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Battle for running back spot begins
After all of head coach John L. Smith's off-season shuffling, perhaps the position most affected is running back.
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Two try out new spots
To hit or to be hit, that is the competition. Well, at least for two Spartans running backs. Junior Tyrell Dortch and sophomore Jaren Hayes have been moved from taking hits on offense to laying hits on defense in the early stages of spring football.
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Injury keeps QB spot open
As he rehabilitates his knee this spring, with hopes to be next season's starting quarterback, sophomore Drew Stanton said the memory of the Nebraska player who "cheap-shotted" him at the Alamo Bowl in December will serve as motivation. "I've never had such a pain in my leg before, and I remember the guy over top of me, laughing and talking trash," Stanton said during a spring football press conference Wednesday. "That's something that motivates me every day to go out there and make sure that I'm at the top of my game and showing everybody that that was a cheap shot and that I will be the starting quarterback around here." Stanton was a backup quarterback last season, but because of his athleticism, he was used mostly on special teams. Head coach John L.
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Coach to take part in July safari to Africa
John L. Smith is excited, and not just because he's looking forward to the start of spring practice. The Spartans' head football coach will get the opportunity to ascend 19,341 feet to the top of Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. "To be on Mount Kilimanjaro, watching the sun come up while sitting on a glacier, it's a moment to take your breath away," he said.
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Spartans compete for employment in NFL's Pro Day
The NFL Draft is exactly one month away, but that didn't stop a handful of Spartans from smiling inside Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center on Tuesday afternoon. It was NFL Pro Day and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman, along with numerous coordinators and scouts, were on hand to watch MSU players display their talents in hopes of being drafted. Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker, senior linebacker Mike Labinjo, senior defensive end Greg Taplin, senior guard Paul Harker, senior tackle Joe Tate and junior defensive tackle Matthias Askew were the bigger names that worked out on Tuesday.
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Colleges consider another BCS bowl game
College football spectators can anticipate watching a fifth top-level bowl game starting in 2006 after an agreement Sunday would add one more bowl game in addition to the existing four. The announcement came from Miami by presidents of colleges representing teams that are part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and those from teams outside it. Oregon president David Frohnmayer called the change "positive" and "significant." "We have substantially increased the opportunities for Division I-A colleges to participate in BCS bowl games," he said.
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Former Spartans QB accepts head prep coaching job at E.L. school
A former MSU quarterback has been selected to replace the fifth-winningest coach in Michigan high-school football history.
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Four football recruits head to all-star game
Four recent Spartans football signees will get a chance to play in the most prestigious all-star game in high-school football before stepping into Spartan Stadium next fall. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, wide receiver Miles Williams, running back/defensive back Tony Howard and defensive end Justin Kershaw will participate in the Big 33.
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Spartans nab additional recruit prior to National Signing Day
John L. Smith and his coaching staff made another big catch this weekend, receiving an additional top recruit for next season. Hugh D'Imperio, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound linebacker from Sewell, N.J., orally committed to don the Green and White.
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Newest junior college recruit to add speed, size to 'U' roster
Spartans football landed yet another top junior college recruit for the 2004 season. Kenny Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver from Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, Calif., said he couldn't have pictured himself anywhere but East Lansing. "Going to MSU was something I had always been interested in," Jackson said.
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Prep end added to 2004 roster
The newest addition to the Spartan football 2004 lineup said the main thing he hopes to accomplish in his freshman year is to keep the team on track for another winning season. Justin Kershaw, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound, strongside defensive end from Reynoldsburg High School in Columbus, Ohio, committed on Saturday to play for the Spartans.
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Lineman's 2004 NFL Draft decision leaves spectators anxious, optimistic
Matthias Askew's decision to enter the 2004 NFL Draft has left both fans and analysts divided. The junior defensive lineman announced Monday he would forgo his senior season in order to pursue a professional career. Stewart Mandel, an online reporter for Sports Illustrated, said Askew will probably be a third or fourth-round pick, not faring as well as former Spartans who also left early.
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Transfer follows family, picks 'U'
A familiar name will be part of the MSU football team next season. College of the Canyons defensive end Domata Peko said he plans to make a verbal commitment to head coach John L.
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Spartans gain transfer, prep standout for 2004
Spartan football's fall lineup is going to add some much-needed bulk, now that defensive tackle Daniel Zynn has committed to play. The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Zynn was one of the best defensive tackles coming out of high school, and was ranked second at the California Nike Camp.
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Play Vick in 1st start after injury
While many leagues are starting or preparing to begin the playoffs, The State News prognosticating battle was clinched last week.Styf beat Stevie E.
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Big-time coach
Toward the end of last season, MSU head coach John L. Smith was leading Louisville to its fifth straight bowl game.
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Williams a finalist for Eastern coaching job
Reports from The Grand Rapids Press on Tuesday named former MSU head football coach Bobby Williams - along with MSU running backs coach Reggie Mitchell - as two of six finalists for the Eastern Michigan head coaching position. Neither Williams nor Mitchell were available for comment Tuesday, although Eastern Michigan athletics director David Diles maintained that the Eagles would not be confirming reports considering their vacant coaching position. "I will not confirm or deny anything regarding (the position)," Diles said.
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Deadline set for Ottney case closure
After more than two months of mourning and mystery, officials still are attempting to figure out what caused the seizure-like episode that ended Brian Ottney's life. Ottney, a former MSU football captain, died at 12:59 a.m.
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Old Spartans not scoring points
Turkey Day means the fantasy season is drawing to a close.The highlighted week usually is an indicator of the waning clock on the season.
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Smith modest about feat
Ending the season with eight wins, head coach John L. Smith finished with the most wins a first-season MSU football coach.