Spartans fight back at Northwestern, remain undefeated
Evanston, Ill. – Two touchdowns in the final two minutes lifted No. 8 MSU to a thrilling 35-27 win against Northwestern on Saturday, keeping MSU undefeated.
Evanston, Ill. – Two touchdowns in the final two minutes lifted No. 8 MSU to a thrilling 35-27 win against Northwestern on Saturday, keeping MSU undefeated.
Without a home football game to celebrate, many MSU students are headed home for the weekend. But for Adam Nelligan, home is only a 25-minute drive from Northwestern’s Ryan Field, where he will spend his Saturday afternoon in the stands cheering on the Spartans.
Jon Misch is a man of many talents. The fifth-year senior’s list of off-the-field accomplishments would impress most people. But it’s his on-the-field play and excitement that’s made him stand out for the No. 8 MSU football team en route to a 7-0 start.
Growing up a lifelong MSU fan, sophomore Dan Conroy had a goal to one day be the Spartans’ kicker. After redshirting in 2008 and sitting behind now-graduated Brett Swenson last season, Conroy finally got his chance to shine and has been perfect this season.
The football series between MSU and Northwestern has provided some exciting games in recent history, from the Spartans’ 48-41 overtime loss in 2007 to their 35-point comeback win the year before.
With a 7-0 record, MSU is off to its best start since 1966. For the first time since the same era (1965-67), the Spartans have beaten rival Michigan three consecutive times.
The No. 8 MSU football team faces its first out-of-state trip of the season Saturday when it visits Northwestern. Here are four key matchups to watch in Saturday’s game.
Adding another marquee name to an impressive list of future nonconference opponents, the MSU football team will play a home-and-home series with Miami (Fla.) in 2020 and 2021.
Senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker waived his right for an arraignment Wednesday in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court, according to a court clerk.
The No. 8 MSU football team had their way offensively with their first six opponents, averaging 225 yards per game on the ground, but Saturday they found a defensive front that limited the Spartans all game.
Freshman cornerback Darqueze Dennard has been a member of the MSU football team for approximately two and a half months. On Saturday, he looked nothing like a first-year player in No. 8 MSU’s 26-6 win against Illinois.
Senior linebacker Greg Jones, sophomore kicker Dan Conroy and redshirt freshman kicker Kevin Muma earned honors for their individual performances against Illinois.
Throughout the season, the Spartan players and coaches have emphasized the taking-it-one-game-at-a-time mantra. And as MSU keeps winning, each game becomes more important, while it also gets easier to look ahead to the next big matchup or dwell on the last big win.
Coming off a 2009 season in which it forced six interceptions and finished last in the Big Ten in pass defense, the No. 8 MSU secondary is proving through its play that it’s in the midst of a turnaround.
The 2010 season is shaping up to be a special one for the MSU football team. Six games into the season with another six regular-season games to go, here is a look at the position-by-position grading breakdown of the MSU football team at the halfway point.
With about 13,000 students holding tickets, almost 1,500 students decided watching MSU play one of its biggest games of the season against Wisconsin wasn’t worth chancing the rain or holding off on a few drinks. If you expect to see a championship-caliber team the rest of the season, I suggest you give the Spartans championship-caliber fans.
Coming off a third-consecutive win against rival Michigan last weekend, MSU hopes to keep momentum in its direction and continue an undefeated season. One week after routing Penn State, Illinois looks to do the same to MSU.
A probation officer for senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker recommended Wednesday the player serve 21 days in jail for breaking his year-long probation that stemmed from involvement in a November 2009 assault, according to court records.
Coming off a 33-13 win against Penn State last weekend, Illinois enters Saturday’s game at MSU as confident as it’s been in a long time and looking for its second road upset. Here are four key matchups in Saturday’s game.
Senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker was arrested early Sunday morning for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing property damage with a vehicle.