The No. 6 Spartans men's soccer team beat the No. 12 Western Michigan Broncos on Wednesday evening, 1-0, and improved their record to 9-1-1 this season.
MSU is quick to admit that its rivalry matchup against Michigan this Saturday isn’t just another game on a 12-game schedule. It goes far beyond that.
But here’s the thing: U-M vs. MSU doesn’t matter nearly as much as people think it does.
Each year before the MSU vs. University of Michigan football game, The State News and The Michigan Daily, the student newspaper at U-M, share columns on the rivalry.
Before both the men's and women's basketball team ever even look to hang banners at the Breslin Center — there's Michigan State Madness.
Prior to MSU’s conference game against Iowa on Saturday, the Spartans turned the ball over eight times — six fumbles and two interceptions.
Here’s everything you missed over the weekend while watching MSU beat Iowa 17-10 at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans know it. The Wolverines know it. The entire state of Michigan knows it.
Monday afternoon marked the first day of practice for the women’s basketball team one month before they kickoff the season against Lake Superior State on Nov 5.
Tom Izzo hasn’t placed a firm grasp around the alleged college basketball scandal, but he said he is discouraged by the recent reports surrounding the sport. “Well, disappointment would be the first word I’d use,” Izzo said on Friday as MSU began official practices. “I’m disappointed because I don’t know if anything is any good when it kind of gives you a black eye for your profession, whether it be yours or mine. I’m not sure that I would ever hope something that negative has to be done to clean it up.”
The No. 4 Spartans bounced back after losing their first game of the year Sunday afternoon, beating the No. 16 Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-1. The Spartans are now 8-1-1 on the season and 3-0-1 in Big Ten play.
It’s only four games into the season, but under the microscope of a wanting fan base, the Spartan faithful has already made its impression on the man under center, quarterback Brian Lewerke. MSU fans have seen the good, there’s no denying that. His chemistry with Felton Davis III against Iowa was easily apparent. Other times, he’s scrambling for long gains on the ground.
Head coach Tom Izzo is within reach of a completely healthy team entering the upcoming season. Injuries tormented last season’s roster, with Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling headlining what was an injury-plagued season for MSU after they both suffered knee injuries that forced them to miss the entirety of last season.
Entering the 2017 season, wide receiver Felton Davis III had played a minimal role in the Spartans’ offense in his first two seasons in East Lansing. After several key departures over the past two seasons at the wideout position, Davis finally saw his chance to step up.
The Spartans knew what type of team the Iowa Hawkeyes were ahead of their Big Ten showdown — tough, gritty, physical; a game bound to be a defensive struggle. So the night before, the team watched the last fight scene of the movie “Southpaw.” Head coach Mark Dantonio told his team the game will be similar to a 12-round fight. As senior linebacker Chris Frey described it, he said it was like going to "war."
The Spartans get their third straight sweep this weekend after beating Maryland on Friday and Ohio State on Saturday. These victories make the team 4-0 in Big Ten Conference play. This is the team’s tenth sweep in overall play making their record 11-2.
Whilst matching their win total from last season, the Spartans won their first Big Ten game of the season. Iowa ran for just 19 yards rushing as MSU improved to a 3-1 record.
After a 38-18 loss to Notre Dame last weekend, MSU will look to rebound for its first loss of the season and win its first conference game of the season Saturday against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Tom Izzo fully understands what it’s like to be on the national stage and expected by most to compete for a national championship; he’s been there before.
The class of 2017 of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame took stage at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre Thursday night, and were formally inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.