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Sports

FOOTBALL

Offense questioned after tough loss to U-M

Matt Bishop
October 7, 2005

Despite a 4-1 record, the second guessing of the MSU football team's coaching staff has begun after some failed plays in its 34-31 overtime loss to Michigan last week. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin has taken a bulk of the heat, but said if given the chance to recall any plays of the game, he would decline. The general feeling among Spartans fans is that the play calling has been a bit conservative, especially during the second half of MSU's win over Notre Dame and the second half of the U-M game. "To say we were conservative is ludicrous," Baldwin said.

ICE HOCKEY

Expectations high for Spartans entering 2005-06 season

Eric Fish
October 7, 2005

After compiling a 20-17-4 overall record last season with the expectations and hopes that the program had coming into the 2004-05 campaign, MSU head coach Rick Comley is determined to leave last year in the past. "It was a season obviously, we had good expectations and there was no reason to think we weren't going to do well and then it just didn't work," he said.

FOOTBALL

No. 16 Penn State plays host to No.6 Ohio State in Happy Valley

Matt Bishop
October 5, 2005

After joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State finished in the top three of the conference for five straight years. Yet, the Nittany Lions have not come closer than fourth place since then. But this year might be a different story as Joe Paterno has his team out to its first 5-0 start since 1999, when the team won its first nine games. This weekend presents the toughest test to date for the No.

BASKETBALL

Recruit earns praise despite size

Tom Keller
October 4, 2005

MSU men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo secured his second verbal commitment from the top tier of the class of 2006 - Raymar Morgan, a versatile, 6-foot-7 forward from Canton, Ohio. Morgan is listed as the eighth best small forward and 28th best overall prospect in the nation by the recruiting service www.scout.com. "He's just a good, well-rounded player," said Chris Monter, Midwest region recruiting analyst for www.collegebasketballnews.com. "He does a lot of things around the hoop and he has a good mid-range game." Morgan had narrowed his options to MSU, Michigan and Ohio State.

SPORTS

MSU splits weekend games on the road

Yvette Lanier
October 3, 2005

After falling to Minnesota on Friday the MSU women's volleyball team bounced back on Saturday, defeating Iowa, 3-2. The Spartans (9-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) were led by senior setter Mickey Davis who posted a floor-high 74 assists against Iowa.

SPORTS

Spartans pick up win at end of trip

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

After suffering a 5-1 loss to Purdue on Friday, the MSU women's soccer team knocked off Indiana 1-0 on Sunday to salvage a split on their weekend road trip. Sophomore forward Breana Ballard provided all the offense the Spartans (5-3-3 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten) would need on Sunday, beating Hoosier goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro low into the left corner just moments before halftime to net her first career goal. "It's real exciting to finally get one, especially today," Ballard said in a written statement.

SPORTS

Two losses open Big Ten play for Spartans

Alex Abate
October 3, 2005

The field hockey team came up short Saturday and was upset by No. 14 Iowa as they fell 3-2, staying winless in the Big Ten. This was the second loss in a row suffered at the hands of the Hawkeyes and the first time the Spartans have started the conference 0-2 since 2000. Iowa took the lead twenty minutes into the contest as defender Kadi Sickel found the back of the net beating senior goalie Christina Kirkaldy. The Spartans entered the second half down 1-0. In the second half, Sickel struck again for Iowa and gave them the 2-0 lead over the Spartans. The Spartans didn't give up, however, and got on the scoreboard just less than three minutes later.

FOOTBALL

Lack of kicking game looms large after loss to U-M

Eric Fish
October 3, 2005

The Spartans looked far from an undefeated, No. 11-ranked team Saturday when they fell to Michigan, 34-31 in overtime, amid a number of mistakes that were absent in their previous four contests. The offense, defense, and special teams all played a rollercoaster of a game that sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill called a "team loss". "The defense made mistakes, the offense made mistakes, we all made mistakes," Thornhill said.

FOOTBALL

Monday musings

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

• Texas Tech has given Pat Knight, son of current men's basketball coach Bob Knight, a five-year contract to replace his dad once he retires. No word yet if MSU has made a similar promise to Tom Izzo's 5-year-old son, Steven. • You could say the Tigers limped to the finish line of another disappointing season this weekend.

BASEBALL

Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs

The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.

SOCCER

MSU unbeaten in last four

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

The MSU men's soccer team (3-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) got back into the win column by defeating Bowling Green (2-6-1) 3-1 yesterday afternoon. Three minutes into the first half, freshman attacker Doug DeMartin got the Spartans on the board with assists going to senior midfielder Ryan McMahen and sophomore midfielder Ryan Dick. MSU head coach Joe Baum felt the Spartans were playing a little sluggish but were able to maintain the momentum at both ends of the field.

VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore shining for Spartans

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

She was only in fifth grade when she was sitting in the stands with her father, cheering and watching a volleyball game, when her dad turned to her and said, "Hey, do you want to play this sport?" As sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson said, that's how she began to develop her love for volleyball.

SPORTS

Spartans head back on road to face Iowa

Alex Abate
September 30, 2005

After coming off a 3-1 win over in-state rival Central Michigan, the MSU field hockey team jumps back into Big Ten play as they head to Iowa. Going into this game, the Spartans are looking to rebound after starting their conference season with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Indiana.