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A bit premature? Expect nothing less from the Progs
Another season is upon us, and that means it’s time for another season of pigskin prognosticators.
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Practice has Spartans excited about season
It’s unanimous. A little more than a week after the MSU football team was ranked No.
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First practice kicks off season
The fall semester doesn’t begin until Aug. 26, but first-year players for the MSU football team already have plenty of homework.“That’s a pretty big playbook.
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No. 18 Spartans ready to practice
The MSU football team is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll released Thursday.
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U-M, OSU, U top Big Ten
Chicago - Although record-breaking wide receivers - instead of smash-mouth running backs - are receiving most of the preseason hype, the media seems to think the conference will return to the “Big Two, Little Eight” days of the Big Ten. The league’s preseason poll, released at the 31st annual Big Ten Conference Kickoff Luncheon last week, tabbed Michigan and Ohio State to finish first and second, respectively, in the Big Ten football standings.
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New season promising for U football
Chicago - One thing is becoming more clear as MSU’s Aug. 31 kickoff approaches - the Spartans are a fixture on everyone’s radar screen. At this weekend’s annual Big Ten football Kickoff Luncheon, media members picked MSU to finish third in the conference and named junior wide receiver Charles Rogers the preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
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Single-game football tickets on sale today
Tickets for three of the Spartans’ eight home football games went on sale this morning. The games against Eastern Michigan on Aug.
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Ex-Spartans return to Meridian Mall
Former MSU football players will be signing autographs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Meridian Mall, 1982 W.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.