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Sports | Football

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.

FOOTBALL

MSU alumni to play in Super Bowl on Sunday

Chris Meagher
February 4, 2005

MSU will be well represented this weekend at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., as three former Spartans are in the Sunshine State preparing for this weekend's battle. Philadelphia's Mike Labinjo and Ike Reese will be going up against fellow Spartan alumnus Jim Miller from New England on Sunday evening when the Eagles face the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Labinjo spent his first 14 weeks with the Eagles on the practice squad, but was brought up to the active squad because of another player's injury mid-December.

FOOTBALL

Football team adds Birmingham recruit

Chris Meagher
January 31, 2005

Football team adds Birmingham recruitThe MSU football team picked up another recruit during the weekend, and the Spartans didn't have to go far to secure him. Adam Decker, a linebacker from Birmingham Brother Rice, committed to the Spartans over Georgia Tech, Princeton and Boston College.

FOOTBALL

Stanley named MVP in football all-star game

Eric Fish
January 24, 2005

MSU linebacker Ronald Stanley played impressively in the Hula Bowl on Saturday for the East Team, scoring two defensive touchdowns and taking MVP honors. The East rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win, 20-13. The Hula Bowl is the senior college football all-star game. Stanley returned a fumble 38 yards for a score and an interception 50 yards to lead the East in the third quarter in the comeback. Stanley was joined at the bowl by three other teammates - senior running back DeAndra Cobb, senior tight end Jason Randall and senior place-kicker Dave Rayner.

FOOTBALL

Flagged down

Honolulu - MSU had two touchdowns called back because of penalties against Hawaii in a loss on Saturday, a fact that did not sit well with coaches or players. Both would-be touchdowns were by senior running back DeAndra Cobb, a 75-yard rush in the second quarter and a 98-yard kickoff return in the fourth. It's uncertain if either would have reversed MSU's 41-38 loss at Aloha Stadium. Head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Lost in paradise

Honolulu - The MSU football team could not finish what it started many times this season. That did not change against Hawaii on Saturday night in yet another disappointing game for the Spartans. MSU (5-7 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) succumbed to Hawaii 41-38, in the last game of a long, frustrating season. "We don't get to go into the offseason on a good note now; we go into it on a real sour note," head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Spartans rush past Wisconsin in upset

MSU could have adjusted its offense and planned a way to get around Wisconsin's top-ranked defense. But the Spartans stuck to their strength, running the ball, and the Badgers could not do anything to stop them.