls, already 2-0 vs. Conference USA teams, play two of their final three games against teams from the conference they'll join next season, beginning with Memphis Saturday. ... Troy State gave up touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception and lost 23-0 in a mistake-riddled trip to Arkansas. The shutout was the Trojans' first in 230 regular-season games dating back to Oct. 1, 1983. "It was just a bad afternoon," Troy State coach Larry Blakeney said after the Trojans managed just 142 offensive yards. But the defense was solid, allowing Arkansas only 125 yards and only six first downs on a cold, rainy day. ... Utah State puts its high-flying passing game up against UNLV this week after an open date. The Aggies are averaging 296.1 passing yards a game, 12th in the nation. ... Receiver Kevin Curtis is seventh in the nation with 109.6 receiving yards per game and is tied for 16th in the nation with 6.25 catches per game.

Herb Gould covers college football for the Chicago Sun-Times.