Wide receiver to play for Smith next season

The MSU football team will get a boost to a thin position on the depth chart.

Samuel Champagne, a wide receiver from the Spartiates du Vieux-Montreal team in Canada, accepted an offer for financial aid to MSU. The team is part of the CEGEP, which is similar to prep school in the United States.

The 6-foot-3, 205 pounder is listed as the No. 4 player out of Canada by the online recruiting magazine SpartanMag and is expected to play on MSU's team in 2003.

Champagne was also recruited by Syracuse, Wake Forest and Stanford.
Kristofer Karol

Spartans take on CMU

It will be student against teacher today when MSU tangles with Central Michigan at 4 p.m. at Old College Field.

Spartan (26-11 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) head coach Jacquie Joseph played for Chippewa skipper Margo Jonker - who is in her 24th year of coaching.

"I love playing against my old coach," Joseph said. "It's such a treat. She's such a legend. But I expect to beat them every year."

Central (19-11) is looking to end a three-game losing skid. Prior to that stretch, the Chippewas ran off 10 consecutive wins.

CMU has a solid pitching staff led by right-hander Amber Puchalski, who brings a solid 1.14 ERA to the mound. As a unit, Central's hurlers boast an impressive 1.55 ERA.

MSU junior pitcher Jessica Beech (19-4), who is expected to start today, said this matchup is all about pride.

"Upsetting us would make their season," she said. "It's pretty exciting for them, so they'll come ready to play."

Joseph said this game is important on many fronts. The Chippewas are a respected team, and the two coaches recruit against each other every year. Joseph said it will be a hotly contested matchup

"If they don't win, they'll be crushed," she said. "But I know Central Michigan will come down here and compete until the bitter end."
Jason Carmel Davis