EAST LANSING – There’s a common refrain among football coaches: if something works for another team, steal it.

No, not like that, Connor Stalions.

Concepts and ideologies have come and gone throughout the sport’s history as quickly as jobs turn over at the pinnacle of the profession. Coaches openly borrow good ideas from their peers, sometimes thieving them in whole and sometimes tweaking them to fit their own schemes and personnel.

Michigan State's Jonathan Smith admitted he’s no different. And he saw plenty of things he liked that he’s considering pilfering from Boston College coach Bill O’Brien’s game plan in a 42-40 double overtime win Saturday, Sept. 6.

“I think you’re always trying to learn and grow. And I’m not unique in that way,” Smith said Monday, Sept. 8. “In college fo

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