Spartans bounce back from first season loss, defeat Minnesota
Sophomore running back Edwin Baker’s four touchdown runs led No. 16 MSU to a 31-8 win Saturday against Minnesota.
Sophomore running back Edwin Baker’s four touchdown runs led No. 16 MSU to a 31-8 win Saturday against Minnesota.
The No. 16 MSU football team looks to get back on the winning track against a one-win Minnesota team. Chat with State News sports reporters during the game.
John Stipek is not a pouter. The senior center endured two coaches, two positions and much waiting before finally getting an opportunity to be a key player in No. 16 MSU’s 8-1 start.
Bouncing back from losses such as the one the Spartans suffered against the Hawkeyes hasn’t been a problem since head coach Mark Dantonio came to MSU four years ago.
On Saturday, when No. 16 MSU (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) welcomes Minnesota (1-8, 1-4) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network), head coach Mark Dantonio said his team won’t have any trouble getting motivated following last season’s matchup between the two programs.
One week after No. 16 MSU’s 37-6 loss to No. 15 Iowa, the Spartans have a chance to get back on the winning track Saturday when they welcome Minnesota to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network).
MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday he wouldn’t have changed anything about the timing of his reinstatement of senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker.
With recent matchups between MSU and Iowa being dominated by physical play, it seemed the team that rushed for more yards last Saturday would significantly better its chances of winning.
The Spartans couldn’t have been much higher heading into the game with No. 15 Iowa (6-2, 3-1). MSU was undefeated, winning its first eight games of the season for the first time in 44 years. And as the only Big Ten team without a loss, the then-No. 5 Spartans were in the driver’s seat to win an outright conference championship.
After a performance against Northwestern that earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, junior quarterback Kirk Cousins followed up with an outing he’d like to forget.
For the first time all season, the No. 5 MSU football team will wake up Sunday morning with something other than a zero in the loss column.
Falling to No. 18 Iowa, 37-6, Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, No. 5 MSU suffered it’s first loss of 2010 after starting the season 8-0.
MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis announced Friday that the MSU football team added a three-game series with Boise State beginning with a season-opening game at Spartan Stadium in 2012.
Senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker was reinstated to the MSU football team Thursday and will have the option of traveling to Saturday’s game against No. 18 Iowa if he chooses, MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio said Thursday.
Five years since making the decision to become a Spartan, Gordon has put together a career that easily would make him the star player of many defenses throughout the country. But no matter what Gordon has been able to accomplish in his four years as a starter at MSU, he always has played in the shadow of fellow senior linebacker and All-American Greg Jones.
A little more than two weeks ago, when MSU head coach Mark Dantonio suspended senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker for being charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, or OWI, I had an immediate gut reaction: It was nice watching you in a Spartan uniform, Chris, good luck at the next level.
For MSU senior safety Marcus Hyde and junior quarterback Kirk Cousins, Saturday’s highly anticipated game between No. 5 MSU and No. 18 Iowa is even more significant as the two have personal connections to the Hawkeyes.
Ricky Stanzi’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt as time expired last season lifted undefeated Iowa to a 15-13 victory on Oct. 24 at Spartan Stadium and an appearance in a BCS bowl last year. This year, the No. 5 MSU football team would like to return the favor.
The No. 5 MSU football team will face its toughest remaining challenge and likely its biggest obstacle to an undefeated season when it visits No. 18 Iowa on Saturday. Here’s a look at four individual matchups that will determine Saturday’s game.