Thursday, June 4, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Committed to memory: celebrated games on home turf

Dillon Davis
October 10, 2013

It’s been around for 15 United States presidents. It’s had four different names and has quintupled in size since it opened. It cost $160,000 to build and has been home to hundreds of All-Big Ten honorees, 15 head football coaches and six national title teams. This weekend, it celebrates its 500th game. As the MSU football team (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) welcomes Indiana (3-2, 1-0) for a weekend of Homecoming festivities, the program also celebrates 500 games at Spartan Stadium and will welcome back the Rose Bowl-winning 1987 Spartans for a weekend of celebratory activities.

FOOTBALL

Breast cancer awareness pink signs to be handed out at homecoming football game

Nolly Dakroury
October 10, 2013

MSU plans to give students the opportunity to sport some pink with their green and white by partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to raise awareness about breast cancer during this week’s Homecoming football game on Saturday. The nonprofit health care organization will provide attendees with reversible cheer cards in Spartan Stadium that read ‘Go Green/Go Pink’ or ‘Go White/Go Pink.’

FOOTBALL

Storm The Gates

Dillon Davis
October 6, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was a brief moment in time. But for Darqueze Dennard, it has been on his mind for weeks. During the first quarter of September’s 21-6 victory against South Florida, the senior cornerback dropped an easy interception for a touchdown, forced to watch helplessly as a ball well within his grasp fell incomplete to the finely manicured grass.

FOOTBALL

From Sadler to Cook, MSU impressed

Dillon Davis
October 5, 2013

Facing a punting situation to open the fourth quarter with the MSU football team clinging to a six-point lead, junior punter Mike Sadler entered the game to send the ball back to the opposing team as he had 24 previous times this season. It’s something he’s able to do as consistent as nearly anyone in the country since taking over the position in 2011.

FOOTBALL

Now they're Cook-ing

Stephen Brooks
October 5, 2013

Mike Sadler was MSU’s most valuable player through its first three games as the Spartans were frustratingly ineffective on offense, leaning on Sadler time and time again to get them out of a jam. Even as MSU had its best offensive showing of the season in a 26-14 win at Iowa to begin Big Ten play, the junior punter again played the hero role.

FOOTBALL

Hawkeyes use late surge to build 14-10 halftime lead

Stephen Brooks
October 5, 2013

Iowa City, Iowa – It appeared MSU would walk into the locker room with a 10-point lead it could feel good about. Then the Hawkeyes exploded for a quick pair of long touchdown drives on their final possessions of the half to take a 14-10 advantage. MSU’s defense dominated much of the first half and found life on a big play from sophomore wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. The Spartans (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) forced three-and-outs on four of Iowa’s (4-1, 1-0) first five possessions, and the other ended with an interception from senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard. MSU opened up with a three-and-out on its first possession, too, before squandering a pair of prime scoring chances on the next two drives. Junior running back Jeremy Langford was stuffed on 4th-and-1 from the Iowa 24-yard line, and on the next possession following Dennard’s interception, freshman kicker Michael Geiger missed a 36-yard field goal. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook hooked up with Kings for a 46-yard touchdown, by far MSU’s longest play of the season, for a 10-0 lead. It took Iowa six possessions to earn a first down, and once it did the Hawkeyes were rolling.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio faces another tough test at Iowa

Stephen Brooks
October 4, 2013

When Mark Dantonio returned to East Lansing seven years ago as MSU’s 24th head football coach, he looked to Iowa as a model. In the Hawkeyes, he saw a template for how he wanted to shape his program, one built with modest recruits on a foundation of toughness, discipline and player development.

FOOTBALL

Nail-biters over last few seasons

Dillon Davis
October 3, 2013

Only two games in the past six seasons have been decided by more than seven points when Iowa and MSU face off. With both teams matching up comparatively this season, another close one wouldn’t be out of the picture.

FOOTBALL

Offensive line competition still heating

Stephen Brooks
October 2, 2013

Offensive line coach Mark Staten was more than pleased with how his group fared in the Spartans’ loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago. The Spartans rotated in eight offensive linemen, and the various combinations pushed around a talented Fighting Irish defense for much of the afternoon, resulting in a 119-82 advantage in rushing yards.

FOOTBALL

Lippett uses bye week to earn starting spot

Stephen Brooks
October 2, 2013

The biggest beneficiary of MSU football’s bye week might have been junior wide receiver Tony Lippett. Lippett used the week off to reevaluate himself and refocus after talking with coaches, and it paid off with his ascension into the starting line at the X receiver spot with sophomore Aaron Burbridge.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio stresses importance of first Big Ten game

Dillon Davis
October 1, 2013

“A game of inches.” It’s popular sports cliché, and for good reason — MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is never shy to break out the ruler when determining the margin in a close victory or a narrow defeat. And when it comes to playing Iowa, the margins for Dantonio are about as close as they come.

FOOTBALL

Cook fine tuning skills in bye week

Stephen Brooks
September 26, 2013

During MSU’s bye week, quarterbacks coach Brad Salem told his players to focus on improving one aspect of their game following the loss to Notre Dame. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook chose two: footwork and accuracy.

FOOTBALL

Jairus Jones out six weeks with MCL injury

Stephen Brooks
September 24, 2013

With the first of two bye weeks underway, the MSU football team is hoping the extra rest will prove beneficial for players on the mend. For senior linebacker Jairus Jones, it will be at least six weeks before he returns to action after suffering a medial collateral ligament, or MCL, injury against Notre Dame, head coach Mark Dantonio announced.