After losing four All-Big Ten players including star goaltender Mike Robinson to graduation after last season, it would be logical to assume the MSU men's soccer team would be in a rebuilding phase. Not so fast, according to head coach Joe Baum. "It was a tremendous loss," Baum said.
MSU sophomore wrestler Andy Simmons, last year's Outstanding Wrestler for the Spartans, returns to the mat on Nov.
When his good friend Tyrell Dortch moved from running back to defense in the off-season, senior safety Jason Harmon knew he had to help - whether Dortch liked it or not. "After workouts, he'd have me in the indoor field backpedalling, doing hip drills and stuff like that," said Dortch, who will start at the bandit position Saturday against Rutgers.
MSU junior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy was named the Big Ten's defensive player of the week in field hockey after leading her team to a pair of victories over the weekend. In the first game of the Champions' Challenge tournament against Delaware, Kirkaldy posted three saves in a 1-0 win to pick up her first shutout of the season.
There isn't much competition before the first game of the year, but after losing key players from last season, many positions - particularly that of the setter - have been in high demand, MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe said. "The bottom line is putting the right people on the floor to bring about victories," Erbe said. Erbe announced this week that freshman setter Maggie Griffin will start instead of junior setter Mickey Davis.
With the schedule set for the men's basketball team, the Spartans will face one of the more rigorous schedules in the nation. "Once again, I think we have compiled one of the toughest and best schedules in the nation," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said in a written statement.
There is no starting quarterback for the MSU football team, but head coach John L. Smith has narrowed his selection to two candidates. At a Monday press conference, Smith said sophomore Drew Stanton wouldn't be the starter on Saturday at Rutgers, thus leaving senior Damon Dowdell or redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves battling for the spot this week. "Here's how we decide - whoever does better on punt team doesn't start (at quarterback)," Smith said jokingly. Both Dowdell and Reaves have spent the same number of years in Smith's system - two - so there is no advantage in that area. Smith said in this situation, it is probably the case the senior would get the start.
Since the end of last season, John L. Smith has met difficult challenges as a football coach and a 55-year-old man. The apparent successor to Jeff Smoker endured major knee surgery.
Jim Slater will serve as captain of the MSU hockey team for the second-straight year, becoming the first player to do so since Tyler Harlton repeated for the 1998 season. "It's a great honor and one of biggest honors a player can get," the senior forward said in a written statement.
The MSU volleyball team offered a glimpse into the upcoming season this weekend in the Green and White exhibition match at Jenison Field House.
The MSU field hockey team beat Duke 4-1 on Sunday to win the inaugural Champions Challenge tournament at the MSU field hockey complex. After beginning their season Saturday with a 1-0 win over Delaware, the Spartans improve their record to 2-0.
In only their second game of the season, the MSU women's soccer team showed determination and improvement on the field Sunday in a 2-0 victory against in-state rival Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. "It was a difficult game," MSU coach Tom Saxton said.
The dream was over before it even began. These Olympic Games proved why professional athletes, namely star-studded NBA players, need to keep their obligations where it really belongs - with their owners and with their contracts. I'm sure they all have pride for their country, and they probably did really want to win a gold medal.
MSU head coach John L. Smith has wanted to make a decision about who would be the starting quarterback for a while now. The problem is, he can't. "If the knucklehead hadn't gotten hurt, this decision probably would have been made in spring," Smith said, in reference to sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton's injury in last year's Alamo Bowl. Stanton's injury has opened the door for senior Damon Dowdell or redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves to possibly be the starter in the Spartans' season opener at Rutgers on Saturday. The three quarterbacks have been battling all August for the starting job.
You don't know anything about MSU football. And neither do I. Last year in this column, I compared the MSU football team to the characters from the movie "Seabiscuit," proclaiming not to count the Spartans out like so many did before a game had been played. But it was easy to know the Green and white would enjoy a turnaround season, after disaster struck East Lansing two seasons ago and ran a certain coach - who will not be named - out of town. Still, I was shocked to be right.
A three-man quarterback race. One quarterback leading the way but facing many questions from missing spring practice.
As many record-breaking home runs that Lansing Lugnuts first baseman Brian Dopirak has hit this season, it's his first home run that will always stand out in his memory. That first home run at 12 years old was what made Dopirak decide that a Major League Baseball career would be in his plans. "When we had to do little career things in school, I always put down baseball player," Dopirak said.
Among the MSU football team's returning starters are both kickers, the second leading punt returner from last season, along with the leading kickoff return man. With those four returning players, the Spartans special teams should be a team strength. "Special teams can be a weapon," senior safety and captain Jason Harmon said.
It was always Jim Slater's intention to stay at MSU for four years in hopes of winning a college hockey championship with the team. Many wondered whether the forward would forego his final year of eligibility after the kind of season he wrapped up in the spring, much like goaltender Ryan Miller did after Slater's freshman year. With the opportunity to suit up as a professional player with the Atlanta Thrashers within his grasp, Slater is more optimistic about the upcoming season - as a Spartan. "With the team we have back and the freshmen coming in, this is the year to really do something in league play and be back in the national polls," Slater said.
With three of the four captains on the MSU football team playing on the defensive side of the ball, it's clear what aspect of the team head coach John L.