SPORTS
Morgan gives verbal commitment to MSU
Raymar Morgan, one of the premier basketball prospects in the class of 2006, verbally committed to play at MSU.
BASEBALL
Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs
The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.
FOOTBALL
Spartans' fast start was slowed by their rivals to the Southeast
They seemed invincible. Minus the criticism that came from the planting of a Spartans flag in the middle of Notre Dame Stadium, the act itself showed the Spartans making a statement.
SOCCER
MSU unbeaten in last four
The MSU men's soccer team (3-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) got back into the win column by defeating Bowling Green (2-6-1) 3-1 yesterday afternoon. Three minutes into the first half, freshman attacker Doug DeMartin got the Spartans on the board with assists going to senior midfielder Ryan McMahen and sophomore midfielder Ryan Dick. MSU head coach Joe Baum felt the Spartans were playing a little sluggish but were able to maintain the momentum at both ends of the field.
VOLLEYBALL
Sophomore shining for Spartans
She was only in fifth grade when she was sitting in the stands with her father, cheering and watching a volleyball game, when her dad turned to her and said, "Hey, do you want to play this sport?" As sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson said, that's how she began to develop her love for volleyball.
SPORTS
Spartans head back on road to face Iowa
After coming off a 3-1 win over in-state rival Central Michigan, the MSU field hockey team jumps back into Big Ten play as they head to Iowa. Going into this game, the Spartans are looking to rebound after starting their conference season with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Indiana.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers picked 4th in media, coaches poll
The coaches and media around the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, or CCHA, are giving early hints that the MSU hockey team will be able to make up for the loss of All-American Jim Slater, who was the team's captain and leading scorer for the last two years. The Spartans were voted fourth in both CCHA preseason polls.
SOCCER
Spartans host game against Bowling Green
After three straight weeks on the road, the MSU men's soccer team returns to the confines of Old College Field as the Spartans host Bowling Green at 4 p.m. Bowling Green has been on an offensive streak as of late, scoring six goals in the past two games.
SPORTS
MSU finds win column once again
The MSU field hockey team got back on the winning track yesterday against Central Michigan by winning the in-state battle, 3-1. The play went back and forth for most of the first half and despite having three less shots than the Spartans (8-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten), the Chippewas were able to take the lead.
FOOTBALL
It's 'State'ment week for Spartans against old rivals
A 2-2 record this early in the season and an absence from the national polls isn't a familiar place for the Michigan football program. The Wolverines' most recent 23-20 loss to Wisconsin puts them at an overall record of .500, and marks the first time since 1981 that U-M has dropped their Big Ten opener, leaving many U-M fans calling for head coach Lloyd Carr's firing. Things don't get any easier for U-M as they head into the hostile environment of Spartan Stadium this Saturday for an annual matchup with MSU. Michigan has been troubled by injuries to starters on the offensive line, and most notably to running back Michael Hart, who still remains in question for Saturday's contest. Hart has sat out since suffering an injury in the 17-10 loss against Notre Dame two weeks ago, an absence that Carr sees as a major factor regarding U-M's season thus far. "He's a complete football player," Carr said.
SPORTS
MSU looking for win vs. CMU
After a close 3-2 double overtime loss to Indiana, the MSU field hockey team (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) is looking to end their two-game losing streak as they host Central Michigan this afternoon. After the loss to Indiana, head coach Michele Madison said the team didn't step their game up enough and finish strong.
FOOTBALL
Athletes helping make a difference
For those sports fans who say athletes are not human and all they care about is the money, I have a few examples of why you are wrong. During the past few months I have heard quite a few stories of professional and college athletes and coaches who have made an impact in someone's life off the field. Does this mean that these people are great human beings that deserve a bunch of extra attention? No it doesn't.
SOCCER
Tough battle ends in 0-0 tie
They say a tie is like kissing your sister. But when your sister is the defending national champion and top-ranked team in the country, maybe it's not that bad. The MSU men's soccer team (2-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) played to a scoreless tie against Indiana (4-0-3, 0-0-1) in their Big Ten opener on Saturday, shutting down the nation's No.
FOOTBALL
Defense in command for entire game
Champaign, Ill. - It's been an up-and-down season for the MSU defense up to this point, but after allowing nearly 600 yards of total offense to Notre Dame last week, the Spartans put the clamp down on Illinois, allowing just 271 yards in MSU's 61-14 win over Illinois on Saturday. "We made some mistakes, I made mistakes, but we made a big stride as a defense in this game," MSU sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans get first Big Ten victory of season
The MSU women's volleyball team finally earned a victory in the Big Ten season but it didn't come easily as they captured it on the road in a four-game match against Indiana University (7-6 overall, 1-1 Big Ten). The Spartans (8-4, 1-1) got off to a slow start, as the Hoosiers jumped out to an 18-11 lead in game one.
SPORTS
Tough loss to Indiana starts Big Ten season
The MSU field hockey team (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) played catch-up all game long, and eventually fell to Indiana in double overtime 3-2 in their first Big Ten game of the season. Indiana struck first early in the opening half as midfielder Kayla Bashore found the back of the net and gave the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead. "They were able to swing the ball and get numbers up on the opposite side and we were playing too jumpy," Madison said. In the second half, the Spartans were able to even the score at one as freshman forward Gwen Riley put one in the back of the net at the 39:06 mark. The Hoosiers took the lead again 2-1 as forward Lydia Schrott scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season off a penalty corner. The Spartans scored fewer than two minutes later when junior forward Ashley Pernicano took a pass from senior midfielder Jessica Miller and knotted the game at two. In the first overtime, the Spartans had three shots but were not able to get a goal and the game went into a second extra session. Indiana broke the tie for the final time in the second overtime as forward Kate O'Connell scored, giving the Hoosiers the 3-2 win. The Spartans never led at any point in the game and were always one step behind their opponent.
FOOTBALL
Nation jumping on MSU's bandwagon
After I found out I would be covering football this season, the first thing I did was check the schedule. I knew the majority of the games the Spartans would be playing, but I always like to take a quick gander at the schedule and determine which games MSU should win and lose.
FOOTBALL
Wide variety
Champaign, Ill - The first drive was not pretty. It featured a fumble and then a punt. The second drive, however, was quite different. Set on their own 25-yard line, the Spartans showed just how powerful and efficient their offense could be. Junior quarterback Drew Stanton dropped back, faked a hand-off, and then found senior wide receiver Kyle Brown 19 yards down the sidelines.
SPORTS
Spartans continue strong defensive play
The Big Ten season opened with a win for the MSU women's soccer team (5-2-3 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) as they shut out Ohio State 1-0 at home. MSU head coach Tom Saxton attributed the shutout to the team's continuously strong defense.
BASKETBALL
Fans get a feeling for Izzone basketball
I look down the bench and to my right sit Delco Rowley, Idong Ibok, Marquise Gray and Mo Ager. In front of us, Coach Izzo is spewing a fiery pep talk about being the best in the land. I must have stumbled into some parallel universe where has-been high school letter-winners get to live out their unfulfilled sports fantasies. I take a second glance at my teammates and realize I'm a good three to six inches shorter than most of these guys.