FOOTBALL
Wide receiver R.J. Shelton up for prestigious award
MSU junior wide receiver R.J. Shelton is one of 44 players named to the 2015 Paul Hornung Award Watch List.
FOOTBALL
Connor Cook named to the 2015 Maxwell Award Watch List
MSU senior quarterback Connor Cook has been named to the 2015 Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award has been presented to college football’s player of the year since 1937, according to a press release announcing the watch list.
FOOTBALL
Calhoun and Davis named to watch list for defensive player of the year award
In more award watch list news, senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun and senior linebacker Ed Davis have been named to the 2015 Bednarik Award Watch List.
BASKETBALL
MSU basketball will host Florida this season
MSU basketball announced via a press release that the Spartans will play a home-and-home against Florida. The series will begin this season at the Breslin Center on Dec. 12, 2015. MSU will travel to Gainesville, Florida, at a date yet to be determined in the 2017-18 season.
BASKETBALL
Denzel Valentine selected for Pan American Basketball training camp
Denzel Valentine has accepted his invitation to the 2015 U.S. Pan American Men’s Basketball Team training camp, according to a news release by Spartan Athletics. Twenty-two players were invited and 12 will be selected to represent the USA in Toronto from July 21-25. The training camp will take place at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., from July 7-12, according to the release. If Valentine is selected, he will be the fifth MSU player to represent the USA since 1991.
BASKETBALL
New recruit Joshua Langford discusses family, future at MSU
When Madison Academy (AL) head basketball coach Andy Blackston saw a then 7th grade Joshua Langford come to his school for the first time and pick up a basketball, that’s when he knew. For Tellus Langford, it was when he saw his son win the Alabama 3A player of the year as an 8th grader on the Madison Academy varsity basketball team.
SPORTS
New book by MSU alumnus looks at how Duffy Daugherty helped integrate college football
Believing that MSU has not received proper recognition for its role in the integration of college football, class of 1978 MSU graduate and former State News employee Tom Shanahan wrote Raye of Light to fully explain the Spartans and former head coach Duffy Daugherty’s impact on college football.
SPORTS
Tom Minkel entering last season as head wrestling coach
When his mother got him involved with the sport in fifth grade Tom Minkel, head coach of the MSU Wrestling team, knew wrestling would be a big part of his life. Minkel said it has been “heavy in his blood” since the beginning. Growing up with a father, who was an administrator at MSU, and a mother, involved in the music program at MSU, as well as attending former MSU Wrestling Head Coach Grady Peninger’s wrestling camp at IM Sports-West as a kid, Minkel found that MSU has also always been a big part of his life.
SPORTS
Wrestling head coach Tom Minkel to retire
A succession plan for the MSU wrestling program has been announced, which includes the retiring of Head Coach Tom Minkel. Minkel, who has been with the program since 1991, will retire following the 2015-16 season and 25 years as the head coach at MSU. Roger Chandler, who has been with the program for 18 seasons and was promoted to assistant coach in 2011, will assume head coaching position after Minkel's retirement. "I'm excited about the future of Michigan State wrestling," said Mark Hollis, MSU athletic director in a news release.
SPORTS
Former MSU track star Leah O'Connor signs with Adidas
Former MSU track and cross country runner Leah O’Connor announced her post-collegiate running plans Thursday evening after advancing to the finals of the women’s 3,000 steeplechase at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. But after running her last ever race in an MSU uniform, the announcement didn’t come exactly how she pictured it. “They put me as an Adidas athlete in the results ... I was gonna do a whole picture thing tomorrow but I guess it’s not a secret,” O’Connor told reporters after the race.
BASKETBALL
Branden Dawson headed to the Los Angeles Clippers
Former MSU basketball player Branden Dawson is heading to Los Angeles— after getting drafted in the second round with the No.
SPORTS
Lansing Roller Derby team aims to build community through sport
Lansing Mitten Mavens Roller Derby took an unexpected victory against the Bath City Roller Girls on Saturday night.
BASEBALL
Detroit baseball runs in the family for MSU’s Cam Gibson
Cam Gibson was always a Tiger at heart — even before it became official, when the MSU outfielder was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the draft, with the No. 160 overall pick.
SOFTBALL
MSU softball coaching staff under investigation after player-raised allegations
After a disappointing season in which the MSU softball team finished 19-36, recent allegations from Alyssa McBride who just wrapped up her senior season have surrounded the team with even more questions.
SPORTS
Tom Izzo's contract at MSU extended through 2021
The contracts for athletic director Mark Hollis, men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant and men’s ice hockey coach Tom Anastos were extended on Wednesday via a unanimous vote by the MSU Board of Trustees.
SPORTS
MSU Track & Field finishes strong season with showing at NCAA Championships
Four first team All-Americans at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships highlighted the conclusion of one of the most successful years in history for the MSU Cross Country and Track programs.
FOOTBALL
Athletic Director Mark Hollis honored by National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
MSU athletic director Mark Hollis has been named the recipient of the John L. Toner award, presented annually by the The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
ICE HOCKEY
Former MSU hockey player Duncan Keith named MVP of Stanley Cup Playoffs
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman and former MSU hockey player Duncan Keith has won the Conn Smythe trophy as the MVP of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Keith scored a goal in Monday's series clinching 2-0 victory as the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4 games to 2 in the best of seven series in the Stanley Cup Finals.
SOFTBALL
Lawyers release statement on behalf of softball head coach
In the midst of an investigation into softball assistant coach Jessica Bograkos and the program as a whole, a statement has now come on behalf of head coach Jacquie Joseph from her attorney Shirlee Bobryk’s of White, Schneider, Young & Chiodini. The statement opens with Bobryk stating that she would like to respond to the allegations made by former softball player Alyssa McBride that she was targeted with pitches after stating she wished she had played at another school due to the amount of losing she endured in her time at MSU. The bulk of the statement consists of two quotes from Joseph: "I have devoted my past 22 years as MSU head softball coach to guiding and mentoring student-athletes in the type of ideals, values and skills necessary to achieve success on the field, in their careers, and throughout their lives," the statement read.
FOOTBALL
Mark Dantonio entertains as grand marshal of the Quicken Loans 400
In typical fashion, head football coach and grand marshal of the Quicken Loans 400 Mark Dantonio commanded "start your engines" to the drivers in his calm monotone voice. Despite the calm nature of his voice you could see the excitement in his face which showcases a rare smile.