The next step to completing the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, was determined Friday when the MSU Board of Trustees approved a $55 million budget for construction of the exterior walls of the nuclear physics facility.
It was the biggest play of DeAnthony Arnett’s young MSU career. The sophomore receiver’s 48-yard reception was a careerlong and set up an MSU touchdown on the Spartans’ opening drive of the second half against Central Michigan, but after the game Arnett hardly was thrilled. After playing less than a handful of plays in the Spartans’ season-opening victory against then-No. 24 Boise State, MSU receivers coach Terrence Samuel said Arnett likely would see an increase in playing time on Saturday.
It’s been over a decade since MSU legend T.J. Duckett donned a green and white uniform, but Saturday afternoon there was another No. 8 lining up in MSU’s backfield. Redshirt freshman defensive end Lawrence Thomas — “LT” to his coaches and teammates — saw an expanded role in a place few expected to see — at the fullback position.
There was every reason to exhale. Every reason to enjoy the victory over Boise State a little too long, and think ahead to Notre Dame a little too early. But from start to finish, the Spartans made it clear: they came to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to dominate, and refused to relent.
The Spartans went on to finish off the Chippewas 41-7 behind Bell’s two touchdown, 70 yard performance and the leadership of junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell, who threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns on 20-for-31 passing.
The No. 11 MSU football team cleaned up at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, knocking off the Chippewas 41-7 Saturday afternoon.
Junior running back Le’Veon Bell is leading the Spartan effort, carrying the ball 15 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. After a shaky start, junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell seemed to find his groove with his receiving corps, going 17-for-28 for 213 yards and his first touchdown of the season, a 20-yard strike to junior tight end Dion Sims.
The MSU Board of Trustees is set to vote on an authorization to plan for an $18 million expansion to the north end zone of Spartan Stadium during its meeting Friday morning.
When the Spartans step onto the field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium Saturday afternoon, they will be doing so in front of the biggest crowd the stadium has seen. For the first time in Central Michigan’s school history, tickets for the game sold out prior to game day, where the No. 11 Spartans (1-0) will face off against the Chippewas (1-0) before an expected record capacity of 32,855 fans.
Bennie Fowler only was a freshman, but the moment still stands out in his mind. It was three years ago when a 42-yard Central Michigan field goal with three seconds remaining handed MSU a stunning 29-27 loss in Spartan Stadium that began a three-game losing streak.
In the fourth quarter, CMU kicker Andrew Aguila misses a 47-yard field goal, but an offside penalty against defensive end Colin Neely gave CMU another chance.
After MSU introduced the college football world to its new $10 million scoreboards and sound system nearly a week ago, more renovations might soon be on the way at Spartan Stadium.
MSU’s receiving corps have heard it all before. They’re young. They’re untested. They make mistakes. They can’t make the big plays. Junior running back Le’Veon Bell will have to carry this offense. After Friday’s game, it only got worse. The passing game took a backseat to Bell’s monstrous performance, as the Spartans struggled to move the ball through the air. Three interceptions and a fumble by sophomore wide receiver Tony Lippett later and MSU doesn’t appear to boast the same wideout pedigree it has in the past.
When the No. 11 MSU football team (1-0) takes the field and one of the country’s most heralded defenses lines up each Saturday, a glance across the field often shows Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard matched up on their own, with no one around to help them.
The players included junior linebackers Denicos Allen and freshman Jamal Lyles, redshirt freshman safety Kyle Artinian and sophomore running back Nick Hill, and Dantonio made it clear the behavior would not be tolerated.
After his 265 total-yard, two-touchdown performance against then-No. 24 Boise State Friday night, junior running back Le’Veon Bell has been thrust into the national spotlight, raking in Offensive Big Ten Co-Player of the week honors and eliciting talks of possible Heisman candidacy.
You can take your hands down now. It’s OK to look. The ugliness of last Friday’s game can’t hurt you anymore.
In a 17-13 victory over No. 24 Boise State, the No. 13 Spartans made a statement, topping a ranked opponent in the season opener for the first time since 1987.
Maxwell found junior tight end Dion Sims seven times for 65 yards over the course of the game, including a crucial third down conversion where Maxwell threw high and counted on the six-foot-five Sims to go up and get it. And he did. For 18 yards and a first down that put the Spartans at first and goal on the seven yard line.
Leading up to Friday’s game, head coach Mark Dantonio needed only to point towards Chris Petersen’s 73-6 coaching record to know the Spartans were in for a tough game.