Friday, December 1, 2023

Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

No more to be charged for fight

Justin A. Rice
March 27, 2002

After reviewing testimony involving an October fight that included football players and fraternity members, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office says it will only charge a sophomore defensive end, citing lack of evidence to pursue others. Clifford Dukes, 20, is scheduled to have a pretrial hearing today in 54-B District Court on four counts of assault and battery and two counts of aggravated assault. The charges, issued on March 20, involve an Oct.

FOOTBALL

U gets new uniforms

Justin A. Rice
March 20, 2002

The Spartan chariot won’t be the only throwback to the days of ancient gladiators this fall at Spartan Stadium.The MSU football team unveiled its newly designed uniforms Tuesday, which are modeled after ancient Spartan gladiators.

FOOTBALL

Football gets new coach

Chris Mackinder
February 25, 2002

Danny Crossman was named linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the MSU football team Friday. Crossman, 35, served as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech the last three years.

FOOTBALL

Thornhill files for draft

Ryan Wallace
February 25, 2002

MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill filed his name for entry into the NFL Draft in April. Last season Thornhill led the team with 128 tackles, 93 solo, in 12 games for the Spartans. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker is projected to go somewhere between the second and forth rounds. Thornhill joins junior running back T.J.

FOOTBALL

Spartans among top linebackers final prospects

Paul Day
February 18, 2002

The No. 1 community college linebacker in America may come to MSU, and his decision could come as early as today. Rivals.com has Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, the top Juco linebacker in the nation. Sunday, Pope listed MSU, Arkansas and Florida as his finalists.

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Coach leaves for Panthers

Ryan Wallace
February 14, 2002

After one year, MSU’s linebackers and special teams coach has decided to move on to the next level. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday that Sal Sunseri has resigned.

FOOTBALL

Junior college linebacker visits E.L., takes in game

Paul Day
February 14, 2002

The MSU football program could receive another commitment for the 2002 recruiting class. But unlike the 19 players who have already given MSU football head coach Bobby Williams the nod, Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound sophomore linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, would add some hits to the offensively heavy class.

FOOTBALL

Recruits part 3

Paul Day
February 7, 2002

John R. Buchtel High: Akron, Ohio 5-11, 170 pounds Cornerback Carlos Alexander is one of five Ohio natives coming to East Lansing next year. The cornerback was named to the All-Midwest Team by Prep Football Report. As a senior he had 48 tackles and five interceptions.

FOOTBALL

Williams calls speed key element in recruits

Paul Day
February 7, 2002

Wednesday was a big mail day for MSU head football coach Bobby Williams.Nineteen letters reached Williams’ desk signed and sealed, securing MSU’s early signees for the 2002 recruiting class.“I am very, very happy this day has come and it’s come to a close,” Williams said.

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Recruits part 2

Paul Day
February 7, 2002

Clifton Ryan Arthur Hill High: Saginaw 6-3, 255 pounds Linebacker Ryan continues the long lineage of great athletes coming from the Saginaw Valley Conference.

FOOTBALL

Recruits part 1

Paul Day
February 7, 2002

Kyle Brown West Bloomfield High: West Bloomfield 6-1, 195 pounds Wide receiver Brown verbally committed in late January and said he’s looking forward to teaming up with other fast wide receivers. “It’s gonna be pretty fun,” Brown said. His senior season was cut short by a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but that didn’t stop schools from recruiting him. His junior season he rushed for 1,300 yards and passed for 300.

FOOTBALL

Defense hopes to fill hole

Paul Day
February 6, 2002

The departure of senior linebacker Josh Thornhill to the NFL leaves a big hole in the middle of the MSU football team’s defense next season.Enter a hopeful replacement for next fall - Riverside-Brookfield High (Illinois) linebacker Steve Kielp, who will sign a letter of intent to play for head coach Bobby Williams today.“I think Kielp, a top 10 player in the state of Illinois, is very important to Michigan State,” said Bill Kurelic, recruiting analyst for MidwestRecruiting.com.

FOOTBALL

Spartans stay in state, add to receiving corps

Ryan Wallace
February 5, 2002

The key ingredients to a passing attack are a quarterback with a strong arm and wide receivers with speed and height.And the Spartans didn’t have to look far for the speed and height, with three Michigan wide receivers among MSU football’s 2002 recruiting class.The 6-foot-7 Matt Trannon joins Kyle Brown and Agim Shabaj, who have both been clocked 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.Brown and Trannon are ready to sign Wednesday, but Shabaj is having second thoughts.

FOOTBALL

Wide receiver commits

Ryan Wallace
January 22, 2002

Kyle Brown, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior wide receiver from West Bloomfield High, said Monday that MSU would be his college of choice.Brown said he called MSU head football coach Bobby Williams Sunday to officially announce his decision.“(MSU) was the school that really fit me,” he said.

FOOTBALL

Football team adds offensive depth

With more than 20 football scholarship offers thrown his way, Joe Karaska had a tough decision at hand.On Sunday, the 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman picked the green and white, becoming the Spartans’ 15th commitment for the 2002 season.“It was kind of both me and my mom’s decision,” Karaska said.

FOOTBALL

Fans bite into tailbacks departure

James Jahnke
January 11, 2002

Junior tailback T.J. Duckett is bolting from East Lansing - and a local favorite sandwich will probably be close behind. As the news of Duckett’s formal senior-year-skipping announcement bounced around town Thursday afternoon, fans had varying reactions.

FOOTBALL

T.J. ducks out of U for NFL

Ryan Wallace
January 11, 2002

The Spartan football team will have to switch to unleaded next season, as “Diesel” will no longer be available. A sense of satisfaction and relief beamed from T.J.