Senter Court is run by three MSU undergraduate students and was created to provide a firm student support system for the team during the season while establishing an intimidating environment for the team's competitors. The program will also host meet-and-greets, parties and bus trips to away games and other events.
MSU junior center Paul Davis learned to love during the summer. "He told me that he's here to learn how to love the game, instead of liking (it) like most guys do," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said at the men's basketball media day on Wednesday. Izzo added that Davis' new-found love for the game started showing through his summer work ethic and schedule. "I was in the gym at 8 in the morning, working out with a couple of the managers for about an hour and a half," Davis said.
When head coach John L. Smith publicly scolded the Spartans for poor practice habits earlier this season, he probably wasn't talking about junior running back Jason Teague. "He's one of the hardest-working guys involved in the program," running backs coach Reggie Mitchell said. Teague's work ethic is a big reason why he has been MSU's starting running back all season, which is a minor surprise considering the sometimes-brilliant performance of redshirt freshman Jehuu Caulcrick. Caulcrick can be a bruising runner who consistently gains yards when he gets in a groove, as in the fourth quarter of MSU's 38-25 win against Illinois last Saturday.
Something is bound to go wrong. That's about the only consistent thing the MSU volleyball team can count on right now. Players say the system has gone awry and the team's rhythm has been off.
With its season opener quickly approaching, the MSU hockey team will look to regroup after losing junior defenseman Corey Potter to a separated shoulder in its 7-2 win over Toronto on Sunday at Munn Ice Arena. Potter was in the corner in his defensive zone when he was hit hard from behind into the boards by Toronto forward Jesse Rycroft.
The MSU special teams have had its problems this season, and it continued Saturday against Illinois. A blocked punt, a mishandled extra point snap and another missed field goal all led to a long day for Spartans kickers - sophomore punter Brandon Fields and senior place-kicker Dave Rayner. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Fields seemed to take his time catching the ball before trying to punt it.
Former MSU forward Adam Hall signed with KalPa, a Finnish hockey team, for the duration of the hockey lockout. A Kalamazoo native, Hall recorded 126 points from 1998-2002 as a Spartan, where he also served as team captain. He spent last season with Nashville, collecting 13 goals and 14 assists in 79 games for the Predators.
To most people, a stand full of crazy fans yelling at missed opportunities and bad calls by the referees - while bodies collide and clash in front of them - does not immediately bring to mind an MSU women's soccer game.
The past weekend brought yet another loss for the MSU volleyball team (6-8 overall, 1-5 Big Ten) as the Spartans traveled to No.
Junior Ian Clutten, representing South Africa, finished fourth in the fourth heat of the 50-meter breaststroke and finished 22nd overall during the FINA Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. The time, however, did not qualify Clutten for the semifinal round.
Senior forward Ash Goldie had a goal and two assists and senior forward Kevin Estrada had a goal and an assist to lead the MSU hockey team to a 7-2 victory over Toronto on Sunday at Munn Ice Arena. "Tonight, I thought two of our better forwards were Goldie and Estrada," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
The trick play called for receiver Jerramy Scott to pass to quarterback Drew Stanton, and the defense was so fooled, both players knew there would be no excuse for failure. Scott, with the football in hand, after receiving a pitch from Stanton, saw his sophomore quarterback streaking toward the end zone, wide open.
Ohio State defeated the MSU men's soccer team on Sunday. It was MSU's second Big Ten loss of the season.
The No. 3 MSU field hockey team eliminated another team from its path of victory Saturday against Penn State at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.
A win at the Adams Cup of Newport helped the MSU men's golf team make its first appearance in the GCAA/Precept Coaches Poll at No.
The MSU women's soccer team lost its fourth consecutive game against Purdue on Sunday. The 1-0 loss moved MSU to 8-6-1 and 2-5-1 in the Big Ten, while Purdue improved to 7-6 and 3-4 in the Big Ten.
MSU's tennis senior Andy Formanczyk walked away from the ITA All-American Championship empty-handed.
After a week of intense practices, the MSU hockey team will finally hit the ice to open the 2004-05 season with a pair of exhibition games this weekend at Munn Ice Arena. "We want to get the team going," junior forward David Booth said.
The MSU women's soccer team is hitting the road for a four-game road stretch. The first stop for the Spartans is Indiana, where they will face off against Indiana (7-3-1 overall, 2-2-1 Big Ten) today and Purdue (6-5, 2-3 Big Ten) on Sunday.
While the MSU football team battles the Fighting Illini at home this weekend, the MSU volleyball team (6-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) will have a showdown of its own 8 p.m.