SPORTS
Spartans look to steal a victory from Wolverines
It’s football season. It’s MSU vs. Michigan. What more needs to be said? “It’s about pride and heart.
SPORTS
Surprising Minnesota to challenge Ohio State
No. 23 Minnesota at No. 6 Ohio StateThe Buckeyes will play a team with a winning record for the fourth straight week when the Golden Gophers visit Ohio Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans follow loss with match against Penn State
Once again, the Spartans will square off against perennial powerhouse Penn State Friday after a humiliating loss to the Wolverines. The No.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Wrestlers set to get underway at Eastern The MSU wrestling team will open its 2002-03 season this Saturday at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti.
SPORTS
Round 2: Jackson vs. Rogers
The Wolverines always have been known for defense. But any time a player draws comparisons to former Michigan great Charles Woodson, ears perk up a little more than usual.Woodson, who plays for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, was easily considered the best defensive player in all the land during his days in maize and blue.
SPORTS
Little known trophy true aim in contest
Rivalries are great. There’s no doubt about it. But what makes them truly great are the trophies.
SPORTS
Strike up the U-M band for a new tune
They’ve got to be feeling just blue, as the maize is tarnished by scandal after scandal. It’s been quite a year since the Spartans thumped the Wolverines in the Wood Shed. The athletic program in Ann Arbor has had quite a booster of support in light of C-Webb and the Flab Five. I’ve got a little tune for those of you feeling down with the maize and blues. Cough.
SPORTS
Both teams to prove toughness
The MSU football team’s toughness has been in question during the last three weeks, but its intrastate rival has not escaped similar criticism. After getting overpowered in a 34-9 loss to Iowa last week, Michigan has had to answer more than its share of toughness questions. Wolverine offensive lineman Tony Pape admitted the front five weren’t physical enough against the Hawkeyes (8-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (6-2, 3-1) need to run the football against the Spartans (3-5, 1-3) when they meet at 12:05 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Magic brings familiar friends to Breslin for another showdown
After weeks filled with intense practice the men’s basketball team finally will suit up for its first exhibition game today at Breslin Center. The Magic Johnson All-Stars, are a full professional squad from Australia, that also brings to the table three players who have won a National Championship at MSU - Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1979), David Thomas and Mike Chappelle (1999). Little is known about the rest of the team due in part to its orientation overseas, and as a result the Spartans will take the court sans a specific game plan. “You have no scouting report or anything, you really don’t know much about them,” senior forward Adam Ballinger said.
SPORTS
Greatest games in the rivalry
Rivalry games are simply magical moments, and when MSU and Michigan take the field in opposition it’s no different. Saturday’s showdown in the Big House marks the 95th meeting between the Spartans (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) and the No.
SPORTS
Heisman watch
The race for the Heisman Trophy continues to keep college football fans on their toes. Any given week, a candidate can come out of nowhere and step into the forefront or stumble back into the middle of the pack.
FOOTBALL
Another Spartan suspended
MSU Sports Information announced late Thursday that junior defensive end Greg Taplin is suspended for Saturday’s game against Michigan. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams didn’t address the media or release a statement regarding the suspension.
FOOTBALL
Welcome to the house the Wolverines built
Ann Arbor - University of Michigan alumni and students pride themselves on its presence.It’s estimated that 880,000 pounds of reinforcing steel was used in its construction.It’s almost impossible to miss the giant block “M” on the back of its scoreboard when driving down Main Street in Ann Arbor.They call it the “Big House.” And for good reason.Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in college football with a capacity of 107,501.
SPORTS
Death Ro, McSkinny examine weekends coming rivalries
The fact that MSU sucks at football doesn’t matter this week, as the Spartans prepare to play Michigan on Saturday.
SPORTS
Club team starts season slow, turns it on late
Heading into its inaugural season in the Midwest Alliance Soccer Conferences’ Northern Division, the MSU men’s club soccer team had no idea what to expect.
ICE HOCKEY
Versatility proves to be important
Versatility has been the name of Jared Nightingale’s game so far this season. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound freshman is a defenseman by trade, but he has played half of MSU’s games as the fourth-line right wing this year. Where Nightingale lines up on a given night seems to depend on whether freshman defenseman Evan Shaw is playing or not.
SPORTS
Veterans lead team into battle
“Let’s sign a brick you guys.”Field hockey head coach Michele Madison speaks to her team’s Leadership Group in the field hockey locker room with a smile on her face, beaming with pride over a perfect 10-0 season at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.“We have to sign a brick, we just went undefeated at home,” Madison said.Matching last year’s 16-6 overall record, Big Ten Championship and Elite Eight appearance is no small feat, but with the help of four women this year’s No.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans fall to U-M volleyball
The No. 25 MSU volleyball team played sloppily and made costly errors, falling in four games to Michigan 24-30, 27-30, 30-24 and 18-30 at Jenison Field House on Wednesday night. It was the Spartans (14-7 overall, 6-5 Big Ten) first loss at home this year and the first time the Wolverines, (13-8, 7-4) have swept the Spartans since 1992. “We were just too inconsistent, and we didn’t have enough offense tonight,” MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said.
FOOTBALL
BREAKING NEWS: Another Spartan suspended for breaking team rules
Junior defensive end Greg Taplin has been suspended for one game for violating team rules and will not dress for the Spartans’ contest against No.
FOOTBALL
Smoker rumors unconfirmed
One week after the indefinite suspension of junior quarterback Jeff Smoker, Spartan fans are still in the dark as to what “team rules violation” actually means. Attempts by The State News to reach Smoker on campus or at his parents’ home in Manheim, Pa., have not been successful.