Sunday, December 21, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Football 1000

BASKETBALL

Head athletic coordinator Bob Knickerbocker to retire after three decades with MSU

Geoff Preston
April 20, 2015

The town of Cincinnatus, New York is a rural farming town of just over 1,000 people, and it isn't the place that many people get the opportunity to leave from. Bob Knickerbocker was one of the lucky few that did get to leave. Knickerbocker has been the head athletic equipment coordinator since 1983, and has helped oversee some of the uniform changes that MSU athletics have seen in the past few seasons. He will retire following this school year, but it will come after a long and fulfilling ride with MSU. "This kind of life has been very exciting for me," he said.

FOOTBALL

Witness writes letter in support of Delton Williams following arrest

Zach Libby
April 19, 2015

Delton Williams was suspended indefinitely by head coach Mark Dantonio after being charged with flaunting a firearm on campus during a traffic incident on South Shaw Lane and Red Cedar Road on March 16.  A month since his not guilty plea in East Lansing's 54-B District Court, the man who accused the running back of pointing a gun at him has asked MSU police to drop the charges on Williams.  In a letter obtained by the Detroit Free Press, the man, 23-years-old, did research on Williams' past and discovered the tragedies he experienced during his upbringing in Erie, Pa., which led to speculation as to "why (Williams) would have a weapon."  Williams, despite having a permit for the Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, admitted to police that he raised the gun inside his car.

SOFTBALL

Lea Foerster has showed promise in freshman season

Geoff Preston
April 19, 2015

For the MSU softball team, this season has been one that hasn't had many bright spots.  Freshman outfielder Lea Foerster has been one of those bright spots. Head coach Jacquie Joseph has noticed the improvement of Foester, and in a season where MSU has fallen to 16-29, including a 1-15 record in the conference. "I've been impressed with Lea since day one," she said.

SOFTBALL

MSU softball losses another tough game

Troy Jefferson
April 19, 2015

By Troy Jefferson Tjefferson@statenews.com It was another tough luck loss for the softball team on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota (37-7 overall, 12-3 Big Ten) completed its sweep of MSU (16-29 overall, 1-15 Big Ten) at Secchia Stadium, defeating the Spartans, 9-4.

SPORTS

Men's tennis says goodbye to seniors

Zach Libby
April 15, 2015

Two games. Two more games before everything that the seniors have worked for since they first arrived at East Lansing comes to an end.  Gijs Linders can still vividly remember his sophomore year when MSU earned their first bid to the NCAA tournament back in 2013 in the tennis program's 100th year of existence, who said it's something that he'll never erase from memory.  The window for accumulating one in a lifetime achievements is slowly closing, as even though the reality that their tennis careers at MSU is reaching it's final checkmark, it hasn't fully hit both the Amsterdam native and Doug Zade.  Linders, who's coming off his final home meet this past Sunday following a 7-0 defeat from No.

BASKETBALL

Denzel Valentine will take Spartans to new heights next year, according to Tom Izzo

Omari Sankofa II
April 14, 2015

After losing to Duke in the Final Four round of the NCAA Tournament, junior guard Denzel Valentine vowed that MSU would return next season. Head coach Tom Izzo placed his faith in his captain during his end-of-season press conference on Thursday, saying he believes Valentine will help the Spartans live up to expectations next season. "He, I think, will take this team to new heights next year," Izzo said.

BASEBALL

MSU baseball tops Michigan 4-2 at Comerica Park

Matthew Argillander
April 14, 2015

On a beautiful Tuesday night in Detroit at Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, the baseball team the Michigan Wolverines by a score of. U-M was better early as the Wolverines starting pitcher junior Evan Hill retired the first seven MSU batters before a single from freshman outfielder Brandon Hughes with one out in the bottom of the third. Despite the strong start by Hill the Spartans were able to strike first.

FOOTBALL

Son of former Spartan wide receiver Andre Rison receives offer from MSU

Zach Libby
April 13, 2015

Former Super Bowl champion and MSU wide receiver Andre Rison may get the opportunity to capture his son donning the green and white on Saturday's, as Ann Arbor Skyline incomer Hunter Rison picked up an offer from the Spartans on Thursday.  Andre Rison played at MSU from 1985-1988 before being drafted in the NFL, he has said in the past that he doesn't want to have an influence on his son picking a school. "We've discuss things but I'm not going to push him towards a school," Rison told mLive.com.  Rison took a visit to the campus and left with his first offer as a sophomore.