When MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio first laid eyes on the 2008 schedule, he didn’t like what he saw. At first, not having a bye week until the 11th week of the season bothered Dantonio, but three months and one banged-up team later, he’s changed his mind.
For the first time this season, members of the MSU football team really complained about respect Saturday. Junior defensive end Trevor Anderson pleaded that MSU was “not the same old Spartans team.” Senior quarterback Brian Hoyer asked when the name would die.
When MSU beat Purdue 21-7 Saturday at Spartan Stadium, the home team made its way over to the southeastern corner of the stadium to do the traditional singing of “MSU Shadows” with the student section. After the final word had been sung, nearly all the Spartans headed to the locker room to celebrate their ninth win of the season.
With an ugly 21-7 win Saturday over Purdue, the Spartans are sitting pretty for a chance at a Big Ten championship. A stingy defense that held Purdue to 191 total yards and gave the Spartans offense superb field position on two touchdown drives propelled MSU to a win on Senior Day at Spartan Stadium.
On a warm November evening last week, senior offensive linemen Jesse Miller and Roland Martin were enjoying one of their last off days as MSU football players. The two most experienced and decorated MSU offensive linemen were at Ralph Young Field, experimenting with their most recent purchase — remote control cars.
Purdue head coach Joe Tiller probably didn’t imagine going out like this. In his last season at the helm, the Boilermakers are at risk of missing out on postseason play for just the second time in Tiller’s 12-year career.
Purdue head coach Joe Tiller is considered the father of the spread offense in the Big Ten, as he brought the pass-happy offense to West Lafayette, Ind., in 1997.
The dried blood on the inside of senior linebacker Ryan Allison’s helmet tells the story of his evolution the past six months.
When senior guard Mike Bacon arrived at MSU in 2004 as a preferred walk-on from Lansing, he looked more like a hockey defenseman than an offensive lineman.
In their four or five years at MSU, the Spartans football seniors have gone through more ups-and-downs than an elevator.
The MSU Football Players Association has published “The Tradition Continues — Spartan Football,” a 624-page book detailing the more than 124 years of MSU football.
One year after MSU’s late-season 48-31 win at Purdue, the Spartans and Boilermakers have reversed roles. The Spartans went into West Lafayette, Ind., last season with a 5-5 record and a three-game losing streak in tow, fighting for their bowl lives with two games remaining.
For about two minutes Saturday afternoon in Spartan Stadium, all eyes were on junior kicker Brett Swenson.
Junior kicker Brett Swenson hit a 44-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining, as No. 21 MSU posted a 25-24 come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium.
The 5-foot-11, 165- pound Gilreath is coming off the first two-touchdown game for a Wisconsin wide receiver this season, when he caught three balls for 71 yards last week against Illinois.
In one snap, Kirk Cousins’ role on the MSU football team could change dramatically. One hard hit on senior quarterback Brian Hoyer and the redshirt freshman would have to trade his headset for his helmet and run onto the field to lead the Spartans.
The first time MSU head coach Mark Dantonio saw sophomore punter Aaron Bates try his new punting style of dropping the point of the football toward the ground instead of flat, he thought his starter had botched the kick.
After a weekend of rumors and accusations regarding an Oct. 19 fight involving MSU athletes that sent one to the hospital, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio delved into the matter during his weekly press conference Tuesday.
At his Tuesday morning press conference, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio addressed the off-campus fight early on Oct. 19, which involved MSU athletes.
After MSU’s 35-21 victory over Michigan on Saturday, Brian Hoyer and Javon Ringer entered the postgame media room, a square cement area under Michigan Stadium. The room was filled with cameras, media members and a table with three chairs set up under the only decoration in the room: a black, vinyl covering with the U-M block “M” and Big Ten Network logos scattered all over it. “Take it down!” said someone in the media.