SPORTS
Spartans look to forget recent losses against Wildcat squad
This Saturday marks the beginning of the Big Ten season, and for the third-straight year the Spartans open with Northwestern.
SPORTS
Northwestern tailback rushes into spotlight
When Big Ten football fans hear the name Jason Wright, fear is the last thing that comes to mind. In fact, most simply ask, “Who?” Considering the 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior tailback carried the ball just three times his first two seasons at Northwestern, that’s a reasonable question. But Wright, who is attempting to fill the shoes of the Wildcats’ all-time leading rusher Damien Anderson, leads Northwestern (2-2) with 346 yards on 66 carries (5.2 yards per carry). “I’m not going to lie, it definitely feels good to be back at my natural position,” said the former first-team all-state tailback at Diamond Bar High, in Diamond Bar, Calif. That’s right, the reason many Big Ten fans haven’t heard of Wright is because he spent his first season and a half playing wide receiver for the Wildcats.
SPORTS
Mens tennis to open up its season at Ball State
The MSU men’s tennis team will open its 2002-03 season this weekend in Muncie, Ind., at the Ball State Invitational. This is the second-straight season the Spartans have opened at Ball State. The team will be led by eight returning letter winners from last season, including seniors Adam Hourani, Jimmy McGuire and Goran Topalo, juniors Mike Jonckheere, Chris Mitchell and Eric Simonton, and sophomores Andrew Formanczyk and Cameron Marshall. The Spartans will travel to Nashville, Oct.
SPORTS
Heisman watch
After five weeks of action, the Heisman Trophy race has been shaken, not stirred. Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, the former front-runner, is being overshadowed by his own teammate.
SPORTS
Conference title up for grabs as multiple teams eye Rose Bowl
As usual, the Big Ten season is loaded with unpredictability. The 107th year of conference play could go down as one of the most competitive in history. Michigan, Ohio State and MSU - voted by the Big Ten’s media to finish first, second and third, respectively - haven’t pulled away from the competition.
SOCCER
Goalkeeper finds success on a different field of play
For Tyler Robinson, it was never a question of what college he’d attend, just what sport to play when he got there.As an all-American lacrosse player and three-sport athlete at Lansing Waverly, Robinson was recruited very highly.
SPORTS
HARDY: Spartan struggles call for shake up in starting lineup
Pull up one of those Gunson Street all-purpose, ratty couches - you know, the type that has springs that find you in all the wrong places and kicks up a little funk when you plop down - and join your favorite ol’ armchair quarterback for a little pregame play calling. Comfy?
SPORTS
Spartan offense not up to last seasons standards
The Spartan offense, one of the nation’s more potent attacks last season, has fallen on hard times.In 2001, MSU’s offense ranked 18th in the nation with 436.6 yards per game, which topped the Big Ten.
ICE HOCKEY
New coach uses training to gauge team
New hockey head coach Rick Comley was understandably anxious to get training camp under way Tuesday after six months of studying the MSU roster on paper.
VOLLEYBALL
Smiths confidence returns
Kyla Smith could have easily stayed at home in British Columbia. Or she could have followed her high school friends to places like Colorado, Washington or Oregon. Instead the senior outside hitter chose to play volleyball at MSU, and four years later, the Spartans must be mighty happy at her need for individuality. The player head coach Chuck Erbe calls “the cornerstone” of his team is raking up the best numbers of her life.
SOFTBALL
Softball team falls in tournament final
The MSU softball team placed second with a 2-1-2 record at the Elk Rapids Tournament during the weekend.
SPORTS
U runner named athlete of the week
For the third time in her cross-country career at MSU, junior Michelle Carson was dubbed the Big Ten Cross Country Female Athlete of the Week. “It was very surprising to be named again,” said Carson, a three-time honoree.
ICE HOCKEY
New skaters get chance to impress
Three-quarters of the Spartans’ eight-player freshman class finally got to practice with their new team Tuesday, but there also were two noticeable absences.Rookie forwards Colton Fretter and David Booth missed the season-opening practice because of ailments.
ICE HOCKEY
Lineup could be due for shake-up with new coach in command
Some of the MSU hockey team’s upperclassmen are feeling like freshmen during the first practices of the season this week.With new head coach Rick Comley at the helm, every player has the proverbial “clean slate” to work with during training camp.
FOOTBALL
Rogers expects to play Saturday
Despite suffering bruised ribs in MSU’s loss to No. 10 Notre Dame, Charles Rogers plans to play against Northwestern on Saturday. “Even if I’m not 100 percent, I’m still able to go out there and be a decoy,” Rogers said.
SPORTS
Spartan goalkeepers receive Defensive Player of the Week honors
Two MSU goalkeepers received Defensive Player of the Week nods from the NCAA on Monday. After the women’s soccer team shut out Illinois and Iowa this weekend, the Big Ten named junior goalkeeper Stacy Heller Co-Defensive Player of the Week. And Christina Kirkaldy, a sophomore goalkeeper for the field hockey team, also earned Defensive Player of the Week for extending the Spartans’ winning streak to eight with a shutout against No.
ICE HOCKEY
Ice hockey opens practice sans Mason, Miller
Practice starts today for the MSU hockey team and, for the first time in 24 years, Ron Mason will not be presiding over the squad.
SOCCER
Spartans no match for No. 9 Indiana
Whenever things are looking up for the MSU men’s soccer team, along comes Indiana.The No.
SPORTS
Men struggle, women place in invitational
MSU men’s and women’s cross country teams began their season Friday at the Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational determined to prove they were worthy of their high preseason rankings.
SPORTS
HARDY: 2 games, 2 nail-biters
The tales of two cities, but one of them might as well be a sequel. It was the best of times, the worst of times, in East Lansing on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday. Both days showed promise - the age-old tradition of the Fighting Irish and Spartans and the christening of Ford Field in regular play.