FOOTBALL

Offense rolls in 44-35 victory

Eric Mckinney

January 7, 2002

With an offensive attack never seen before in MSU football history, the Spartans rolled to a 44-35 victory over Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Football Classic. The Spartans set MSU bowl game records with 44 points, 586 total net yards, 376 net yards passing and 210 net yards rushing. “We had a great game plan going into the game,” said sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker, who threw for an MSU bowl record 376 yards.

FOOTBALL

MSU beats Fresno State in record-setting Silicon Valley Football Classic

Eric Lacy

December 31, 2001

San Jose, Calif. - An old-fashioned Western shootout was expected and that’s just what MSU got in a 44-35 victory Monday over No.

FOOTBALL

Official says coachs new contract should lead to improved football team

Jeremy W. Steele

December 22, 2001

MSU’s top athletics official said Friday that a raise and contract extension given to head football coach Bobby Williams this week should help lead to a better Spartan season next fall.Athletics director Clarence Underwood said the deal, which includes a $50,000 raise and “roll-over” clause, should help Williams recruit top-notch players for his team.

FOOTBALL

Recruits hyped about bowl, watch postseason practice

Justin A. Rice

December 6, 2001

A trip to the Dec. 31 Silicon Valley Football Classic in San Jose, Calif., may cost MSU hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the return on that investment could be the signing of some highly sought after recruits. Recruits are allowed to watch the team’s practice for a bowl game and see the team play on national TV, said Bill Kurelic, a recruiting expert from Midwest Recruiting.

FOOTBALL

U tries to calculate bowl game expenses

Eric Lacy  and  Ryan Wallace

December 6, 2001

MSU officials have yet to determine if the school will take a financial hit for participating in the Silicon Valley Football Classic in San Jose, Calif., on Dec.

FOOTBALL

Thornhill makes conference team

Eric Lacy

December 5, 2001

MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill was the only Spartan named to the All-Big Ten first team by coaches and the media.

FOOTBALL

Bowl packages available now

Eric Lacy

December 5, 2001

MSU fans can pick from full and land-only four-night packages for the Dec. 31 matchup with No. 19 Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Football Classic. Both packages, through the Alumni Association’s Official MSU Bowl Tour, provide lodging from Dec.

FOOTBALL

Team, fans prepare for bowl game

Eric Lacy

December 4, 2001

The semester is almost over, and the grade is already in for the MSU football team’s 6-5 regular season performance. “Even in games that we weren’t successful in, our guys showed a competitive will,” head coach Bobby Williams said.

FOOTBALL

Spartans finally dominate

Eric Lacy

December 3, 2001

So much for the notion that an 11 a.m. kickoff would lead to sluggish results. In fact, MSU’s players were so fired up in pregame warmups against Missouri on Saturday that they had to be calmed down by the coaching staff. Nobody wanted to see any more injuries to end this erratic regular season.

FOOTBALL

55-7 victory over Tigers captures bowl invitation

Justin A. Rice

December 3, 2001

Lansing - The MSU football team accepted an invitation on Sunday to play Fresno State on Dec.

FOOTBALL

MSU blows out Mizzou 55-7, earns needed sixth win

Justin A. Rice

December 1, 2001

It took 11 games to do it, but the MSU football finally put a team away early and hung on for a 55-7 win Missouri at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. The victory, MSU’s biggest point margin in a win since it beat Iowa 49-3 two years ago, made the Spartans (6-5 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) bowl eligible.

FOOTBALL

Spartan gridders seek to earn bowl bid with win over Missouri

Justin A. Rice

November 30, 2001

The MSU football team has one final chance to resolve its mediocre season as it takes on Missouri at 11:10 a.m.

FOOTBALL

Seniors ready for last game, bowl bid

Justin A. Rice

November 29, 2001

For the seniors on the MSU football team, Saturday will be their final game at Spartan Stadium. “It’s hurting, just thinking about it,” senior wide receiver Herb Haygood said.

FOOTBALL

Injuries dont stop players, prognosticators

The prognosticators apologize to our cult following for taking last week off, especially to our biggest fan, MSU sophomore offensive lineman DeMarco Monroe.

FOOTBALL

Thornhill rewarded for abilities

Justin A. Rice

November 27, 2001

MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill was selected Monday as the recipient of the John S. Pingel Award by the Michigan Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The Pingel award, based on academic and athletic performance, is named in honor of the former Spartan All-America halfback and National Football Foundation Hall of Famer.

FOOTBALL

Spartans crumble in third quarter

Justin A. Rice

November 26, 2001

The MSU football team scored on every possession in the first half, except its last when sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker took a knee.Then it put up a doughnut in the third quarter.Even though Penn State allowed the most points in a half Saturday since MSU scored 35 in the second half in 1997, MSU turned complacent in the third quarter, sophomore linebacker Mike Labinjo said.“We came out in the third quarter and a different team showed up,” Labinjo said.

FOOTBALL

42-37 loss to Penn State dims postseason hopes

Eric Lacy

November 26, 2001

On paper at least, not much has changed for MSU from a year ago. The Spartans are 5-5 overall and are coming off an another loss to Penn State.

FOOTBALL

Medical redshirt not an option for Van Dyke

Justin A. Rice

November 20, 2001

Senior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke announced Monday that he won’t pursue the possibility of being granted a medical redshirt to play next year. Van Dyke, who broke his jaw Oct.

FOOTBALL

Fumbling Spartans in bowl bind

Justin A. Rice

November 19, 2001

West Lafayette, Ind. - One inexperienced quarterback and loads of mistakes left MSU one more week out of the bowl hunt. The Spartans (5-4 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) racked up six turnovers Saturday as they failed to clinch the sixth win needed to become bowl eligible for the second straight week.

FOOTBALL

Dowdell humbled in debut

Eric Lacy

November 19, 2001

Some players try to control their nerves by puking or taking naps before games. But all Damon Dowdell needed to shake his jitters in his first collegiate start was a love tap from Purdue defensive end Akin Ayodele.