The former Oklahoma quarterback announced Tuesday that he is transferring to Michigan State, an hour's drive away from where he attended high school.
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"It feels really good; to be able to have my family and friends come to my games is going to be nice,” Nichol said. "Coming back home is a dream come true.”
After sitting out next season, Nichol will have three years of eligibility remaining at Michigan State.
In 2009, senior starter Brian Hoyer will be gone, leaving Nichol to battle a pair of redshirt freshmen in Kirk Cousins and Nick Foles to be the Spartans' starting quarterback.
"We're excited about the future,” said Gary Nichol, Keith's father. "And when the dust settles, we'll have nothing but good memories about OU.”
Last spring, Nichol enrolled at OU early with hopes of winning the vacant starting quarterback job.
But he was beaten out by Sam Bradford and eventually fell behind Joey Halzle on the depth chart.
This spring, Nichol couldn't overtake Bradford or Halzle and would've been the No. 3 quarterback heading into the fall.
Likely looking at three years as Bradford's backup, Nichol decided shortly after spring drills that he would transfer to a school where he'd have a better chance of playing.
On May 8, Nichol met with Sooner coach Bob Stoops to inform him of his decision.
"Their meeting ended with a hug and a handshake,” Gary Nichol said. "Coach Stoops called him an hour later and told Keith, ‘If you change your mind, I'd love to have you back.' I'm very happy about how coach Stoops handled the situation with my son.”
Before his junior season at Lowell High School, Nichol verbally committed to the Spartans.
But the following year, Michigan State coach John L. Smith was fired, leaving Nichol looking at other options.
Eventually, he switched his commitment to the Sooners.
"We as a family fell in love with coach Stoops and coach (Josh) Heupel,” Gary Nichol said. "It was never about not going to Michigan State. Keith just wanted to play for coach Stoops.”
Nichol considered a host of schools to transfer to, including Central Michigan and Cincinnati.
But he hit it off with Spartans coach Mark Dantonio, who previously as coach at Cincinnati recruited Nichol out of high school.
"Coach Stoops was the best. And he's been friends with coach Dantonio for 25 years,” Nichol said. "That and finding a place where I'd be able to compete when I become eligible were key in me picking Michigan State.”
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This kid has represented himself with poise and dignity. It is refreshing to see a high profile athlete carry himself the way Keith has. Best wishes to him and his family.
yeah Ed, I went on some Michigan St forums after he committed to OU and they were bashing him like crazy. Seemed like they felt pretty betrayed. Hopefully they get over that. Its pretty sad to hold something petty like that against a kid. OU fans do it too though.
Wonder how the reception will be? Didn't he say he was a Spartan since he was a kid? I also hear that one of the QB's already in East Lansing is leaving Michigan State now...
Seems like a nice kid and a nice family. Hope he does well. If he plays I will probably cheer for the Spartans a little. Why not, there arent any other teams in the Big 10 that I care about.
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You and your family are a class act.
Take the Spartans to a Big 10 Championship!
Thanks for your effort @ OU.