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Sports | Basketball Men's 1037

SPORTS

'D' must carry team in early season

Kelly Thesier
August 25, 2004

If there is one thing the MSU football team has confidence in this season, it's the defense. With questions surrounding the quarterback and running back positions and the offensive line, the Spartans are counting on the more experienced defense to lead the team early this season. "Having the most returners on our side of the ball, we know we're going to be counted on early," defensive coordinator Chris Smeland said.

SPORTS

2 new coaches named for '04

Paul Day
August 25, 2004

One coach out and two new in. That's the story line this fall for the MSU men's and women's cross country teams. For the past 20 years Jim Stintzi has coached the Spartans men's cross country team, while he shored up the duties of being the woman's coach for the past four years.

SPORTS

John L. Smith

It's 5 a.m. and John L. Smith has just hopped out of bed. As usual, Smith has chores to do on his parents' farm in Iona, Idaho.

SPORTS

Izzo not interested in Raptors, plans to stay

Kelly Thesier
August 25, 2004

Despite speculation that MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo would have met with Toronto Raptors general manager Rob Babcock about the team's head coaching vacancy, Izzo said June 14 that he is committed to MSU and is not interested in the job. Through a statement, Izzo said he knew a lot of candidates have been interviewed for the Toronto job but that he is not one of them. "I have a commitment to this program and that is to try to win another national championship," Izzo said. Questions surrounding Izzo's interest began when a source close to the Toronto search told ESPN.com and college basketball analyst Andy Katz that Izzo had talked to Babcock, the newly hired GM, and that the two will meet at a yet to be determined time. Katz said he didn't know of Izzo's interest in the job vacancy but he did know Izzo took the call from Babcock and the two talked. According to Jim LaBumbard, director of media relations for the Toronto Raptors, no candidates for the coaching vacancy have been announced. "Rob has not said anything on the coaching search and will likely not comment on the search until it is over," LaBumbard said. Babcock could not be reached for comment. Izzo is one of the candidates being considered for the position according to a report by the Toronto Star.

SPORTS

Spartans hungry for NCAA Tourney

Andrew Kolly
August 25, 2004

The MSU women's soccer team fell just short of an NCAA Tournament bid last year, but the Spartans are hoping a strong nucleus of seniors will lift the team into the NCAA Tournament this season. "We have a great group of veterans," head coach Tom Saxton said.

SPORTS

Spartan juniors picked in 2004 MLB Draft

Kelly Thesier
August 25, 2004

MSU right fielder Travis Gulick and catcher Erik Morris, both juniors, were selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft on June 8. Gulick decided to leave and is playing for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League in Missoula, Mont. For Gulick, the two days of sitting in front of his computer listening to the draft online seemed endless until his name was finally called that afternoon. Gulick was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 23rd round, 686th overall. "It's been a long process," Gulick said.

SPORTS

Spartans have depth, uncertainties

Andrew Kolly
August 25, 2004

The MSU football team has an offense filled with uncertainties this upcoming season. With the losses of key players, such as quarterback Jeff Smoker and three starting offensive linemen, the offense will have battles for many starting positions. Amid the uncertainty of the swirling quarterback controversy, senior Damon Dowdell, sophomore Drew Stanton and redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves all seem confident about their upcoming role for the Spartans this year. "(The quarterback uncertainty) isn't much of a strain," Dowdell said.

SPORTS

'U' to face tough schedule

Andrew Kolly
August 25, 2004

Despite losing in round one of the Big Ten Tournament last season and graduating some key senior players, the MSU men's soccer team is planning to make a run at a conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. "We had a very solid season last year - we were on the bubble for an NCAA bid," head coach Joe Baum said. Baum is hoping the Spartans won't miss a beat as the season gets underway Sept.

SPORTS

Lugnuts shut out by Yankees, 2-0

Kelly Thesier
August 16, 2004

Lansing - With a chance to go 14 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history, the Lansing Lugnuts instead chose to swing for the fences in a 2-0 loss to the Battle Creek Yankees on Sunday afternoon. The Lugnuts (28-22) were 8-2 in their last 10 games, heading into Sunday's matinee, and despite good pitching from starter Carlos Marmol, the bats could not get going. "Carlos did a nice job from the time he was in," Lansing manager Julio Garcia said.

BASEBALL

Dopirak breaking records, making a name for himself

Kelly Thesier
August 3, 2004

As many record-breaking home runs that Lansing Lugnuts first baseman Brian Dopirak has hit this season, it's his first home run that will always stand out in his memory. That first home run at 12 years old was what made Brian Dopirak decide that a Major League Baseball career would be in his plans. "When we had to do little career things in school, I always put down baseball player," Dopirak said.

SPORTS

Pierce finishes 41st at Western Amateur

After making the 50-player cut at the 102nd Western Amateur Championship in Benton Harbor on Thursday, MSU sophomore Mitch Pierce did not advance Friday after shooting a 7-over 287 through 72 holes. Pierce came into Friday's tournament play in a four-way tie for fifth place, but finished the tournament tied for 41st. Pierce made the 50-player cut by shooting 1-under 69 and finished the first two rounds with a 3-under 137 strokes. Three Spartans missed Thursday's 50-player cut: sophomore Matt Harmon tied for 78th with a 147, senior Andrew Ruthkoski tied for 98th with a 149 and sophomore Zac Zedrick tied for 133rd with 155. This elite tournament, founded in 1899 at the Glen View Club in Golf, Ill., has had famous winners in the past at the Benton Harbor course, such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Hal Sutton.

SPORTS

Smith back from Africa

Kelly Thesier
August 2, 2004

For weeks leading up to his Africa trip to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, John L. Smith was asked many times about his sanity for climbing a mountain in his off-season to which he responded, "Oh, it's a Gucci climb." Now back from his six-day climb to the top of the largest freestanding mountain in the world, the words out of Smith's mouth are not quite so calm. "I joked about the ease of the climb ahead of time, but the truth is - it's not all that Gucci," said Smith with a chuckle. "When this group got done with the climb, they said it's the hardest thing they've ever had to do." For a man who has sky-dived out of a plane, barrell-rolled in a fighter jet, ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain and starred in his own rap video, that is no small statement. Smith and 10 other climbers made the journey to climb to the top of the 19,340-feet Uruhu Peak in Tanzania and reaching the summit on July 21.

SPORTS

Court rules against MHSAA again

Kelly Thesier
July 29, 2004

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the current schedule of Michigan sports discriminates against female athletes. The ruling made by a three-judge panel said that the Michigan High School Athletic Association, based in East Lansing, violated the equal protection clause of the U.S.

SPORTS

Smoker signs 3-year deal

Kelly Thesier
July 29, 2004

Former MSU quarterback Jeff Smoker signed a three-year contract with the St. Louis Rams Tuesday, the day before the Rams' training camp was set to begin. The terms of the contract were not disclosed but Smoker said that he was happy with the deal and glad to be finished with negotiations. "It's kind of a relief to have the contract aspect finally complete," Smoker said.