Things have been pretty wild in the world of sports lately. The Detroit Lions are hitting rock bottom early into the season instead of during the middle of its schedule, and 38-year old Michael Jordan is returning to the NBA for the second time.
If MSU’s T.J. Duckett is considered the Midwest’s “freak of nature,” then Northwestern’s Damien Anderson comes in a close second. Both Heisman Trophy candidate running backs are known for their uncanny speed and strength, despite the fact they differ in size. Duckett, at 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds, bruised his way to 1,353 yards in 2000, while Anderson, at 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, scampered for 2,063 - the most in the Big Ten.
The Big Ten named freshman wide receiver Charles Rogers and senior punter Craig Jarrett Big Ten Players of the Week on Monday for their efforts in MSU’s 17-10 win over Notre Dame.Rogers was named co-offensive player of the week along with Northwestern’s Damien Anderson and Jarrett was named the special teams player of the week.
South Bend, Ind. - Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie said Saturday he and his staff ran a sneaky play against the Spartans after researching MSU for the past couple of years.
South Bend, Ind. - A range of emotions ran through the MSU football team as it beat Notre Dame 17-10 Saturday - its fifth straight victory over the Fighting Irish.
South Bend, Ind. - The MSU football team beat Notre Dame for the fifth straight time Saturday, marking only the third time the Irish have lost more than four in a row to one team. MSU was also the first to do it, beating Notre Dame eight straight times from 1955-63.
When MSU’s secondary runs through Notre Dame Stadium’s south tunnel Saturday, “Touchdown Jesus” will greet them from the north.
While flags across the nation remain at half-staff, college football will resume play this weekend. MSU will play No.
Roommates Jeff Smoker and Ryan Van Dyke couldn’t wait to give the video game, NCAA Football 2002, a shot this summer.The two quarterbacks, who shared playing time during the Spartans 35-21 victory over Central Michigan last week, flicked on the television screen, loaded up their Sony PlayStation 2 and were amused at what they saw.Smoker, a sophomore, was listed as MSU’s starting quarterback, while Van Dyke, a senior, was depicted as backup with one noticeably inaccurate quality.“I’m just the backup, and I don’t appreciate that they have me left-handed too,” joked Van Dyke, who’s right-handed.
The prognosticators were unaware of last weekend’s cancellations when we compiled our predictions, and we apologize for any inconveniences.
Anytime a team plays Notre Dame, it must block out the hype and tradition that surrounds the Fighting Irish’s football legacy.
The College Football Hall of Fame canceled its Thursday reception and banquet that scheduled to honor the 104-year rivalry between MSU and Notre Dame.
It seems trivial to pick the scores of this week’s games due to the horrific terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa.
Even though head football coach Bobby Williams keeps his practices under wraps, everyone knows MSU must be focusing on special teams this week after Central Michigan blocked four punts in Saturday’s season opener.Special teams and linebackers coach Sal Sunseri took the blame for Saturday’s punt problems and said he should’ve lined up more athletic players in front of the punt team in practice.
Even though he didn’t play in Saturday’s home opener - a 35-21 victory over Central Michigan - about 100 protesters outside Spartan Stadium still felt Eric Knott’s presence. Knott said Monday that he was aware of the protests, but didn’t pay much attention to them.
Head football coach Bobby Williams reinstated sophomore center DeMarco Monroe’s status on the football team after suspending him indefinitely Sept.
MSU’s gridiron matchup with Central Michigan was laced with controversy Saturday as about 100 people protested the university granting admittance and scholarships to Eric Knott and Damon Dowdell. Knott, a freshman tight end, was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in June from charges extending from a 1999 incident involving a 13-year-old Detroit girl. Dowdell, a redshirt freshman quarterback, was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in the same incident.
As special teams hampered the MSU football team during Saturday’s season opener against Central Michigan, it was the one weak spot that carried over from last season - despite an entire summer of troubleshooting.Central linebacker James King was the catalyst of the Spartans’ special teams debacle when he blocked senior punter Craig Jarrett in the first quarter.But when he blocked three more punts in the second half, he took his performance to another level by tying the NCAA Division I-A individual and team record for most punts blocked in a game.MSU head coach Bobby Williams said the problems with the punt team need to be rectified immediately.“The blocks all came off of the edge.
Saturday’s postgame buzzword from head coach Bobby Williams was “breakdowns” and there were plenty of them in the messy 35-21 win over Central Michigan.
The Spartan Chariot arrived late for Saturday’s season-opening football game, bolting across the field mere minutes before kickoff.