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Sports | 1000

FOOTBALL

Missed assignments, 464 total yards equate to loss

Megan Homanick
October 4, 2004

Iowa City, Iowa - After completely dominating Indiana's offense in the second half last week, the MSU defense could not put on an encore performance at Iowa. The Spartans (2-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) gave up 464 total yards to Iowa (3-2, 1-1) - the worst offensive team in the Big Ten prior to this weekend. "As far as the defense is concerned, I don't think we played very smart today," senior linebacker and captain Ron Stanley said.

VOLLEYBALL

Team returns home searching for wins

After playing on the road for three straight weeks, the MSU volleyball team (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) returns to Jenison Field House to face Indiana and Purdue. "It's good to be home," head coach Chuck Erbe said. But the Spartans have not won a match since Sept.

SPORTS

Smith: Team needs more emotion; poor practice habits plague 'U'

John L. Smith has a habit of kidding around. So it was no surprise reporters doubted the validity of his motivational tactics involving chickens and the exorcism of a stadium when he coached at Idaho. "Bite the head off a chicken and chew it up, that gets 'em going, right?" the head coach said.

SPORTS

Wallin tears ACL, out for entire season

MSU volleyball middle Megan Wallin was hitting a slide play behind the setter last Friday when she injured her knee. "She is finished for the season," head coach Chuck Erbe said in a written statement Wednesday after an MRI revealed Wallin tore the ACL in her right knee.

SPORTS

Spikers able to balance studies, sport

The MSU volleyball players not only keep their heads in the game, they keep them in the books, earning themselves academic honors. "One of the things I am really proud of that we've had so many Academic All-Big Ten players," head coach Chuck Erbe said. Last year, the team had nine Academic All-Big Ten selections.

FOOTBALL

Stanton to start at Iowa; provides leadership for Spartans

Megan Homanick
September 28, 2004

For the first time all season, no quarterback questions were asked to MSU head coach John L. Smith at his Monday press conference. Sophomore Drew Stanton is MSU's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Iowa. Stanton is still recovering from the effects of his knee injury, but said for the first time in five weeks he did not have to get fluid drained out of his knee.

SPORTS

Kirkaldy earns Big Ten honors for 2nd time

Dave Salisbury
September 28, 2004

Junior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy is the Big Ten field hockey Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Kirkaldy, who also earns this honor for the seventh time in her career, totaled two straight shutouts (four saves) in MSU's 7-0 win against Ohio on Friday, and 2-0 victory over Northwestern on Sunday.

SPORTS

Stanton emerges as Spartans' starting QB, but how long will he last?

So I'm sitting here watching Donovan McNabb make the Lions defensive line look stupid, and I'm thinking, "Wow, what a luxury to have a quarterback who can throw and run." There's even more proof on Detroit's next possession when Joey Harrington is scrambling from the Philadelphia defense and the ball just pops out of his hand - fumble-roosky. Two quick notes: I know I'm not the first person to bring this concept to light, and I'm not bashing Harrington, but he shouldn't be running with the ball-throw it away, Joey! Where's the relevance in all this, you ask?

FOOTBALL

Cool comeback

Bloomington, Ind. - As MSU's offense battled inconsistency and turnovers in the first half against Indiana, its defense held firm, eventually carrying the Spartans to a comeback win against Indiana. Sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton, with his spectacular running performance, was the face of MSU's 30-20 win, but the defense made his triumphant story possible. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, MSU (2-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) was losing, 20-7.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans winless for second straight week; Wallin injured

Walking away with losses to both No. 1 Minnesota and Iowa this weekend would have been disappointing enough for the MSU volleyball team. But now the Spartans (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) must wait for news on whether junior middle Megan Wallin will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. "We're trying to determine whether it was an ACL tear," head coach Chuck Erbe said.

SPORTS

Andrews wins B flight singles championship

Torey Oberst
September 27, 2004

The MSU women's tennis team ended tournament play Sunday in the last round of The Yonex Spartan Cup, held at MSU. Sophomore Sarah Andrews beat Eastern Michigan's Laura Fernandez in the B flight singles final to win the championship.

SPORTS

Wojcik promoted to associate head coach

Kris Turner
September 24, 2004

Doug Wojcik was named the men's basketball associate head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the 2003-04 season. Wojcik worked for three seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels earn a No.