The MSU football team hopes a new defensive setup will result in more aggressive and productive linebackers this fall.The new schemes allow them to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.And they're just chomping at the bit to get started."The way the defense is set up now, it allows us to be more free," junior linebacker Ronald Stanley said.
The heads of all Red Wings fans are hanging low at the moment and with good reason. This was supposed to be another easy postseason, ending with Lord Stanley taking a tour through downtown Detroit.
MSU head softball coach Jacquie Joseph said she wanted to use the team's first Big Ten road contests to see how her team measures up to tougher squads.By splitting a four-game series with Minnesota and Wisconsin, Joseph said her team is still good enough to be mentioned with the top teams in the Big Ten."I felt we should have come out of this weekend 3-1," she said.
Justin Tobe isn't going anywhere.Nor is Matt Migliaccio. And Dominic Vicari will soon enroll at MSU.Three goaltenders.
Gymnasts place 5th in last meet of season The MSU gymnastics team placed fifth out of six teams at the NCAA Central Regional on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Spartans amassed a total score of 194.575 to finish above Kent State, but behind Alabama, Auburn, Central Michigan and Oklahoma.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Stanton is starting to leave his mark on teammates and, most importantly, MSU football head coach John L.
Sluggers go on road to take on Hoosiers The MSU baseball team will look to gain some ground in the Big Ten this weekend with four games. The Spartans will face Indiana in a four-game series beginning today at 3 p.m.
If the MSU softball team expects to continue its hot start, then it needs to be at its best at the plate. The Spartans (24-9, 4-1 Big Ten) face some of the conference's top pitchers when it travels to face Minnesota (26-10, 4-2) and Wisconsin (13-16, 2-4) this weekend.
Spring fever has hit the Lansing Lugnuts. Of course it doesn't help that it's eight days into the season and the team has yet to play a full game. The squad made it through the first three South Bend batters during its April 3 home opener before driving rain forced fans and players to scurry for cover. Since then, snow, near-freezing weather and poor field conditions have caused the cancellation of seven games - the Lugnuts' entire home-opening stand. Lansing travels to South Bend, Ind., today for a 7:30 p.m.
Sigh. After meticulously counting down the moments until Opening Day arrived at Comerica Park, sitting through a 9-19 showing in spring training and returning north for eight miserable losses, I remember now why I was so eager to forget the last Tigers baseball season. Call me crazy (and I'm sure you will), but when Detroit finished 55-106 last year, I really, really thought this year couldn't be any worse. It was the worst season Detroit had since 1996.
Seasons past have produced the likes of Kirk Gibson, Andre Rison, Muhsin Muhammad and Charles Rogers.
He's No. 1 on MSU's wide receiver depth chart, his coaches love his speed and his teammates are lauding his leadership - but he is yet to catch one pass in a game of college football. After former Spartan standout Charles Rogers broke the MSU record books and entered the NFL Draft, MSU's depleted receiving corps is forced to look for a fresh start.
When the eyes of the college gymnastics world focus on the NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb., in two weeks, head coach Kathie Klages doesn't expect her MSU gymnastics team to be there. Sure, the Spartans have a chance.
After much speculation, MSU basketball associate head coach Brian Gregory accepted the head-coaching position at Dayton on Wednesday afternoon."I'm honored and excited to be named the head basketball coach at the University of Dayton," Gregory said at a press conference.
MSU (23-14-2) wasn't an elite hockey team this season, but it wasn't for a lack of elite players. Two Spartans - senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast - were named to the JOFA All-American teams announced Wednesday by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Liles made the West First Team, while Fast was named to the West Second Team. Of the 24 players honored Wednesday, only three were on teams that didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament - Liles, Fast and Yale forward Chris Higgins. "In order to have a good individual season, you often need to be on a successful team," Liles said.
Eight Spartan athletes were honored at the combined awards banquet for the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams this weekend. On the cross country side, sophomore Chris Toloff and junior Michelle Carson were named the teams' most valuable performers, while juniors Andrew Marsh and Sarah Pepera were voted as the most improved runners. For the track and field teams, juniors Steve Manz (throws) and Jamie Krzyminski (distance) were dubbed team MVPs.
"On the Road Again."That is the tune the MSU baseball team is singing after a short week of home games.
Experience, hard work and a new attitude have led to the MSU softball team's excellent start this season.After going 24-35 overall and 4-15 in the Big Ten in 2002, the Spartans (24-9 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) need just one win to eclipse last season's overall and conference win totals.
Spartan athletics officials say the switch from a free to a pay service for watching games online has improved coverage of Spartan sports, including press conferences and extra content of less visible teams.Since the fall, www.msuspartans.com has been charging a fee to users for the right to view athletic events online.
On April Fool's Day, senior centerfielder Sandy Lewis approached Old College Field for softball practice wearing a boot and brandishing a signed letter from the head trainer stating she would be out of action 4 to 6 weeks.