The swagger is finally back for Ashton Watson. After a trying first three years, the senior cornerback has finally regained his confidence and the results have shown on the field. He is expected to be starting at left cornerback when MSU opens its season Saturday against Kent State. "I'm stronger mentally," Watson said.
It didn't take long for volleyball head coach Cathy George to get her first win at home - it came Saturday in a sweep against Kent State. But after this weekend, it'll be awhile before the Spartans come back to Jenison Field House.
Izzoned out? Now there's a place for you. A section of upper bowl seats will be set aside this year for students who want season tickets for men's basketball but aren't interested in the Izzone student section. "It will be a reserved section - reserved in more ways than one, I guess," senior associate athletics director Mark Hollis said. The new section will give students another seating option but won't change the way the Izzone is run, Hollis said. "The Izzone is our student section and that's something we want to support for the long term," Hollis said.
As the new school year begins at MSU, so does a new year of Spartans athletics. And with that comes high expectations, especially after the success that last year brought. Unfortunately, the Spartans were unable to capture any national championships, but they found quite a few teams in contention to capture one of those elusive titles. Both the men's and women's basketball teams found their way to the Final Four.
Football season tickets have sold out, but not all students are sold on the new policy for redeeming them. The MSU Athletics Department announced Saturday that sales of both public and student season ticket packages have been suspended after exceeding 60,000 for just the fourth time in school history. More than 12,000 student packages have been sold, up almost 1,500 from last season. But many students are still looking for answers to the new ticket policy that was announced late last month. Under the new system, tickets will be attached to student IDs, replacing printed vouchers.
MSU head coach John L. Smith has experienced his most turbulent off-season going into his third year on the Spartan sidelines.
The MSU field hockey team was unable to defend its title at the Champions Invitational after dropping the championship game Sunday to Duke 3-0 and are now 1-1.
In practice, which the MSU volleyball team has been doing twice a day for almost three weeks, new MSU head coach Cathy George is showing sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson that she needs to keep her hands up and be ready to attack.
The auditorium in Wilson Hall was packed with incoming freshman. Classes weren't starting for almost three months, and we had all spent the entire day in that very room listening to whatever it was they told us at orientation, which I can honestly say I don't remember.
• In Cathy George's head coaching debut, the Spartans swept Kent State. Maybe John L. Smith should ask George about her game plan, since the football team opens against Kent State.
More than 1,120 screaming fans Saturday night filled Jenison Field House to watch the MSU women's volleyball team earn their 10th consecutive season-opening victory, sweeping Kent State 3-0 (30-25, 30-19, 30-27). Cathy George received her first victory as MSU head coach and was thrilled to be greeted by a cheering crowd.
Head coach: John L. Smith 1. Wide receiver No. 6 Matt Trannon 6-6 227 Sr. 2.
For many students on campus, sports is life - whether they choose to watch or play - and MSU offers several intramural and club activities to keep sports fans interested. Although only a select few are able to participate in varsity sports, several options are available to everyone else.
With senior Eric Smith moved back to safety after a brief stint at bandit, the linebackers have now become the youngest group on the team. The starting group consists of junior linebacker David Herron Jr., sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill and sophomore bandit Sir Darean Adams.
For many students on campus, sports is life - whether they choose to watch or play - and MSU offers several intramural and club activities to keep sports fans interested. Although only a select few are able to participate in varsity sports, several options are available to everyone else.
MSU senior guard and team captain Lindsay Bowen has been named one of the top 30 preseason candidates for the 2005-06 Women's Wooden Award.
MSU junior wrestler Nick Simmons participated in the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, on Saturday, finishing fifth in the freestyle event.
The Spartans started practicing in full pads Saturday, only weeks away from their first game against Kent State. "This is the best first day we have had (in three years)," said head coach John L.
Former MSU All-American Alexandra Kyser was named the new field hockey assistant coach, MSU head coach Michele Madison announced last Wednesday. Kyser will work with the midfielders and defense.
MSU women's basketball forward Liz Shimek led the USA World University Games Team with a double-double scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds in an 88-64 victory over the Czech Republic in the opening game of the World University Games. Shimek was a starter and shot 6-for-12 from the field and was 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.