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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Special teams suspect in win

Justin A. Rice
September 10, 2001

As special teams hampered the MSU football team during Saturday’s season opener against Central Michigan, it was the one weak spot that carried over from last season - despite an entire summer of troubleshooting.Central linebacker James King was the catalyst of the Spartans’ special teams debacle when he blocked senior punter Craig Jarrett in the first quarter.But when he blocked three more punts in the second half, he took his performance to another level by tying the NCAA Division I-A individual and team record for most punts blocked in a game.MSU head coach Bobby Williams said the problems with the punt team need to be rectified immediately.“The blocks all came off of the edge.

FOOTBALL

Knott protesters march in tailgates

Paul Day
September 10, 2001

MSU’s gridiron matchup with Central Michigan was laced with controversy Saturday as about 100 people protested the university granting admittance and scholarships to Eric Knott and Damon Dowdell. Knott, a freshman tight end, was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in June from charges extending from a 1999 incident involving a 13-year-old Detroit girl. Dowdell, a redshirt freshman quarterback, was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in the same incident.

FOOTBALL

Tailgating Project gears up for season opener Saturday

Ryan Wallace
September 6, 2001

The football players are gearing up to take on Central Michigan on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. But they’re not the only ones preparing for the game.As usual, tailgaters are getting fired up, and this year, members of the recently formed Tailgating Project are ready for them.The project, which was formed in May by university administrators, will be evaluating the activities that go on during tailgating.“This project gives us a snapshot of what is really happening at tailgates,” said Pat Enos, assistant to the vice president for student affairs and a member of the committee.The committee wants to make sure tailgating continues to be enjoyable, she said.“Tailgating is an important part of MSU,” Enos said.

FOOTBALL

Henry burned by bad grades

Eric Lacy
August 29, 2001

Projected starting cornerback Cedric Henry has been ruled academically ineligible and will miss the entire season, head coach Bobby Williams said Tuesday evening.

FOOTBALL

Media may say nay, but Spartans still believe

Justin A. Rice
August 28, 2001

For the past two weeks, the MSU football team survived grueling two-a-day practices, complete with countless sprints in 90-degree heat and intense sessions in the weight room. All that hard work raised many players’ expectations for the season and the mediocre pre-season media predictions have left some of them miffed.

FOOTBALL

Baker and McCoy sidelined; Knott in?

Justin A. Rice
August 27, 2001

With only two weeks before the season kicks off Sept. 8 against Central Michigan, the MSU football team has some holes to patch. The team took a big hit last week when senior tight end Chris Baker and senior linebacker Ivory McCoy both suffered long-term injuries during non-contact drills. Baker tore the meniscus cartilage in his left knee Aug.