SPORTS
No. 6 field hockey has successful weekend
The MSU field hockey team (8-1) claimed two victories over East Coast opponents in the weekend, including an upset of No.
SPORTS
Womens tennis has trouble at invitational
The MSU women’s tennis team struggled at the three-day Bronco Invitational in Kalamazoo this weekend.
SPORTS
Return to glory
He wasn’t Notre Dame’s first choice, but in just three games as head coach, Tyrone Willingham has guided the Fighting Irish back to national prominence. His style and demeanor might not be flashy, but his players know he’s there to win. “I think a lot of guys are happy Willingham is here,” Irish cornerback Shane Walton said.
SPORTS
Ohio State plays Cincinnati in Ohio rumble
No. 6 Ohio State vs. Cincinnati (in Paul Brown Stadium) The Buckeyes (3-0) are fresh off a marquee win over Washington State last week.
SPORTS
Special teams unit cost win
The MSU special teams unit looks to make a positive impact against Notre Dame - a week removed from a horrendous performance. In the 46-22 loss to California, the Spartans fumbled two kickoff returns and gave up a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. On the return, senior cornerback DeMario Suggs missed a tackle and junior linebacker Mike Labinjo was out of his coverage lane.
SPORTS
HARDY: Willingham brings hope to Notre Dame, other black coaches
In the land under the Michigan-Indiana border once sat the tarnished golden dome of the Fighting Irish. Marked by scandal - the resignation of former Irish head coach George O’Leary over inaccuracies found in his résumé and threatened sanctions by the NCAA concerning activity under the Lou Holt era - their golden helmets glowed less, showed a few more scratches and chipped a little easier.
SPORTS
Women golfers ready for first tournament on home links
Unfortunate events have prevented the women’s golf team from hosting a tournament the past two years, and head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll hopes the third time really is a charm. In 2000, rain scattered golfers and forced the Mary Fossum Invitational to end after just 18 holes.
SPORTS
Smoker feels heat after dismal performance
The life of a starting quarterback isn’t always easy.If the team wins, he gets all the praise, but if it loses, it’s all his fault.
VOLLEYBALL
Team plans to fine-tune form
For the first weekend this season, the MSU women’s volleyball team only has one match to worry about.
SPORTS
Pigskin Prognosticators
Last week was a fun week in college football, especially with the Wolverweenies going down. Both Death Ro (11-4) and McSkinny (9-6) went 3-2, but Death Ro was the one who sold out and went with Michigan.
SPORTS
Heisman watch
Here’s a look at the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy: Front-runners: Ken Dorsey senior quarterback, Miami After two solid performances, Dorsey put up numbers that were closer to Heisman standards in a 44-21 win over Temple.
SPORTS
Turnovers key for Irish and Spartans
Coming into the season, the MSU football team was expected by many experts to be undefeated when the men from South Bend, Ind., came to Spartan Stadium.Instead, it’s Notre Dame (3-0) that boasts a perfect record.“They’re not beating themselves,” MSU head coach Bobby Williams said.
SPORTS
Top-20 runners prep for Spartan Invitational, regular-season events
The men’s and women’s cross country teams today have their first chance to prove they belong in the nation’s top 20. MSU hosts eight colleges this afternoon in the Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational, the teams’ first regular-season event.
SOCCER
Women ready for first Big Ten games of season
The women’s soccer team opens its Big Ten season this weekend, facing off against Illinois and Iowa at home, and MSU head coach Tom Saxton couldn’t be happier. “Last weekend was good for us.
SPORTS
Classic honors Munley, runners
MSU athletes kept pace alongside Mid-Michigan runners Tuesday night at what the program touted as “not your traditional track meet.” And the second annual Spartan Classic Track Meet was anything but traditional, as MSU varsity and club athletes and community members joined to celebrate running, physical fitness and the life of a fallen Spartan. The event, the first track meet at the new Ralph Young Field, featured distance running, long jump and the inaugural Munley Relays, named after John Munley, an MSU swimmer who died while jogging in April 2001. Johnny Allen, assistant director of IM Sports and the event coordinator, said he hoped the event would unite the community and MSU with running and would honor Munley. Munley was a four-time letter-winner swimmer for MSU when he died at 22.
SOCCER
Indiana streaks into U
A successful UMass Classic last weekend has the MSU men’s soccer team riding a 4-1 record into a pair of games against teams from the Hoosier State this weekend. Although unranked and below .500 so far this season, Valparaiso upset No.
SPORTS
Players will whine, but booing understandable
There’s nothing more exhilarating for an athlete than taking the field in front of thousands of supportive, cheering fans. It gets the blood flowing, the adrenaline pumping and reminds you how great it is to be playing the game you love. But on the flip side, there’s nothing more painful than hearing those same fans rain down boos of displeasure. It’s like Brutus stabbing Caesar in the back.
VOLLEYBALL
Miller relaxes into star role
When she came to MSU in 2000, Emmy Miller faced a gigantic challenge - playing volleyball.Miller was a three-year letter winner at Okemos High School and played for Lansing Area Volleyball Association and USA Michigan teams before becoming a Spartan.But all that experience didn’t prime her for collegiate ball - not mentally or physically.“Her freshman year, she was just really overwhelmed,” head coach Chuck Erbe said.
SPORTS
Special teams look to make up for blunders
Most observers of the Spartans’ 46-22 loss to California found it hard to find a bright spot - head coach Bobby Williams is no exception.“It’s really hard to find anything positive from that football game,” he said at a weekly press conference Tuesday.
SPORTS
New Pistons, same old style of play
Chauncey Billups doesn’t know his way around Detroit yet, but he’s already learned what Detroit basketball is all about.“We got great talent, we’ve got a great coach and we’ve got a great opportunity,” said the point guard, who is about to start his first year as a Piston after signing a six-year contract in July.