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Sports

SPORTS

Henry returns to gridiron after missing a season

Andrew Fifer
August 30, 2002

When Ivory Miller’s eldest grandchild signed with MSU, she planned to move to the area from Sarasota, Fla., to watch him play in his senior season. But when senior cornerback Cedric Henry was declared academically ineligible two weeks before the season opener against Central Michigan last season, her plans were altered. Instead of becoming a cheerleader, she assumed a more familiar role - counselor. “It was a coincidence I was here when all the things happened,” she said.

BASKETBALL

Postseason stats to count

Andrew Fifer
August 29, 2002

After years of inconsistency between the NCAA and its football conferences, the NCAA record books will recognize players’ statistics in bowl games. Sean Straziscar, assistant director for statistics for the NCAA, said starting this year football’s record keeping methods will be the same as other sports. “Football was the only sport that we did not count postseason statistics up until now,” he said.

SPORTS

Lugnuts ready for playoffs one step at a time

Dawn Klemish
August 29, 2002

As the minor-league baseball regular season comes to a close, the Lansing Lugnuts have secured themselves a spot in the playoffs - the only question is who’ll they play.If Lansing finishes at the top of it’s Eastern Division of the Midwest League, it will face off Sept.

SPORTS

Field hockey ready for opener

Dawn Klemish
August 29, 2002

After winning the first Big Ten title in team history last season, the women’s field hockey team has a tough road ahead of them - but they’re ready. Eight starters and 14 letter-winners return to a squad that last year compiled a 16-6 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Michigan in a 2-1 overtime loss. The team kicks off its season Saturday by visiting the nine-time National Champion Old Dominion Lady Monarchs, and is anxious to take on the task. The Monarchs are favored to win their seventh consecutive national championship, despite the loss of 2001 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Adrienne Yoder to graduation. “To have a strong opponent right away is fun, that’s what we train for all summer,” head coach Michele Madison said.

FOOTBALL

Eagles hope to contain Spartans

Eric Mckinney
August 29, 2002

Ypsilanti - The Eastern Michigan Eagles know what they must do in to win it’s season opener Saturday at Spartan Stadium - slow down junior wide receiver Charles Rogers. The problem is they don’t know how.

ICE HOCKEY

Freshman eager to arrive, veteran looks for new home

James Jahnke
August 29, 2002

Seven of the Spartan hockey team’s eight freshmen are on campus, going to class, skating at Munn Ice Arena and generally getting acclimated to college life. The only rookie missing is Nenad Gajic, a skilled forward from Burnaby, British Columbia, who is still with his club lacrosse team that’s fighting for the Canadian junior national championship. Gajic, who is also a forward in lacrosse, is pursuing the Minto Cup with the rest of his Burnaby Lakers teammates.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Men’s cross country ranked No. 14 in preseason poll The men’s cross country team is ranked No.

FOOTBALL

Punter takes hobby to new heights

Eric Mckinney
August 28, 2002

From Cougar to Spartan, Jason Daily has made the transition from junior college standout to Big Ten starter.But growing up in Santa Clarita, Calif., the 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior punter never imagined football would be his ticket to success.

ICE HOCKEY

Empty net

James Jahnke
August 28, 2002

Ryan Miller was back in his hometown of East Lansing Tuesday after spending the previous day in Buffalo - the city he hopes to call his hockey home in the near future. The 22-year-old star goaltender met with local media Tuesday to explain his decision to forgo his senior season at MSU in favor of professional hockey.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans working for perfection

Chris Mackinder
August 28, 2002

All summer, the MSU volleyball team has been lifting weights and conditioning, trying to increase strength and endurance for the upcoming season.With two days until the team’s first regular season matchup, the No.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller leaves behind legacy, questions

James Jahnke
August 28, 2002

One would assume that Matt Migliaccio and Justin Tobe would be feeling a little pressure now that the unenviable task of replacing Ryan Miller has officially begun. After all, Miller was one of the most prolific goaltenders in college hockey history before signing with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

FOOTBALL

Speed over size for defense

Eric Mckinney
August 27, 2002

When the Spartans take the field Saturday against Eastern Michigan, don’t expect to see last year’s defense.Middle linebacker Josh Thornhill has moved on to the NFL, and the smash-mouth style MSU fans learned to love went with him.The task of replacing last season’s leading tackler goes to junior Mike Labinjo, who finished third on the team with 64 tackles last season.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller leaves Spartans for pros

James Jahnke
August 27, 2002

The first day of fall semester classes brought beginnings for most MSU students, but it signaled the end of Ryan Miller’s collegiate athletic career. Miller, a two-time All-American goaltender, forfeited his senior year of eligibility and signed a contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

SPORTS

Amateur Night

Krista Latham
August 26, 2002

Eric Jorgensen isn’t used to this kind of attention. The MSU senior golfer can’t drive a cart 10 yards at Forest Akers West Golf Course, home of the MSU golf team, without someone stopping to congratulate him on his successful summer.

ICE HOCKEY

Alumni return to Munn

James Jahnke
August 26, 2002

The MSU hockey program held its version of a family reunion last week, but instead of burgers, beer and dorky party games, there were pucks, slap shots and shards of glass.For the third-straight summer, Spartan assistant coach Tom Newton welcomed back former MSU skaters for a weeklong “pro camp” at Munn Ice Arena.