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Sports

FOOTBALL

5 players showcase skills at NFL combine

Chris Meagher
February 25, 2005

Five MSU seniors will participate in the NFL Combine currently going on until Tuesday, trying to improve their positioning for the 2005 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-24. Running back DeAndra Cobb, defensive end Clifford Dukes, free safety Jason Harmon, place-kicker Dave Rayner and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson all will be down in Indianapolis to prove themselves at various skill and speed drills. The number of Spartans at the combine matches the number of players representing defending national champions Southern Cal. Cobb ranks third all-time at MSU for kickoff return yards with 1,632. Dukes, who dealt with an injury to his quadreceps muscle throughout his senior year, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and ranks sixth of MSU's all-time sack list. Leading the Spartans in interceptions in 2004 was Harmon, who also finished third in tackles with 105.

BASKETBALL

Izzo, Spartans look to erase 6-game winless record against Ryan, Badgers

Brian Charlton
February 24, 2005

When junior center Paul Davis looks back on six straight losses to No. 20 Wisconsin, he said he remembers the big plays. Although nearly all of them have been made by the Badgers, Davis said the Spartans (19-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten) need to knock off Wisconsin (17-6, 10-2) to give them the lift needed to make a run in March during tournament time. "They beat us down there with the three," Davis said of MSU's last loss at Madison, Wis.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers look to secure home ice in playoffs

Eric Fish
February 23, 2005

The MSU hockey team will get a better feel for where it will wind up in the final CCHA standings after this weekend. Miami (Ohio) and Alaska-Fairbanks, which are currently ahead of the Spartans in the conference and the race for home ice in the playoffs, will be finished with CCHA play after Saturday night.

ICE HOCKEY

Problems cause hockey to suffer

Now that the National Hockey League has officially driven itself six feet under, it is time to look at what exactly drove it to this point and what was driving fans away long before the lockout. First, the league got a little too large for the talent pool that is around.

SPORTS

Tennis team extends streak at home to 7

Esther Gim
February 22, 2005

The MSU women's tennis team continued its success at home, getting shutouts over Toledo and Cleveland State in a doubleheader on Sunday. The team is now unbeaten at home in seven matches. The Spartans now hold a 7-2 overall record, one of the best starts in MSU history.

SPORTS

Injured team loses close match

Jennifer Toland
February 21, 2005

An injured MSU gymnastics team (12-5) lost a close match to Illinois on Saturday, 194.200-193.275. The Spartans' strongest event was on the floor, with sophomore Chayla Hill placing first with a score of 9.850 and senior Jennifer Yarbrough tying for second with Illinois' Katie Wild and Kara Kapernekas, scoring 9.825. "I am pleased with my performance," Hill said.

SPORTS

Jones sets school record in tourney

Chris Meagher
February 21, 2005

Senior Tammy Jones set the school record in the 100-meter butterfly at the Big Ten Championships on Friday in Bloomington, Ind. Jones' time of 55.07 seconds was good for ninth place in the race. She also finished 11th in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 50.60 seconds Saturday. Freshman Danielle Williams placed 17th in the 3-meter diving competition and junior Courtney Ellabarger finished 23rd in the 100-meter breaststroke.

ICE HOCKEY

Split season

Eric Fish
February 21, 2005

In a season plagued by inconsistencies and the inabilities to string together wins, the MSU hockey team walked away with another split in a home series against No.

FOOTBALL

Football practice to be open April 16

Chris Meagher
February 21, 2005

MSU fans will be allowed to attend spring football practice at 1 p.m. April 16 at Spartan Stadium. But because of the additions and constructions to the stadium, seating will be limited to the east stands. The open practice will take place in conjunction with the third annual youth football clinic being held at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building from 10 a.m.