FOOTBALL

Rush named FWAA Freshman All-American

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 9, 2012

After recording 12 tackles for loss and four sacks this season, MSU defensive end Marcus Rush has been named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Rush joins defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, who recently declared for the NFL Draft, and three other players — kicker Brett Swenson, linebacker Greg Jones and offensive guard Joel Foreman — as the five Spartans to be named FWAA All-Americans in the last six years.

FOOTBALL

Column: Spartans never stopped believing in Outback Bowl win

Michelle Martinelli

January 9, 2012

When a team puts in five months of dedicated practices, sacrificed countless hours for strength and weight training, succeeded in triumph after triumph and spent nearly a month studying film on an opponent, the only additional thing the players can do on game day is believe.

FOOTBALL

Narduzzi stays, Baker out at MSU

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 6, 2012

After speculation MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi was leaving to take the same position at Texas A&M, the university announced Friday night he will remain in East Lansing.

Julia Nagy ·

FOOTBALL

Jerel Worthy to enter 2012 NFL Draft

Jesse O'Brien

January 5, 2012

Sitting beside MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio on Thursday afternoon at the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Center, junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy announced he will forgo his senior year and enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

FOOTBALL

Winningest senior class leads the way to bowl victory

Michelle Martinelli

January 3, 2012

Tampa Bay, Fla. — Kirk Cousins was the last player off the field at Raymond James Stadium Monday night.

FOOTBALL

Coaches' trust in players pays off in bowl win

Michelle Martinelli

January 2, 2012

_Tampa Bay, Fla._— The Spartans’ 33-30 triple overtime win over Georgia at the Outback Bowl was a dramatic victory that came down to the final plays, but as they’ve emphasized all season, the win and the 11-3 record was a team effort from start to finish.

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No. 12 Spartans defeat No. 18 Georgia in 3OT at Outback Bowl

Michelle Martinelli

January 2, 2012

_Tampa Bay, Fla._— A 16-point deficit at the half, a tie game with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, a thrown interception in the first overtime and a blocked field goal for the win in the third overtime — it couldn’t have been any closer than that.

FOOTBALL

Spartans look to win bowl game for seniors, program

Michelle Martinelli

December 21, 2011

After almost three weeks since the Spartans’ loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game, the No. 12 team (10-3) has put the loss in the past and is determined to finish the season on a high note.

FOOTBALL

Worthy named Associated Press First-Team All-American

Michelle Martinelli

December 15, 2011

Junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy was named First-Team All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday. The six-foot-three 310-pound lineman is the first Spartan defensive lineman to earn first-team Associated Press honors since defensive end Bubba Smith in 1966.

FOOTBALL

Worthy earns First-Team All-American honors

Kyle Campbell

December 15, 2011

Junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy was named a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL

Outback Bowl provides even matchup

Anthony Odoardi

December 8, 2011

Spartans and Bulldogs have had similar seasons and boast similar weapons.

FOOTBALL

Trustees vote on proposed renovations

Andrew Krietz

December 7, 2011

MSU football players might see themselves in higher definition, should the MSU Board of Trustees authorize the administration to plan for an approximately $8 million scoreboard and sound system replacement at its Friday meeting.

FOOTBALL

Column: Cousins leaves MSU as football program’s best

Michelle Martinelli

December 7, 2011

As his final Spartan season is winding down, it can be said with absolute certainty that — despite his seldom mistakes on the field — Cousins is the best quarterback MSU football has ever seen, and that’s a testament to his skills and his character.

FOOTBALL

Column: Forget broken system, just keep winning

Anthony Odoardi

December 5, 2011

Following Saturday night’s loss to Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten championship game, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said the Spartans will be back in Indianapolis next year.

FOOTBALL

Awards handed out at MSU football banquet

Michelle Martinelli

December 5, 2011

The No. 12 MSU football team had its annual Spartan Football Awards Banquet after the team returned home from Indianapolis on Sunday at Kellogg Center.

FOOTBALL

Dreams Dashed

Michelle Martinelli

December 5, 2011

The No. 17 Spartans left Indianapolis after a heart-breaking 42-39 loss to No. 10 Wisconsin, and as their third loss of the season, more post-season happenings did not go in their favor.

FOOTBALL

Spartans still can take pride in 2011 season

Anthony Odoardi

December 5, 2011

I keep circling through those final four minutes of Saturday’s inaugural Big Ten title game, and I keep coming to the same conclusion: Two plays cost MSU a Rose Bowl berth.

FOOTBALL

Fans flock to Indianapolis for unique football experience

Jesse O'Brien

December 4, 2011

For several hours before the MSU football team’s 42-39 loss to Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Spartan fans painted the city of Indianapolis green and white.

FOOTBALL

Spartans to take on Georgia at the Outback Bowl

Michelle Martinelli

December 4, 2011

To close out the 2011-12 season, the MSU football team will take on Georgia at the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012 in Tampa Bay, Fla., according to a tweet from Executive Director of MSU Alumni Association Scott Westerman.

FOOTBALL

MSU falls short in 'game of inches'

Michelle Martinelli

December 4, 2011

Indianapolis — All season, the No. 11 Spartans has been preaching about how football is a game of inches and how minute details can easily change the pace or outcome of a game.