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top 11 current sports rivals
They're the joys of watching sports. You don't have to be a fan of either team to be awestruck by your television.
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X-Factor looking to follow Izzone footsteps
With nearly seven weeks remaining until the MSU women's basketball season begins, advertising freshman Lauren Clayborne and pre-nursing freshman Rachel Morgan sit inside a dimly lit, cavernous Breslin Center on a single section of bleachers, neither parquee floor nor basketball to be seen.But seven weeks from now, Clayborne and Morgan - two of MSU's newest students - are hoping to bring Breslin Center back to life during women's games, courtesy of MSU's newest student cheering section - the X-Factor.After a loosely organized push by fans last year and the slow dissolution of "Coach P's Pack Attack" before that, this year will be the first official season of the X-Factor.Backed by the Student Alumni Foundation in the tradition of the Corner Blitz (football), Slapshots (hockey) and the Izzone (men's basketball), X-Factor is looking to get off the ground in time to provide a swell of support when the Spartans open the season against Davidson on Nov.
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Soccer Brief
A two-goal, two-assist performance by MSU soccer senior forward Thomas Trivelloni last week won him Big Ten Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors.Trivelloni's efforts helped MSU to two double-overtime wins over Loyola (Ill.) and Ohio State.The Spartans beat Loyola (Ill.) 3-2 Wednesday as Trivelloni assisted on MSU's first goal of the match.
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Men's hoops tickets still available, on sale until 10 a.m. Friday
MSU men's basketball student tickets are on sale for $114 for a 12-game package.The package includes a much-anticipated nonconference showdown with Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
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Field Hockey Brief
MSU field hockey's midfielder and goalkeeper take both of the Big Ten's top honors this week.Junior Veerle Goudswaard took home Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors with two goals and four assists in two games over the weekend.
SOCCER
Spartans victorious in 2 OT thriller
Scott Cendrowski For The State News The MSU men's soccer team played a tough Big Ten matchup against Ohio State on Sunday, narrowly winning 2-1 halfway through the second overtime period. "It was a huge, huge win for us," head coach Joe Baum said. The sunny afternoon game yielded no scoring in the first half, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm.
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Secondary dominates Hoosiers, LoVecchio
MSU's defense left the door to its backfield wide open for the first three games of the season. Then the secondary found the key to closing that door halfway through the Notre Dame (1-3) game - communication. Ever since their discovery in South Bend, Ind., the drastic improvement by the defensive backs has paid off huge for the No.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans beat Badgers for 1st time in 4 years
The No. 14 MSU volleyball team left the court Friday night all smiles after a four-game victory over No.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
'U' shuts out Buckeyes Fewer shot attempts and fewer corner kicks led the MSU women's soccer team to a 1-0 loss to Ohio State Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. MSU only attempted 11 shots to OSU's 19, relying on senior goalkeeper Stacy Heller to stop the Buckeyes from scoring, which she did five times. The Spartans also allowed three corner kicks, one of which returned the Buckeyes' only goal. Lutz resigns as coach MSU men's and women's swimming and diving head coach Jim Lutz stepped down Friday because of health concerns and family priorities. Sixth-year associate coach Matt Gianiodis will serve as interim head coach for the 2003-04 season. Lutz was diagnosed with chronic mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection and chronic fatigue syndrome in March.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers blank Windsor 6-0 in exhibition game
It took two of three periods for the MSU hockey team to defeat the University of Windsor 6-0 in Sunday's afternoon skate."I'm happy that we got a chance to play in a competitive situation," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
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Fans can't just come to games, need to be louder
I'm no good at math, plain and simple, so I have a formula for you to figure out. What does "fans stay entire game" plus "football team plays strong" equal? Two conference wins - just as many as MSU had all of last season. But that's where the flattery ends. Good for you - you are an improved fan who decided to stay long enough to see Jeff Smoker throw Frisbees to Zeke the Wonder Dog. I admit, I was impressed to see the student section withstand a late rain during the Iowa game and poor play from Indiana all game this past Saturday, but there's still insurmountable room for improvement. First, let's try and get to the game on time.
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Spreading the wealth
Although MSU was not challenged by a weak Indiana team, it did accomplish one of its goals for this week. With Agim Shabaj nursing a shoulder injury and Ziehl Kavanaght out with an injured kneecap, the Spartans gave many of their secondary options, including Matt Trannon, Jason Randall, Aaron Alexander and Kyle Brown, a chance to make big plays in the Spartans' 31-3 win over Indiana (1-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten). The major surprise was the involvement of Trannon, a sophomore, in the team's offense.
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Grand Ledge's Horford recalls verbal commitment to U-M
Possible good news for the MSU men's basketball team has reached campus. Grand Ledge senior forward Al Horford recalled his verbal commitment to Michigan, opening up his recruiting process once again. Two weeks ago the frontcourt future of the basketball team looked to be in question, as three post prospects erased MSU from their list of top school choices.
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Field hockey looks to start Big Ten season with victory
The No. 9 MSU field hockey team looks to rebound from a sloppy performance last week and play strongly this weekend against Stanford and against Northwestern in their Big Ten home opener.
FOOTBALL
4 Spartans ticketed for alcohol violations
Four MSU football players were charged with alcohol-related violations earlier this year.On June 26, Tyrell Dortch was charged with driving with an open intoxicant and Jeremiah McLaurin was charged with having an open intoxicant in a vehicle in East Lansing.Both charges were reduced to misdemeanor alcohol/stadium violations in 54-B District Court in East Lansing.
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Green beats White in 'U' hockey scrimmage
The MSU hockey team kept with their scoring pace of an average 3.95 goals per game at the annual Green and White game at Munn Ice Arena on Thursday night. Last season's average was virtually matched by the Green Team as it defeated the White Team, 3-2 - until the shootout. The exhibition wasn't your average hockey game.
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Spikers look to rebound from U-M shellacking
The No. 14 MSU volleyball team plays No. 20 Wisconsin tonight, but in reality, the Spartans will be playing against themselves. In the last four games, MSU (9-4 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) has not won or lost, but rather been given the win or had it taken away by opponents.
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Men's tennis opens season this weekend
The MSU men's tennis squad begins its 2003-04 season this weekend at two separate tournaments. Junior Andrew Formanczyk and senior Chris Mitchell will head to Chattanooga, Tenn.
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Hockey prepares for Green and White game
The MSU hockey team faces a familiar foe at 7:05 tonight at Munn Ice Arena - itself. The annual Green and White exhibition will pin Spartans players against one another, serving as warm-up for Sunday's 2:05 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Kavanaght puts team above self
He quietly runs his routes, perfect in form without a flashy strut or any trash talk. Fifth-year senior Ziehl Kavanaght goes about his business, out of the spotlight of media attention but in the sight line of special teams gunners looking to make one big play. But, through it all, the language barrier, the lack of passes thrown his way, the time on the sidelines his first four seasons and being hung out to dry as the punt returner, the 26-year-old Quebec native has no complaints. "I'm just trying to help the team," Kavanaght said.