The phrase, "Lights, camera, action" doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about a football game. But this is different. Flames, dancers, music and prizes are just part of the craziness that encompasses arena football. And there also is a football game complete with football players.
The No. 20 MSU wrestling team faces off against No. 7 Oklahoma tonight, in a dual that will feature two marquee matchups, which could give fans a sneak preview of two late NCAA championship matches. At 125 pounds, No.
This weekend marks an important series for the MSU hockey team in the quest for home ice when the Spartans meet Bowling Green in a home-and-home series. The Falcons are on a two-game winning streak, after sweeping Western Michigan last weekend, and have a 5-4-1 record in their past 10 games, all while evolving into a CCHA contender. MSU, currently in eighth place in the CCHA, will be looking to move up in the standings against the fifth place Falcons as the season winds down. Just as it was last weekend against Ohio State, special teams are stressed to be another critical factor this weekend. "Special teams wins games for you," sophomore forward Tyler Howells said.
Five MSU seniors will participate in the NFL Combine currently going on until Tuesday, trying to improve their positioning for the 2005 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-24. Running back DeAndra Cobb, defensive end Clifford Dukes, free safety Jason Harmon, place-kicker Dave Rayner and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson all will be down in Indianapolis to prove themselves at various skill and speed drills. The number of Spartans at the combine matches the number of players representing defending national champions Southern Cal. Cobb ranks third all-time at MSU for kickoff return yards with 1,632. Dukes, who dealt with an injury to his quadreceps muscle throughout his senior year, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and ranks sixth of MSU's all-time sack list. Leading the Spartans in interceptions in 2004 was Harmon, who also finished third in tackles with 105.
The senior guard continued to shine last week with her performances in wins against Iowa and Ohio State.
When junior center Paul Davis looks back on six straight losses to No. 20 Wisconsin, he said he remembers the big plays. Although nearly all of them have been made by the Badgers, Davis said the Spartans (19-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten) need to knock off Wisconsin (17-6, 10-2) to give them the lift needed to make a run in March during tournament time. "They beat us down there with the three," Davis said of MSU's last loss at Madison, Wis.
MSU junior guard Lindsay Bowen is up for the Naismith Trophy, an annual award given to the top player in the nation.
The MSU hockey team will get a better feel for where it will wind up in the final CCHA standings after this weekend. Miami (Ohio) and Alaska-Fairbanks, which are currently ahead of the Spartans in the conference and the race for home ice in the playoffs, will be finished with CCHA play after Saturday night.
Now that the National Hockey League has officially driven itself six feet under, it is time to look at what exactly drove it to this point and what was driving fans away long before the lockout. First, the league got a little too large for the talent pool that is around.
For the first time since 1997, the MSU women's basketball team will have a chance to clinch a share of the Big Ten Championship when it faces Michigan at 7 p.m.
It has been a long season for Michigan. The Wolverines (12-15 overall, 3-10 Big Ten) have lost 10 straight games, including a 70-63 setback to Indiana at home.
The MSU women's tennis team continued its success at home, getting shutouts over Toledo and Cleveland State in a doubleheader on Sunday. The team is now unbeaten at home in seven matches. The Spartans now hold a 7-2 overall record, one of the best starts in MSU history.
The following is a hypothetical conversation between NHL Players' Association Executive Director Bob Goodenow and President Trevor Linden that could have taken place the night before the NHL officially canceled its season. Linden: Uh, Boss, I think we should accept a salary cap.
An Ohio State basketball player served a one-game suspension Saturday following an altercation with an MSU student Feb.
A chant heard in many college hockey arenas adequately describes the NHL lockout. "It's all your fault!
The pregame hype is sure to be built up on campus this week as No. 20 Wisconsin visits at 7 p.m. Thursday.
An injured MSU gymnastics team (12-5) lost a close match to Illinois on Saturday, 194.200-193.275. The Spartans' strongest event was on the floor, with sophomore Chayla Hill placing first with a score of 9.850 and senior Jennifer Yarbrough tying for second with Illinois' Katie Wild and Kara Kapernekas, scoring 9.825. "I am pleased with my performance," Hill said.
Senior Tammy Jones set the school record in the 100-meter butterfly at the Big Ten Championships on Friday in Bloomington, Ind. Jones' time of 55.07 seconds was good for ninth place in the race. She also finished 11th in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 50.60 seconds Saturday. Freshman Danielle Williams placed 17th in the 3-meter diving competition and junior Courtney Ellabarger finished 23rd in the 100-meter breaststroke.
In a season plagued by inconsistencies and the inabilities to string together wins, the MSU hockey team walked away with another split in a home series against No.
The MSU softball team split two games in Nevada during the weekend, kicking off its season with a 1-1 record. Scoring three runs in the final inning for the victory, the Spartans upset No.