Friday, June 21, 2024

Sports

FOOTBALL

Smith keeps players on alert with coaching style

Patrick Walters
April 8, 2003

MSU football head coach John L. Smith has his players on their toes this spring.From his casual stride around the Duffy Daugherty Football Building and his approachable, personable demeanor, it wouldn't be expected that Smith is forcing his players to keep one eye open for him at all times."Some of the time, you think he's around," sophomore wide receiver Kyle Brown said, shifting his eyes for emphasis.

SPORTS

Players honored at annual banquet

Several players snagged honors at the annual field hockey banquet. The squad's Most Valuable Player award went to senior midfielder Cynthia Martin, while sophomore midfielder Annebet Beerman and sophomore back Judith van Haeringen were chosen as Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Rookie of the Year accolades went to goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy.

SPORTS

Eagles' Schwab still a champion despite defeat

So, Marquette lost by 33 points in the Final Four to Kansas Saturday evening, so what? Yeah, the Golden Eagle players like Dwyane Wade and coaches like special assistant Trey Schwab were probably all very distraught afterwards, but they'll be smiling again soon, hopefully. You see, most teams can celebrate a Final Four appearance by thinking, "Wow, next year we'll be back, we'll be better." But then again, most teams aren't like Marquette. While Wade, Marquette's star guard, was working on his game all season in hopes of leading his team to victory against the major programs in the tournament, Schwab was working out in hopes of gaining his strength back after undergoing constant tests and treatments as he prepared to do battle with a deadly disease. Just over two years ago, Schwab was told he'd have a 40 percent chance of living to see the end of this year. But that didn't stop him from heading to New Orleans this past weekend. Plain and simple, the man has courage, just like his team. He is an underdog and has been fighting an uphill battle for years, just like his team fought its way through a tough season and into the Final Four. Yet there is one major difference between the Golden Eagles future and Schwab's: Because the team lost, they will return next year with hopes of returning to the Big Dance.

FOOTBALL

Smith says one QB 'needs to step up'

Patrick Walters
April 7, 2003

With no single player emerging as a favorite for MSU's vacant starting quarterback position, a dead heat is on.With two spring scrimmages under the Spartans' belt, incumbent junior quarterback Damon Dowdell is battling redshirt freshman Drew Stanton for MSU's starting spot in the Aug.

FOOTBALL

Sports briefs

Tennis tea drops 4th straight match, 5-2 The MSU women's tennis team fell to Indiana 5-2 Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.

BASEBALL

Sluggers earn split in wintry weather

James Jahnke
April 7, 2003

Offense was hard to come by at a frigid Kobs Field on Sunday afternoon as the MSU baseball team split a low-scoring doubleheader with Northwestern.The Spartans (7-18 overall, 1-5 Big Ten) won the opener 3-2, picking up their first league victory of the season.

SOFTBALL

Spartans overpower conference leaders

Benita Mehta
April 7, 2003

Although it was as cold as the middle of winter, the bats of the MSU softball team were scorching Sunday. The Spartans (24-9 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) tallied 12 hits, including three home runs as they trounced Big Ten-leading Iowa 7-1 at Old College Field.

SPORTS

Lugnuts' season opener rained out

Lansing - The Lansing Lugnuts' season opener was postponed Thursday night after a steady rainstorm pelted the stadium. Lansing left-hander Ryan Sisco (0-0) had a strong start in his Lugnut debut, striking out the first two batters from South Bend.

SPORTS

Spring Fling

With the intensity of March being too much for the ice hockey and men's and women's basketball teams, other MSU teams have the opportunity to shine.

SPORTS

NBA could use fewer Artests; more Rambises

The infamous and legendary Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bob Knight once said: "If the NBA were on channel 5, and a bunch of frogs making love was on channel 4, I'd watch the frogs even if they were coming in fuzzy." Putting it lightly, the NBA is in disrepair these days.

BASEBALL

Sluggers rally for victory

Chris Mackinder
April 3, 2003

The MSU baseball team said playing at home for the first time this season could be the medicine for its losing ways.And as it turns out, Kobs Field provided a perfect remedy Wednesday afternoon as the Spartans used a late offensive surge to defeat Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 10-4."It was a good win," MSU manager Ted Mahan.

BASKETBALL

Izzo headed to Bourbon Street for television gig

Patrick Walters
April 2, 2003

You can take the coach out of the Final Four, but you won't be able to take the Final Four out of the coach. MSU Sports Information Assistant Director Matt Larson confirmed Tuesday MSU head coach Tom Izzo will join anchors Greg Gumbel and Clark Kellogg in CBS studios for analysis of this weekend's national semifinal and championship games.

BASEBALL

Sluggers want April to be showered with wins

Chris Mackinder
April 2, 2003

Last month was not one to remember for the MSU baseball team.The Spartans (5-17 overall, 0-4 Big Ten) lost the first 10 games of March and 16 of 18 overall.Although MSU lost a lot of firepower in the offseason, the team's 17 losses are disappointing considering last season's 38-19 record.MSU manager Ted Mahan said playing every game on the road so far has something to do with the poor start."I don't know many teams in the country that play 22 consecutive road games against good teams," Mahan said.

SOFTBALL

Spartans won't overlook lowly Eagles

Benita Mehta
April 2, 2003

Coming off a successful opening weekend of Big Ten play, the MSU softball team hopes to keep its winning ways alive with a midweek tilt against Eastern Michigan.Head coach Jacquie Joseph said although the Eagles (3-21 overall) are having a down year, her team should not overlook a lesser opponent."We need to get down there and play against the team and not the names on the jerseys," Joseph said.

SPORTS

Men's tennis takes on Michigan

Patrick Walters
April 2, 2003

The MSU men's tennis team hosts intrastate rival Michigan today, marking the 100th meeting of the schools. 74th-ranked MSU (10-9 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) is looking for a reversal of fortune against the 61st-ranked Wolverines (5-9, 0-4). The Spartans have lost seven of their last eight dual meets and are on the losing side of a 17-81-1 all-time record against U-M.