John L. Smith has a habit of kidding around. So it was no surprise reporters doubted the validity of his motivational tactics involving chickens and the exorcism of a stadium when he coached at Idaho. "Bite the head off a chicken and chew it up, that gets 'em going, right?" the head coach said.
As fans gather on football Saturdays to watch the MSU team play, they can visibly watch and witness the progress of the enhancement of Spartan Stadium.
MSU volleyball middle Megan Wallin was hitting a slide play behind the setter last Friday when she injured her knee. "She is finished for the season," head coach Chuck Erbe said in a written statement Wednesday after an MRI revealed Wallin tore the ACL in her right knee.
Reigning CCHA regular-season champion Michigan took first place in the CCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll at the 2004 CCHA Media Day held Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
The MSU volleyball players not only keep their heads in the game, they keep them in the books, earning themselves academic honors. "One of the things I am really proud of that we've had so many Academic All-Big Ten players," head coach Chuck Erbe said. Last year, the team had nine Academic All-Big Ten selections.
For the first time all season, no quarterback questions were asked to MSU head coach John L. Smith at his Monday press conference. Sophomore Drew Stanton is MSU's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Iowa. Stanton is still recovering from the effects of his knee injury, but said for the first time in five weeks he did not have to get fluid drained out of his knee.
Junior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy is the Big Ten field hockey Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Kirkaldy, who also earns this honor for the seventh time in her career, totaled two straight shutouts (four saves) in MSU's 7-0 win against Ohio on Friday, and 2-0 victory over Northwestern on Sunday.
So I'm sitting here watching Donovan McNabb make the Lions defensive line look stupid, and I'm thinking, "Wow, what a luxury to have a quarterback who can throw and run." There's even more proof on Detroit's next possession when Joey Harrington is scrambling from the Philadelphia defense and the ball just pops out of his hand - fumble-roosky. Two quick notes: I know I'm not the first person to bring this concept to light, and I'm not bashing Harrington, but he shouldn't be running with the ball-throw it away, Joey! Where's the relevance in all this, you ask?
With a 1-0 victory Sunday at Minnesota, the MSU women's soccer team prolonged its unbeaten record to three games.
Bloomington, Ind. - As MSU's offense battled inconsistency and turnovers in the first half against Indiana, its defense held firm, eventually carrying the Spartans to a comeback win against Indiana. Sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton, with his spectacular running performance, was the face of MSU's 30-20 win, but the defense made his triumphant story possible. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, MSU (2-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) was losing, 20-7.
Walking away with losses to both No. 1 Minnesota and Iowa this weekend would have been disappointing enough for the MSU volleyball team. But now the Spartans (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) must wait for news on whether junior middle Megan Wallin will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. "We're trying to determine whether it was an ACL tear," head coach Chuck Erbe said.
The MSU women's tennis team ended tournament play Sunday in the last round of The Yonex Spartan Cup, held at MSU. Sophomore Sarah Andrews beat Eastern Michigan's Laura Fernandez in the B flight singles final to win the championship.
The MSU men's golf team travels today to Newport, R.I., for the 11th annual Adams Cup, held at the Orchard Course at the Newport National Golf Club.
Led by Indiana forward Jacob Peterson's three goals, the MSU men's soccer team lost to the No.
Doug Wojcik was named the men's basketball associate head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the 2003-04 season. Wojcik worked for three seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels earn a No.
The No. 4 MSU field hockey team (8-1) will hit the road and head to Ohio (2-6) to open its Big Ten season at Northwestern (5-3). It will be the first action the team has seen since its 3-2 overtime loss against defending NCAA champions Wake Forest. "We have to start all over again and come back after a big loss," head coach Michele Madison said.
The MSU women's soccer team (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) competes 8 p.m. today at Iowa as the Spartans continue the conference season.
For head coach Chuck Erbe, the start of the Big Ten season could not come soon enough for the MSU volleyball team (5-3). Heading into this weekend's games at No.
Old College Field will be the site of a Big Ten men's soccer showdown Sunday when soccer powerhouse and defending national champion Indiana (5-2) takes an MSU squad (5-1) that's surging. "We need to attack," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.
The opportunity to run up and down Old College Field sporting the Green and White has been a long time coming for Lauren Zacharski. In between transferring schools after her sophomore year and a serious knee injury, the women's soccer senior forward had to put her college soccer career aside. Zacharski originally played for Georgia during her first and second years of college.