BASKETBALL
Trannon to meet with Izzo
Given the surprising performances by the MSU men's basketball team Thursday and Friday, there already was reason for optimism in East Lansing.
ICE HOCKEY
Among recruits: Son of former Tiger
MSU head coach Rick Comley announced last week the signing of National Letters of Intent by three players to accompany the two already signed and to complement the returnees for the 2007-08 hockey season. The five members who make up the class of 2011 will join the Spartans next September. Dustin Gazley Position: Forward Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 150 pounds Hometown: Novi His numbers: Three goals and four points in 11 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. Comley: "Dustin is a very hard worker with a great intensity, and he also possesses some speed to his game.
SPORTS
DeHaan sets blocks record in win
Allyssa DeHaan has entered the record books yet again — in just her second collegiate game. Already the tallest player in program history, the freshman center added the single-game blocks record to her résumé Sunday, swatting away eight shots in the No.
FOOTBALL
Smith's Swan Song
State College, Pa. — Since his unceremonious firing Nov. 1, John L. Smith has been understandably guarded about his personal feelings.
SPORTS
Season was just as hard for me as for you
Anyone who followed MSU football during the 2006 season knows the team can be a bit bipolar at times.
BASKETBALL
New York, new hope
New York — If you had asked most pundits a month ago what the greatest strength of this year's MSU men's basketball team would be, most of their answers would have sounded something like this: "It'll help pass the time until next year's Top 5 recruiting class gets here." Well, after upsetting No.
FOOTBALL
Season-ending loss
State College, Pa. — This one had all the makings of a blowout. Penn State was trying to play itself into the best bowl game possible, while MSU was limping to the end of its season without a chance at a bowl game and a coach on his way out. But the Spartans played with pride.
SPORTS
Notes from New York
•Talk about loyalty: Nine Izzone members drove from East Lansing to New York for Thursday and Friday's men's basketball games, then made the five-hour drive back to State College, Pa., on Friday night for Saturday's MSU-Penn State football game.
SPORTS
Monday Musings
The value of New York Jets running back Leon Washington's trading card is soaring after it was discovered that it appears both his middle fingers are extended in the picture. In a related story, the price of Jon Kitna's trading card continues to plummet after the discovery that his fly is unzipped. The fan who triggered a brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills by throwing a beer at Ron Artest has been banned from the arena for life by the Detroit Pistons. After shooting less than 35 percent in the team's first 10 games, the Pistons reportedly are considering banning Antonio McDyess from the arena, as well. The Toronto blue jays signed free agent Frank Thomas to a two-year, $18-million contract last week. The deal includes a provision that Thomas is in charge of finding his replacement when he inevitably gets hurt this season. Freshman center Allyssa DeHaan set the MSU record for blocks with eight in a win against Texas-Arlington on Sunday. When reporters asked DeHaan about the accomplishment after the game, she swatted all of their recorders into the third row of the seats. The Miami Dolphins managed only minus-three rushing yards against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but still won thanks to a pair of return touchdowns. In a related story, the Detroit Lions managed only one offensive touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday but were awarded a win because head coach Rod Marinelli correctly guessed the result of the Helmet Shuffle at halftime.
ICE HOCKEY
Saturday shutout salvages MSU split
Junior forward Bryan Lerg summed up the No. 4 Spartans' 4-1 loss at No. 5 Notre Dame on Friday night with just a few words. "They out-hustled us, out-muscled us and they played with more energy," Lerg said. Notre Dame had just won its ninth straight game and limited MSU's scoring chances with stingy defensive play and quality goaltending. So how could the Spartans beat a Fighting Irish team that only had given up an average of 1.10 goals per game coming into the series? By giving them a taste of their own medicine. In Saturday night's series-closer at Munn Ice Arena, it was the Spartans (6-3-1 overall, 4-3-1 CCHA) who laid out all the hits, played near-perfect defense and controlled the play en route to a 2-0 win. The victory secured the weekend split and gave Notre Dame (9-2-1, 4-1-1) its first conference loss of the season. "Before the game, we identified that you can't be afraid to name a game 'a big game,'" MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
SPORTS
Taste of the city
Tom Izzo has experienced some of the biggest basketball games in college history. But one of his most memorable moments in the last 11 years happened when he took his team to the World Trade Center site in New York City for the 2001 Preseason NIT tournament. "It ranks right up there with some of the most unbelievable things I've ever witnessed," the MSU head coach said Tuesday.
SPORTS
A mix of new and old bodes well for women's team
As the MSU women's basketball team prepares to open its regular season tonight against Bucknell, the No.
SPORTS
McCallie introduces touted class of 2011
The MSU women's basketball team is preparing to welcome another recruiting class to East Lansing next summer. Head coach Joanne P.
SPORTS
Spartans confident heading into NCAA Championships
For the MSU women's cross country team, a bid to Monday's NCAA Championships was guaranteed after winning its Regional Championship.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU preps for surprising Irish
Forget about the Notre Dame hockey team who was a CCHA bottom-feeder in recent years. Having started the season with an impressive 8-1-1 record and road wins against quality opponents such as Providence and Boston College, the Fighting Irish have upped their national ranking to No.
SPORTS
Spartans look to avenge last season's loss to Oklahoma State
The MSU wrestling team will find out how it weighs in against one of the nation's premier wrestling programs when it travels to No.
SPORTS
Men's cross country gets at-large NCAA bid
Save room on the bus, ladies. The men are coming with you. Days after the MSU women's cross country team earned a spot in next week's NCAA Championships by winning the Great Lakes Regional Championship, the men's team found out it would join them after receiving an at-large bid. "The guys have done an unbelievable job of progressing as a team throughout the season," MSU director of cross country and track and field Walt Drenth said in a statement.
SPORTS
Pernicano, Rijpma earn all-region accolades
Two MSU field hockey players — senior forward Ashley Pernicano and freshman midfielder Floor Rijpma — have been named second team All-NFHCA West Region.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball freshman named Player of Week
After posting a career-high 10 blocks in MSU's upset of No. 16 Purdue last week, freshman middle blocker Vanessa King was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
FOOTBALL
Stanton questionable for Saturday's final game
In the last home game of his career, senior quarterback Drew Stanton was forced to watch most of the action from the sideline after a hit he took in the first quarter led to dizziness. Because of the injury, Stanton might be forced to the sideline again for his final game as a Spartan on Saturday at Penn State. "We'll prepare (sophomore Brian) Hoyer at this point as the starter and see what transpires as the week goes by," head coach John L.