MSU senior linebacker Greg Jones was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance in MSU’s 45-7 win against Northern Colorado on Saturday, the conference announced Monday.
Through four games, the No. 24 MSU football team has excelled in the areas considered its biggest question marks coming in, while its vaunted passing attack, which started the season slowly, finally is making strides.
Without head coach Mark Dantonio running the show, the No. 24 MSU football team rallied behind offensive coordinator Don Treadwell as the Spartans defeated Northern Colorado, 45-7, to move to 4-0 on the season.
MSU showed no signs of letdown after last week’s thrilling victory against Notre Dame, defeating Northern Colorado, 45-7, Saturday.
After an emotional week, the No. 25 MSU football team will have to turn its focus back to the gridiron as the 3-0 Spartans look to finish out a perfect nonconference slate.
After Kirk Cousins started all but one game for the MSU football team last season, expectations were high for the junior quarterback heading into 2010. Three games into the new season though, it has been the MSU running game that has paced the Spartans and led them to a 3-0 start and No. 25 ranking in The Associated Press poll.
After enduring a wide range of emotions this week, the No. 25 MSU football team will hope to rely on its concentration when the Spartans hit the field Saturday against Northern Colorado at Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network).
When the No. 25 MSU football team takes on Northern Colorado at noon Saturday at Spartan Stadium, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell won’t be assuming his usual seat in the coaches’ box.
Football head coach Mark Dantonio has been released from Sparrow Hospital, two days after undergoing a cardiac procedure on his heart Sunday morning, according to MSU Athletics Communications.
MSU football sophomore tight end Dion Sims has been suspended from team-related activities due to legal issues, MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said in a statement released Tuesday.
The No. 25 MSU football team maintained discipline late in Saturday’s 34-31 overtime win against Notre Dame, but for most of the game, that discipline wasn’t there. The Spartans were flagged 11 times for 79 yards, most of which were offsides or holding infractions.
Saturday night’s 34-31 overtime win against Notre Dame at Spartan Stadium was as improbable as it was unthinkable. Spartan fans have seen a different outcome too many times before. Nearly every year they witness their team give itself a chance to win late in an important game only to hand it all away in the final moments. Saturday night, it appeared it was about to be the same story but only a different season for MSU and its fans.
Notre Dame’s game plan for Saturday’s game against MSU was clear: pass, pass and pass some more. The Fighting Irish attacked MSU’s secondary, which ranked last in the Big Ten last year, early and often, gaining 369 yards and allowing their athletic receivers to make plays in MSU’s 34-31 overtime win.
MSU senior punter Aaron Bates hit senior tight end Charlie Gantt for a 29-yard touchdown on a fake field goal in overtime Saturday at Spartan Stadium to give the Spartans a 34-31 win over Notre Dame.
When the MSU football team takes the field Saturday night at Spartan Stadium, the implications of its game will reach much farther than the 75,000-plus in attendance.
Although the game against Notre Dame doesn’t get as much recognition as the Spartans’ annual matchup with Michigan, senior tight end Charlie Gantt knows more than anyone that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy ranks right at the top as far as rivalries go.
Last season, the MSU secondary was shredded apart by Notre Dame. Then-junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker dropped an interception late in the game that could have sealed the win for MSU. Saturday, MSU’s defensive backs will look for revenge.
Records, rankings and statistics are worthless when it comes to the rivalry between MSU and Notre Dame. With nine of the last 11 meetings decided by 10 points or less, it is a safe bet this year’s game will be just the latest exciting matchup in the series.
With Saturday’s matchup against Notre Dame looming, MSU will look to junior quarterback Kirk Cousins to leave last year’s loss in the past and take his game to the next level. Game time is set for 8 p.m. on ABC.
MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio wants his team to lay it on. For the second straight game Saturday, MSU executed well on its first two drives and took an early lead, but watched its opponent climb back in the game.