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Team

SPORTS

Ohio State and Michigan kick off rivalry weekend

No. 9 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeye faithful don't want to even think about the past while Wolverine fans are hoping for déjá vu all over again. Once again, Ohio State will bring an undefeated mark into its contest with U-M, and if recent history is any guide, the Buckeyes will exit Ohio Stadium with a blemish in their record. In 1993, an unranked Wolverine squad demolished the No.

SPORTS

Leading the way

Andrew Fifer
November 22, 2002

season marred by disappointment and controversy will come to an end for the Spartans in University Park, Pa., against Penn State. The entire coaching staff from this season will be relieved of duty at the end of the season, and the program will be under completely new reigns. At this point, Athletics Director Ron Mason hasn't picked anyone to lead the team, making it impossible to know the program's direction.

SPORTS

Leaders come and go, always play with heart

This one is for Bobby. As controversy clouds begin to push on past Spartan land, home to the season of shame, I finally found one of those "positives, positives, positives, positives," he was speaking of only weeks before his firing. Suit up senior strong safety Thomas Wright. Known by those close, "T" is the leader of the 2002 Spartan squad. He became the role model junior quarterback Jeff Smoker wasn't during a season desperately looking toward somebody, anybody, with answers. Whether he wanted to, the head-shaved, goateed leader assumed the role of the go-to captain, as senior tailback Dawan Moss and Smoker found themselves indefinitely suspended. And so Wright's casual stroll out of Duffy Daugherty says "follow me." His play inside Spartan Stadium says "play at my level." His walk talked all season.

SPORTS

Cornerback adjusts to play

Andrew Fifer
November 22, 2002

With three senior cornerbacks on the roster, it seemed improbable that a first-year player would get any significant playing time in the secondary this season for MSU.And that's exactly the mentality freshman cornerback Ashton Watson carried into the game against Michigan on Nov.

SPORTS

Spartans need another rivalry as U-M eyes Ohio State matchup

Who is MSU's biggest rival? If you said Michigan, you're right. Who is U-M biggest rival? If you said MSU, you're wrong, dead wrong. Let me explain. I'm not saying it isn't a rivalry at all, what I'm saying is it's not mutual. MSU fans get all riled up for this one big game all year, while U-M fans get the luxury of looking past the Spartans and yearning for the Buckeyes. And thanks to the most recent 49-3 drubbing MSU got this season, it makes the case for another rival even more appealing.

SPORTS

PSU stacks D-line

Eric Mckinney
November 22, 2002

If the Spartans hope to muster any sort of offensive attack against Penn State, they'll have to find some way to handle one of the nation's best defensive fronts. From end to end, the Nittany Lions' defensive line is stacked.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Dawn Klemish
November 22, 2002

Women's basketball kicks off season Senior forward Syreeta Bromfield was labeled one of 30 Players to Watch for the Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to the country's senior player of the year for NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball. The Kingston, Jamaica, native led the Spartans in points and rebounds per game last season, averaging 15.6 and 6.5, respectively.

ICE HOCKEY

Team faces off with Bowling Green

James Jahnke
November 22, 2002

If you analyzed the MSU hockey team's schedule before the season started, you probably wouldn't have singled out tonight's game at Bowling Green as a pivotal matchup. But that's what it has become, thanks to MSU's rocky .500 start (5-5-0 overall, 3-3-0 CCHA). The Falcons (2-8-1, 0-7-1) don't look very daunting on paper, but the Spartans can't take them lightly - MSU desperately needs a win at 7:05 p.m.

SPORTS

All indications point to Rogers jetting for NFL

Yeah, this season hasn't been much fun to watch. To be perfectly honest, it's been down right torturous. But at least we've had our weekly installment of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood to count on. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior has been nothing short of spectacular.

SPORTS

Spartans seek first national championship

Dawn Klemish
November 21, 2002

Today when the No. 3 MSU field hockey team boards the plane to Louisville, Ky., it will be landing in uncharted territory. Not in the history of the program has any Spartan team ventured so deep into the postseason waters, but this year's squad is determined to return to East Lansing with nothing less than a national championship. "Our goal for the season was to make the Final Four, and we did it," sophomore back Annebet Beerman said.

BASKETBALL

Projected starters

Dawn Klemish
November 21, 2002

Shooting Guard: Sophomore Chris Hill - After the early departure of Marcus Taylor, Hill is expected to play major minutes at the helm of MSU's offense.

FOOTBALL

Spartans look to end season strong against Penn State

Andrew Fifer
November 20, 2002

Although the MSU football team had a familiar result when it lost to Purdue 45-42 at Spartan Stadium, interim head coach Morris Watts said there was a difference in the way the team played. "One of the things I felt very good about was how hard our young men competed through the four quarters," he said.

VOLLEYBALL

Last 4 matches will be vital for Spartans' postseason chances

Chris Mackinder
November 20, 2002

To receive consideration for the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans arguably need to win three of their next four contests. And for the MSU volleyball team, making it to the postseason for the ninth consecutive year won't be the easiest of tasks if this season has been a guide. MSU (16-10 overall, 8-8 Big Ten) sits in a tie for seventh place in the conference with Indiana.

SPORTS

Field hockey team has 5 on regional team

Five members of the No. 3 MSU field hockey team were named to the 2002 STX/NFHCA Division I All-West Region Team this week, tying the record for most players from a single school.Sophomore midfielder Annebet Beerman and freshman goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy nabbed first-team accolades, while senior back Cynthia Martin, junior mid fielder Sophie Rosmalen and sophomore Judith van Haeringen all earned second-team honors.Kirkaldy also was dubbed National Rookie of the Week this week for her efforts during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament during the weekend.

ICE HOCKEY

Assistant coach heads back to Ohio

James Jahnke
November 20, 2002

No matter what, Tom Newton was going to be at the BGSU Ice Arena this Friday. But the MSU assistant coach probably wishes he was directing the Bowling Green bench instead of being in a supporting role with the Spartans. Newton applied for the Falcons' head coaching vacancy this offseason, but Boston College assistant and fellow BGSU alumnus Scott Paluch got the job.

SPORTS

Senior golfer picked for prestigious tourney

Senior Eric Jorgensen was one of 24 selected to compete in the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic at the El Paso Country Club in El Paso, Texas. The tournament, hosted by the Sun Bowl Association, will be held Sunday through Tuesday. The tournament opens with the Titleist Long Drive Contest and the Ping Putting Contest.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans searching for identity

James Jahnke
November 19, 2002

In the wake of two discouraging losses to Ohio State, the MSU hockey team doesn't have much choice except to regroup and look to the future. But the bad news for the Spartans (5-5-0 overall, 3-3-0 CCHA) is that they face a rocky road ahead. The sweep at OSU started a stretch where MSU will play 10 of its next 11 games away from Munn Ice Arena.