MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio made it known throughout the week that conference play in the Big Ten is where the season really starts to matter.
“Mike was one those guys that first of all, had a great demeanor about him, he was extremely competitive, he was a guy that liked to have fun, very intelligent individual.” - Mark Dantonio Sadler passed away this summer in a car accident, along with Nebraska punter Sam Foltz. The punter, along with seven other Spartans were inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Over 7,500 people came to Jenison Field House over the weekend to watch the No. 20-ranked MSU volleyball team start off their conference schedule, splitting the two games. On Friday MSU ousted the University of Iowa (10-4, 0-2 Big Ten) before falling to the No. 1 University of Nebraska (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) on Saturday.
It was Labor Day, and the stands were nearly full with 1,522 in attendance at DeMartin Stadium. The game was tied 1-1, and Columbia had resisted nearly all of MSU’s numerous advances.
It began with a tweet. MSU senior graduate transfer defensive end Gabe Sherrod spoke of taking the movement to the realm of college football.
Mylan Hicks, a former MSU linebacker and current member of the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, died early Sunday morning in what the team is calling an “act of violence.” Hicks, 23, played for the Spartans from 2010-2014 and was a three-year letterwinner under Mark Dantonio.
Trailing 30-6 fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor rolled to the right, didn’t bother to see true freshman wide receiver Donnie Corley by himself in the endzone and zipped a pass to triple covered fifth-year senior Monty Madaris.
No. 8 MSU had to be confident heading into Saturday’s contest after going on the road last week and taking down a ranked Notre Dame team on the road. Conference play has always been a point of emphasis for the Spartans, and their track record under head coach Mark Dantonio has proven that.
Football beat writers Stephen Olschanski and Nathaniel Bott break down No. 8 MSU's 30-6 loss over No. 11 Wisconsin in East Lansing. With the loss, the Spartans' overall record falls to 2-1 on the season and 0-1 in Big Ten play.
The No. 8 MSU football team got off to a sluggish start in the first half, and too many mistakes cost the Spartans the start they wanted in Big Ten play, getting blown away by the Badgers 30-6 in the Big Ten opener.
Head coach Mark Dantonio stressed the importance of Big Ten play throughout the week, and it didn’t seem to stick following the Spartans first half performance, as No. 8 MSU trails No. 11 Wisconsin 13-6 at the break.
Follow along in real time with MSU football beat writers Nathaniel Bott and Stephen Olschanski as No. 11 Wisconsin travels to East Lansing to take on No. 8 MSU.
For the first time this year, the Spartans will have a noon kickoff in what is sure to be a bruising Big Ten battle to open conference play. It is the 53rd meeting between the Spartans and the Badgers, the last of which being in 2012 when the MSU defeated the Badgers in Madison 16-13 in overtime.
State News sports editor Casey Harrison and football beat writer Stephen Olschanski discuss MSU football's matchup with Wisconsin, Central Michigan and Western Michigan College Gameday antics, their weekly hot takes and give their picks for the biggest college football games of the weekend.
Tyler O'Connor is more than serviceable at quarterback After going 19-of-26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame O'Connor proved his game managing forte and skill.
It's been quite the past week for MSU men's soccer. Not only did the Spartans defeat their arch-nemesis in the Battle for Big Bear, but they popped up in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll at the no.
The last time MSU sixth-year linebacker Ed Davis played Wisconsin, he was a redshirt-freshman. He recorded a tackle for loss in that game, and seemed to bring an extra competitive fire wherever he played; whether his work on the scout team his redshirt season or his 58 tackles his junior year as a starter.
After the MSU volleyball team had a successful non-conference season, the team will look toward starting Big Ten conference play on Saturday. The No. 20-ranked Spartans will head into their matches with an 11-1 record and the prestige of being a ranked team for the second straight week.
The often overlooked unit in MSU’s win over Notre Dame on Saturday was the offensive line.
On Tuesday, MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio took to the podium to discuss more impressions he got from the Notre Dame game and preview MSU’s first Big Ten conference game; a noon kickoff on Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.