FOOTBALL
Smith modest about feat
Ending the season with eight wins, head coach John L. Smith finished with the most wins a first-season MSU football coach.
BASKETBALL
Grueling schedule begins tonight against Kansas
And so it begins. After being discussed, criticized and examined to near exhaustion, the murderous nonconference schedule facing the No.
VOLLEYBALL
Spikers lose to Minnesota, sweep Iowa on senior night
A weekend split nearly guarantees the MSU volleyball team a spot in this year's NCAA Tournament. Similar to basketball, 20 wins is the mark most teams shoot for to "lock up" an NCAA Tournament bid.
SPORTS
Quickstart
MSU women's basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie would probably agree that the best way to start a season is with two victories over powerful teams, a tournament championship and a senior clutching tournament MVP honors. During the weekend, MSU hosted the Spartan Classic Tournament, defeating Davidson College, 74-68, on Saturday, then winning the championship game on Sunday against Temple, 78-40.
BASKETBALL
Izzo calls team 'soft' after game, demands toughness
Tom Izzo slammed his right fist into the palm of his left hand. The veins were clearly visible in his forehead and neck as he screamed across the court to any Spartan who would listen. It was a reoccurring scene Friday night in the Spartans' sloppy, 64-52 victory over Bucknell at Breslin Center. Rebounding, a staple in MSU's program during Izzo's tenure, evaporated against the Bison (0-1). The Spartans (1-0) weren't crashing the boards, and when the final buzzer sounded, MSU was slimly the victor in the rebounding category, 42-39. The poor display and representation of Spartan basketball caused Izzo to call this squad the softest team he's had in his nine-year reign as head coach. "This team needs a toughness transfusion," Izzo said.
FOOTBALL
Smoker's final season realized
They patiently waited for him to finish the celebration.One last time cheering in the corner with the students, singing the fight song with the band.
SPORTS
Steroids are ruining sports; users should be ashamed
I'm blaming Barry Bonds for my inability to log onto ESPN.com and not be pissed off. His sixth National League MVP award notwithstanding - though I could devote an entire newspaper to why I think Bonds should never be mentioned in the same breath as Willie Mays - I'm furious for another reason. Acronyms. Specifically, two of them - "THG" and "BALCO." Until about a month ago, I thought THG was what gave the left-handed cigarette its punch and BALCO was the brave, cartoon sled dog voiced by Michael J.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers avenge Thursday's defeat to Wayne State with 7-2 thrashing
In his third season, MSU junior forward Mike Lalonde finally pulled the rabbit from his hat. Lalonde was awarded the game's No.
FOOTBALL
Blowout over Penn State ends surprising campaign
As the game clock wound down at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, MSU players added the final chapter to what has become a storybook season.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: 'U' loses 3-2 to Wayne State in OT hockey game
Once again, the CCHA was outplayed by the CHA.The No. 14 MSU hockey team (7-5-1 overall, 6-3-1 CCHA) lost to Findlay earlier this year, 4-3.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Volleyball looks for 2 wins against Minnesota, Iowa
It's a big weekend for the MSU volleyball team - in more ways than one.The Spartans (18-8 overall, 10-6 Big Ten) not only play Minnesota and Iowa this weekend, but have parents' night and the honoring of former Spartan Erin Hartley on Friday and senior night on Saturday.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Flagg pleads not guilty
MSU junior bandit Robert Flagg pleaded not guilty to a charge of use of marijuana at his arraignment on Tuesday at 54-B District Court in East Lansing. Flagg was released on $100 bond and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Dec.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Spartans receive oral commitment for next season
The Great North continues to be kind to the MSU football team.Tom Kaczmarek, a 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound defensive lineman from London, Ontario's Catholic Central High School, gave an oral commitment to the Spartans' football program last weekend.
ICE HOCKEY
WEB ONLY: Icers begin nonconference series against Wayne State
The No. 14 MSU hockey team is tired.That's not a knock, but an expectation from a roster full of student-athletes.
FOOTBALL
Strong-legged kicker eyes 'U'
Junior place-kicker Dave Rayner is enjoying a career season. His point total for kicks is top in the Big Ten, and his foot has put the Spartans' special teams on the national stage.Too soon to think about a replacement?
FOOTBALL
Pick up Bills running back Morris
Welcome to the home stretch. It's week 12 - time to make the final push to reach the playoffs.
SPORTS
Women's basketball alters Saturday's game times
The MSU women's basketball team announced that game times are pushed back for Saturday's Dean Trailways of Michigan Spartan Classic due to the home football game's noon start.The season opener against Davidson will start at 4:30 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Injuries drag down 'U'
As MSU's season moves downhill with three consecutive losses, injuries continue to plague the team.One of the downfalls of the past week occurred on Thursday, when sophomore safety Eric Smith came down wrong, twisting his knee when defending a pass thrown to senior wide receiver Ziehl Kavanaght.On Saturday, head coach John L.
BASKETBALL
Point guard position poses questions for Izzo's squad
It'll be the question of the season for the Spartans.Well, maybe second to "Can they win a national championship?"Will the point-guard-by-committee approach suffice for the men's basketball team's postseason powerhouse dreams?Juniors Alan Anderson and Chris Hill, senior Rashi Johnson and freshman Brandon Cotton are members of the quarterback committee."We really have three or four guys that can run the point," sophomore center Paul Davis said.
ICE HOCKEY
Vicari shines in net
One minute and 33 seconds. That's the time that separated MSU freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari from his second career shutout Saturday night in Oxford, Ohio.