Thursday 8/11/16

State News The

BACK TO BACK The Spartans are dead-set on getting back to the playoffs

Head football coach Mark Dantonio. He said this year the goal will be to appear back to back in the playoffs.

PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

News

S p ot l i g h t

Fo ot b a l l

Touch-a-truck

“2016 looks to be an exciting year.

We’ll look to go back-to-back.”

To the playoffs

The East Lansing Police Department held its annual community event for children

Mark Dantonio, MSU head football coach

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t hu r s day, August 11, 2 016

@thesnews

With a new quarterback and a revamped defense, check out our football edition for more on the upcoming season pages 4-11

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News

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

East Lansing fire department and police hold annual outreach event

by Shireen Korkzan skorkzan@statenews.com

Families gathered at the East Lansing Public Library’s parking lot for the East Lansing Police Department’s annual National Night Out, Toucha-Truck event on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Children were able to explore different kinds of service vehicles from the inside, including a fire engine, an ambulance, a dump truck and more.

Phil Grabowski, a post-doctor research associate in MSU’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, takes his four children to Touch-a-Truck with his wife every year. He said his three-year-old son, Paul, loves trucks.

“It’s a great place for (children) to, kind of, hands on see things that they like to see driv-

ing down the road or read about in books,” Grabowski said. “They get to climb inside of them and honk the horn and see what it’s like.

It’s a lot of fun.”

“I like the balloons and the bounce house!”

Anna, Grabowski’s daughter, said. Grabowski and his family live in Okemos, Mich.

National Night Out is an annual nationwide campaign that strives to improve relations between police and the communities they serve. Its goal is to make neighborhoods safer.

The campaign is held the first Tuesday of every August, though a few areas around the country participate the first Tuesday of October instead.

Touch-a-Truck is ELPD’s way of participating in National Night Out. Several other service agencies in the community, including the East Lan-

FIretruck used at the annual touch-a-truck event. Children were allowed to see inside of it. Photo: Shireen Korkzans

sing Fire Department, CATA and the East Lansing Department of Public Works, joined the effort by bringing in their own vehicles for children to explore. H&H Mobil brought in a tow truck for the event.

In addition to having the opportunity to explore different kinds of service vehicles, attendees were also able to pet a couple of ELPD’s K-9 Units. They were also able to pet Betty, a 14-year-old horse who has been serving on the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division for five years.

Officer Tim Smith organized this year’s event.

He said Touch-a-Truck is one of his favorite events to coordinate because of how excited the children get when they go inside the vehicles and pet the service animals.

“It’s (a) great chance to interact with the public in a positive way and not just when we show up when something bad has happened,” Smith said. “The kids get so excited with all of the trucks and the K-9 units…(Touch-a-Truck) is a chance for them to see us as normal people and that we want to help, and (for them) to become familiar with us in a role where it’s not tense and it’s not negative.”

This is Smith’s second year organizing Toucha-Truck. His primary duty on the ELPD force is being a liquor liaison, mainly in the restaurants and bars downtown. Smith is also in charge of making sure all of the East Lansing Police officers are at their traffic checkpoint during the MSU Homecoming Parade every fall.

The event was free to the public. ELPD provided refreshments, including bottles of water and cotton candy. NCG Lansing donated popcorn, and Sparty also hung out with the families during the two-hour event.

Heather Zadigian of DeWitt went to Touch-aTruck with her husband and two sons. She said she learned about the event while looking for upcoming family-friendly activities in the Lansing State Journal.

“It’s so good for the kids to see our local heroes,” Zadigian said. “I think it’s awesome that they do stuff like this and bring exposure to the community.”

Zadigian is currently pregnant with her third child. She said she hopes to take her two sons and her new baby to Touch-a-Truck again next year.

National Night Out will next be held on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017.

This is the fourth year East Lansing Police has hosted Touch-a-Truck at the ELPL. Prior to that, the event was held at Patriarche Park. Eva Weihl, Youth Services Librarian for ELPL, said she thinks she thinks it’s good for the library and police to create community-oriented events like this one. “(The library is) more than just a place for books,” Weihl said. “We’re a place where communities could come together, to integrate, to meet new people and experience things that you might not otherwise…There are no barriers between us and what we can bring to our community, and I think (Touch-a-Truck) is the perfect example of this.”

Weihl, a Lansing resident, graduated from MSU with an English degree in 2009.

Smith said he and ELPL staff think this year’s turnout is the biggest in at least two years.

“The response has been so positive,” Smith said.

“It’s (a) great chance to interact with the public in a positive way and not just when we show up when something bad has happened.”

Tom Smith, ELPD officer

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A trolly set up at the touch-a-truck event. Police and fire departments put on these community outreach events to interact with residents in a non-emergency situation. Photo: Shireen Korkzans

Contents

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

Online

East Lansing’s water had problems

Football scoring highly in rankings

Vote in our online election poll

A boil water advisory was in effect for E.L. and Meridian Township last weekend

A number of pre-season polls have MSU ranking highly

Who do you want to be president?

