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.
After sitting out his freshman season at MSU for academic ineligibility, "Tarzan" will be suiting up as a wide receiver for the Spartans this fall."Tarzan" is just a description for sophomore wide receiver Matt Trannon.
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.
A new aggressive approach on the defensive side of the ball has the MSU football team puffing up with confidence. Last year, the MSU defense that ranked 83rd overall out of 117 Division I-A teams was hard-pressed to stop the run or sack opposing quarterbacks.
MSU will look like a very different team on offense this season. Gone are offensive stars, including All-American receiver Charles Rogers and the top two running backs Dawan Moss and David Richard.
It used to be a weekly routine for Jeff Smoker - talk football with reporters after practice. But in his first appearance after being reinstated Wednesday as a member of the Spartan football team, the senior signal caller seemed withdrawn and not amused with questions that circled around a substance-abuse problem that led to a suspension last season. Smoker looked so caught up in relief of being back on the squad since October that he headed for the locker room without realizing he had left behind his helmet. Nevertheless, Smoker remained willing to reprove himself and handle the attention of being a quarterback. "I learned to just move on and realized that I was responsible for things that happened last year," Smoker said.
Staring out at MSU's practice field with bloodshot eyes, panting and swatting flies from his sweaty head, junior defensive tackle Brandon McKinney survived the Spartans' first full day of football practice Wednesday under new head coach John L.
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.
Detroit - As Charles Rogers stepped out from behind a closed door on Ford Field's concourse level, camera bulbs popped and hundreds of heads turned to catch a glimpse of the Saginaw native and former Spartan star clad in Honolulu blue and silver. "It's nice for me, being a prospect from Michigan," said Rogers, while sitting down to sign autographs.
Chicago - In his new role as MSU's football ambassador, John L. Smith greeted a congregation of Big Ten officials Wednesday, acknowledging that many believe the program to be one of the conference's weakest members. "I know a lot of people aren't expecting too much from us," he told dozens of reporters at the annual Big Ten football kick off in the Windy City.
The first four games of the 2003 MSU football season are scheduled to be televised by ESPN and NBC, Big Ten officials announced Monday.The Spartans' Aug.
An exhibit of the legendary 10-10 tie game between Notre Dame and MSU during the 1966 season was put on display Tuesday at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.The exhibit commemorates the highly controversial finish to the contest.
The smell of fresh cow manure and alcohol mixes in the misty, chilled morning air on a fall Saturday.
Senior center Brain Ottney announced he will forgo his fifth and final year of eligibility because of chronic knee problems.
Offensive guard Paul Harker has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, coach John L. Smith announced on Saturday.
Spartan fans might have a difficult time finding cheap seats in Spartan Stadium this season. On Friday, the MSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the Scholarship Seating Plan, which benefits the Ralph Young Fund.
While some professional prospects might be motivated by fame and fortune, MSU wide receiver Charles Rogers plays the game of football for those who looked after him, and for those he now looks after. "My family and my kids come first," he said.
MSU football head coach John L. Smith unveiled his new spread offense to 12,000 fans at Spartan Stadium on Saturday at the annual Green and White game, revealing the team's firm grasp on the new offense as well as its vulnerable defense. Showcasing "a quarter" of the new offense, Smith said he was encouraged by the progress the Spartans have displayed in adapting to a new system and coaches.
While much of the secondary is unproven, two defensive backs are set to anchor the group and provide the necessary leadership to get this unit through the season.Junior free safety Jason Harmon and junior cornerback Roderick Maples are the "elder statesmen" in the defensive backfield - each is stepping up and accepting the leadership role they have been assigned."Roderick and Jason stay on us all the time because we're young," sophomore strong safety Derron Ware said.
Former MSU star Charles Rogers found himself under the microscope of NFL executives Monday after it was revealed he used a substance to dilute his drug test at the NFL combine in February. The news left Rogers' agent, Kevin Poston, on the defensive, claiming the consensus top-three pick in the April 26-27 NFL draft drank an excessive amount of water because he had difficulty urinating on the day of the test. During the pre-draft combine, potential draft picks often participate in drills for NFL scouts and submit to drug testing.