With senior Eric Smith moved back to safety after a brief stint at bandit, the linebackers have now become the youngest group on the team. The starting group consists of junior linebacker David Herron Jr., sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill and sophomore bandit Sir Darean Adams.
For many students on campus, sports is life - whether they choose to watch or play - and MSU offers several intramural and club activities to keep sports fans interested. Although only a select few are able to participate in varsity sports, several options are available to everyone else.
MSU senior guard and team captain Lindsay Bowen has been named one of the top 30 preseason candidates for the 2005-06 Women's Wooden Award.
MSU junior wrestler Nick Simmons participated in the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, on Saturday, finishing fifth in the freestyle event.
The Spartans started practicing in full pads Saturday, only weeks away from their first game against Kent State. "This is the best first day we have had (in three years)," said head coach John L.
Former MSU All-American Alexandra Kyser was named the new field hockey assistant coach, MSU head coach Michele Madison announced last Wednesday. Kyser will work with the midfielders and defense.
MSU women's basketball forward Liz Shimek led the USA World University Games Team with a double-double scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds in an 88-64 victory over the Czech Republic in the opening game of the World University Games. Shimek was a starter and shot 6-for-12 from the field and was 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.
Two MSU men's basketball players, senior guard Maurice Ager and senior center Paul Davis have been named as two of the top 50 preseason players for the Men's 2005-06 Wooden Award All-American Team. The preseason Wooden Award list is composed of 50 student athletes who are the front-runners for college basketball's most recognized end-of-the-season trophy.
MSU baseball head coach David Grewe announced that A.J. Dunn, a pitcher from Grand Ledge, signed a national letter of intent to play for the Spartans in the 2006 season on Saturday. Dunn, a four-year letter winner at Grand Ledge High School, was an all-district team and all-region team member as a senior.
The new addition to Spartan Stadium has everyone from coaches to players raving about its more attractive look. The renovations make the stadium look similar to Purdue or Ohio State's, mainly because MSU used the same architect as the aforementioned universities, and many of the design elements are the same, said Greg Ianni, senior associate athletics director for facilities and sports management.
It's been almost 40 years since anyone did what sophomore Ryan Brehm accomplished - he made the cut in the Buick Open as an amateur. There were 156 players at the start of the tournament, but only the top 79 made the cut.
MSU women's track and field head coach Angela Goodman announced last week that Chris Campbell has been hired as an assistant coach. Campbell will work with both men and women's throwers, along with putting together training programs for the women's multi-event team members. For the past six seasons, Campbell worked at Fresno State as a coach and recruiting coordinator, the last two of which he served as assistant head coach.
MSU head coach John L. Smith said the MSU team is going to be in the same situation it was last year. "At least for another year until our depth gets better, we're going to have to stay healthy," Smith said Monday in Chicago at the Big Ten Media Day. The problem for the Spartans last season was staying healthy, especially at the quarterback position, as both former Spartan Damon Dowdell and junior starter this season, Drew Stanton, missed time with injuries. This season, Stanton is the only quarterback left with game experience, as redshirt freshman Brian Hoyer and freshman Domenic Natale have yet to take a snap in a college football game.
Chicago - Every season has its changes, but the Big Ten's best are expected to continue performing at an elite level. Michigan and Ohio State are again picked to finish as the top two teams in the conference, with Iowa placing third. The Wolverines return 16 starters including sophomore quarterback Chad Henne and running back Michael Hart.
MSU men's hockey freshman forward Justin Abdelkader was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the National Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday. In addition to Abdelkader, freshman forward Tim Crowder was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round and the Washington Capitals picked freshman forward Tim Kennedy in the sixth round. Abdelkader scored 27 goals and 25 assists as a forward on the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders of the United States Hockey League, or USHL.
MSU women's basketball senior forward Liz Shimek was chosen as one of 12 members for the 2005 USA Women's World University Games Team to compete Aug.
It's the middle of the summer and the beginning of August, so it's tough to get excited about the upcoming hockey season, but why not be excited about it? After this weekend, the National Hockey League has a full schedule, rookies from not one year but two - seeing as there was no draft last summer - and the rules are going to be different. Opening night is Oct.
MSU baseball head coach David Grewe announced the hiring of two assistant coaches, Mike Steele and Tony Baldwin, on Tuesday. Steele has been playing Minor League Baseball for the last five years as a pitcher and is a former Central Michigan player and Midland, Mich., native.
MSU redshirt freshman center Goran Suton will travel with the Big Ten Men's Basketball Foreign Tour Team from Aug.
MSU sophomore golfer Ryan Brehm qualified for the 2005 Buick Open, which will be held from Thursday to Sunday at the Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc. Brehm shot a 5-under 67 and tied for third place at the open qualifier on Monday at the Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills, Mich.