State College, Pa. — Penn State fined women's basketball coach Rene Portland $10,000 after concluding she violated university policy in her treatment of a player who was perceived to be a lesbian. The university said Portland would be dismissed for any future violation of the school's nondiscrimination policy.
When Isaiah Dahlman and Raymar Morgan were both participants in the Nike All-American Camp this past summer, they talked a lot with each other and formed a friendship. After Dahlman committed in early September to play basketball for MSU as part of its 2006 recruiting class, he called Morgan, who then committed to MSU less than a month later.
One of the team's sore spots last season — at place-kicker — has a positive outlook after Saturday's 115-play scrimmage at Spartan Stadium. Sophomore Todd Boleski missed his first 38-yard field-goal attempt but didn't disappoint after, nailing two field goals at 32 yards, and then at 40, 47 and 55 yards. The defense also showed signs of improvement, which senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said is "more athletic and (can) run the ball better than we did a year ago." The first-team defense faced a first-team offense undergoing changes with three new starters on the line. After the game, head coach John L.
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle's girlfriend faces a reprimand after she had a pit-road confrontation with driver Kurt Busch's fiancee last week. Race officials wouldn't disclose the exact nature of the argument, but did say it involved a bumper sticker and Calvin peeing on something. Ohio State fans are uniformly upset about proposed changes to the school's football uniforms. The main point of contention: The buckeye stickers that are attached to a player's helmet for good play are reportedly being replaced by scratch-and-sniff smiley face stickers. The St.
It still doesn't enjoy the attention, press or television coverage of baseball, football and basketball, but don't get the 2005-06 NHL season wrong — it was a terrific season for hockey, from a business and fan aspect.
MSU has been a wide receiver factory in the last few years, routinely pumping out some of the best split ends and flankers in the country.
Some people dig March Madness while others live for the NFL and NBA playoffs. And a large percentage of the United States is fascinated with the MLB playoffs (which seem to last deeper into October each year). Not to say I don't enjoy watching those events, but the NHL playoffs are my sports Christmas, and, to my delight, are soon to be back. There are so many things to watch for come playoff time.
The college careers of wide receivers Kyle Brown and Aaron Alexander are over. Now it's time for seniors Matt Trannon, Jerramy Scott, Kerry Reed and junior Terry Love to help the offense live up to the expectations as one of the Big Ten's best. In 2005, the passing game was the deadliest attack for the Spartans.
MSU football player Cole Corey's sentencing for pleading guilty to a single count of possession of a controlled substance has been adjourned until May 18. The sentencing was supposed to come down Thursday morning in the Lenawee County Circuit Court, but was adjourned to allow Corey and his attorney to argue some factors that could affect his sentence. "We're challenging some of the allegations in the presentencing report," said David Goldstein, Corey's attorney.
John Dwan didn't see it coming. Three years ago, he was a rising pitching prospect, a powerful left-hander from Illinois who had compiled a 25-5 record at Libertyville High School and broken the school record for strikeouts. He committed to MSU and turned heads during fall practice with a nasty fastball and baffling changeup.
The MSU softball team is taking its six-game winning streak on the road for a five-game, three-state weekend that begins at 4 p.m.
Senior quarterback Drew Stanton will be stepping back for the next couple weeks so that sophomore Brian Hoyer can get more time calling plays. Head coach John L.
The MSU rowing team took three out of four races Saturday against Virginia at Rivanna Reservoir in Virginia. The No.
One small trip for the MSU baseball team, one giant leap for Spartankind. MSU and Western Michigan's game at 5:30 p.m.
All-America brothers Nick and Andy Simmons shared the MSU wrestling team's Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, announced at the team's annual banquet. Andy Simmons, a 141-pound junior, compiled a 36-6 record this season and took fifth at the NCAA Championships. Nick Simmons, a 125-pound junior, finished the season 36-2 en route to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championships.
MSU football fans perusing the team's spring depth chart may be jolted when they see where Sir Darean Adams is listed. Instead of the bandit position, where he tallied 60 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, the 6-foot, 230-pound Adams is penciled in as the backup free safety.
By Dan Smallwood For The State News Walking into MSU's IM-Sports West building over the weekend was like stumbling back into an elementary school gym class.
The MSU softball team used two complete game shutouts from its starting pitchers to sweep a home doubleheader Sunday against Indiana. In the first game, junior Rachel Turney went the distance for the Spartans (27-11 overall, 6-0 Big Ten) and pushed her record to 12-5.
A different take on the sports world. The NFL could suspend Ricky Williams for the entire 2006 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy again. Williams' lawyers say the running back's defense will center around the 420th Amendment. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre says he's still undecided about whether he will return to play next season. In a related story, a majority of NFL fans are still undecided about why Favre's name gets pronounced like it does. Paul Davis is listed as the third-best center prospect in this year's NBA draft class by ESPN.com, while Maurice Ager is ranked sixth at shooting guard. Matt Trannon, meanwhile, is ranked first among people who play both basketball and football. Japanese outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto set a world record last Sunday when he played in his 904th consecutive game without missing an inning. When time zone differences and the exchange rate are factored in, however, Kanemoto's streak only stretches about two-and-a-half hours. Former Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella says he'd consider a return to the bench, but only for a contender. Former New York Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer says he'd also consider a return to the bench, but only if Pedro Martinez is kept behind plate glass.
The State News caught up with MSU senior cornerback Demond Williams, who MSU head coach John L. Smith said has been emerging as a leader in spring football. • On how he has changed … "There's no secrets, just knowledge.