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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Spartans in dire need of improvements

Jesse O'Brien
October 14, 2012

Since MSU’s first loss of the season, at home against then-No. 20 Notre Dame, we’ve become familiar with the Spartans’ mantra. “All our goals are still in front of us.” After barely eking out a victory over Eastern Michigan, a team that has yet to register a win six games into the season? “All our goals are still in front of us.” After dropping the Big Ten opener by one point to Ohio State before a national audience? “All our goals are still in front of us.” After needing a big second half to overcome Indiana, a team that hasn’t beaten a conference opponent since the final game of the 2010 campaign? “All our goals are still in front of us.” And now, after the Spartans (4-3 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) suffered a Jose Valverde-caliber meltdown to lose in double overtime to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Spartan Stadium on Homecoming? “I think we have to look at where we are as a program right now and what’s the next step for us,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. Sure, mathematically, the Spartans still have a chance to win the Legends Division and earn a trip to Indianapolis.

FOOTBALL

Rain or shine, Greencoats keep football fans safe

Rebecca Ryan
October 14, 2012

As human biology senior Dylan McKay, soaking wet and cold, sat ringing out his socks after MSU’s loss against Iowa, he thought Saturday had to be the coldest game with the worst weather he’d ever experienced in his time visiting Spartan Stadium. But he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

FOOTBALL

Stunned

Jesse O'Brien
October 13, 2012

Under cloudy skies and a steady rain, the MSU football team saw its control on the season ripped away after falling to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 19-16 in double overtime at Spartan Stadium Saturday afternoon.

FOOTBALL

Holding Back The Hawkeyes

Jesse O'Brien
October 11, 2012

The MSU football team (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) is less than 48 hours from squaring off against Iowa (3-2, 1-0) in its Homecoming match. And at about 4 p.m. Saturday, win or lose, you can bet the Spartans already will have forgotten about the Hawkeyes and turned their attention to the next opponent: in-state rival No. 25 Michigan (3-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten), who is looming just over the horizon. But not a second before.

FOOTBALL

Reviewing MSU's record before U-M rivalry game

Jesse O'Brien
October 11, 2012

In a defensive battle, the Spartans held the Buckeyes scoreless through almost the entire game before allowing a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. The Spartans then had a bye week to prepare for Michigan on Oct. 15, 2011, when they beat the Wolverines, 28-14, at Spartan Stadium.

FOOTBALL

Homecoming game critical for Spartans’ season

Josh Mansour
October 11, 2012

When the MSU football team hits the field for its 97th homecoming game this weekend, there will be more on the line than the usual celebration of returning alumni.

FOOTBALL

Jones, Norman jockey for time at linebacker position

Josh Mansour
October 10, 2012

It’s been five days since Taiwan Jones took the field against Indiana, and the sophomore linebacker still can’t shake a smile that spans from ear to ear. That’s because, for the first time in his career, Jones wasn’t on the field for the occasional play or to finish up the end of a blowout.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio makes depth chart changes prior to Iowa game

Jesse O'Brien
October 9, 2012

It’s a week of change for the MSU football team (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten). As injuries pile on and players begin to bloom, head coach Mark Dantonio made some adjustments to his depth chart in preparation for Saturday’s homecoming game against Iowa (3-2, 1-0).

FOOTBALL

Defensive secondary improved by Williamson's play

Josh Mansour
October 9, 2012

The search to replace graduated safety Trenton Robinson has been a revolving door in the defensive secondary, and this week the door has stopped with redshirt freshman R.J. Williamson, following a career-high nine tackles in the MSU football team’s (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) 31-27 victory over Indiana.

FOOTBALL

Maxwell's accuracy shows improvement

Jesse O'Brien
October 8, 2012

Back in August when the Spartans were midway through fall camp, offensive coordinator Dan Roushar began to see growth in his starting quarterback. Following the team’s first scrimmage — in which junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell was 16-of-29 for 162 yards — Roushar met with the media and divulged Maxwell had not thrown an interception in about five or six practices.

FOOTBALL

Spartans come back in Indiana

Jesse O'Brien
October 7, 2012

Mark Dantonio didn’t have much to smile about following the MSU football team’s 31-27 victory over Indiana in Bloomington on Saturday. The Spartans (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) came into the game heavily favored to deliver another drubbing to the Hoosiers (2-3 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) after last year’s 55-3 blowout in Spartan Stadium.

FOOTBALL

Column: Potential still abound with Dantonio, MSU

Josh Mansour
October 7, 2012

Is this really it? It’s the midpoint of the college football season, and this MSU team (4-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) still is as confounding and, maybe more appropriately, dumbfounding as it was when it opened the season.