SPORTS
Heisman watch
It’s only the second week of the college football season, but the Heisman Trophy watch is well under way.
SPORTS
8-game homestand gives seniors final peace
Home is something familiar. Home is something you look forward to after a long day at work. And home is also where 72,000 Spartan football fans will gather every weekend through the end of September. It’s that time of year again.
SPORTS
Swimmer doesnt stray far from friends, family
Any MSU freshman can tell you about the pressures of making the transition from high school to college, but Nick Mrozowski doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. “I think I made the right choice,” Mrozowski said.
SPORTS
Henry returns to gridiron after missing a season
When Ivory Miller’s eldest grandchild signed with MSU, she planned to move to the area from Sarasota, Fla., to watch him play in his senior season. But when senior cornerback Cedric Henry was declared academically ineligible two weeks before the season opener against Central Michigan last season, her plans were altered. Instead of becoming a cheerleader, she assumed a more familiar role - counselor. “It was a coincidence I was here when all the things happened,” she said.
BASKETBALL
Postseason stats to count
After years of inconsistency between the NCAA and its football conferences, the NCAA record books will recognize players’ statistics in bowl games. Sean Straziscar, assistant director for statistics for the NCAA, said starting this year football’s record keeping methods will be the same as other sports. “Football was the only sport that we did not count postseason statistics up until now,” he said.
SPORTS
Lugnuts ready for playoffs one step at a time
As the minor-league baseball regular season comes to a close, the Lansing Lugnuts have secured themselves a spot in the playoffs - the only question is who’ll they play.If Lansing finishes at the top of it’s Eastern Division of the Midwest League, it will face off Sept.
SPORTS
Field hockey ready for opener
After winning the first Big Ten title in team history last season, the women’s field hockey team has a tough road ahead of them - but they’re ready. Eight starters and 14 letter-winners return to a squad that last year compiled a 16-6 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Michigan in a 2-1 overtime loss. The team kicks off its season Saturday by visiting the nine-time National Champion Old Dominion Lady Monarchs, and is anxious to take on the task. The Monarchs are favored to win their seventh consecutive national championship, despite the loss of 2001 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Adrienne Yoder to graduation. “To have a strong opponent right away is fun, that’s what we train for all summer,” head coach Michele Madison said.
VOLLEYBALL
Rule change looks to give Spartans more freedom
To spice up the game of volleyball, the NCAA added another rule to the sport this year.The position “libero” was added to increase the level of passing and defense.
FOOTBALL
Eagles hope to contain Spartans
Ypsilanti - The Eastern Michigan Eagles know what they must do in to win it’s season opener Saturday at Spartan Stadium - slow down junior wide receiver Charles Rogers. The problem is they don’t know how.
ICE HOCKEY
Freshman eager to arrive, veteran looks for new home
Seven of the Spartan hockey team’s eight freshmen are on campus, going to class, skating at Munn Ice Arena and generally getting acclimated to college life. The only rookie missing is Nenad Gajic, a skilled forward from Burnaby, British Columbia, who is still with his club lacrosse team that’s fighting for the Canadian junior national championship. Gajic, who is also a forward in lacrosse, is pursuing the Minto Cup with the rest of his Burnaby Lakers teammates.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Men’s cross country ranked No. 14 in preseason poll The men’s cross country team is ranked No.
FOOTBALL
Punter takes hobby to new heights
From Cougar to Spartan, Jason Daily has made the transition from junior college standout to Big Ten starter.But growing up in Santa Clarita, Calif., the 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior punter never imagined football would be his ticket to success.
ICE HOCKEY
Empty net
Ryan Miller was back in his hometown of East Lansing Tuesday after spending the previous day in Buffalo - the city he hopes to call his hockey home in the near future. The 22-year-old star goaltender met with local media Tuesday to explain his decision to forgo his senior season at MSU in favor of professional hockey.
SPORTS
Two U.S. cities selected for 2012 Olympic games
Chicago - New York and San Francisco were selected Tuesday as the U.S. finalists to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, while Houston and Washington, were eliminated as contenders.The U.S.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans working for perfection
All summer, the MSU volleyball team has been lifting weights and conditioning, trying to increase strength and endurance for the upcoming season.With two days until the team’s first regular season matchup, the No.
ICE HOCKEY
Miller leaves behind legacy, questions
One would assume that Matt Migliaccio and Justin Tobe would be feeling a little pressure now that the unenviable task of replacing Ryan Miller has officially begun. After all, Miller was one of the most prolific goaltenders in college hockey history before signing with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
FOOTBALL
Speed over size for defense
When the Spartans take the field Saturday against Eastern Michigan, don’t expect to see last year’s defense.Middle linebacker Josh Thornhill has moved on to the NFL, and the smash-mouth style MSU fans learned to love went with him.The task of replacing last season’s leading tackler goes to junior Mike Labinjo, who finished third on the team with 64 tackles last season.
ICE HOCKEY
Miller leaves Spartans for pros
The first day of fall semester classes brought beginnings for most MSU students, but it signaled the end of Ryan Miller’s collegiate athletic career. Miller, a two-time All-American goaltender, forfeited his senior year of eligibility and signed a contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
ICE HOCKEY
Fans react to goalies departure, remain optimistic for new season
Not long after the announcement that MSU goaltender Ryan Miller had signed with the Buffalo Sabres, forgoing his senior season, Spartan hockey fans weren’t bashful with their opinions. Miller had arguably done everything a player could do at MSU.
FOOTBALL
New faces given chance to start as season nears
For the MSU football team, preseason practices have created some interesting battles for the season opener’s starting positions. Some of the headliners include the jockeying for the second wide receiver spot and backup tailback.