FOOTBALL
Conley's Top 10: Mess with bull, you get horns
Each week, State News football reporter Ethan Conley offers his own Top 10 college football rankings. No.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU Hockey looks to replace Miller, Potter, Vicari
Chris Lawrence only scored two goals last year on the MSU hockey team's fourth line. But because of his blue-collar work ethic and leadership, Lawrence's teammates unanimously voted him team captain this May. "I just kind of took it upon myself to step up and be a leader (last season)," Lawrence said Monday at Media Day.
ICE HOCKEY
Forwards return but defense, backup goalie unproven
If there's one big question mark for head coach Rick Comley and the 2006-07 MSU hockey team, it's the status of the team's defense after the key offseason losses of Jared Nightingale and Corey Potter. "I think our talent's fine at that position, but it's not proven," Comley said Monday at Media Day. The No.
SPORTS
Van Rijswijk hat trick lifts Spartans
The MSU field hockey team finally found its offense — which helped the team finally find the win column. The Spartans snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday as they defeated Central Michigan, 5-3, at the MSU Field Hockey Complex. Freshman midfielder Anne-Sophie van Rijswijk led the way for the Spartans (4-7 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) by scoring her first collegiate hat trick. The Spartans took advantage of Central Michigan's defensive struggles early in the game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead through 15 minutes. "We started out strong," MSU head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said.
FOOTBALL
Smith explains sideline scrum, Caulcrick's absence
In football rivalry games, emotions often run high. Such was the case in MSU's game against Notre Dame on Saturday, when a late hit caused a sideline scuffle and an MSU investigation. Senior quarterback Drew Stanton was running out of bounds into the Notre Dame sideline in the second quarter when he was hit and got pinned under the opposing team's bench.
ICE HOCKEY
Comley: With 6 new faces, No. 5 Spartans have Frozen Four potential
Rick Comley might be the only coach in the world who takes a pen and pad of paper with him while kayaking on vacation. After a successful 2005-06 campaign that included a CCHA playoff championship and No.
BASKETBALL
MSU lands 1st recruit for 2008
The MSU men's basketball team received its first verbal commitment for the 2008 class, landing Korie Lucious, a 5-foot-10 guard from Milwaukee Pius XI High School. Lucious is ranked as the No.
SPORTS
Loss drops Spartans to 3-7
Despite solid goaltending from senior Stephanie Yuhasz that kept the team in the game for much of the contest, the MSU field hockey team was unable to string together any amount of solid play, falling to No.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball takes spotlight
The MSU volleyball team fought hard this weekend, ending with a 3-1 victory against Indiana. But first on Friday, the Spartans took on No.
FOOTBALL
After ineffective 1st quarter, Quinn orchestrates comeback
Correction: The story should say Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn completed just 2-of-8 first-quarter pass attempts for six yards. The Brady Quinn Heisman Hype Machine hit the wall Sept.
VOLLEYBALL
Outside hitter enjoying return to court after last year's elbow surgery
Watching junior outside hitter Katie Johnson on the volleyball court, you would never know she spent much of this year recovering from surgery on her elbow. In a match against Illinois last December, Johnson collided with teammate Nicole Colaluca.
FOOTBALL
Few plays shouldn't change reputation
What have you done for me lately? This phrase is used often in sports. Coaches are judged on a game-by-game basis, and players are often judged on what they do when the game matters. And the phrase couldn't have resonated any louder than on Saturday, when judging the play of the two quarterbacks. Notre Dame's Brady Quinn struggled early, throwing just 2-of-8 for six yards in the first quarter.
SPORTS
Monday musings
While playing San Diego last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit four home runs in a row in the ninth inning to erase a four-run deficit and force extra innings. Dodgers manager Grady Little said the credit for the outburst should go to the team's third-base coach, who had the foresight to give the "hit a home run" sign four times in a row. Japanese golfer Mitsuhiro Tateyama set a national tournament record last week by taking 19 strokes on a par-3 hole. Tateyama reportedly hit a good drive but had an extremely difficult time getting the ball into the clown's mouth. During Sunday's win against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers' quarterback Brett Favre threw the 400th touchdown of his career. After the game, Lions general manager Matt Millen applauded Favre on his accomplishment and said he hopes the Lions score the 400th touchdown in franchise history soon. Southern Cal officials are upset that ABC broadcaster Brent Musburger revealed the meaning of one of Trojans quarterback John David Booty's hand signals on the air last week. In a related story, ABC officials are still trying to decipher the meaning of the hand signal that several thousand MSU fans were seen giving John L.
SOCCER
MSU, Wisconsin finish in deadlock
With chilly conditions and gusting wind at Old College Field, the MSU men's soccer team set out to pick up its first Big Ten win against Wisconsin. But after 110 minutes of physical play, nothing had been decided and the match ended in a 0-0 tie. "I thought this was a great men's Division 1 Big Ten soccer game," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.
FOOTBALL
Main question of all: Why can't Smith's teams finish?
There are a million possible excuses for MSU's fourth-quarter implosion — inclement weather, poor officiating, lucky interceptions — but none of them hold up. MSU's loss falls squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff.
FOOTBALL
Fans deserve praise
Three games that come to mind when I think of an electric atmosphere in Spartan Stadium. Two of those games are from 2004, when heavily favored Minnesota and Wisconsin came into East Lansing only to see each of its Big Ten Championship hopes crumble. The "go green, go white" chants coming from the student section were so loud that they drowned out the PA announcer.
FOOTBALL
Where was Jehuu?
Jehuu Caulcrick ran through Notre Dame's defense like it didn't exist on Saturday. He may as well have had a list of Notre Dame defensive backs in his pocket so he could cross off the names of players he ran over. Tom Zbikowski: Check.
SPORTS
Dutch freshmen making impact
Despite coming from the Netherlands, freshmen Anne-Sophie van Rijswijk and Floor Rijpma have wasted no time making a big impact on the MSU field hockey team. And if you ask MSU head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof if he expected the duo to step right in and contribute like they have … well, he actually did. "If you go abroad, you have to bring in key players that will help you out — otherwise, it is no use," he said.
SPORTS
MSU gets baptism by fire in Big 10 opener
The MSU women's soccer team lost only two Big Ten games last season. Normally, that's good enough to compete for the conference title.
FOOTBALL
Conley's Top 10: Beware of SEC defenses, 3-named quarterbacks
Each week, State News football reporter Ethan Conley offers his own college football Top 10 rankings. No.