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Sports

SPORTS

Field hockey confident after unbeaten Big Ten start

Olivia Dimmer
October 17, 2013

One word has been circulating the women’s field hockey locker room and has made its way out onto the field: Destiny. “One of our team goals was to win against the Big Ten from the start of season,” head coach Helen Knull said. “In non-conference season we didn’t get the result we wanted. But now we’re far more focused on the process, which is practice Monday through Thursday, and taking care of business on Saturday … But win or loss, on Saturday, our destiny is still in our hands.”

FOOTBALL

Football midseason awards

Stephen Brooks
October 17, 2013

The 2013 football season is halfway over for MSU (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten), and things appear to be looking up for the Spartans heading into tomorrow’s matchup with Purdue (1-5, 0-2). Since its season opener reminded everyone another dismal season wasn’t out of the question, MSU has reshaped its image and emerged as a Legends Division favorite. Sophomore Connor Cook has taken the reins at quarterback and his supporting cast has improved each game while getting multiple players involved. Here are the most notable players and events from the season’s first half.

FOOTBALL

Could Cook be a 100-yard rusher?

Dillon Davis
October 17, 2013

The moment he uttered the remark, it would have been easy to see it as a slip of the tongue. And realistically, how else could it be interpreted? Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook, a 100-yard rusher?

FOOTBALL

Bollman faces reunion against Purdue

Stephen Brooks
October 17, 2013

Jim Bollman faced a bit of a quandary early this year. After spending the 2012 season as Boston College’s offensive line coach, Bollman was named to the same position at Purdue under first-year head coach Darrell Hazell, his former colleague, on Jan. 18. Hazell and Bollman worked together for seven years at Ohio State, where Bollman served as offensive coordinator from 2001-11.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio talks recent success, home field

Dillon Davis
October 15, 2013

My, how the tables have turned. During an overall disastrous 2012 season, the MSU football team didn’t clinch bowl eligibility until the final regular season game, going winless against Big Ten teams at home while nursing a stagnant offensive attack.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Freshmen still adapting with pace, discipline of college soccer

Derek Blalock
October 15, 2013

Rookies, newcomers, young ones — if this was basketball, ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale might even call them “diaper dandies, baby!” But to most, they’re just freshmen. They haven’t been on campus for more than a couple months, but a group of freshmen already have been contributing to the MSU women’s soccer team (7-5-2 overall, 1-5-0 Big Ten).

MEN'S SOCCER

Rensing talks in-state battles, Penn State

Zach Smith
October 15, 2013

The men’s soccer team may have a difficult week ahead of them, but they’re looking forward to the challenge. The No. 18 Spartans (7-1-2 Overall, 1-0-1 Big Ten) will face a tricky midweek tilt against in-state rival Oakland (5-2-5, 3-0-1 Horizon) at 4 p.m. Wednesday at DeMartin Stadium.

SOCCER

Column: Women's soccer down, but definitely not out

Derek Blalock
October 14, 2013

A season that once held so much promise for the MSU women’s soccer team now is in need of saving. With just five games remaining on the Big Ten slate, the Spartans (7-5-2 overall, 1-5-0 Big Ten) sit tied for last place in the Big Ten with Northwestern (3-9-2, 1-5-0) and are five points behind the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament.

ICE HOCKEY

Duo continues strong chemistry on MSU ice

Zach Smith
October 14, 2013

Thomas Ebbing and Mackenzie MacEachern have been friends for years. Both hail from Troy, Mich., and played hockey at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. as well as the?Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.

SPORTS

Column: Field hockey seeing tides turning in their favor

Omari Sankofa II
October 14, 2013

Last weekend, a different MSU field hockey team showed up to play at Ralph Young Field. Instead of the usual team that failed to hold onto early leads and oft-suffered from defensive lapses, a team that found its offense early, closed out a close game and twice displayed mental toughness for 70 minutes showed up.

FOOTBALL

Offensive Ignition

Stephen Brooks
October 13, 2013

When Indiana running back Tevin Coleman sprinted 64 yards to the house 61 seconds into the game, flashbacks of last year’s first-quarter scare in Bloomington, Ind., washed across the crowd of 73,815 fans, students and alumni on Homecoming weekend. Memories of the Hoosiers and their fast-paced offense racing out to a 17-point lead through one quarter came back into focus.

FOOTBALL

Column: Offense potent in breakout win over Hoosiers

Dillon Davis
October 13, 2013

All season long, people have written off MSU’s offense. While navigating through a four-headed quarterback battle, a flurry of drops by the wide receiving corps and general ineffectiveness at key skill positions, the Spartans opened the door for criticism, leading many to believe the team’s path would mirror a disappointing showing from the previous year.