There are a million possible excuses for MSU's fourth-quarter implosion — inclement weather, poor officiating, lucky interceptions — but none of them hold up. MSU's loss falls squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff.
What have you done for me lately? This phrase is used often in sports. Coaches are judged on a game-by-game basis, and players are often judged on what they do when the game matters. And the phrase couldn't have resonated any louder than on Saturday, when judging the play of the two quarterbacks. Notre Dame's Brady Quinn struggled early, throwing just 2-of-8 for six yards in the first quarter.
Each week, State News football reporter Ethan Conley offers his own college football Top 10 rankings. No.
Saturday's football game between MSU and Notre Dame has huge implications for both teams. For the Spartans, a win on national television would mean a spot in the Top 25.
Each week, State News football reporter Ethan Conley offers his own college football Top 10 rankings. No.
Junior Jehuu Caulcrick and sophomore Javon Ringer — MSU's first- and second-string running backs — are battling injuries. Caulcrick missed Saturday's game with a sprained foot, but head coach John L.
So that's what a game looks like when the defensive line makes an impact. In Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan, MSU's defensive line got in the backfield.
During a four-minute span of Saturday's game, MSU played complacently and its defense gave up big plays, allowing Eastern Michigan to score 17 points. But for the other 56 minutes, the offense dominated and the defense stifled the Eagles en route to a 52-20 win at Spartan Stadium. "It was a little bit of a roller-coaster ride," head coach John L.
Lost in the excitement of Matt Trannon's record-setting day on Saturday was an outstanding performance by Drew Stanton. The senior quarterback looked like he was heading for a rough game at the start.
It only took four years, but it appears the MSU football staff has finally found a way to get the most out of Matt Trannon.
Most fans will look at MSU's 27-17 win over Idaho on Saturday and label it as unimpressive or disappointing.
In the realm of college football, preseason rankings achieve a rare level of uselessness rivaled only by sideline reporters, contraception* and Pac-10 defenses.
With both public and student season ticket sales exceeding 60,000 for just the fifth time in school history, MSU officials suspended season ticket sales Monday. The 61,227 tickets sold represent the second highest number in school history, just fewer than the 61,479 tickets sold in 2000. The school also sold 12,722 student season tickets, the highest total since it sold 13,360 in 1991. The MSU football team has played in front of home crowds of more than of 72,000 for 45 consecutive games, with a capacity of 75,005. Two games, Notre Dame on Sept.
Idaho head coach Dennis Erickson has an impressive college football résumé: a 145-56-1 career coaching record, a .718 winning percentage and two national championships.
The MSU football team hasn't been to a bowl game in two years, finishing with a 5-7 record in 2004 and 5-6 in 2005. The consecutive losing seasons and lack of a postseason berth haven't dimmed the players' morale, however.
Drew Stanton put an end to the back-and-forth trash-talking featuring suggestions for Slim-Fast and winter hibernation jokes from MSU head coach John L.
The MSU football team's defensive linemen have been shuffled around throughout the spring practice schedule as the coaching staff searches to find a combination that works best. Senior Clifton Ryan, who tallied a team-high three sacks as a defensive end during the 2005 campaign, has switched over to defensive tackle.
MSU has been a wide receiver factory in the last few years, routinely pumping out some of the best split ends and flankers in the country.
One of the team's sore spots last season — at place-kicker — has a positive outlook after Saturday's 115-play scrimmage at Spartan Stadium. Sophomore Todd Boleski missed his first 38-yard field-goal attempt but didn't disappoint after, nailing two field goals at 32 yards, and then at 40, 47 and 55 yards. The defense also showed signs of improvement, which senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said is "more athletic and (can) run the ball better than we did a year ago." The first-team defense faced a first-team offense undergoing changes with three new starters on the line. After the game, head coach John L.
John Dwan didn't see it coming. Three years ago, he was a rising pitching prospect, a powerful left-hander from Illinois who had compiled a 25-5 record at Libertyville High School and broken the school record for strikeouts. He committed to MSU and turned heads during fall practice with a nasty fastball and baffling changeup.