On August 24th. Moten was 60 years old and played for the San Diego Chargers from 1991-1996. (He was a 2nd round draft choice and No.47 overall)

AT MSU:

• Second-team All-American (1990)
• First-team All-Big Ten (1990)
• Second-team All-Big Ten (1989)

Michigan State offensive coordinate Brian Lindgren noted "“inconsistencies, technique, assignment and some errors" from the unit in the season opener against FAU but sees plenty of upsides after Week One.

@luccamazzie has more from Lindgren on the homepage now:

Khris Bogle does everything he can off the field to be able to stand out on it.He cares about Michigan State, he plays for his teammates, and he bleeds Green and White.

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Mark Dantonio Reflects on Preparing Ohio State's 2002 Defense to Win National Championship---bringing those techniques from Nick Saban and Dean Pees. The key: "Keep it simple and play fast." Something Rossi is doing at MSU.​

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Check out the 2024 Colorado School of the Mines football roster photos. These guys are great and the photos are highly entertaining.

Michigan State TE Michael Masunas on what he was feeling running out on the field before the first offensive snap:

“I’ve been working for this, so I just try to take my deep breaths, relax and just kind of embrace the moment.”

More from Masunas and Jack Velling:

Earlier in the week it was announced that Oasis was getting back together and playing gigs next summer in the UK. I was incredibly excited. I lived in London in 1995 and 1996 during Oasis' glory years and the vibe there was incredible. One of the most exciting events in my life was attending the legendary Knebworth show in August 1996. Last night I took my daughter to twenty one pilots and we hit In N Out Burger on the way home and then tried to get Oasis tickets, which went on sale at 1:00 a.m. our time. It was insane. Initially, I was 38,000 place in the queue for the opening Manchester show, but when I was given the option to purchase tickets, Ticketmaster crashed me out. It was incredibly disappointing. In the end, I was unable to get tickets.

The cultural phenomenon cannot be denied. Oasis defined the 90s (at least in the UK) and they just sold 1.4 million tickets in a few hours. It's absolutely fascinating that Oasis could add another 20 shows and they would also all sell out. I think they are really the only artists that can match (or come close to matching) the Taylor Swift phenomenon, at least in the UK. Bummer I ain't get tickets but at least I have another 12 months to figure it out.

@Lee Wardlaw and I spoke to more than 20 prospects who attended Michigan State's win over Florida Atlantic on Friday.

Read their thoughts on the experience here:

The 2024 season is near. Michigan State will begin the campaign by hosting Florida Atlantic on Friday Aug. 30 (7 p.m., Big Ten Network).

As with every home game, MSU will host several recruits on visits. This is a running list and will be updated as more names come in. Keep in mind, Friday games are obviously a little bit tougher to get recruits on campus, given that the majority of high school games also take place on Fridays.

Here are the visitors for Week One:

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Jonathan Smith had his weekly press conference today, and he certainly acknowledged the type of team Maryland has. The Terrapins destroyed UConn 50-7 on Saturday. With injuries to Alante Brown, Khalil Majeed and Dillon Tatum, things look even more difficult.

Despite that, Smith still talked about reasons for optimism and how they are going to improve in areas where it is needed most.

Read here:


Live thread of press conference from earlier:

Armorion Smith says thank you to the Michigan State community for all the support he and his family have received since the passing of his mom:

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If Smith made DJ look good, and Chiles looked this bad, I still think Tommy should get some PT and give Chiles a chance to develop until he is required to shave regularly.

My column on Aidan Chiles and showing accountability last night.

“It’s me, I’m taking full responsibility for everything that happened today,” Chiles said after the 16-10 win over FAU. “You always want to come out and play football and do what you got to do. I feel like I tried to do that, didn’t do what I’m used to doing. I play football for a living and didn’t come out and perform at my best today. It is what it is. I take full responsibility for everything.”

More:

Smith says Alante Brown "hopeful" to return in November. Khalil Majeed "doubtful." Dillon Tatum likely a season-ending injury.

Smith calls it "a big blow."

My Take:

1. MSU struggled to count on Brown last year, so they will be okay.
2. Majeed will be out for a while, but there is some depth
3. Tatum's injury hurts, but they have a deep secondary.

The Michigan State hockey team won both the Big Ten regular season and Big Ten Tournament titles for the 2023-2024 season. The team received its championship rings at the FAU vs. MSU football game this past Friday.

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MSU Football head coach Jonathan Smith is scheduled to talk to the media at noon. Spartans Illustrated will give updates on what he says here.

EDIT:

Full video of Smith's press conference here:
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QUICK STRIKES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD ...

