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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Secondary works to improve struggling image

Eric Fish
April 10, 2006

In John L. Smith's three-year tenure as head coach of MSU football, it's been no question that the offense has dominated the program's ambitions. Players like senior quarterback Drew Stanton and sophomore running back Javon Ringer have soaked up the highlights while defensive players have been touted as the "team goats" by much of the public. In 2005 alone, the defense surrendered an average of 28.7 points per game and 5.8 yards per play while being the culprit of most passing offenses en route to a subpar 5-6 season which kept the Spartans out of a bowl game for the second straight year.

FOOTBALL

Newest commitment plans to enroll early

Steve Highfield
April 5, 2006

The MSU football team added its second verbal commitment of the 2007 recruiting class Monday — Quincy Landingham of Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School. Landingham, a 6-foot, 195-pound junior, plays on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, but he projects as a defensive player at MSU once he enrolls next spring semester after graduating high school a semester early. He is the No.

FOOTBALL

O-line undergoes retooling

Ethan Conley
April 4, 2006

How would one describe the offensive line for the 2005 MSU football team? The terms that surface aren't flattering. "Porous" comes to mind, as does "sieve-like" and "much-maligned." The group gave up 24 sacks last season, including 12 to Ohio State.

FOOTBALL

Sophomore sensation gives football fans hope

The spring sun is shining over East Lansing, a damp scent is in the air and the vacancy of the MSU football training facilities has been replaced once again by the sound of pads colliding with pads. The cut-and-dry personalities of MSU's winter sports coaches Tom Izzo and Rick Comley have been replaced by the entertaining, wacky psyche of John L.

FOOTBALL

Spring in the air means time for football

Matt Bishop
March 24, 2006

Spring is about change and that is what the MSU football team will be undergoing as it enters spring practice today. A number of changes grace the depth chart, led by junior Sir Darean Adams moving from bandit to backup free safety and junior Cole Corey moving into the starting bandit position. "I'm really excited about the competition we're going to have at most of the positions," MSU head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Enos back in E.L. as QB coach

Steve Highfield
February 13, 2006

Former MSU quarterback Dan Enos is returning to the football team after being named the new quarterbacks coach Thursday, filling the vacancy created when Doug Nussmeier left to join the NFL's St.

FOOTBALL

Smith nabs verbal from Fla. lineman

Steve Highfield
February 1, 2006

A week after securing one of the top cornerbacks in Florida, the MSU football team again reached into the talent-rich state to land another recruit before today's National Signing Day. Abre Leggins, a three-star lineman from Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Fla., verbally committed to MSU on Monday.

FOOTBALL

Big game cashes in big bucks as popularity of gambling rises

Steve Highfield
January 31, 2006

This year's Super Bowl in Detroit is Super Bowl XL, and if you plan on attending the game, your wallet better be XL, too. That's because the price of a ticket to attend the 60-minute football game can run into the thousands of dollars. The NFL offers a 1,000-ticket drawing to the public, and the winners get the opportunity to purchase a ticket for the Feb.

FOOTBALL

Mich. native gives verbal

Steve Highfield
January 19, 2006

The MSU football team added an in-state pass rusher when Jonathan Misch, of Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory, verbally committed to the Spartans on Monday morning. Misch, who flew under the recruiting radar, is undersized for a defensive end at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, but he compensates with a high energy level and great potential. "I have a high motor," he said.

FOOTBALL

Jackson tabbed as defensive line coach

Steve Highfield
January 17, 2006

The MSU football team added Derrick Jackson to its coaching staff as the defensive line coach. Jackson, known for his recruiting efforts, joins MSU from Northern Illinois, where he served as the defensive interior line coach, helping the Huskies rank second in the MAC in scoring defense in 2005. Prior to Northern Illinois, he spent two years as defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois and two years coaching defensive ends at the U.S.

FOOTBALL

Smith: 'We're making progress'

Eric Fish
November 22, 2005

Following Saturday's 31-22 loss against Penn State, the Spartans trotted off the field while watching the Nittany Lions celebrate a Big Ten championship on the turf of Spartan Stadium. After a perfect 4-0 start slipped away, the Spartans finished at a 5-6 mark — giving them a sub-.500 record and bowl absence for the second consecutive season. Still, MSU head coach John L.