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Sports | Football

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.

FOOTBALL

Trannon adjusting move back to field

Brian Charlton
April 12, 2005

For the past four months it seems Matt Trannon only was dreaming about basketball as his team headed to the Final Four. The junior forward left his football pads behind and worked his way into MSU head coach Tom Izzo's rotation. But when Trannon went to sleep at night, it was a football he grabbed to tuck in next to him in bed. "I've been doing it since high school -just something I do," he said. Although he was mostly on the hardwood during the winter, he constantly checked in with his football coaches and spent his spare time in the weight room. It was a short break for the two-sport athlete from Flint in preparation for his senior football season. After playing in the Final Four in St.

FOOTBALL

Smith settling move to bandit position

Matt Bishop
April 11, 2005

After two years of starting at the strong safety position, Eric Smith has leaped into a new position this spring - bandit. The senior, who recorded 115 tackles last season, second on the team, will look to strengthen a linebacking corps that will be hurting from the loss of last year's team captain Ronald Stanley. Smith said it's a bit more challenging shifting to a new position that's a combination of linebacker and defensive back. "As a safety, you had to know pretty much everything," he said. "They talked to me a little bit before spring ball, saying they wanted to look at me moving to the bandit," Smith said of the coaching staff.

FOOTBALL

Spartans show support for fellow athletes in tourneys

Chris Meagher
March 31, 2005

The MSU football team will take the field for its fourth spring practice of the year today, but the Spartans said they realize they are probably sitting second fiddle to the basketball program. Both the men's and women's basketball teams have advanced to the Final Four, and the MSU football team is among the ballers' biggest supporters. "Everybody's watching," senior defensive back Eric Smith said.

FOOTBALL

Hundley to remain at UTEP over Spartans

Kristi Jourdan
March 14, 2005

MSU football head coach John L. Smith hired Texas-El Paso defensive coordinator Tim Hundley to fill the assistant coaching position, but Hundley reversed his decision to come to MSU due to family reasons. Hundley was scheduled to arrive in East Lansing on today but now Smith must find another replacement in time for spring football. Hundley's original decision was based on a larger salary, but UTEP head coach Mike Price convinced him to reconsider.

FOOTBALL

Smith loses 3rd assistant football coach

Chris Meagher
March 1, 2005

MSU head football coach John L. Smith lost yet another assistant coach to a rival Big Ten school. Defensive backs coach Paul Haynes was hired by Ohio State, he confirmed Monday. Haynes joins running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and defensive line coach Steve Stripling as assistants who have left the Spartans in the past few months. Haynes, a Columbus native, said the opportunity to move back to his roots was the only major factor in his decision. "It's home for me," Haynes said.

FOOTBALL

Ex-Spartans make livings in AFL

Chris Meagher
February 28, 2005

The phrase, "Lights, camera, action" doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about a football game. But this is different. Flames, dancers, music and prizes are just part of the craziness that encompasses arena football. And there also is a football game complete with football players.

FOOTBALL

5 players showcase skills at NFL combine

Chris Meagher
February 25, 2005

Five MSU seniors will participate in the NFL Combine currently going on until Tuesday, trying to improve their positioning for the 2005 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-24. Running back DeAndra Cobb, defensive end Clifford Dukes, free safety Jason Harmon, place-kicker Dave Rayner and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson all will be down in Indianapolis to prove themselves at various skill and speed drills. The number of Spartans at the combine matches the number of players representing defending national champions Southern Cal. Cobb ranks third all-time at MSU for kickoff return yards with 1,632. Dukes, who dealt with an injury to his quadreceps muscle throughout his senior year, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and ranks sixth of MSU's all-time sack list. Leading the Spartans in interceptions in 2004 was Harmon, who also finished third in tackles with 105.

FOOTBALL

Football practice to be open April 16

Chris Meagher
February 21, 2005

MSU fans will be allowed to attend spring football practice at 1 p.m. April 16 at Spartan Stadium. But because of the additions and constructions to the stadium, seating will be limited to the east stands. The open practice will take place in conjunction with the third annual youth football clinic being held at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building from 10 a.m.