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Sports

SPORTS

Jeff Monroe retires after 27 years as MSU assistant athletic director

Ariel Ellis
July 28, 2013

After 27 years at MSU, assistant athletic director and head athletic trainer Jeff Monroe has retired, and a renamed and redesigned Sports Medicine and Performance Department will commence. The division will now include athletic training, strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports psychology and counseling — which athletics director Mark Hollis said was envisioned by associate athletic director Jim Pignataro. “What this new division will provide is a more streamlined approach to our sports medicine services,” Hollis said in a statement on Friday.

FOOTBALL

Maxwell No. 1, but starting quarterback position not final

Matthew Pizzo
July 28, 2013

Andrew Maxwell started all 13 games at quarterback for MSU in 2012. However, he underwhelmed for much of the season, coming up short on drives late in the game, and ultimately led the team to a disappointing 7-6 record. Then-redshirt freshman quarterback Connor Cook came off the bench and led the game-winning drive to beat TCU in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Leaving one big, unanswered question for the 2013 season: Maxwell or Cook? Following the 2013 Big Ten football media day, head coach Mark Dantonio made it clear: Maxwell currently will maintain the starting quarterback position for the 2013 season. “Right now, Andrew is our No.

BASKETBALL

Derrick Nix signs with Slovenian club Krka

Matthew Pizzo
July 24, 2013

Former MSU center Derrick Nix signed a three-year contract with Krka, a professional basketball club based in Nova Mesto, Slovenia. “Congratulations to client Derrick Nix for signing with Adriatic & Eurochallenge club Krka in Slovenia,” Nix’s agent, Daniel Moldovan, tweeted Wednesday afternoon. Nix was not selected in the 2013 NBA Draft and attended workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. Moldovan said on Twitter that Nix had numerous offers across Europe and chose Krka because of the level of competition and their coach. Nix thanked his teammates and coaches for helping him get through his “shenanigans” last year on his Twitter feed Wednesday. Formerly Michigan’s Mr. Basketball in 2009, Nix averaged 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds during his senior season at MSU.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio shows optimism at Big Ten media days

Matthew Pizzo
July 24, 2013

Head coach Mark Dantonio addressed media at the Big Ten football media day yesterday and stated the team’s mantra —and goal— for the upcoming season: ?“Chase it.” Following a 2012 season with the inability to “find the inches” and close out tight conference games, Dantonio said he is looking forward to 2013. “We sort of feel like our football team has a little bit of an edge to them right now.

SPORTS

Alumnus makes World Series of Poker finals

Ariel Ellis
July 17, 2013

After outlasting 6,352 players, MSU alumnus Ryan Riess will be returning to Las Vegas in the fall as part of the November Nine in the 2013 World Series of Poker, or WSOP. Each member of the November Nine received $733,224 and will go on to play at the main event table, scheduled for Nov.

FOOTBALL

Lions, Big Ten partner to host new bowl game in 2014

Omari Sankofa II
July 17, 2013

The Detroit Lions announced yesterday that they are embarking on a six-year partnership with the Big Ten conference for a new bowl game to be played at Ford Field in 2014. The inaugural game, tentatively scheduled for December 30, 2014, will be named once corporate partnership agreements are worked out.

FOOTBALL

$4 million increase to MSU football program budget to be voted on in September

Matthew Pizzo
July 9, 2013

Athletics director Mark Hollis and President Lou Anna K. Simon have presented a plan to the MSU Board of Trustees to allocate approximately $4 million to the MSU football program. The Board of Trustees will vote on the approval of the budget in September. Hollis said the proposed $4 million plan will ensure the football team will have the resources in the future to remain competitive in the newly aligned Big Ten conference. “I think we need to do something to enhance the process of where we are at right now,” Hollis said. The proposed plan will offer compensation in three main areas: staff, operations and capitol projects.