No eyes from the public or media will be on MSU players tomorrow at their second preseason scrimmage. But what goes down behind closed doors Saturday likely will play a large role in determining who fans lay eyes on during the season at key positions.
There were a lot of surprises with the 2012 MSU football team and most them were not exactly positive.
?With the start of college football season a little more than two weeks away, there’s excitement and optimism surrounding programs across the country.
Today was the “second or third” annual Ken Mannie mustache Monday at MSU football’s preseason camp, and senior quarterback Andrew Maxwell was pleased with the participation this year. The relatively new tradition was started by Kirk Cousins, Maxwell said, as a tribute to the team’s head strength and conditioning coach each fall during camp.
Typically, early in preseason camp, defenses tend to be ahead of offenses in terms of readiness and preparation before the offense has time to work out the kinks. Such was the case on Saturday at MSU’s first jersey scrimmage, as the defense took home a 28-22 victory using a modified scoring system.
Former MSU offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. had a long and arduous journey to his first career game as a Spartan. After being offered a scholarship to MSU, Ray was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a rare bone cancer that often is diagnosed in teenage boys — during his senior year of high school in 2007.
The running back position battle has been tight thus far in preseason camp, but junior Jeremy Langford might have created some separation between himself and the competition.
The early word out of MSU training camp is that experience will prove to be the difference-maker at wide receiver in 2013.
It is less than a week into fall camp and the MSU football program already has seen some shuffling along the offensive line. Sophomore Donavon Clark and redshirt freshman Jack Conklin will be competing for the starting left tackle spot in the days leading up to the Aug.
The first domino has fallen in the running back position battle. Dantonio confirmed at football practice Wednesday that freshman R.J.
The Izzone campout is a time honored tradition for students dedicated enough to be a part of the Izzone. Despite its tradition, MSU Alumni Association Associate Director Dan DiMaggio said they are reaching out to students to see how to better improve the section for the upcoming season. Media reports have suggested the campout may potentially be cancelled, which DiMaggio declined to confirm. “There have been no decisions made whether it’s going to be cancelled or replaced or whether it’s going on as is,” DiMaggio said. According to DiMaggio, the Alumni Association discusses potential changes to the campout, road trips to away games and marquee home games over the summer. The Izzone campout offers students the opportunity to meet the players, head basketball coach Izzo, fellow members of the Izzone and earn points toward lower bowl tickets. DiMaggio said the decision on the campout will be based around the release of the team’s schedule. Philosophy junior Ray Ulrich said he would be disappointed if the campout was cancelled. “I think it builds camaraderie with the rest of the people who are dedicated fans,” Ulrich said.
The MSU secondary said they are looking to set up a “no-fly zone” for the 2013 season at the MSU football media day Monday. Expectations are high with nine starters returning to a defense that finished No.
Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook and senior quarterback Andrew Maxwell are splitting reps in practices, head football coach Mark Dantonio confirmed at the MSU media day on Monday.
The MSU football team opened its fall camp with the first practice on Saturday, and head coach Mark Dantonio was quick to admit that the play of his quarterbacks immediately jumped out to him. “You watch your quarterbacks throw,” Dantonio said.
MSU football announced the hiring of Curtis Blackwell as its director of college advancement and performance camp/director today in a press release.
Going professional in their respective sport is a difficult choice certain college athletes face. Arguably even more difficult is who to listen to when advice is coming from all directions. MSU sophomore guard Gary Harris and senior center Adreian Payne both faced this decision at the end of the 2012-13 basketball season, and both decided to return.
On Tuesday, the MSU athletics department announced junior offensive tackle Skyler Burkland has retired from football due to injuries and will forgo his final two years of eligibility. Burkland applied for medical disqualification on July 30, according to the press release.
Legendary former MSU hockey coach and athletics director, Ron Mason, became one of five inductees into the 2013 U.S.
On Friday, MSU announced that as part of the Celebrate 2013 weekend, MSU will induct five members into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept.
Quarterback 1. Andrew Maxwell 2. Connor Cook 3. Tyler O’Connor 4. Paul Andrie 5. Tommy Vento Andrew Maxwell started all 13 games for MSU in 2012, completing 52.5 percent of his passes.