Sunday, April 19, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | 1117

SPORTS

Robersons fate decided by injury

Andrew Fifer
August 30, 2002

Ypsilanti - If Eastern Michigan wide receiver Chris R. Roberson had things his way, during his senior season in high school, he would have had to make a decision whether to attend MSU or Illinois. But a week before his last year began at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, he broke his ankle during a scrimmage - his aspirations to play Big Ten football were crushed. “When I got hurt, they really didn’t know, so they would still call,” Roberson said.

SPORTS

Back to its roots

Krista Latham
August 30, 2002

The makeover is complete. Earlier this week, ground maintenance crew members rolled out a new paint machine, filled it with 250 gallons of white paint.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans ready for tourney

Chris Mackinder
August 30, 2002

The wait is finally over for the MSU women’s volleyball team. Tonight, the team will hit the court against an opponent for the first match in the 2002-2003 campaign when they take on Georgetown in the eighth annual Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Classic at Jenison Field House.

SPORTS

Ro, Skinny rip teams, laces off the ol pigskin pastime

Eric Mckinney  and  Andrew Fifer
August 30, 2002

Like youngsters on Ritalin, Death Ro and McSkinny are ready for the 2002 college football season. The Spartans take the field Saturday against Eastern Michigan, and there’s a wretched stench blowing in from Ann Arbor, so that means it’s time for your favorite pigskin prognosticators to strap on the pads and put it through the uprights. We might not know what we’re talking about half the time, but we have no qualms about making complete fools of ourselves. So without further ado, here are our predictions for this weekend’s gridiron madness. Death Ro on No.

SPORTS

8-game homestand gives seniors final peace

Home is something familiar. Home is something you look forward to after a long day at work. And home is also where 72,000 Spartan football fans will gather every weekend through the end of September. It’s that time of year again.

SPORTS

Henry returns to gridiron after missing a season

Andrew Fifer
August 30, 2002

When Ivory Miller’s eldest grandchild signed with MSU, she planned to move to the area from Sarasota, Fla., to watch him play in his senior season. But when senior cornerback Cedric Henry was declared academically ineligible two weeks before the season opener against Central Michigan last season, her plans were altered. Instead of becoming a cheerleader, she assumed a more familiar role - counselor. “It was a coincidence I was here when all the things happened,” she said.

BASKETBALL

Postseason stats to count

Andrew Fifer
August 29, 2002

After years of inconsistency between the NCAA and its football conferences, the NCAA record books will recognize players’ statistics in bowl games. Sean Straziscar, assistant director for statistics for the NCAA, said starting this year football’s record keeping methods will be the same as other sports. “Football was the only sport that we did not count postseason statistics up until now,” he said.

SPORTS

Lugnuts ready for playoffs one step at a time

Dawn Klemish
August 29, 2002

As the minor-league baseball regular season comes to a close, the Lansing Lugnuts have secured themselves a spot in the playoffs - the only question is who’ll they play.If Lansing finishes at the top of it’s Eastern Division of the Midwest League, it will face off Sept.

SPORTS

Field hockey ready for opener

Dawn Klemish
August 29, 2002

After winning the first Big Ten title in team history last season, the women’s field hockey team has a tough road ahead of them - but they’re ready. Eight starters and 14 letter-winners return to a squad that last year compiled a 16-6 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Michigan in a 2-1 overtime loss. The team kicks off its season Saturday by visiting the nine-time National Champion Old Dominion Lady Monarchs, and is anxious to take on the task. The Monarchs are favored to win their seventh consecutive national championship, despite the loss of 2001 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Adrienne Yoder to graduation. “To have a strong opponent right away is fun, that’s what we train for all summer,” head coach Michele Madison said.

FOOTBALL

Eagles hope to contain Spartans

Eric Mckinney
August 29, 2002

Ypsilanti - The Eastern Michigan Eagles know what they must do in to win it’s season opener Saturday at Spartan Stadium - slow down junior wide receiver Charles Rogers. The problem is they don’t know how.

ICE HOCKEY

Freshman eager to arrive, veteran looks for new home

James Jahnke
August 29, 2002

Seven of the Spartan hockey team’s eight freshmen are on campus, going to class, skating at Munn Ice Arena and generally getting acclimated to college life. The only rookie missing is Nenad Gajic, a skilled forward from Burnaby, British Columbia, who is still with his club lacrosse team that’s fighting for the Canadian junior national championship. Gajic, who is also a forward in lacrosse, is pursuing the Minto Cup with the rest of his Burnaby Lakers teammates.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Men’s cross country ranked No. 14 in preseason poll The men’s cross country team is ranked No.

FOOTBALL

Punter takes hobby to new heights

Eric Mckinney
August 28, 2002

From Cougar to Spartan, Jason Daily has made the transition from junior college standout to Big Ten starter.But growing up in Santa Clarita, Calif., the 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior punter never imagined football would be his ticket to success.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans working for perfection

Chris Mackinder
August 28, 2002

All summer, the MSU volleyball team has been lifting weights and conditioning, trying to increase strength and endurance for the upcoming season.With two days until the team’s first regular season matchup, the No.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller leaves behind legacy, questions

James Jahnke
August 28, 2002

One would assume that Matt Migliaccio and Justin Tobe would be feeling a little pressure now that the unenviable task of replacing Ryan Miller has officially begun. After all, Miller was one of the most prolific goaltenders in college hockey history before signing with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.