Friday, April 26, 2024

Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

New system for football tickets has fans worried

Tom Keller
August 29, 2005

Football season tickets have sold out, but not all students are sold on the new policy for redeeming them. The MSU Athletics Department announced Saturday that sales of both public and student season ticket packages have been suspended after exceeding 60,000 for just the fourth time in school history. More than 12,000 student packages have been sold, up almost 1,500 from last season. But many students are still looking for answers to the new ticket policy that was announced late last month. Under the new system, tickets will be attached to student IDs, replacing printed vouchers.

FOOTBALL

Summer daze

Matt Bishop  and  Eric Fish
August 29, 2005

MSU head coach John L. Smith has experienced his most turbulent off-season going into his third year on the Spartan sidelines.

FOOTBALL

Stanton only QB left with game experience

Megan Homanick
August 4, 2005

MSU head coach John L. Smith said the MSU team is going to be in the same situation it was last year. "At least for another year until our depth gets better, we're going to have to stay healthy," Smith said Monday in Chicago at the Big Ten Media Day. The problem for the Spartans last season was staying healthy, especially at the quarterback position, as both former Spartan Damon Dowdell and junior starter this season, Drew Stanton, missed time with injuries. This season, Stanton is the only quarterback left with game experience, as redshirt freshman Brian Hoyer and freshman Domenic Natale have yet to take a snap in a college football game.

FOOTBALL

Michigan, Ohio State ranked top at Big Ten conference

Alex Abate
August 2, 2005

Chicago - Every season has its changes, but the Big Ten's best are expected to continue performing at an elite level. Michigan and Ohio State are again picked to finish as the top two teams in the conference, with Iowa placing third. The Wolverines return 16 starters including sophomore quarterback Chad Henne and running back Michael Hart.

FOOTBALL

CB Hayes suspended for unknown reasons

Megan Homanick
July 25, 2005

This weekend, MSU football head coach John L. Smith suspended senior cornerback Jaren Hayes for an indefinite period of time. The suspension was for an off-field incident, and it prevents Hayes from participating in any football-related activities. MSU Associate Athletics Director John Lewandowski said there is no timetable for Hayes' return to the team.

FOOTBALL

MSU football player ineligible for season

Alex Abate
June 30, 2005

Wide receiver Agim Shabaj will not be returning to the MSU football team as he has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2005 season, said John Lewandowski, assistant athletics director and director of Sports Information. Shabaj, a high school teammate of junior quarterback Drew Stanton, played in 11 games and had 29 catches, with one touchdown last season.

FOOTBALL

Spartan quarterback enjoys summer without injuries

Megan Homanick
June 28, 2005

The year-plus between December 2003 and spring 2005 for junior quarterback Drew Stanton has been well documented - serious knee injury, long rehabilitation process, and a shoulder injury during the 2004 season and then more rehab. After all those hurdles, Stanton seemed to hit a flat stretch with no obstacles. "They're both feeling real good," Stanton said of his injuries.

FOOTBALL

Gridiron upgrade

Megan Homanick
June 20, 2005

With less than three months until the season opening game against Kent State, the $64 million Spartan Stadium addition continues to take shape. "This isn't only to benefit the people who can afford the (suite and club level seating)," Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Greg Ianni said.

FOOTBALL

Reaves arraigned on drunken driving, unlawful license charges

Chris Meagher  and  Lauren Phillips
April 29, 2005

A 20-year-old MSU student and football player was arraigned Wednesday on charges of drunken driving and unlawfully displaying a license, court officials said. Stephen Reaves, a sophomore who was backup quarterback for the MSU football team in fall 2004, was arraigned on the two misdemeanor charges. The maximum penalty is 93 days in jail and/or $500 per misdemeanor charge, Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon said. MSU Associate Athletics Director John Lewandowski would not detail what action will be taken. "Coach Smith will take appropriate disciplinary action - we are not going to air our dirty laundry in public," Lewandowski said. Reaves was previously charged with a minor in possession and a prohibited alcohol charge. Reaves is the fifth football player of the semester to appear in court. Last season, the Tampa, Fla., native played in five games, going 23-for-58 with 331 yards with two touchdowns.

FOOTBALL

4 Spartans selected in draft

Laura Collins
April 25, 2005

When former MSU running back DeAndra Cobb was 9 years old, his mother signed him up for a local little league football team with encouragement from her brother, even though she knew little about football. "We signed him up, and they actually called him 'Turbo' and we have been running with him ever since," Cobb's mother, Terri Cobb-Harden, said. She had no idea that years later, she would watch her son be drafted into the NFL on national television and share in the excitement. Four Spartans were drafted in the sixth and seventh rounds of the NFL Draft on Sunday afternoon.

FOOTBALL

Spartans finish 4-week spring practice

Chris Meagher
April 25, 2005

The MSU football team ended spring football with a scrimmage Friday, moving indoors to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building because of poor weather. The scrimmage concluded the Spartans' 15 practices during a four-week period, a spring session MSU head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Quarterbacks have options with receivers

Eric Fish  and  Chris Barsotti
April 25, 2005

After two seasons of dropped passes and inconsistency at wide receiver under MSU head coach John L. Smith, the position that gave the Spartans trouble in the past looks to be one of their greatest strengths entering the 2005 season. With wide receivers Aaron Alexander, Kyle Brown, Agim Shabaj and Matt Trannon all entering their senior years of play and junior Jerramy Scott and sophomore Terry Love returning to the program as well, the Spartans might have one of the best lists of wide receivers in the Big Ten. Alexander said the group is coming together well, but there still is work to be done before the fall.

FOOTBALL

49ers' No. 1 overall pick could be Smith

Eric Fish
April 22, 2005

MSU football head coach John L. Smith said Tuesday he doesn't know where his nephew Alex Smith -?the potential No.1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft on Saturday - will go. "I know where I'd like to see him go, but I have no clue where he's going to go," Smith said of the former Utah quarterback. John L.

FOOTBALL

Seeking: NFL job

Chris Meagher
April 22, 2005

Former MSU place-kicker Dave Rayner lined up for a 45-yard field goal at the Duffy Daugherty Building on Tuesday with no one rushing, yelling or attempting to block his kick. It was just him and the ball. This has been the scenario for Rayner during the past couple months, preparing for the 2005 NFL Draft. "I come in here kicking at least twice, sometimes three times a week," said Rayner, who is MSU's all-time leader in scoring, field goals and extra points.

FOOTBALL

Recruits already in practices, classes

Chris Meagher
April 15, 2005

There are some new big men on campus this semester, and they are not wasting any time stepping into their positions on the MSU football team. Junior defensive tackle Bobby Jones, freshman offensive lineman Brendon Moss, freshman quarterback Domenic Natale and freshman defensive tackle Diego Oquendo have all joined the Spartans this semester and are participating in spring football, getting a jump on the new recruits coming in the fall. Jones, currently behind senior Domata Peko on the depth chart at defensive tackle, said it has been a difficult move, both on the field and in the classroom. "It's a big adjustment trying to make it as I go through spring ball here and this semester," Jones said. He also has switched positions from defensive end, a position he has played his whole life, to defensive tackle. "I'm gonna play where they put me as long as I can get on the field," the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Jones said. MSU head coach John L.