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Sports | 1000

SPORTS

Bottom feeders look to improve status in conference ranks

Andrew Fifer
November 8, 2002

Coming into the 10th game of the season, the MSU football team has lost a great deal - three more games than it’s won, two team co-captains and a head coach.The Spartans (3-6 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) will be playing without junior quarterback Jeff Smoker (indefinitely suspended) for the third-straight game, senior tailback Dawan Moss (dismissed from the team) and head coach Bobby Williams (fired Monday night).Williams was adored by many of the players and some are wondering if interim head coach Morris Watts, the offensive coordinator, can get the troops to rally behind him.MSU junior linebacker Monquiz Wedlow said the team is not going to give up and still has intentions on finishing the season strong.

SPORTS

Heisman watch

Eric Mckinney
November 8, 2002

Last week was a crazy one for college football. But it helped Heisman voters sort through the contenders and pretenders.Dark horses such as N.C.

SPORTS

Williams, despite his struggles in third year as Spartan head coach, could recruit like no other

If there’s one thing Bobby Williams will be remembered for during his almost three-year tenure at MSU, it’s that the man could recruit.Williams, running backs coach and associate coach for 10 years before taking over for Nick Saban at the 2000 Citrus Bowl, was influential in bringing in a bulk of the talent the team has today.During those years as an assistant coach, he went on several recruiting visits, talking to families, high school coaches and the student-athletes about the opportunities MSU had to offer.Williams never had head coaching experience.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans hit road for two games

Chris Mackinder
November 8, 2002

The MSU volleyball team doesn’t like being in the middle of the Big Ten standings, and players said this is a great weekend to do something about that. The Spartans (15-7 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) are stuck in fifth place, but a pair of wins would bump them up in the conference.

ICE HOCKEY

Niagara visits Munn

James Jahnke
November 8, 2002

Bye weeks on the MSU hockey schedule haven’t been very common in recent years, so it’s tough to guess how the Spartans will perform against Niagara at 7:05 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Juniors lively spirit is contagious

Chris Mackinder
November 7, 2002

Fans flock to MSU volleyball matches to watch the Spartans battle fierce competition. But they also come to see the buzz Jenny Rood creates with her performance on the court. Following every kill, block or opponent error, Rood makes her feelings known, ecstatically jumping like a bunny.

SPORTS

Wrestling team hosts tourney at Jenison

No. 16 MSU is hosting one of the nation’s largest tournaments this weekend. The Michigan State Open, held Saturday and Sunday at Jenison Field House, is a double-elimination tourney with each wrestler competing on an individual basis, and no team scoring. Last season’s event brought to the mats more than 300 wrestlers from 18 different schools, including five ranked squads. This year, the Big Ten features seven of its 11 teams ranked in the top 20, according to the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association poll released Wednesday. Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State and Illinois grace the poll’s top 10 list, with Minnesota nabbing the top spot.

SPORTS

Bobby's World no more

Krista Latham
November 6, 2002

Matt McKenna isn't going to hide his "Bobby's World" jersey in the back of his closet just yet. The co-director of Bobby's World said he thinks firing Bobby Williams was the right decision, especially after Williams admitted he "didn't know" if he had control of the team after the loss to Michigan on Saturday.

FOOTBALL

Watts to close out Spartans' season

Andrew Fifer
November 6, 2002

Less than 18 hours after Bobby Williams was fired Monday evening, Morris Watts fielded questions from the media for the first time as the interim head coach Tuesday afternoon. Watts has been handed the task of trying to motivate a 3-6 team that has been blown out in its last four games.

SPORTS

Cross country teams finish second and sixth

Dawn Klemish
November 5, 2002

No. 23 MSU missed claiming its second consecutive Big Ten title by just three points Sunday, finishing behind Michigan with a score of 73. Junior Michelle Carson finished first in the 5-kilometer race with a time of 17:24 to become MSU’s first individual champion in 11 years, earning All-Big Ten first team accolades for her efforts.

SPORTS

Womens soccer team ready to host tourney

Chris Mackinder
November 5, 2002

The MSU women’s soccer team dropped its final regular season game Saturday, falling to Furman 1-0. Defense fueled the game as neither team got on the scoreboard until Furman’s Emily Turgeon netted the game winner in the 86th minute. MSU had the corner kick advantage 6-0 but lost the shot battle 8-6.

SPORTS

Field hockey wraps up season with victory

Chris Mackinder
November 5, 2002

The No. 5 MSU field hockey team closed out the regular season with a 5-1 victory over Ohio State on Saturday. Sophomore forward Michelle Carstens netted the first goal in the 12th minute and Junior back Alexandra Kyser netted the second in the 19th minute to give MSU a quick 2-0 lead.

FOOTBALL

Moss arrest just one of many negative incidents

Chris Mackinder
November 5, 2002

A day after Dawan Moss was arrested and dismissed from the MSU football, details of the incident have become clearer.Early Sunday, the co-captain was charged with second-offense drunken driving, fourth-degree fleeing and eluding and resisting and obstructing a police officer.