With two games behind them and two weeks before conference play begins, MSU the defending national champion Ohio State are on top of the Big Ten. But the statistical category they share is not one to be proud of.
With the first test of the fantasy football season now in the books, it's time to regroup, reflect and rethink what went well - and what didn't - in Week One. Sure, there were disappointments. Top-flight running backs Marshall Faulk of the Rams, LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers and Corey Dillon of the Bengals ran like mere impostors of their typical selves, combining for 96 yards on the ground and no touchdowns. And there were sweet surprises. Rookie Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin reset the record books for a debut receiver, with 10 catches for 217 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
It's only the third week of the season, but the injuries have already started to mount for the MSU football team. Junior tight end Eric Knott and junior defensive tackle Brandon McKinney are listed as out for Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech, although head coach John L.
He's been on the team only a short time and few Spartan fans know his name. But as No.
MSU attacked from every angle Saturday against Rutgers, but despite putting up 44 points, the victory was anything but easy. It took the Spartans almost 28 minutes to grab the lead from the Scarlet Knights, who opened up the scoring early with a 65-yard passing touchdown just two-and-a-half minutes into the game. Head coach John L.
While most receivers contemplate their next move as they snatch the ball out of the air, Jaren Hayes is just praying he'll catch it. Perhaps Hayes' new style of play was inspired by his team's new nickname Saturday, for he was lining up for the Aggies, not the Spartans. Or maybe it was the chance to shine after starting running back Tyrell Dortch left the game in the second quarter because of a sprained ankle. But ask Hayes and he'll tell you he doesn't care where he played, or even how, just as long as the team, Aggies or Spartans, won. "In the first touchdown I scored, I was just praying that I was going to catch the ball and try and get some yards.
The corner of Kalamazoo and Walnut streets in downtown Lansing is, for the most part, unremarkable.
Junior tight end Eric Knott is listed as questionable for the upcoming Rutgers football game after an MRI revealed Tuesday that he had sprained a knee, MSU assistant athletic director John Lewandowski said.
When Agim Shabaj caught his second pass on Saturday, he had visions of Ronald Stanley.Not on the field, but in his head.As he latched onto the short pass, he looked up and saw no one in front of him.
They might have begun as a question mark, but by the time the game was over, they were the heroes.The MSU defensive line shut down Western Michigan's offensive star and abused its quarterback.
Throwback jerseys are in, so the MSU football team decided to take the fad one step further - with a throwback name.In honor of the school's 1,000th football game, the Spartans will go incognito, removing the logos from their helmets and going by the name Aggies on the scoreboard, Sports Information Director John Lewandowski said.
His leg might have been broken, but his love for the game was not.Tyrell Dortch, filled with energy and anticipation and nearly two years removed from the last time he saw game action on the Spartan Stadium grass, darted onto the field Saturday afternoon seemingly with new life.
Former MSU football captain Brian Ottney died from a "seizure-like episode" early Monday in Long Beach, Calif., said Lt.
He was the quarterback and the conductor. After guiding MSU to an emotional win in his return to the Spartan offense, Smoker took his just reward, standing atop the band director's ladder and leading the remaining fans from the 27th consecutive sellout home game in a victorious rendition of the school's fight song. "It's the coolest thing I've ever done outside of Michigan a couple years ago," the senior signal caller said.
Should he play or should he go? Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker will walk onto the field Saturday amid many questions - the first being, should he? His coaches think the signal caller, who was suspended last season after admitting to a substance abuse problem in October 2002, should be allowed to don a Spartan uniform again. "Jeff has done everything we've asked," offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin said.
The swagger is gone and the expectations went with it.So is his favorite target and his pristine image.As well as the complete coaching staff, his two top running backs and his whole comfort zone.The passing records seem a forgone conclusion, but for MSU quarterback Jeff Smoker, there is so much more to prove.What's real is the nervous twitch of his eye and a no-name receiving corps that could easily let him down.As Smoker addressed reporters for the second time since being reinstated to the football team, he tried to emphasize that he was concentrating only on this week's game.When the Spartans take the field against Western Michigan at 3:40 p.m.
Tyrell Dortch has seen plenty of adversity in the past two seasons, but MSU football head coach John L.
The MSU kicking game took a hit Tuesday when senior punter Jason Daily injured his ankle during practice. Daily, the starter last season, lost his job earlier in fall practice to redshirt freshman Brandon Fields.
MSU football head coach John L. Smith isn't worried about naming starters less than a week before the season opener.
Three of last season's four football captains were benched, suspended or jailed.The 2002 captains - quarterback Jeff Smoker, center Brian Ottney, safety Thomas Wright and running back Dawan Moss - are a stark contrast to the humble disposition displayed by this year's group, a bunch of linemen and a linebacker."Last year the guys didn't follow through," senior captain Paul Harker said.