Before head coach Mark Dantonio took over the MSU football program in 2006,, the MSU-Michigan rivalry was one sided. The Wolverines had won nine of the last 11 games against MSU, including a five-game winning streak before Dantonio joined the Spartan sidelines.
The week leading up to the Michigan football game is typically an emotional one for most Spartan fans, but for the marching band, it’s also a time to participate in a long-standing tradition.Sparty Watch is an annual marching band tradition, during which members of the band gather at the Sparty statue in the week leading up to the Michigan football game.
MSU will head to Illinois this weekend to take on the state’s two Big Ten representatives, Illinois and Northwestern.On Friday night, MSU (9-6-1 overall, 3-6-1 Big Ten)
The volleyball season is heading into the final stretch, and the competition is heating up for the Spartans. MSU (12-7 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) will hit the road to play No. 20 Ohio State (14-6 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) on Friday night and No. 7 Penn State, the defending national champion (18-3 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) on Saturday night.
Rivalry week in Michigan goes beyond the football game being played this Saturday. While most fans of MSU and U-M will still be mentally or verbally preparing themselves on Friday for Saturday’s football game, MSU field hockey will travel to Ann Arbor to take on No. 12 U-M on Friday.
After falling in the main draw at the ITA Midwest Regional Tournament last weekend, the women’s tennis team went back to East Lansing.
Some games can define an entire season, but they usually don’t happen in week seven.Outside the state of Michigan, that is.
The men's soccer team (9-3-2 overall, 3-1-1 Big Ten), was shocked by the Oakland Grizzlies (7-5-1 overall, 5-0-1 Horizon), 2-0, on Wednesday night in front of 1902 fans at Oakland.
Oct. 20, 2012 serves as the only time in the last six years MSU wasn’t hoisting Paul Bunyan after the annual rivalry game with Michigan, and it’s still something players haven’t forgotten about.
It was a weekend of ups and downs for MSU field hockey. On Friday, the Spartans shut out No. 18 Iowa in a 2-0 victory in one of their best complete performances of the year. Coming back on Sunday against No. 11 Northwestern however, MSU had no answer for the Wildcats’ offense and were defeated 5-2.
The volleyball team has enjoyed some success recently, but they aren’t letting it get to their heads.
Since 1953, the MSU-Michigan game has had more importance than in-state bragging rights and Big Ten implications.The two teams have also been playing for the Paul Bunyan trophy.
With in-state rival Michigan (3-4 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) coming to East Lansing on Saturday, it didn’t look like Tuesday’s media conference was head coach Mark Dantonio’s favorite, with members of the press bombarding him with questions about the oncoming in-state rivalry game.
It’s plain and simple this week — whoever runs the ball more effectively will likely win the game.
As the No. 9 ranked men’s soccer team (9-2-2 overall, 3-1-1 Big Ten) prepares to take on in-state opponent the Oakland Grizzlies (6-5-1 overall, 5-0-1 Horizon) on Wednesday, the team will try to not get caught looking on to the next opponent. Sleeping on the Grizzles could cost the Spartans a late season win, and lead to a fall in the RPI.
Tournament time is approaching, and MSU women’s soccer is running out of opportunities to qualify for the postseason.
Freshman setter Rachel Minarick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her efforts against Maryland and Rutgers over the weekend.
By Robert Bondyrbondy@statenews.comNo. 8 MSU flaunted its muscles on Saturday, reeling off 42 unanswered points to beat Indiana, 56-17, from Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.MSU now turns its focus to Michigan this week, as the Wolverines travel to Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
Two games against struggling opponents afforded the volleyball team time to give some of its younger players minutes over the weekend.
With the season slowly drawing to a close, the men’s soccer team (9-2-2 overall, 3-1-1 Big Ten)has picked the right time to get its offense going. The MSU offense is finally playing at the same level as the defense that grabs most of the headlines for the Spartans.