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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

MSU can't hold the line

Steve Highfield
October 2, 2006

It was a game that wasn't supposed to be close. MSU was expected to put up big offensive numbers against Illinois Saturday, answering any questions about the lingering effects of the Notre Dame collapse. But after a disappointing 23-20 loss, the Spartans failed to respond to that question and raised many more about an offense that put up just 259 total yards. "We should be able to put up 40 points on Illinois," senior center Kyle Cook said.

FOOTBALL

Smith explains sideline scrum, Caulcrick's absence

Steve Highfield
September 26, 2006

In football rivalry games, emotions often run high. Such was the case in MSU's game against Notre Dame on Saturday, when a late hit caused a sideline scuffle and an MSU investigation. Senior quarterback Drew Stanton was running out of bounds into the Notre Dame sideline in the second quarter when he was hit and got pinned under the opposing team's bench.

FOOTBALL

Where was Jehuu?

Ethan Conley
September 25, 2006

Jehuu Caulcrick ran through Notre Dame's defense like it didn't exist on Saturday. He may as well have had a list of Notre Dame defensive backs in his pocket so he could cross off the names of players he ran over. Tom Zbikowski: Check.

FOOTBALL

Fans deserve praise

Three games that come to mind when I think of an electric atmosphere in Spartan Stadium. Two of those games are from 2004, when heavily favored Minnesota and Wisconsin came into East Lansing only to see each of its Big Ten Championship hopes crumble. The "go green, go white" chants coming from the student section were so loud that they drowned out the PA announcer.

FOOTBALL

Few plays shouldn't change reputation

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.

FOOTBALL

That's more like it

Steve Highfield
September 11, 2006

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.

FOOTBALL

Season ticket sales hit 60K, suspended

Matt Bishop
August 29, 2006

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.