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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Offense takes back green jerseys in 2nd spring scrimmage

Ethan Conley
April 16, 2007

Consider the score even. In the first spring football scrimmage of 2007, MSU's defense beat the offense, 71-70, on March 31. The offense struck back on Saturday, and junior running back Javon Ringer was a big reason why. After failing to break off any long runs in the first scrimmage, Ringer exploded for a 65-yard jaunt to the end zone and finished with 130 yards on 15 carries.

FOOTBALL

Defense wants to play on instinct

Ethan Conley
April 13, 2007

When Mark Dantonio was introduced as MSU's newest head coach, he stressed that players play their best when they play the fastest, and they play the fastest when they know exactly what to do. Knowing "exactly what to do" wasn't a common theme in the previous coaching regime.

FOOTBALL

With knee in brace, Ringer ready for junior campaign

Matt Bishop
April 2, 2007

After sustaining a sprained right knee in MSU's fifth game of the season last year, Javon Ringer was supposed to miss the remainder of the year. Instead, he came back after missing four games and played the final three games of the season with a brace on the knee. Now that it's time for spring football, Ringer has healed, but the brace remains at the behest of the MSU staff. "We made a deal," Ringer said last Tuesday after spring practice.

FOOTBALL

Football facelift

When Mark Dantonio was introduced as MSU's head football coach Nov. 27, he used the word "toughness" five times in a matter of minutes when describing his philosophy.

FOOTBALL

MSU wants to press secondary more

Tom Keller
March 26, 2007

Opposing wide receivers might want to keep some breath mints handy. MSU's defensive backs plan on getting very up-close and personal next season. The secondary, one of the most maligned units on the MSU football team during the last few seasons, is revamping its philosophy and relying more heavily on press coverage, in which defensive backs make contact with receivers at the line of scrimmage in order to disrupt their routes. "It messes up timing more than anything," secondary coach Harlon Barnett said Friday after spring practice.

FOOTBALL

Hoyer: 'Intensity' the difference in workouts

Steve Highfield
March 14, 2007

When Mark Dantonio was hired as MSU's new football head coach in November, he was quick to stress toughness and effort as qualities he demanded in his program. And even though the official start of spring practice is still several days away, Dantonio has spent all winter instilling mental and physical toughness in his players via early-morning workouts.

FOOTBALL

Drew Stanton impresses during weekend at 2007 NFL Draft Combine

Eric Fish
February 27, 2007

Profootballtalk.com's "The Rumor Mill" reported Sunday afternoon that several NFL teams are now considering former MSU quarterback Drew Stanton to have moved ahead of Notre Dame's Brady Quinn based on performances at the league's annual combine in Indianapolis. The Web site cites good team interviews and overall intangibles for Stanton's jump as well as Quinn's questionable ability to play on the big stage. In four years at MSU, Stanton built a career that includes back-to-back team MVP honors and the best completion percentage in Spartans history (.642).

FOOTBALL

MSU scores verbal in 4-star recruit

Eric Fish
February 5, 2007

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio scored a verbal commitment during the weekend from Cedric Everson, a 6-foot-1 athlete from Detroit Mumford High School. Everson is a four-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, and committed verbally to become a Spartan on Feb.