• Michigan State kicks off the 2024 season on the road in California, taking on UC Davis and Cal in the opening weekend of play for all collegiate programs.

• Live statistics links can be found for both games on the field hockey schedule page at MSUSpartans.com. Friday's contest at UC Davis will have a live video webstream.

• The Spartans are looking to improve on a 4-12 regular season in 2023. MSU returns 15 letterwinners from a year ago, including two of its top four scorers in Ellie Rutherford (4-1-9) and Emma O'Neill (3-1-7).

• UC-Davis was 2-14 a year ago and went 1-7 in America East play. The Aggies boast seven seniors, and head coach Austin Pile is starting his third season on the sideline after a lengthy tenure as an assistant at Cal.

• Shellie Onstead is in her 29th season at the helm of the Cal program and has led the Golden Bears to 11 conference titles. Cal was 12-8 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago after posting a 5-3 mark in America East. Cal is one of the newest members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and will compete for that league's championship this fall.

• MSU will be led on the field by five returning seniors or grad students - Ellie Wheatley (grad), and seniors Jillian Bonczewski, Maddie Lawlor, Emma O'Neill, and Ellie Rutherford. Grad transfer Tatum Johnson (LaSalle) will miss the season with injury. Lawlor returns to the active roster after losing her 2023 campaign to an injury.

• Eight freshmen join the Spartans in 2024, from three different countries and three different states.

• The Spartans serving as captains are Emma O'Neill, Ellie Rutherford, and Ellie Wheatley.

• On Wednesday, the Big Ten announced its annual "Players to Watch" list - seniors Ellie Rutherford and Maddie Lawlor made the list, along with freshman Carmen Pucheta.

• Helen Knull begins her 14th season as the head coach at Michigan State and 18th season on the Spartan staff overall. She is the longest-tenured coach in program history and owns the second-most wins of any mentor since the start of the program in the 1972 season. She owns a 96-148 mark entering the 2024 campaign. She returns her entire staff, which includes Associate Head Coach Tamara Durante and assistant coaches Erin Shanahan and Matt Michie.

• MSU played a pair of exhibitions last week against in-state rivals Central Michigan and Michigan.

• Michigan State opens the home portion of its schedule next weekend with Friday and Sunday games against Vermont and Ohio, both starting at 1 pm. Vermont and Ohio will play a neutral-site contest at Ralph Young Field.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

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East Lansing, Mich. -- The Big Ten announced its Players to Watch for the upcoming field hockey season, in advance of the 2024 campaign kicking off this weekend for all nine teams.

Spartan seniors Maddie Lawlor (Shamong, NJ) and Ellie Rutherford (Edinburgh, Scotland) are joined by freshman Carmen Pucheta (Cordoba, Argentina) on the list of 27 standout players in the league. MSU begins its 2024 season this weekend in California with games at UC-Davis (Friday) and Cal (Sunday).

Rutherford is MSU's top returning scorer – she had four goals and nine points a year ago. She earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and was the team's Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, and is a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection. She has appeared in 52 career games for MSU, with a 13-5-31 scoring line.

Lawlor is a two-time academic All-Big Ten honoree, and missed the entirety of 2023 season with an injury. She has appeared in 28 career games over two seasons (starting 17 of 22 as a sophomore), and with her return to the lineup, provides MSU leadership and experience.

Pucheta comes to MSU (and the United States) after a standout prep career in Argentina, where she participated in youth training camps for the Olympics in both 2020 and 2022. She is the only freshman among the list of 27 players on the Watch list.

Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – At long last, the 2024 Michigan State volleyball season has arrived. MSU gets its season started quickly with a trio of formidable opponents this weekend, facing Northern Colorado, Colorado State (receiving votes) and No. 11-ranked Florida on the road.

Action kicks off on Friday, August 30 with an 8:00 p.m. ET first serve against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. The weekend continues in Fort Collins, Colo. on Saturday, August 31 when MSU meets Colorado State at 8:00 p.m., before concluding the trip with a neutral site match in Fort Collins against No. 11-ranked Florida at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 1.

The Spartans haven't traveled to Colorado since 1994 when they played in the Colorado Invitational. MSU defeated No. 13 Notre Dame that weekend before falling to No. 15 Colorado in four.

An online video stream will be provided for Friday's match against Northern Colorado (ESPN+) and Saturday's match at Colorado State (Mountain West Network). All three games will have a live radio broadcast on MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action in his 20th season.

ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO​

Northern Colorado finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 18-12, which included a 12-4 mark in Big Sky matches. The Bears fell to Eastern Washington in the conference quarterfinals before reaching the Round of 16 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) tournament. Northern Colorado finished last year ranked No. 110 in the RPI, with a season-best victory over Colorado State (3-2), who finished No. 64. The Bears faced just one B1G opponent in 2023, falling 3-0 to Northwestern on September 8.

