Friday, May 17, 2024

Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Traditional game day cheer to be phased out

For the first time in more than three decades, “Hockey Cheer” is gone from the Spartan Marching Band’s song sheet. Traditionally a fixture in its pregame show and on third downs during football games, the band did not play the cheer during this past week’s pregame show, but it did play it sparingly in the game.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio turns focus to touted Chips offense

After a season opener that went mostly according to plan, the MSU football team is preparing for a much tougher opponent in Central Michigan this week. The Chippewas, coming off a 19-6 loss at Arizona, are expected to be plenty motivated against an in-state rival.

FOOTBALL

Freshmen running backs see first carries of career

Caulton Ray had never taken a handoff in a college game before, so he was understandably nervous. “The adrenaline was pumping but as soon as I got on the sidelines and the Star Spangled banner came on, I felt good,” he said. “I was a little nervous but after I got the ball a few times I felt very good.”

FOOTBALL

Spartans open season with 44-3 win over Montana State

The MSU football team kicked off its season in victorious fashion Saturday, knocking off Montana State 44-3 in front of 74,518 at Spartan Stadium. “It was a good first step,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We’re going to have to play better as we continue on and the next challenge is Central Michigan.”

FOOTBALL

Arms race

Even as the MSU football team begins its 2009 campaign Saturday, its quarterback situation still is as much up in the air as it was Jan. 2, the day following the team’s Capital One Bowl loss to Georgia — the final game in the career of Brian Hoyer.

FOOTBALL

Other MSU trying for upset bid in E.L.

All Spartans remember where they were when they found out Michigan lost to Appalachian State in 2007. Only a handful of Football Championship Subdivision teams have ever beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team, let alone on their home turf.

FOOTBALL

Detroit bowl game changes sponsor

Are you ready for some “Pizza! Pizza!”? Officials for the Midwest’s only postseason college football bowl game are announcing Tuesday that Little Caesars Pizza will be the title sponsor for the former Motor City Bowl.

FOOTBALL

Second half: Tail end of schedule challenging

Five of MSU’s final six opponents went to a bowl game and four of them won at least nine games. But this season, the schedule actually sets up pretty favorably for the Spartans. Four of the final six games are at home and the two road games typically aren’t at hostile environments.