Sunday, March 8, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports

SOCCER

MSU scores 1st, but ends with 1-1 tie against U-M

Laura Collins
October 9, 2006

Ann Arbor — It was all guts and no glory for the MSU men's soccer team (6-4-2 overall, 0-2-2 Big Ten) on Sunday, as the Spartans walked away from their game against Michigan with a 1-1 tie. The high stakes of the intrastate rivalry motivated players on both teams through an extra 20 minutes of play, but neither team was able to net the game winner. "I was afraid the minutes were going to haunt us and maybe they'd sneak one with fresher legs," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.

FOOTBALL

MSU, Illinois fined $10K for flag-planting fight

Ethan Conley
October 5, 2006

The Big Ten fined Illinois and MSU $10,000 each on Wednesday for a scuffle between players following the Spartans' 23-20 loss to the Fighting Illini on Saturday. After the game ended, Illinois players attempted to plant a flag at midfield in Spartan Stadium.

VOLLEYBALL

Big Ten has been rude awakening for MSU

Tara Thoel
October 5, 2006

After winning a majority of its nonconference games, the MSU volleyball team finds itself struggling heading into its weekend matches. The Spartans have lost three of their four Big Ten matches, giving them a 1-3 record in the conference. "I think we have had great opportunities to win every game," head coach Cathy George said.

ICE HOCKEY

Jeff Lerg shines in net in Green and White scrimmage

Eric Fish
October 5, 2006

It didn't take long for MSU head coach Rick Comley to say what everybody at Tuesday's Green and White intrasquad hockey scrimmage was thinking when the final horn sounded at Munn Ice Arena. "I thought (sophomore goaltender) Jeff Lerg played really well," Comley said smiling.

ICE HOCKEY

Student season ticket sales up; new 8-game option available

Eric Fish
October 4, 2006

For the 2006-07 Spartans hockey season, two different student-ticket packages are being offered. The packages are similar to those for football and allow for an upgrade into the official MSU hockey student section, Slapshots. One package offers admission to all 17 regular-season home games, excluding the CCHA playoffs, should the Spartans host a home series.

FOOTBALL

Ringer out for season; Stanton probable for U-M

Ethan Conley
October 3, 2006

The worst-case scenario is now reality. Sophomore running back Javon Ringer is out for the season. However, senior quarterback Drew Stanton is probable for Saturday's game against Michigan. During the second quarter of MSU's 23-20 loss to Illinois on Saturday, Ringer went down with an injured right knee after gaining three yards on a screen pass.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
October 2, 2006

Monday Musings For the first time in more than 30 years, Notre Dame will make 5,000 season tickets available to football games starting next season. The fee for the tickets will help pay for more than $40 million in repairs to Notre Dame Stadium, as well as Charlie Weis' months of post-slap therapy. Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was ejected from his team's game Sunday after stomping on Dallas center Andre Gurode's face. Haynesworth said he plans to appeal any suspension because, come on, Gurode's face does kind of look like a Dance Dance Revolution board. For the second straight season, only selected MSU football players will be available to the media before this Saturday's game against Michigan. Team officials said the rest of the team will be unavailable to give interviews because they'll be busy making sure no one plants any flags at Spartan Stadium.

FOOTBALL

Out-juiced

Ethan Conley
October 2, 2006

On paper, the mismatches couldn't have been any more glaring. Illinois hadn't beaten MSU in its last nine tries, had only defeated one in-conference opponent in three years and had a true freshman nicknamed "Juice" taking the snaps from center. MSU had every reason to come out with guns blazing — what better way to erase the memory of last week's fourth-quarter implosion against Notre Dame than to drop 50 points on a Big Ten doormat? But what they lacked in talent, history and experience, the Fighting Illini made up for with the intangibles that seem to matter most in college football games. Intestinal fortitude.

FOOTBALL

MSU can't hold the line

Steve Highfield
October 2, 2006

It was a game that wasn't supposed to be close. MSU was expected to put up big offensive numbers against Illinois Saturday, answering any questions about the lingering effects of the Notre Dame collapse. But after a disappointing 23-20 loss, the Spartans failed to respond to that question and raised many more about an offense that put up just 259 total yards. "We should be able to put up 40 points on Illinois," senior center Kyle Cook said.

SOCCER

Tillman is Big Ten's best defender again

Alex Altman
September 28, 2006

MSU men's soccer senior goalkeeper Jason Tillman has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. Tillman was honored after posting consecutive shutouts against Bowling Green and Wisconsin last week.