By t h e n umb e r s

10

Number of years head football coach Mark Dantonio has been at MSU See page 11

“We’ve got a lot of younger guys that are very talented but have very unique skill-sets.”

Mark Dantonio, MSU head football coach on the defensive line See page 10 for more on how MSU plans to fix its weakness on defense after the loss against alabama in the playoffs last year

A protester chants along with others on July 28, 2016, the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, outside of Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. PHOTO:NIC ANtAYA

VOL . 106 | NO. 46 Contact The State News (517) 295-1680

Editor-in-chief Cameron Macko

Newsroom/Corrections (517) 295-5149 feedback@statenews.com

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Copyright © 2016 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

Column: Draymond Green needs to grow up

by Isaac Constans iconstans@statenews.com

I n a per iod smeared with imprudence, criticism and backlash, for mer MSU basketball star Draymond Green exposed a previously hidden side of himself this summer, one that should be zipped back up.

And while the above line might primarily poke fun at his relatively innocuous Snapchat mishap, it’s the coup de grace of a dreadful periodfor the Golden State Warriors forward and MSU alumnus.

The problems started mounting even before his summer began as several costly, poorly placed lunges in the directions of opponents earned him a suspension in the fifth game of the Finals, the championship round of the NBA. At that time in the series, Green and the Warriors had a foot on the neck of the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the unquestionable assurance of a 3-1 series lead. Before they lost, no team had ever relinquished hold of such a commanding advantage in the Finals.

But Green was suspended for game five after taking a swipe below the belt of Lebron James.

The Warriors lost comprehensively without Green, the Cavaliers victoriously returned for their game six homecoming and the scales completely tilted in favor of a city that had wallowed in athletic failure for over 50 years.

But while Green’s suspension was a small storyline in the tragic collapse and even more an indication of lingering immaturity and irrationality, it was a mistake. It was a bad mistake but nothing more. And it was a mistake that Green recompensed his team for with one of the best game seven performances of all time.

Even if he hadn’t made up for it though, the fearless, upwards shot at The King was part of the same bite that first brought him recognition.

It was what turned him from an unheralded Saginaw swingman to a nationally recognized college superstar and graduate. It was what allowed the 35th pick in the draft to surmount his doubters and become a bonafide MVP candidate. It was why he was the best irritator in the NBA. And while it was too far and too frequent, it was inextricably a tenet of his style, a feistiness that, if removed, could extract his passion and drive. It was him.

The real problems began in July, when reports surfaced about Green’s arrest outside of Conrad’s Grill. Green and Jermaine Edmondson, a former MSU football player, were involved in a skirmish after having exchanged words the night before. But while the adversarial escalation might have been shared, the first and only strike was thrown

by Green, allegedly.

TMZ acquired a video of the arrest, and Green was reprimanded.

When Green exposed himself on Snapchat, his first reaction on Twitter was to claim he was hacked.

Of course it was no hack, though. Green had intended to send the Snapchat of his genitalia to one person instead of accidentally, mindlessly posting it to “My Story,” a 24-hour display seeable and rewatchable to any of his followers. t h u rs day, August 1 1 , 2 01 6

Green was quickly alerted to his misstep and tried to rectify it, but the damage had been done. Green was all over the internet for, once again, all the wrong reasons.

Sigh.

What’s difficult is that there’s a common thread in all three of these instances. There was a moment, just a moment when Green hit the power switch in his brain.

Nothing unpreventable but nothing unfathomably stupid, Green’s summer was just the culmination of idiotic indiscretion and moronic mishap. And it was just one after another.

A suspension, a slap and a Snap, and the 13th highest jersey seller became public enemy no. 1.

What I’m not saying is that Green’s actions are at all unforgivable. What I’m not saying is that he’s a bad person.

What I am saying is that Green should be MSU’s David and Saginaw’s Cinderella, defying expectations and loyally defending his heartland. And he’s done that much.

He quantified his appreciation for Michigan State, donating the largest single-time sum in athletics history. He paraded the Larry O’Brien trophy through a struggling, blighted city that was forgotten and made sure that everyone learned where he grew up.

The NBA champion and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up was just a kid from Saginaw. Just a Spartan Dawg from the junkyard who was proud of it. Just the 35th pick.

And everyone loved him for the passion that came with it.

And this summer was ideally positioned for a rehashing of the dream-come-true.

Green was set to win another championship, likely winning the Finals MVP. Then, he squandered that with a brash ball-busting raising of the arm.

Green was set to restore his good-guy image, returning to the four-year college that he graduated from in his free time, far exceeding his basketball obligations.

Then, he hit a football player in plain sight of police.

Green was set to become one of few Michigan State basketball players and athletes to represent his country in the Olympics. Then, he publicly released a photo of his penis, turning a dream to a nightmare.

With just three less mistakes, Draymond Green would be better primed for the top likability slot than just about any basketball player save for Steph Curry. Three mistakes later, and the jokes are still coming.

But what can you do? It’s in the past.

Green now must go out, and do what he has done on the court: using all of the disparaging press to only ignite his competitive fire. Just as Kobe Bryant “persevered” through nebulous negative neigh-sayers following his dismissed rape trial, Green must do the same.

Notability should be left on the court. Off of it, simple common sense will suffice.

As Green learned, “we’re all just one click away.” One click, one hit, one dismissal and a reputation is supplanted by an unjust and unrepresentative small sample.

Draymond Green is a good guy who makes mistakes, just like everyone else. But those mistakes can no longer be so visible, as three mistakes later, the Spartan Dawg is on a short leash.

Hopefully, this summer serves as a lesson to Green: going no filter is only good in cases of perfection. For the rest of us, nothing wrong with a positive tint.

Isaac Constans is a general assignment reporter at The State News.

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Spotlight

Spartans embrace change, look forward to upcoming season

by Isaac Constans Iconstans@statenews.com

Monday afternoon, cameras flashed, chatter filled the media room and MSU head coach Mark Dantonio assumed to podium to face the press. It felt like football season.

Back-to-back “Our goals are all in sight,” Dantonio said to begin media day, which coincided with the first day of training camp involving helmets. “I think the most exciting thing about every college football camp right now is it sort of starts over.”

Sure enough, the return of college football is imminent with the opening kickoff against Furman taking place Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. Coming off of the team’s most successful season in recent history, qualifying for one of four playoff spots in only the second year after the tossing of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), MSU has a single focus.

“2016 looks to be an exciting year.

We’ll look to go back-to-back,” Dantonio said, basing his newest season theme off of the aspiration to maintain the title of Big Ten champions.

However, the first released USA Today Coaches Poll foretold a different tale.

Although the Spartans were good for a respectable 11th in the nation, rival Big Ten East competitors Ohio State (fifth) and Michigan (eight) were both rated higher.

The role of underdog is one that the

Spartans are well accustomed to despite finishing in the top 10 of both the AP and Coaches poll in all of the previous three seasons.

“I mean, every now and then we’ll hear about it, and it is motivation when we hear about it,” junior safety Montae Nicholson said. “But our motivation comes within ourselves... Because we all have one common goal, and we all believe that we can reach that common goal if we work together and stick together and just block out everything else.”

The high turnover The logical explanation for the drop in the polls would be the high turnover rate for the Spartans heading into next season. Only four offensive starters and five defensive starters from last season remain on the roster.

Offensively, the winningest quarterback in MSU history, Connor Cook, polished off his decorated collegiate career with a fourth-round draft pick. Three of his offensive linemen (Jack Conklin, Jack Allen and Donovan Clark) also went to the NFL, churning mass uncertainty around the heart of the offense.

“I would say, like everyone says, we are an unproven group who has not played together, but at the same time, we are a group that is going to work just as hard, if not harder, than the group before us, and we are going to play football as an entire group, just like last year’s group,” junior guard and returning starter Brian Allen said. “I am not accepting a drop off or anything like

Sophomore linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team’s coaches and players.

PHOTO: Nic Antaya

Sophomore running back LJ Scott (3) responds to a question from the media during Media Day. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

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that. We have guys that are trying to make this team better.”

Cook’s top target last year, Aaron Burbridge, also leaves the team. At the second and third receiver position, several names glisten including seniors Monty Madaris and Matt Macksood. However, two four-star freshmen, Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers, could potentially assume the brunt of secondary responsibilities, primarily behind senior R.J. Shelton on the depth chart.

“They’ve done such a good job already, picking up on the pro-style offense because it’s really a lot to learn,” senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor said on the incoming receivers. “Once they slow down with their thinking and just go out and play, that’s when you really see their true colors, and I think they’ve got to that point already.”

O’Connor himself is the “headline guy” in the quarterback race. A fifthyear senior who once tussled with Cook for the first team, O’Connor has not sealed up the spot yet but does lead junior Damion Terry in the starter snap count.

O’Connor briefly appeared last year against Maryland before getting his brightest exposure in Columbus for a crucial grudge match with Ohio State when Cook was hurt. With little mar-

gin for error, O’Connor conservatively passed his test by leaving little up to chance, playing a safe game devoid of costly risks.

“There is no doubt it provides confidence,” O’Connor said about his performance at Ohio State. “Before that game, I had that confidence though, and we all had all the confidence in the world that we were going to win that game. Knowing we went out and did it against a great defense with a lot of now NFL players, though, provides confidence that we can go out and do it against anybody.

“I feel that if I continue to do things right, then I will be playing as much as I want to play. That’s the plan. We really look at it as competitions against ourselves though and not against each other.”

Defensively, Malik McDowell will be the only 2015 starter to again take the line for MSU. Most notably, R.J. Williamson, Shilique Calhoun and Darien Harris all graduated and will be replaced, leaving an unwelcome vacancy in every rank.

The Spartans will, however, have a fresh and multifaceted rotation at the linebacker position, as Riley Bullough captains a squad that was hampered by injuries last year. With the possi-

Spotlight

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

“We want to get back to Indy and win another championship.

It hasn’t been done in 50 years, and that’s our goal.”

R.J. Shelton, MSU Football running back ble return of former All-Big-Ten, sixthyear senior Ed Davis from injury, a rotation of two units of players would likely ensue to accommodate situation-specific needs.

“We feel like we have a ton of depth at linebacker,” Bullough, a senior, said.

“We feel like we have six or seven guys that can come in and play and start and play good football for us at a high level.

So, that’s exciting. We’ll work through it as we get through camp, but right now after the third day, everything’s been going well.”

The special teams unit largely remains unperturbed by the tilting roster. Sophomore Jake Hartbarger will resume his punting duties while senior Michael Geiger enters his final season as starting kicker. However, with Shelton increasingly instrumental for the offense, the return game is up for grabs heading into training camp, as is the long snapper position.

“If you can catch the ball, especially on punts or kickoffs, then you’re going to be considered for the job,” Dantonio said of the return-man opening, men-

tioning Corley as one name that could be entrusted with the duty.

Only time will tell Still, plenty of uncertainty looms over the program before the beginning of the season.

MSU’s grit and togetherness will be put to the anvil in just their second game with a road trip to the ninth-overall Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Fortunately for the Spartans, the two most influential in-conference games are at home, with Spartan Stadium welcoming both Michigan (Oct. 29) and Ohio State (Nov. 19).

But despite any unclarity in positional breakdowns, the season’s goal is unambiguously defined. Springing up from “Reach Higher” and onto “Back to Back,” the new preaching has caught fire within the locker room.

“I have some goals that I would like to keep to myself, but obviously the big goal is back-to-back,” Shelton said.

“We want to get back to Indy and win another championship. It hasn’t been done in 50 years, and that’s our goal.”

Junior running back Gerald Holmes (24) being interviewed by members of the media. PHOTO: NIC ANtAYA

Head coach Mark Dantonio smiles during Media Day. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

T h u rs day, Au gu st 1 1 , 2 01 6

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Football edition

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

Coach Dantonio and players converse with media at MSU football Media Day PHOTOs: nic antaya

Senior tight end Josiah Price (82).

Senior cornerback Darian Hicks (2) thinks of a response to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8 at Spartan Stadium.

Head coach Mark Dantonio responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8 at Spartan Stadium.

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Senior linebacker Riley Bullough (30) at media day.

Thursday, August 1 1 , 2 01 6

Football edition

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

From victory to heartbreak, iconic moments from the 2015 football season

Freshman running back L.J. Scott runs past Michigan safety Jarrod Wilson, who was blocked by junior offensive guard Benny McGowan in the second quarter during the game against Michigan, on Oct. 17, 2015 at Michigan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. State news file photo

From left to right, sophomore linebacker Shane Jones, sophomore linebacker Chris Frey and junior cornerback Jermaine Edmondson celebrate after Frey picked up an Indiana fumble during the game against Indiana on Oct. 24, 2015, at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 52-26. State news file photo

Senior cornerback Arjen Colquhoun, 36, and senior linebacker Darien Harris, 45, tackle Michigan running back De’Veon Smith in the first quarter during the game against Michigan on Oct. 17, 2015 at Michigan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. State news file photo

Sophomore running back Gerald Holmes makes the Spartan’s second touchdown of the night during the fourth quarter of the football game against Ohio State on Nov. 21, 2015 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes, 17-14. State news file photo

Freshman wide receiver Felton Davis III fights past Alabama defensive back Ronnie Clark, 5, and Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey during the Cotton Bowl Classic game against Alabama on Dec. 31, 2015 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Alabama won, 38-0. State news file photo

t h u rs day, Au gu st 1 1 , 2 01 6

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Crossword

L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Football edition

Dantonio discusses starting QB battle and more at 2016 football Media Day ACROSS

1 Stare in astonishment 5 Phased-out jets 9 Duvet filler 14 October birthstone 15 Abbr. in an abbreviated list 16 Carne __: burrito filling 17 “My bad” 18 Singer Simone 19 Shoot down, in a way 20 *Many a smartphone download 23 Viola’s sect.

24 Good to go, at NASA 25 Wields power 29 *Beef cut 33 Radiates happiness 35 Russian denial 36 Poetic tribute 37 Blades cut by a blade 38 Spider-Man Parker 40 Crossword diagram 41 Part of a storm or a needle 42 Uber alternative 43 Frat party garb 44 *Traction aid for off road vehicles 48 “New Hampshire’s Gate City” 49 Fair-hiring abbr.

50 Clean Air Act org.

53 Influential groups, and what each of the answers to starred clues contains 57 Site with “Health A-Z” guides 60 Home Depot purchase 61 Farm grunt 62 Shake an Etch A Sketch, e.g.

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DOWN

1 Says 17-Across, say 2 To the left, at sea 3 They’re usually on a roll 4 “What __ is new?”

5 Graduate-to-be 6 Three sheets to the wind 7 Cranberry quality 8 Part of a window shutter 9 Sincere 10 Words upon making out a distant image 11 Apply daintily 12 Academic address ending 13 __ race 21 Knocks

22 Gavel-pounding demand 26 “Middlemarch” novelist 27 1976 Olympics star Comaneci 28 RR station postings 30 Part of MYOB 31 Up to the time when 32 PBS “Science Guy” Bill 33 Gather a bit at a time 34 Clapton woman who’s “got me on my knees” 38 Song of praise 39 Application file suffix 40 Head in a capital: Abbr.

42 Lightning follower 43 Row at Dodger Stadium 45 Capriciousness 46 Solve, as a cipher 47 Stirred up 51 Pasta often served alla vodka 52 Cockeyed 54 European volcano that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site 55 Butter-and-flour sauce thickener 56 Police 57 Director Anderson 58 Wisk rival 59 Baseball club

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO MONDAY’S PUZZLE

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The State News

Thursday, Au gu st 1 1 , 2 01 6

Head coach Mark Dantonio responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team’s coaches and players. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

by Casey Harrison Feedback@statenews.com

The MSU football team welcomed the media on Monday and held a series of press conferences for Media Day at Spartan Stadium. Head coach Mark Dantonio led the event off with a half hour press conference in which he answered general questions about the team.

Last season was Dantonio’s best yet where he and former quarterback Connor Cook had a 12-2 overall record, a Big Ten Championship and an appearance in the highly sought after College Football Playoff. MSU’s only regular season blemish was a 39-38 loss to Nebraska in Week 9 in Lincoln. Dantonio and the Spartans fell to Alabama on New Year’s Eve in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl in which their season came to an end after falling to the Crimson Tide 39-0.

Dantonio was quickly asked about the elephant in the room and discussed the quarterback situation. Not much was said about junior Damion Terry, a contender for MSU’s starting QB role in the fall, but Dantonio shed some light on fifth year senior Tyler O’Connor’s leadership abilities.

“Tyler O’Connor is a good leader,” Dantonio said. “He always has been. He’s always taken that aspect of our program very seriously. He’s not a guy that has just been here all of a sudden, he’s always been a guy who’s been involved in our offense.”

Following Dantonio, members of the MSU defense sat down for interviews and then coaches and players of the Spartan offense talked with the media. MSU co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel is positive the defense will only

get better from last season.

“As a coach there’s always fun to look forward to,” Tressel said, “If there’s not much experience and you get guys coming in, I get to try and teach these young guys and get them experience… I’m going to be able to really get into the finer details and teach at a 500 level instead of a 100 level.”

And even though the Spartans lost players like Cook and wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, Spartan wide receiver coach Terrence Samuel has faith that this offense will be able to make clutch plays come crunch time.

“Every guy is going to be fighting for playing time,” Samuel said. “With this group we aren’t worried about running the right routes we’re worried about making (big) plays — that’s what we’re being graded on, things like the 50/50 catches in the air.”

The Spartans will have a series of open practices, with the first being on Wednesday. MSU will host a number of open practices throughout the coming weeks and will be capped by Dantonio’s first weekly press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Last season, MSU’s mantra coming into the season was, “Reach Higher” and, now with the 2016 season quickly looming, every Spartan is telling the media the goal for this season is to go, “Back to back.”

“Getting back to the playoffs is where we want to end up,” Samuel said. “And winning the Big Ten is what’s going to get us to the playoffs.”

MSU will open the season on Friday, Sept. 2 and host Furman for their first ever meeting.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on Big Ten Network.

Football edition

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

Young receiver core could make big impact on Spartan offense

by Casey Harrison feedback@statenews.com

Last season MSU made a run to the College Football Playoff, and the team is now getting ready to take the stage again after one of its most successful seasons in the last 50 years. And with the 2016 season now less than a month away, head coach Mark Dantonio and his offensive staff must find a rotation of wide receivers to accompany the new quarterback.

True freshmen Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers are two viable options and have shown to be big playmakers already.

Although both Corley and Chambers are true freshmen, they enrolled in early classes for the Spring 2016 semester and have been on campus and working out with the team since January. The highly prospected tandem recently played in the annual

spring Green and White game.

“Based on the spring I thought Cam (Chambers) and Donnie (Corley) did very, very well,” Dantonio said at his annual Media Day press conference.

“They understand the system.”

Chambers received most of the spotlight after the Green and White game: he made two receptions for 45 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception from fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor.

“It was awesome to see those guys leave high school early and have them join us in the spring,” O’Connor said. “They’ve done such a good job already, picking up on the prostyle offense because it’s really a lot to learn. Once they slow down with their thinking and just go out and play, that’s when you really see their true colors and I think they’ve got to that point already.”

On top of that, the Sicklerville, New

Jersey native also capped a 32-yard reception from freshman QB Brian Lewerke. Chambers was ranked as the No. 106 overall prospect by Rivals. com and was rated as the No. 21 best receiving prospect by Rivals.com.

Corley is also a highly rated prospect, but only was only showed in limited action during the spring game — an 18-yard reception from junior QB Damion Terry. The freshman, who made his early arrival from Martin Luther King high school in Detroit, is rated as the No. 70 overall prospect in the country and the No. 14 receiver by Rivals.com.

“Donnie Corley is an explosive player,” Dantonio said. “You can see him making plays and getting along with the other guys that have already been here. He’s one of the young guys that’s really exciting to watch.” Corley has also been regarded as one of the fastest and most evasive guys on the team,

Freshman wide receiver Cam Chambers (21) runs a drill during fall practice on Aug. 10 at the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

and may perhaps see time as the punt returner.

“If you can catch the ball, especially on punts or kickoffs,” Dantonio said, “then you’re going to be considered for the job.”

Where they are on the depth chart, Chambers is listed behind sophomore Felton Davis III, and fifth-year seniors Monty Madaris and Edward Barksdale III. On the other side, Corley is listed as the number two guy behind senior R.J. Shelton.

Another receiver to keep eyes on is redshirt freshman Darrell Stewart Jr. The 6-foot-1 Houston native missed playing time last season to injury but it’s noted he was named Scout Teams Special Teams Player of the Week against Oregon.

“He’s like R.J. (Shelton) but he’s a little thicker,” wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Terrence Samuel said. “Once he catches it, you

know he’s going to run you over, or run right by you or just make you look silly with a juke move. He really brings a lot to the table with the ability to move with the ball after the catch.”

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves — these are only ratings and scouting reports. Both guys look like they have the potential to be big names down the road and will likely be key pieces to the offensive formula in the future, maybe even this season. But at the end of the day, Corley and Chambers are still true freshmen and the only way for them to grow is for them to learn from past experiences.

“It’s still too early to tell (where Chambers and Corley will play)... but there is a lot of guys,” Dantonio said.

“So we’re going to have to wait a week and how things shake out. I know a week seems like a really short time but in fall camp it’s a long time and there’s a lot of work to be done until then.”

Freshman wide receiver Donnie Corley (9), right, is hit during fall practice on Aug. 10 at the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA T h u rs day, Au gu st 1 1 , 2 01 6

Th e Stat e N e ws

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RELIGIOUS GUIDE Football edition Look for this directory in the paper every Thursday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd. E. Lansing Between Hagadorn & Park Lake Rds. (517) 337-9703 Adult Bible Study: 9am Sunday School: 9am Worship Service: 10am ascensioneastlansing.org Chabad House of MSU Your Jewish home, away from home 540 Elizabeth St. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 214-0525 chabadmsu.com Friday evenings: 20 minutes after sunset followed by Shabbat dinner Saturday: 11am, Torah reading at 12pm Faith Fellowship Baptist Church 1001 Dakin St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 853-9897 Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study: 6:30pm Van service available to church Campus Bible Study: Tuesday at 7:00 pm in Chemistry Bldg. www.ffbc.us Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI (Meeting at the University Christian Church building) (517) 898-3600 Students welcome!

Sunday Worship: 8:45am Sunday Bible class: 10am Wednesday: 7pm - praise and worship Students please feel free to call for rides http://www.greaterlansing coc.org Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St. East Lansing, MI (517) 332-1916 Friday Night Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm September - April

10

Lansing Church of God in Christ 5304 Wise Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 http://lansingcogic.org/ Worship hours Sunday: 10:30am, 5:00pm Monday Family Prayer: 6:00pm Little Flock Christian Fellowship A Non-Denominational- Evagelical Church MSU Alumni Chapel (Basement Hall) Sunday Worship Service: 10am-12 Noon.

Fellowship Lunch after the service Weekly Bibly Studies & Students’ Meetings. littleflock.msu@ gmail.com www.littleflock.org Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-0778 martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 9:30am & 7:00pm Wednesday Worship: 9pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) River Terrace Church 1509 River Terrace Dr. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-9059 www.riverterrace.org Service times: 9 & 11:15am St. John Catholic Church & Student Center 327 M.A.C. Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 www.stjohnmsu.org Worship hours Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am, Noon, & 7:00pm Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 12:15pm The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 940 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com

University Baptist Church 4608 South Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4144 www.ubcel.org 10 AM Worship Service 11:15 Coffee Hour 11:30 Sunday School University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-5193 universitychristianwired.com Sunday: 11:15 am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15 am University Lutheran Church (ELCA) One Community: Lutheran/ Episcopal Campus Ministry 1020 South Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-2559 www.facebook.com/ onecommunitymsu Sunday Worship 10:45am University United Methodist Church MSU Wesley 1120 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-7030 universitychurch home.org msuwesley.org Sunday: 10:30am 9:00am Garden Service in the summer TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays Sept. - April WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday

Religious Organizations: Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory!

Call 517-295-1680 today to speak with an Account Executive

After last year, Spartan defense trying to come back from 2015

Junior safety Montae Nicholson (9) responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team’s coaches and players. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

by Casey Harrison feedback@statenews.com

It’s hard to criticize a team that went to the College Football Playoff last season, but it’s no surprise that MSU’s defense, more specifically the secondary, proved to be the team’s Achilles’ heel in the College Football Playoff.

The Spartans struggled with injuries all throughout the season which led to a lack of depth. When it became crunch time for MSU against Alabama, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban challenged his future coaching successor and got the best of Dantonio, resulting in a 38-0 rout on New Year’s Eve. But it’s a new year now — guys who saw time last season are now experienced leaders, and the Spartans’ depth chart is now healthy and replenished. And with many newcomers on the team, veteran leadership is going to be one of the most decisive factors that will affect MSU’s success.

“It was good getting guys experience last year because now I feel like this is one of the deepest secondaries we’ve had,” fifth-year senior Demetrious Cox said. “We can go two or three deep and I can be comfortable with Khari Willis, Grayson Miller or Tyson Smith or some of the younger guys playing too.”

The coaching staff also expects improvements from the secondary.

“I think we go pretty deep at safety and at corner,” head coach Mark Dantonio said at 2016 MSU Football Media Day. “There are guys like Vayante Copeland who are back which is big plus guys like (Darian) Hicks who got playing time last year, he’s back and has played very well.”

Many of the Spartans returning on offense are guys that saw significant playing time last season. Guys like fifth-year seniors Riley Bullough T h e Stat e Ne ws

and Cox, senior Darian Hicks and junior Malik McDowel are all expected to spearhead leadership roles on the defense for the upcoming season.

Fifth-year seniors like McDowell and Bullough are vocal leaders that bring intensity both on and off the field. They have the potential to be the biggest playmakers on the defense, with the chance at recognition on a national scale.

“I’m actually more excited for the leadership this season than the skill level,” linebacker coach and co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said.

“There’s no doubt that Riley (Bullough)’s passion, his enthusiasm and his football intelligence and ability to study the game are great leadership tools. That lets the younger guys pick up on the same enthusiasm and the same love of the game. The more contagious it gets and the more it spreads.”

McDowell will be looking to improve from an already good season last year, where he recorded 13 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one interception in 2015.

“I think with success comes even more responsibility,” Dantonio said. “When it’s pointed out to you that you have that kind of ability then you have to play to that ability, that’s a challenge that everyone hopes to have in their football career.

(McDowell) can get to that point where he’s playing like a first-team All-American. He can and he should, and I believe he will.”

With the season looming, Dantonio and his staff have high expectations for their defense.

“I think we have the players in place to be as good, if not better than last year,” Dantonio said.

“We’ve got a lot of younger guys that are very talented but have very unique skill-sets. It’s too early to give details on everybody but I think our linebacker group and our secondary group has experience and that means being able to make adjustments from game-to-game.“ Th u r s day, Au g u st 1 1 , 2 01 6

Football edition

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

After 10 years at MSU, Dantonio still ‘has something left in the tank’

by Casey Harrison feedback@statenews.com

Monday marked MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio’s 10th annual media day since taking over the Spartans in 2006. A lot has changed with MSU football in the last 10 years — mostly because of Dantonio and his coaching staff.

When Dantonio arrived at East Lansing in November of 2006, he was tasked with rebuilding a crumbling football program at the feet of former head coach John L. Smith.

During Smith’s four-year tenure the Spartans went 22-26 and were regarded by some to be not only the worst team in the Big Ten but one of the worst football programs in all of NCAA Division I football.

Since Dantonio took the job he’s been busy working at building his program from scratch.

He has polished the reputation Smith had tarnished — and has cemented himself as one of the greatest coaches in MSU history while doing so.

In his decade of service, Dan-

tonio has made himself the second-winningest coach in MSU history (87-33 record), six finishes in the AP Top 25, a school record of nine consecutive bowl appearances and 65 wins since 2010 — the most in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in all of college football.

And with each coming season Dantonio has made each MSU recruiting class stronger and stronger. Dantonio admits that success makes recruiting a much easier process.

