By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

It was time to have the talk with his parents. Jeff Smoker knew how much they had sacrificed to help him on his path to stardom as a Michigan State quarterback, and now came the call home to admit he had blown it all.

"It was one of the hardest things I've had to do: admit my problem and get help," Smoker said.

A year ago last week, Jay and Sue Smoker hung up the phone and made the nine-hour drive from Manheim, Pa., to East Lansing, Mich., to help their son check into a rehab center. Jeff had admitted a substance-abuse problem and was off the team.

Flash forward to this week.

Smoker, clean and sober, has led the Spartans' turnaround from their 4-8 nightmare of 2002 to a 7-2 mark and No. 14 national ranking.

He'll lead his team Saturday in a visit to No. 7 Ohio State, taking with him the Big Ten's top passing stats and the best comeback story in football.

"I have an appreciation for the game now and my health, and my opportunity here," he said. "I'm a new person."

Despite a new coaching staff and the learning curve to incorporate its offense - coach John L. Smith's spread formation - Smoker has the Spartans in contention for their first Big Ten title since 1990.

He leads the conference in passing yards per game (258.2) and total offense (253.3), is tied for first in completion percentage (64.2 percent) and is second in pass efficiency (136.5).

He holds all the school's career passing records, including 7,861 yards and 20 victories as a starter. Smoker's streak of 208 consecutive attempts without an interception - the entire Big Ten season - ended when Michigan picked off a Hail Mary pass in the end zone last Saturday as time expired.

"I think he gets better and better every week," Smith said.

As a sophomore, Smoker led the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 166.4 rating, the third-highest single-season mark in league history. But he slipped last year, completing only 56 percent of his passes and throwing hardly more touchdowns (13) than interceptions (10). The partying was affecting him.

With five games left in the season, Smoker went to then-coach Bobby Williams and confessed his problem. (Smoker has never revealed what substances he was abusing.) He was suspended.

When Smith took over in January, he told Smoker he could return to the team only if he proved his sobriety, met requirements including daily 6 a.m. conditioning sessions, and served meals at a homeless shelter. Smoker did what he was asked.

Smith had Smoker listed third on the depth chart and didn't name him the starter until 12 days before the season opener. Smith said he's certain Smoker remains clean because he has undergone drug testing.

Smoker said he has received hundreds of letters of support from people around the country. But it's in his huddle he finds the greatest satisfaction.

"Practices can be tough, and all the other things I've had to go through - the blood, sweat and tears - but when you play the way we're playing and we're successful, it's so rewarding," he said.

E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com