In the case of the Michigan State coach, those expectations do not just involve film study, fund-raising campaigns or personnel issues. Rather, Smith is supposed to be doing major thrill-seeking stuff, living up to the standards of high adventure he has established over the past several years by running with the bulls in Spain and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, among other activities.

So Wednesday, while confessing that he had done nothing more exciting than go snorkeling in the Cayman Islands this year, Smith was appropriately apologetic.

And, he promised, "We're saving up for a big one next year."

Not that there's anything wrong with Park City.

Actually, Smith was thrilled to join in a reunion of former Big Sky Conference coaches, remembering the old days of being a defensive coordinator at Nevada and Idaho, and later becoming Idaho's head coach and launching a career path that would take him from the Big Sky to Utah State, Louisville and Michigan State.

"There's the guy that coached me," marveled Smith, spotting former Weber State coach Sark Arslanian. "He's still telling old lies about me."

Meanwhile, Smith sounded truthful when he labeled his Big Sky days "the most fun I've ever had in coaching."

Those were more innocent times, when schools in the league were recruiting basically the same level of talent, everybody worried less about whatever resources they lacked because they didn't know any better and coaching really made a difference on Saturdays.

Having climbed to the Big Ten, joining the rivalry with Michigan and playing Notre Dame annually, Smith feels no differently than he did at Idaho or USU.

"Is the pressure greater? No," he said. "There was nothing bigger than Idaho against Boise State or Utah State against the University of Utah. To you, at that time, there's nothing bigger."

That's how Smith responded to questions last September when Michigan State won at Notre Dame. His biggest achievement? Not really; it was just like beating the Broncos or the Utes.

"Plus," he said Wednesday, smiling mischievously and thinking of Notre Dame, "You don't want those guys to think they're special."

Smith's image - although not necessarily his self-image - took a subsequent hit when the Spartans won only two Big Ten games, resulting in a second straight losing season (5-6). So now, at 18-18 over three years, there's some heat on him to do much better this season.

"How critical a year is it? Who knows?" he said, saying he's happy with the program's direction and signs of improvement on defense. "To make the turnaround, you can't come in and get rid of everybody. If that's the case, then you're playing with nobody. It takes a period of time. I really like working with our kids; I like coming to work and being around them."

He also likes having fun and doing things that most people only talk about. Lou Holtz became famous for writing a list of 100 goals, such as playing Augusta National Golf Club and having dinner at the White House, and accomplishing most of them.

Smith's list is only in his mind, yet even with his recent exploits, there's much more to do. The health of his wife, Diana, is partly what kept him closer to home this summer. With her outlook improving, Smith is targeting one of two major undertakings next year: skiing and hiking in the mountains of Argentina or doing what he labels a "triathlon" in New Zealand: skiing, bungee jumping and scuba diving in the same day.

"The list gets longer as I get older," said Smith, 57.

So college football's foremost adventurer will be back in the game next summer, and the vacation would be more fun if he can get the Spartans back into a bowl game. Having revisited his coaching roots this week, Smith will soon go back to work in preparation for a season-opening game that he booked for old times' sake: against Idaho, Sept. 2 at Spartan Stadium.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.com

On the Road Again

John L. Smith's recent offseason adventures:

2000 - Went through basic training for officers with the U.S. Marines in Quantico, Va.

2001 - Ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

2002 - Skydived in Indiana.

2003 - Rode in an orientation flight on a T-38 Talon at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

2004 - Climbed a 19,340-foot peak on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

2005 - Paraglided off the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland.