By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — At the end of his video conference with reporters this week, Mel Tucker was asked point blank if he was intentionally avoiding using his next opponent’s name. “I don’t think there’s any question from anyone who we’re playing this ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia says newly acquired defensive end Everson Griffen will not be available to practice or play until next week due to NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. The Lions acquired Griffen from the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional 2021 draft pick on Tuesday ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — The Detroit Lions have acquired veteran defensive end Everson Griffen from the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional draft pick to strengthen one of the team’s weaknesses. The Cowboys announced the deal Tuesday night, adding the selection from Detroit could be as high as a ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ALLEN PARK — Matthew Stafford had the ball and Matt Prater knew it was time to start kicking. Good call. Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley gave one of the NFL’s best comeback quarterbacks a shot to lead the Detroit Lions to victory, and Stafford ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer If anyone doubted the challenge facing new Michigan State coach Mel Tucker, it should be obvious now. The Spartans began the season at home against Rutgers last weekend — perhaps the easiest game on their schedule, in theory — and lost 38-27. It was the ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — Even as Michigan closed the 2019 season with dispiriting losses to Ohio State and Alabama, there were some encouraging signs for the Wolverines on offense. Now Michigan has more evidence that coordinator Josh Gattis is making progress. The ...
EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan State University is dropping swimming and diving teams for men and women after the 2020-21 season, officials said Thursday. “MSU athletics is facing a financial crisis unlike any we’ve ever seen in college athletics,” athletic director Bill Beekman and ...
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA — Todd Gurley saw a tantalizing path to the end zone and couldn’t help himself. He tried to fall down, but it was too late. Gurley landed on the goal line for a touchdown that, as it turned out, led to another stunning loss for the Atlanta ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer EAST LANSING — Greg Schiano’s return to Rutgers paid immediate dividends. Already, the Scarlet Knights are assured their best Big Ten season in at least three years. Isaih Pacheco ran for two first-half touchdowns, and Rutgers snapped a 21-game Big Ten ...
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS — After playing sparingly for Michigan as a backup his first two years and waiting for this virus-shortened season to start seven weeks late, Joe Milton’s time at quarterback had finally come. The enormity of the moment hit him in the locker ...
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons actually have a shot at a winning streak. Ditto for the Detroit Lions, who haven’t won back-to-back games in more than a year. At the moment, that’s the sole focus for these struggling teams. Two in a row. “I stopped ...
EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan high school winter sports will start on time in November. Face coverings are required for athletes practicing and competing in basketball, competitive cheer, hockey and wrestling, the Michigan High School Athletic Association said Friday after its Representative ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — The Detroit Lions put rookie defensive end Julian Okwara on injured reserve Wednesday and signed free agent cornerback Chris Jones. Okwara limped off the field with a leg injury in Sunday’s victory at Jacksonville. The Lions also announced Wednesday that defensive end ...
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS — Michigan hasn’t left Minnesota with a loss since 1977. This time, the only fans in the seats will be family members of the players, drastically reducing the disadvantage for the visitors. This is a much different Gophers team than most of ...
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 ...