With the Big Ten’s struggles in nonconference play, it seems the conference’s chances at producing a Heisman Trophy winner are slim. However, two rising stars shine through as the Big Ten’s best chance for a Heisman candidate — Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and MSU’s Le’Veon Bell.
Le’Veon Bell has been the Spartans’ offensive workhorse, punishing opposing defenses for the second-most rushing yards in the country. The junior running back and his productive offensive line will have their hands full with an Ohio State front seven that’s holding opponents to an average of less than four yards per carry.
As Sparty walked into the room, a plethora of international students gasped and leaped at the chance to get a picture with the well-known mascot.
As Urban Meyer addressed his first game against a Big Ten opponent during his weekly press conference, the conversation inevitably turned back to where his team stands during an unusual season. In Meyer’s first season as head coach in Columbus, Ohio, he’s working to overcome penalties sanctioned against Ohio State for NCAA violations, which include ineligibility for postseason play or a conference championship this season.
To say Mark Dantonio is familiar with the state of Ohio would be a major understatement. Dantonio grew up in Zanesville, Ohio, 55 miles out from Columbus.
With the first game of the Big Ten season looming Saturday, head coach Mark Dantonio held his weekly press conference Tuesday morning to discuss moving forward from No. 20 MSU’s (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) surprisingly flat 23-7 victory against underdog Eastern Michigan.
Although normally the MSU football team is the focus of home games, lately it’s been the student section getting attention.
The 2011 second-team All-Big Ten junior defensive end William Gholston would not start at the position for the first time since he was suspended one game against Wisconsin last year. Instead, redshirt freshman Shilique Calhoun started at defensive end opposite sophomore Marcus Rush and played during the first half.
When Mark Dantonio met with the media following the No. 20 MSU football team’s (3-1) 23-7 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, one of his biggest frustrations was the slow start that saw his team trailing 7-3 at halftime.
Not so fast, my friends. Just because the MSU football team lost to Notre Dame last week under the lights of Spartan Stadium, it doesn’t mean the Spartans aren’t worth the national spotlight.
As the No. 20 Michigan State Spartans headed into the locker room trailing Eastern Michigan 7-3 at halftime of Saturday’s game, boos rained down on them from the Spartan Stadium crowd. The same thought echoed in the minds of the fans, the players and the coaches. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The Eagles were ranked 116th in total points allowed.
The No. 20 MSU football team (3-1) was able to overcome what head coach Mark Dantonio described as a “flat” first half to beat Eastern Michigan (0-4) 23-7 on Saturday, but a passing game that was supposed to get better with experience seems to be getting alarmingly worse with each passing week.
Moments after MSU football head coach stormed away from the podium after Saturday’s underwhelming 23-7 victory over Eastern Michigan, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi took the stage. Narduzzi turned to the media and with a big grin requested one thing of the reporters before him; “Smile!”
As he went to the locker room, with boos raining down from the stands, Dion Sims knew he had to do something. He couldn’t afford to be the underclassman that showed occasional flashes of potential anymore. With the No. 21 MSU football team (3-1) trailing Eastern Michigan (0-4) 7-3 at halftime, Sims hadn’t caught a pass, and the offense couldn’t find a rhythm.
The No. 21 MSU football team (3-1) avoided a scare, coming from behind to knock off Eastern Michigan (0-4) 23-7, thanks to fourth quarter heroics from Dion Sims and Le’Veon Bell.
The boo birds were out in the first half, as the No. 21 MSU football team (2-1) trails Eastern Michigan (0-3) 7-3 at halftime.
If you’re to believe Le’Veon Bell, Spartan fans should have no worries about No. 21 MSU’s (2-1) game against Eastern Michigan (0-3) this Saturday.
When Andrew Maxwell committed to the MSU football team as a senior in high school in 2008, the MSU campus wasn’t quite the same as it is today.
It’s often overlooked, but special teams is one of the most important facets of a football game, and after Saturday’s 20-3 loss to No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0), the No. 21 Spartans (2-1) know it better than anyone else.
Bennie Fowler isn’t quite sure what happened in the first quarter of MSU’s 20-3 loss against No. 11 Notre Dame. On first down, junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell found Fowler in the end zone for what would have been a 28-yard touchdown pass that would have knotted the game at 7-7.