“We can sell results, we really can,” Dantonio said. “You can tell (kids) ‘This is what we’ve done, and this is what you can look forward to if you come to school at Michigan State.’ And now there’s a lot of opportunities for everybody to make an impact and everyone has equal opportunities. Early on in the process that wasn’t the case, but now it seems like that’s what we sell. Our coaches have great relationships with the guys we recruit and that’s the best we’ve gotten it to.”

During his annual press conference that signifies the start

of training camp, naturally, the media quickly asked him to reflect on his time at the helm of the Spartans.

“10 seems like a really long time, but on the other end of the spectrum you’re always starting over,” Dantonio said.

“You feel refreshed, you have new players and it always keeps you moving forward because there’s always excitement.“ And then Dantonio alluded that he’s not done yet. One reporter asked if, after his first 10 years, he’d be ready for another 10.

“Another 10?” Dantonio asked rhetorically. “I don’t know about another 10 but I’ve got something left in the tank.”

Players and coaches from all around the team praised their head coach on Media Day, going on about the type of program Dantonio has built at Michigan State and the respect he’s brought from his colleagues in the Big Ten and throughout the country.

“The biggest thing is that the expectations have grown each and every year,” running back

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coach and co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said. “The expectation now is that we’re supposed to compete for a championship now and maybe even win it every year.”

Dantonio has gotten his players to buy in to his system and it’s worked wonders.

“When I was in the recruiting process I had never heard

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and kick off the season at home against Furman on Sept. 2.

“We’re always a work in progress here. There is always something physical here that we’re going to strive for, but I think that’s human nature — there’s always something else you want to grind for… with that being said you always want to aspire to be something better.”

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of Michigan State ever in my life,” senior wide receiver R.J. Shelton said. “When I got here that whole culture really started to change at Michigan State… right now Coach D has upheld a reputation and we want championships now, and that’s what we believe.”Dantonio and the Spartans will continue with training camp through August

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Head coach Mark Dantonio walks around the practice field during spring practice on April 19, 2016 at the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

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Head coach Mark Dantonio walks by players during fall practice on Aug. 10, 2016.

It’s less than a month before MSU’s first game of the season against Furman.

PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA T h u rs day, Au gu st 1 1 , 2 01 6

T h e Stat e N e ws

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Sports

Rene Kiss Content editor rene.kiss@statenews.com

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team draws to Brazil in match at DeMartin Stadium

by Shireen Korkzan Skorkzan@statenews.com

On Tuesday, the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team, or WNT, tied Brazil’s Under-17 WNT 2-2 at DeMartin Stadium in the first of two friendly matches in Michigan.

The U.S. U-17 Women’s Team consists of talented young soccer players from all over the country. They will compete in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in October.

Head Coach B.J. Snow is from Kalamazoo.

He played soccer for Indiana University Bloomington from 1996-1999. Two current members on the team are also from Michigan, including 16-year-old forward Alexa Spaanstra of Brighton. She will be a junior at Brighton High School in the fall.

“With these friendlies and the World Cup, it’s preparing us in many ways, like mentality-wise and what to expect, like the speed of play and how physical they are and how they’re competing as well as we are,” Spaanstra said. “They want to win for their country like we are, and we have to outmatch that same aggressiveness.”

Spaanstra plans on playing soccer in college.

She committed to play for University of Virginia her freshman year of high school.

MSU Women’s Soccer players were in the

stands cheering for the U.S. U-17 Team, including central midfielder Kaylee Phillips, who will be a senior in the fall.

“It’s really cool to see the talent in these younger teams,” Phillips said. “I was really impressed by a lot of them.”

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup has been held in even-numbered years since its inception in 2008. North Korea won the first tournament, which was held in New Zealand. The U.S. U-17 Women’s Team has not won a World Cup yet.

Spaanstra said she thinks the U.S. U-17 Women’s Team has a chance of winning the World Cup this year.

“Everyone has the same mindset, and they all want to achieve one goal, which is ultimately winning the World Cup,” Spaanstra said.

“I think that with us, if we all come together and we put our minds together, I think we can achieve it.”

The next game against Brazil will be on Friday, Aug. 12 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium at Hope College in Holland, Mich. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 21 in Jordan. The U.S. team will play Paraguay in the first round on Oct. 1 at Prince Mohammed International Stadium in Al Zarqa.

Alexa Spaanstra (#9) and Karina Rodriguez (#3) of the United States react after scoring a goal during the U-17 WNT game against Brazil on August 9 at DeMartin Stadium. PHOTO: Emmett Mcconnell 12

The State N e ws

Thursday, August 1 1 , 2 01 6

Fans cheer after the United States scored a goal during the U-17 WNT game against Brazil on August 9 at DeMartin Stadium. The United States tied Brazil 02-02. PHOTO: Emmett Mcconnell

From left to right, Ashley Sanchez and Jaelin Howell of the United States and Camila Soares of Brazil land after going for the ball during the U-17 WNT game against Brazil on August 9 at Demartin Stadium. PHOTO: Emmett Mcconnell