By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer Mel Tucker is starting a new challenge at Michigan State. Greg Schiano is resuming an old one at Rutgers. With so much change this past offseason, neither coach necessarily knows what to expect in Saturday’s opener. “As I keep telling the team, whether ...
By TIM REYNOLDS and BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writers Stan Van Gundy is headed to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he’ll take over a promising team that includes 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson and reigning Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram. Van Gundy agreed to a four-year ...
By STEVE BROWNLEE Journal Sports Editor EAST LANSING — The MHSAA has outlined some changes in procedures for the high school football playoffs that begin on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31. The biggest change this season is that nearly every team — it will be all of them in 11-player and ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer Mel Tucker’s success in his first season as Michigan State’s coach may be determined in large part by who is playing quarterback. Right now, there’s no indication of who that’s going to be. “We won’t be announcing a quarterback today,” Tucker ...
EAST LANSING (AP) — Merritt Norvell Jr., the first Black athletic director at Michigan State, has died. He was 79. A spokesman at the University of Nevada confirmed Wednesday that football coach Jay Norvell, who is Merritt Norvell’s son, took some time away from the team because of his ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT — Forgive Detroit fans if they rolled their eyes after the Lions took an early 14-3 lead against Jacksonville. On too many occasions lately, those double-digit advantages have slipped away. Not this time. The Lions looked recharged after their open ...
EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan State linebackers Luke Fulton and Charles Willekes are currently suspended after being charged with assault early last month. A spokesman for the football team said Monday that Fulton and Willekes have been suspended from the program indefinitely. According to ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — Usually, college football coaches at major programs have many years on their contract that helps them persuade recruits to sign with the school. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh enters his sixth season as coach with just two years left on his deal that ...
By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Matthew Stafford finally got his first touchdown pass against Jacksonville. It helped the Detroit Lions build a lead even they couldn’t squander. Rookie D’Andre Swift ran for a career-high 116 yards and two touchdowns, Stafford ...
By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Take the over. Detroit and Jacksonville have two of the NFL’s worst defenses, unable to stop anyone, anywhere, any week. The Lions (1-3) rank last in the league in rushing yards allowed, giving up more than 170 yards a game. The ...
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer Bill O’Brien went first. Dan Quinn was next. There will be others. The firing line for NFL head coaches is heavily populated. O’Brien, who also was Texans general manager, lasted four games, all defeats. Quinn got one more week in Atlanta — and ...
EAST LANSING (AP) — Tailgating and alcohol are banned on football Saturdays at Michigan State University, campus police said Wednesday. Parking lots will also be closed, all in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Certain rules are typically suspended for home football games, ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer Mel Tucker got a late start at Michigan State. Mark Dantonio’s retirement didn’t come until February, and Tucker was hired as the new coach shortly after that. Then Tucker had about a month of normalcy before the coronavirus pandemic made his transition ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — Michigan has been good, not great, under coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh’s sixth season in charge of college football’s winningest program is expected to follow its recent form. The Wolverines are No. 19 in The Associated Press college poll, way ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Hockey Writer DETROIT — Bobby Ryan was looking for a fresh start and a place to revive his career after it was stunted in part by alcohol issues. Ryan was sold on that happening with the Detroit Red Wings. A long conversation with general manager Steve Yzerman sealed the ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT — Defense was supposed to be Matt Patricia’s calling card when he was hired by the Detroit Lions. That makes the embattled coach’s predicament all the more puzzling. Four games into his third season with the Lions, Patricia’s team is showing ...
(AP) — The Big Ten says its hockey season will have a 24-game conference schedule and will begin as soon as Nov. 13. Each Big Ten team also will have an additional four games against Arizona State. The Big Ten tournament will have a one-weekend, single-elimination format and will take place ...
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers teammates won’t get a chance to celebrate their fast start by leaving town during their week off. The Packers (4-0) and Detroit Lions (1-3) don’t play this week and therefore are the first NFL ...
By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The New York Rangers selected Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday night. Lafreniere was the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s top-ranked North American skater. He becomes the first Canadian to go No. 1 since Connor ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have a lot of time to work on desperately needed improvements until playing again in nearly two weeks at Jacksonville. The Lions are among the NFL teams with an early bye, idling them this week in the Motor City to practice and get ...