FOOTBALL
Whatever it takes
Drew Stanton put an end to the back-and-forth trash-talking featuring suggestions for Slim-Fast and winter hibernation jokes from MSU head coach John L.
SPORTS
Edmonton's style of play trapped Detroit
There's an old saying that goes "Beware the fury of a patient man." In the case of the Edmonton Oilers, it's more like the fury of a patient team which is exactly what has Red Wings fans nervous after splitting the first two games of the playoffs with their Canadian nemesis. Two giveaways were enough for the Oilers to win 4-2 on Sunday, and two power-play goals nearly propelled them to a win in the series-opener on Friday night. How did the Oilers do it?
SPORTS
Prepare to watch another Spurs-Pistons final
Ron Artest's New Year's resolutions, Sebastian Telfair's gun-filled purse and the Kobe Bryant Image Recovery Plan were all just foreplay.
SPORTS
Word on the street: Which playoff series will you be tuning into this spring, the NBA or the NHL?
"I am not going to watch the hockey playoffs, but I will watch the NBA playoffs. I watch the Pistons.
SPORTS
Spartans aim for 1st place in conference
Since softball became a NCAA-sanctioned sport in 1982, MSU has finished no higher than third in the Big Ten.
SPORTS
Former Detroit Red Wing in town
It was Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup finals. The best-of-seven game series between the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes was tied 1-1 and game three was in the middle of a triple overtime. Taking a drop pass from Tomas Holmstrom, Igor Larionov skated into the Carolina zone and angled toward the net.
SPORTS
Who will be QB heir to Stanton in 2007?
The spread offense has been a continuous force of production for MSU's offense since John L. Smith took over the head coaching job in December 2002. The spread offense all starts with the quarterback. Former signal-caller Jeff Smoker had a career senior year in 2003 with the passing-style offense, and Drew Stanton is set to become the next great product of Smith's football philosophy as he enters his senior year this fall. But aside from Stanton, redshirt freshman Domenic Natale and sophomore Brian Hoyer are competing for the backup spot this spring and for the starting spot in 2007. "There's no problem with that because it'll bring out the best in both of us," Hoyer said of the competition with Natale. As of now, Hoyer is the backup.
SPORTS
DVD features little of everything
Very few athletes get the chance to close out a professional career at the way Igor Larionov did in "Farewell From Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game." After hanging up his skates following the 2003-04 season, the former Detroit Red Wing took advantage of the 2004-05 NHL lockout season and invited his friends and former teammates to Moscow, Russia on Dec.
SPORTS
International flavor
Most incoming college athletes have to deal with lack of playing time and balancing academics with athletics. For Sarah Andrews, a junior on the MSU women's tennis team, the biggest concern was getting a Social Security number. Andrews is from Australia and never had been to America before coming in August 2003 for MSU's International Orientation Program.
SPORTS
Spartans season marred by unusual 'streakiness'
After losing standouts Jimmy Chestnut and Andrew Ruthkoski at the end of last season, the MSU men's golf team is in the midst of a season with a young, inexperienced roster. The eldest members of the team are three juniors, but seventh-year head coach Mark Hankins said the group is slowly making headway. "As we go along, these guys continue to learn and get better as the season progresses," Hankins said.
FOOTBALL
Defensive link tinkered as Ryan moves inside
The MSU football team's defensive linemen have been shuffled around throughout the spring practice schedule as the coaching staff searches to find a combination that works best. Senior Clifton Ryan, who tallied a team-high three sacks as a defensive end during the 2005 campaign, has switched over to defensive tackle.
SPORTS
Gymnastics team sends 1 to NCAA nationals
By Alex Altman For The State News Even while growing up in Canada where college gymnastics did not exist, Kristen Coleman dreamed of the opportunity to compete against the best collegiate gymnasts in the country.
SPORTS
MSU, Central Michigan play today in Lansing
MSU baseball head coach David Grewe might want to think about putting in for overtime pay. After three extra-inning games against Penn State last weekend, Grewe's Spartans have now played six extra-inning contests this season — more than they played the past two seasons combined. "I think it says something about our kids competing," Grewe said.
SPORTS
University fines Penn State coach for discrimination
State College, Pa. — Penn State fined women's basketball coach Rene Portland $10,000 after concluding she violated university policy in her treatment of a player who was perceived to be a lesbian. The university said Portland would be dismissed for any future violation of the school's nondiscrimination policy.
BASKETBALL
New recruits know how to win
When Isaiah Dahlman and Raymar Morgan were both participants in the Nike All-American Camp this past summer, they talked a lot with each other and formed a friendship. After Dahlman committed in early September to play basketball for MSU as part of its 2006 recruiting class, he called Morgan, who then committed to MSU less than a month later.
FOOTBALL
Work in progress
One of the team's sore spots last season — at place-kicker — has a positive outlook after Saturday's 115-play scrimmage at Spartan Stadium. Sophomore Todd Boleski missed his first 38-yard field-goal attempt but didn't disappoint after, nailing two field goals at 32 yards, and then at 40, 47 and 55 yards. The defense also showed signs of improvement, which senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said is "more athletic and (can) run the ball better than we did a year ago." The first-team defense faced a first-team offense undergoing changes with three new starters on the line. After the game, head coach John L.
SPORTS
Monday musings
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle's girlfriend faces a reprimand after she had a pit-road confrontation with driver Kurt Busch's fiancee last week. Race officials wouldn't disclose the exact nature of the argument, but did say it involved a bumper sticker and Calvin peeing on something. Ohio State fans are uniformly upset about proposed changes to the school's football uniforms. The main point of contention: The buckeye stickers that are attached to a player's helmet for good play are reportedly being replaced by scratch-and-sniff smiley face stickers. The St.
SPORTS
Here are the NHL accolades that should be handed out
It still doesn't enjoy the attention, press or television coverage of baseball, football and basketball, but don't get the 2005-06 NHL season wrong — it was a terrific season for hockey, from a business and fan aspect.
FOOTBALL
Veterans help ease Bennett to new position
MSU has been a wide receiver factory in the last few years, routinely pumping out some of the best split ends and flankers in the country.
SPORTS
Come playoffs time, it's a whole new NHL season
Some people dig March Madness while others live for the NFL and NBA playoffs. And a large percentage of the United States is fascinated with the MLB playoffs (which seem to last deeper into October each year). Not to say I don't enjoy watching those events, but the NHL playoffs are my sports Christmas, and, to my delight, are soon to be back. There are so many things to watch for come playoff time.