FOOTBALL
Sweep of Nittany Lions earns U No. 3 seed
With a four-game sweep of Penn State, the MSU baseball team solidified the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. “We played well.
FOOTBALL
McCoy joins list of Spartans to sign with NFL team
The list of MSU football players that will be attending NFL training camps has grown to nine.Former tight end/defensive end Ivory McCoy said he will sign a free-agent contract today with the Philadelphia Eagles.
FOOTBALL
Thornhill invited to Lions camp
A day after not being picked in the 2002 NFL Draft, middle linebacker Josh Thornhill was given another chance.The third-team All-American and team MVP was invited to workout at the Detroit Lions mini-camp Thursday through Sunday at its Allen Park practice facility.
FOOTBALL
5 Spartans see dreams realized with 2002 draft
First-round draft pick T.J. Duckett was the guy in the spotlight this weekend, but four other Spartan players quietly fulfilled childhood dreams of their own. Tight end Chris Baker, wide receiver Herb Haygood, defensive tackle Josh Shaw and punter Craig Jarrett all had their names called in the 2002 NFL Draft, which took place Saturday and Sunday in New York. All four were Spartan seniors last fall - but being drafted is the official start of their professional football careers.
FOOTBALL
Being drafted; the first step
The NFL Draft can be the most exciting two days in a young college football player’s life. This weekend, five Spartans came one step closer to playing professional football. Five players from a team that finished 7-5 last season is a pretty good accomplishment, and showed just how much talent that team had. Last year the Spartans weren’t represented until the seventh round, when three players were selected. Cornerback Renaldo Hill went to the Arizona Cardinals, center Siitupe Peko went to the New York Jets and T.J.
FOOTBALL
Rogers to be named Playboy All-American
Spartan receiver Charles Rogers will become part of an elite class of athletes when he is pictured in the October 2002 issue of Playboy Magazine. Rogers will not be baring all, he will join 25 others as members of the 2002 Preseason Playboy All-American team. Gil Brandt, an analyst for NFL.com said Thursday that Rogers would be part of the 2002 Playboy All-American team. “He’s a great player and can he return kicks,” Brandt said. Brandt has helped Gary Cole, photography director and sports editor of Playboy Magazine, select the team in the past. Last season, Rogers caught 67 passes for 1,470 yards in 12 games.
FOOTBALL
Atlanta chooses Duckett in NFL Draft
Lansing - While family, friends and reporters waited for T.J. Duckett to make a statement at Trippers on Saturday, his aunt June Smith asked, “Anyone like Georgia peaches?” A short time earlier, Duckett was with friends and family at the Frandor Shopping Center sports bar when the Atlanta Falcons notified him that he was their selection in the first round of the NFL Draft.
FOOTBALL
Long snapper signs NFL contract
The MSU football team’s long snapper from last season signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins on Sunday night - five minutes after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Tony Grant, 23, signed a two year deal in addition to a small signing bonus after not being picked up during the seven-round draft. The electrical engineering senior said he didn’t know if he would get drafted at all. “I don’t know any details, all I know is I’m a Redskin,” Grant said.
FOOTBALL
SPORTS UPDATE: Duckett picked No. 18 by Atlanta
Former Spartan tailback T.J. Duckett was picked by the Atlanta Falcons as the 18th pick in the NFL Draft on Saturday.Duckett, an MSU standout and fan favorite, was largely expected by analysts to be chosen by the Cleveland Browns, which would have put him at 16th in the draft.
FOOTBALL
Going pro may be a snap
No one at Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee recognized him as he sipped an Orange Brain Freeze smoothie that matched his orange American Eagle T-shirt. His gold chain, with a tiny gold football dangling at the end, didn’t give him away either.
FOOTBALL
Spartans anticipate NFL Draft
A few hopeful Spartans are anxiously waiting to hear their names announced this weekend at the 2002 NFL Draft in New York. Junior tailback T.J.
FOOTBALL
Spartans close spring practice
The MSU football team concluded spring practice Saturday with its Green and White spring game at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. “This has been a very positive spring practice for us,” MSU head coach Bobby Williams said.
FOOTBALL
Spartans do battle for vacant tailback position
Heading into the final scrimmage of spring practice, the race for the starting tailback position is heating up.In the wake of T.J.
FOOTBALL
Intrasquad game canceled because of poor weather
Spartan football fans hoping to get a sneak peak of the team at Saturday’s annual Green-White intrasquad game will have to wait until the fall season.MSU head coach Bobby Williams officially canceled the game, which was scheduled to take place at Okemos High.
FOOTBALL
Rogers ready to be Spartans leading man
During the winter, the MSU football team’s No. 1 offensive weapon went from a 6-foot-1, 249-pound bulldozer, to a 6-4, 200-pound game-breaker.
FOOTBALL
Pretrial for defensive end postponed
The pretrial hearing Wednesday for Spartan defensive end Clifford Dukes was adjourned. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Joyce Draganchuck said the reason for the adjournment was so that Dukes’ attorney, Brian Jeffries of ASMSU’s legal services, could have access to all the information. “He just had to sort through all of the police report,” Draganchuck said.
FOOTBALL
No more to be charged for fight
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
Gridders take the field for spring practice
The MSU football team’s spring season sprung into action Wednesday with the first of 15 practices.
FOOTBALL
U gets new uniforms
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
Duckett headlines Spartans on display for NFL scouts
Under the watchful eye of NFL scouts, the “Diesel” proved he has the power and speed to play in the NFL. Tuesday was MSU’s NFL Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building, and junior running back T.J.