Makenzie Harris took on the brunt of Northern Colorado's offensive load as a fifth year last season, leading the team with 401 kills on .236 hitting, also contributing a team-best 36 service aces, 249 digs and 41 blocks. Fifth year Cece Huhn was the team-leader in blocks (105.0) and blocks per set (1.02), and fifth year Michaela Boon led the team with 338 digs (2.99 digs/set). The Bears have a lot of production and experience to replace in 2024.

Syd Cole returns at setter after leading the team with 1,121 assists in 2023. Cole was second on the team in aces (34). Gabi Placide (243) and Brynn Reines (234) return over 200 kills each for the Bears offense. Bella LePore is the top returning defensive specialist coming off a 225 dig freshman season. Isabel Bennett posted 66 total blocks last year and returns in the middle.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (RV)​

Tabbed as the conference favorite in 2024, Colorado State finished 2023 with an overall record of 19-12 along with a 12-6 mark in the Mountain West. The Rams fell to Fresno State in the Mountain West championship match, going to five sets (25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 26-28, 12-15) in a tightly contested final. Colorado State finished the 2023 campaign ranked No. 64 in the RPI, earning a signature victory early with a 3-1 result over Kentucky (RPI No. 8) on August 25, 2023. CSU took down one B1G opponent last season in a 3-2 victory over Michigan on September 2. Colorado State is receiving votes in the first AVCA poll of the season.

The Rams return all four of their All-Mountain West performers from a season ago in Emery Herman, Kennedy Stanford, Naeemah Weathers and Malaya Jones. Jones set the single-season kills record at CSU last season with 466, Herman posted 10.39 assists per set en route to being named the 2023 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and Stanford was third on the team with 307 kills, averaging 2.42 kills/set. Weathers hit .426 in the middle for CSU which ranked second in program history and seventh in the country last season.

Also returning for Colorado State are libero Kate Yoshimoto who posted 421 digs (3.31 digs/set) and middle blocker Karina Leber (102.0 total blocks). The Rams will however need to replace the 368.0 point production of outside Annie Sullivan who was second on the team with 344 kills a season ago.

ABOUT #11 FLORIDA​

Ranked No. 11 in the first AVCA poll of the season, Florida was picked to finish second in the preseason SEC poll (one first place vote), behind defending national champion Texas. The Gators went 19-10 overall and 10-8 in SEC play last season despite losing preseason All-SEC and 2022 All-American setter Alexis Stucky to a knee injury on September 17. Florida reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Georgia Tech, 3-0, to finish No. 20 in the RPI. Prior to Stucky's departure, the Gators had an early season signature sweep over then No. 2-ranked Stanford, also defeating then No. 8-ranked Penn State and No. 5-ranked Minnesota in the month of August.

In addition to Stucky, Florida returns preseason All-SEC selection Kennedy Martin who led the Gators with 492 kills (4.35 kills/set) on .298 hitting. AC Fitzpatrick also returns on offense after finishing her fourth season with 298 kills, good for second on the team. On the defensive, libero Elli McKissock is back after recording 444 digs (3.93 digs/set) and Gabrielle Essix returns after finishing third on the team in blocks last season (101.0, 1.23 blocks/set).

Departing 2023 stat leaders include middle blocker Nnedi Okammor (120.0 blocks, 1.29 blocks/set) and setter Kennedy Muff (851 assists, 10.25 assists/set).

SERIES HISTORY​

Northern Colorado
- This is the first meeting between MSU and Northern Colorado.
Colorado State
- This is the first meeting between MSU and Colorado State.
Florida
- Michigan State is 0-2 all-time against Florida dating back to 1996. MSU and the Gators have never played at a neutral site, playing once on the road and once at home each.
- MSU first faced Florida on Dec. 13, 1996 in the NCAA Elite Eight, falling to the Gators, 3-1. No. 7-ranked Florida played in East Lansing at the 2016 Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, defeating the Spartans, 3-0.

IOSIA AND BISHOP NAMED CO-CAPTAINS​

• For the third consecutive season, senior setter Julia Bishop and fifth year libero Nalani Iosia have been named team captains for the Spartans.
• Bishop and Iosia are the fourth and fifth players in the program history to be named three-time captains joining Nikki Colson (01-03), Katie Johnson (05-07) and Kori Moster (12-14).

