FOOTBALL
Spartans turning back to drawing board against Irish
Since MSU’s loss to Central Michigan last week, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said his team will get back to basics.
FOOTBALL
Loss brings back bad memories for Dantonio
To MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio, Saturday’s 29-27 upset loss to Central Michigan presented an unfortunate feeling of déja vú from his first year leading the Spartans.
FOOTBALL
Don't count Lions out after losing opener
The Detroit Lions’ season opener against New Orleans was full of positives. Quarterback Matthew Stafford slung the ball across the field, the defense came up with a touchdown and cornerback Anthony Henry racked up 11 tackles and an interception.
FOOTBALL
MSU faces tough games after loss
Two games into a season filled with high expectations, the MSU football team already is at a crossroads.
FOOTBALL
Chipped away
Saturday’s game had many MSU fans bringing a phrase that many thought was dead and buried back to life — “Same Old Spartans.” The 29-27 loss to Central Michigan, which featured eight MSU penalties and included a crucial offsides call in the final seconds, was too eerily reminiscent of the days of Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, where the team lacked discipline and frequently melted down in crucial situations.
FOOTBALL
Cousins might have won quarterback race in loss
Sophomore Kirk Cousins appeared to emerge as the front-runner in MSU’s ongoing quarterback competition Saturday, completing 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown.
FOOTBALL
Poor practice week, lack of leadership might have led to loss
For junior linebacker Greg Jones, something wasn’t right before the game started.
FOOTBALL
Late mistakes, field goal doom Spartans in 29-27 upset loss
The MSU football team’s defense couldn’t find an answer for Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour when it mattered most, as LeFevour led his team on two big drives in the final minutes, the first earning the Chippewas a touchdown and the final resulting in a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left, leading Central Michigan to a 29-27 win over the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
FOOTBALL
MSU weapons on both sides of ball will be CMU's challenge
In-state rival Central Michigan rolls into Spartan Stadium this Saturday, where they have beaten MSU twice in the last 20 years.
FOOTBALL
Prognosticators 09/11/09
This is an interesting game for the Spartans. Central Michigan brings a talented team into Spartan Stadium but struggled in its season opener against Arizona, losing 19-6. Quarterback Dan LeFevour has proven himself to be the real deal for the Chippewas, but MSU’s defense is hungry and ready to go following last week’s game against Montana State in which it only allowed three points.
FOOTBALL
Backups find unexpected playing time
It’s a fan’s worst nightmare: Seeing a starter go down and having an unproven backup take the field. But for coaches and players, it’s business as usual. Coaches constantly tell players to practice as if they are going to start for that exact reason.
FOOTBALL
CMU quarterback poses offensive threat
What stands out to MSU head coach Mark Dantonio about Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is his experience, mobility and toughness.
FOOTBALL
MSU, 3 MAC schools have entered into a once-in-a-lifetime agreement that will make football a...
It was the complete opposite of what typically goes on behind the scenes of the MSU athletics department. Mark Hollis — MSU athletics director, mastermind behind the “Basketbowl” and “Cold War” and the man who wants to play basketball on an aircraft carrier — raised his eyebrows at an unconventional idea.
FOOTBALL
Traditional game day cheer to be phased out
For the first time in more than three decades, “Hockey Cheer” is gone from the Spartan Marching Band’s song sheet. Traditionally a fixture in its pregame show and on third downs during football games, the band did not play the cheer during this past week’s pregame show, but it did play it sparingly in the game.
FOOTBALL
Dantonio turns focus to touted Chips offense
After a season opener that went mostly according to plan, the MSU football team is preparing for a much tougher opponent in Central Michigan this week. The Chippewas, coming off a 19-6 loss at Arizona, are expected to be plenty motivated against an in-state rival.
FOOTBALL
Most of roster sees action in blowout victory
In Saturday’s season-opening game against Montana State, 68 of 100 dressed players saw the field for the MSU football team.
FOOTBALL
Weekend important for conference's national image
All of the talk in the offseason was how the Big Ten would respond to a 1-6 bowl record last season and an increasingly poor national reputation.
FOOTBALL
Dantonio needs to let quarterback situation work itself out
Through one game, MSU’s “quarterback controversy” is just as muddled as it was in January. And April. And August.
FOOTBALL
Freshmen running backs see first carries of career
Caulton Ray had never taken a handoff in a college game before, so he was understandably nervous. “The adrenaline was pumping but as soon as I got on the sidelines and the Star Spangled banner came on, I felt good,” he said. “I was a little nervous but after I got the ball a few times I felt very good.”
FOOTBALL
Spartans open season with 44-3 win over Montana State
The MSU football team kicked off its season in victorious fashion Saturday, knocking off Montana State 44-3 in front of 74,518 at Spartan Stadium. “It was a good first step,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We’re going to have to play better as we continue on and the next challenge is Central Michigan.”