Breslin Center has seen many great moments — both in and outside of the sports world — since it opened in 1989. The building, which opened on Nov. 9, 1989, hosted an early celebration open house for its 20th anniversary this past Wednesday. In honor of all the great memories at Breslin Center, The State News sports desk pulled the brain trust together to rank the Top 10 moments in Breslin Center history.
The MSU men’s soccer team might not have established a go-to striker up top, but they are receiving offensive contribution from more than just one player. In Sunday’s 4-0 victory against Wright State, four different Spartans recorded goals, upping the total to nine goals scored by six different players in the team’s first four games.
Saturday’s game had many MSU fans bringing a phrase that many thought was dead and buried back to life — “Same Old Spartans.” The 29-27 loss to Central Michigan, which featured eight MSU penalties and included a crucial offsides call in the final seconds, was too eerily reminiscent of the days of Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, where the team lacked discipline and frequently melted down in crucial situations.
The No. 7 MSU field hockey team had an up-and-down trip to Syracuse this weekend, defeating No. 9 Old Dominion, but losing to No. 8 Syracuse in overtime.
Sophomore Kirk Cousins appeared to emerge as the front-runner in MSU’s ongoing quarterback competition Saturday, completing 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown.
With only one chance to play in East Lansing this fall, the No. 20 MSU women’s golf team capitalized this weekend at the 26th Annual Mary Fossum Invitational, out-shooting No. 7 Purdue on the final day for a 3-stroke come-from-behind victory at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Nine up. Nine down. The No. 18 MSU volleyball team’s season has gone accordingly, playing up to task in each of its nine games this fall, en route to a 9-0 start.
Steve Smith was watching the MSU football team take on Central Michigan on Saturday from his personal luxury box at Spartan Stadium when third-year MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant walked in and began to chat with him.
Junior goalkeeper Avery Steinlage could have lain down and taken a nap, jumped online to talk to friends or caught up on homework in the first half of the Spartans’ 4-0 victory against Wright State on Sunday.
For junior linebacker Greg Jones, something wasn’t right before the game started.
The MSU football team’s defense couldn’t find an answer for Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour when it mattered most, as LeFevour led his team on two big drives in the final minutes, the first earning the Chippewas a touchdown and the final resulting in a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left, leading Central Michigan to a 29-27 win over the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
Another game for the MSU women’s soccer team, two more goals for Lauren Hill.
In-state rival Central Michigan rolls into Spartan Stadium this Saturday, where they have beaten MSU twice in the last 20 years.
This is an interesting game for the Spartans. Central Michigan brings a talented team into Spartan Stadium but struggled in its season opener against Arizona, losing 19-6. Quarterback Dan LeFevour has proven himself to be the real deal for the Chippewas, but MSU’s defense is hungry and ready to go following last week’s game against Montana State in which it only allowed three points.
It’s a fan’s worst nightmare: Seeing a starter go down and having an unproven backup take the field. But for coaches and players, it’s business as usual. Coaches constantly tell players to practice as if they are going to start for that exact reason.
What stands out to MSU head coach Mark Dantonio about Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is his experience, mobility and toughness.
As the No. 18 MSU volleyball team travels to Chicago this weekend and looks to improve on its 6-0 start, it can draw on experiences from last season as a guide.
If the No. 7 MSU field hockey team thought it would get a break after playing the first two weekends on the road against quality opponents, it isn’t about to get one. The Spartans will embark on arguably their hardest road trip of the young season as they square off with No. 9 Old Dominion Saturday and No. 8 Syracuse on Sunday, both at Syracuse.
It was the complete opposite of what typically goes on behind the scenes of the MSU athletics department. Mark Hollis — MSU athletics director, mastermind behind the “Basketbowl” and “Cold War” and the man who wants to play basketball on an aircraft carrier — raised his eyebrows at an unconventional idea.
For the MSU volleyball team, defense starts with a capital K. That’s because the Spartans defense is anchored in part by the sister duo of Allyson and Mandi Karaba, who were born about 10 months apart and have helped lead the way to a 6-0 start for MSU. Allyson, a junior libero, was named the tournament MVP for this past weekend’s Cleveland State Invitational, which the Spartans won by winning all three of their games.