HOLDEM A RETURNING ALL-B1G SELECTION​

• Sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem is Michigan State's lone returning All-B1G selection from 2023, aiming to improve upon her second-team designation from a year ago.
• Holdem also earned All-Freshman honors from the conference, the first MSU rookie to earn that honor since 2014 and one of nine all-time.
• Holdem finished last season ranked No. 9 in the B1G in kills/set (3.44) and No. 8 in kills (399). Holdem was No. 9 in points per set at 3.88.
• The leading scorer among all freshmen in B1G play, Holdem posted 4.03 points per set in 20 conference matches.
• Holdem's 25 kills on Sept. 29, 2023 were the most in a match by an MSU freshman since Erin Hartley (28, 1998).

SPARTANS GAIN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE​

• Sophomore outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska (Poland) and freshman middle blocker Carmen Waye (Canada) each had the opportunity to represent their home countries over the summer playing with their age level national team programs.
• Staniszewska played with the U22 Polish National Team at the U22 European Championships, falling in the bronze medal match to Turkiye.
• Waye played with the U19 Canadian National team at the U19 NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Continental Championship, falling to the United States in the gold medal match.
• Waye led Team Canada with 16 points (12 kills, match-high four blocks) in the championship match despite the loss.

IOSIA AIMING TO MAKE MOST OF FIFTH YEAR​

• Fifth-year libero Nalani Iosia enters the season ranked second in the B1G in career digs among active players with 1,504. Only Maryland's Lilly Gutner (1,611) has more career digs.
• Iosia ranked fifth in the B1G last season in digs/set at 4.16.
• Iosia was an AVCA All-North Region honorable mention following the conclusion of the 2023 season, the first Spartan to earn a regional honor since 2017 and the first libero since 2014.
• Iosia's 483 digs last season ranked No. 8 all-time for a single season at MSU. She will start the season with 950 digs as a Spartan, 50 away from 1,000.
• Iosia twice matched a career-best 27 digs in a match in 2023.

DOEZEMA DOES IT ALL​

• Entering her third year with the program, junior middle blocker Evie Doezema has played every front row position for the Spartans.
• Doezema started her career as a six-rotation outside as a freshman, before playing middle and settling in on right side during her sophomore campaign. Now a junior, Doezema will move back inside and play middle for the Spartans in 2024.
• Head Coach Leah Johnson has lauded Doezema's willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team, and her drive to be the best at whatever position she is playing.
• Doezema's sophomore season saw her make drastic improvements as a player, hitting .257 with 143 kills. Doezema's 57 blocks ranked second on the team, good for .56 blocks per set in 102 sets played.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.


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The first game of the Jonathan Smith era went perfectly. Not! But that’s OK Spartan fans. There is a good chance that in time the cast will still have some stars. Check out my thoughts on Week One and the results of last week’s Bad Betting Advice.

Monday, Sept. 2
Men's soccer: vs Oregon State
1 p.m. BTN+
Discussion Thread
L 1-2

Thursday, Sept. 5
Women's soccer: vs Queens
7 p.m. B1G+
Discussion Thread
W 6-0

Friday Sept. 6
Field hockey: vs Vermont
1 p.m. B1G+
Discussion Thread
W 3-1

Men's soccer: vs Air Force
7 p.m. BTN+
Discussion Thread
D 1-1

Volleyball: vs Western Kentucky
7 p.m.
Discussion Thread
W 3-1

Saturday Sept. 7
Volleyball: vs Marist
3 p.m.
Discussion Thread
W 3-0

Football: at Maryland
3:30 p.m. Big Ten Network
Discussion Thread
W 27-24

Sunday Sept. 8
Volleyball: vs Loyola (Chicago)
1 p.m.
Discussion Thread
W 3-1

Field hockey: vs Ohio
1 p.m. B1G+
Discussion Thread
L 2-3 (2OT)

Women's soccer: vs Loyola (Chicago)
1 p.m. B1G+
Discussion Thread
W 1-0

Bold = home games

The scholarship count for class of 2026 four-star tight end Israel Briggs is now well into the double-digits, and the latest program to offer the Mt. Whitney High School (Visalia, California) stand out is Michigan State.

Briggs currently ranks as the No. 13 tight end, No. 26 recruit in the talent-rich state of California and the No. 227 overall prospect in the Rivals250 for the 2026 cycle.

Following the offer from Michigan State, Briggs took some time to discuss his thoughts on MSU with Spartans Illustrated. He also provided updates on where his general recruitment stands.

"I’m honored by all schools that take an interest in me and my talents," Briggs said. "Michigan State is definitely a program on the rise."

More here:

Just curious from staff it looked like he could have had a couple personal foul calls

And he gets some CPR from Big Daddy at the end. 🤣


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