SB Nation Minnesota: All Posts by Chris Vannini

Photo of the Week: Aerial view of athletic fields (1955)

2013-05-17T14:59:12Z

This photograph is an aerial shot of campus by the Abrams Survey. This view shows the football stadium and baseball fields in the year of 1955.

Old College Field is basically just a field. You can also see Jenison Field House and Demonstration Hall, where the basketball and hockey teams played, respectively.

Also, farmland. #MooU

Photo via

Torey Krug scores first goal in first playoff game

2013-05-17T03:04:04Z

Torey Krug made his playoff debut for the Bruins tonight, and he scored his first-career NHL goal, a PP in the third period to tie the game. The Bruins would win in OT. Not bad.

2014 Big Ten schedule released

2013-05-16T16:25:13Z

MSU may not love being in the B1G East, but they will like the 2014 football schedule.

Aug. 30: vs. JACKSONVILLE STATE
Sept. 13: at Oregon
Sept. 20: vs. WYOMING
Sept. 27: vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Oct. 4 : vs. NEBRASKA
Oct. 11: at Purdue
Oct. 18: at Indiana
Oct. 25: vs. MICHIGAN
Nov. 8: vs. OHIO STATE
Nov. 15: at Maryland
Nov. 22: vs. RUTGERS
Nov. 29: at Penn State

So, home B1G games against Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers. Road games against Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Penn State. Gotta like that for 2014. Though if you flip it for 2015, not as favorable. Also, the 2014 bye weeks are Week 2 and between Michigan and Ohio State. Again, gotta like that.

The home slate seems to alter between great (2012, 2014) and terrible (2013, 2015).

If you notice, the final six conference games are the divisional games. The Big Ten is trying to make the races more interesting down the stretch.

Also of note: MSU will be hosting Michigan back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014. It's the first time that has happened. (MSU played at U-M almost every time during the first 50ish years of the rivalry).

Overall, it's a very good B1G schedule for MSU, but Michigan should have a good team in 2014 and Ohio State is Ohio State. The East is quite tough. If MSU can split those two games, they should have a good shot.

You can look at the entire conference schedule here.

From its old 2014 sched to this one MSU trades Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, and Minnesota for Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and Maryland
— Heck Dorland (@HeckAtTOC) May 16, 2013

Spartan Stadium's future?

2013-05-13T00:44:25Z

If you haven't seen, Texas A&M will be doing some unreal renovations on Kyle Field, which will expand the capacity to more than 100,000 and make it the largest in the SEC. I mean, look at this:

The Auburn SB Nation blog, College and Magnolia, threw out the question to its readers what they would renovate at their stadium, so I figured I'd ask it here.

What about Spartan Stadium? The stadium just added the most total video screen area in the nation, and the north end zone will be renovated this summer and over the next year (board approval expected in June) to add a recruiting room, media rooms, new locker rooms and fan amenities (concessions, restrooms). Speaking as someone who has attended plenty of post-game press conferences, having them in trailers outside the area always felt so cheap for a major college program. This seemingly-little addition will go a long way in the perception of the program. The gas station on the east side is also starting to be removed.

via Mark Hollis' twitter

What after that? Note that there are no publicly-known plans for the next step, and whatever it is would cost a lot of money that MSU doesn't have yet, but what's most important for you?

Possibilities include club seats on the east side and/or covering the east side in brick like the west side. I don't think there's any need to greatly expand seating. It would also be hard to build it over the scoreboards. But maybe some of you think otherwise?

With the west end zone press box and club seats, the new scoreboards, the sight-lines and the picturesque location in the center of campus, I personally think Spartan Stadium is one of the more underrated college football stadiums in the country. It's 90 years old and actually older than Michigan Stadium. But when the building is used seven times a year, how crazy do you get with renovations?

Just for fun, what would you like to see added?

Photo of the Week: Commencement in Demonstration Hall (1931)

2013-05-10T14:51:26Z

Graduation takes place inside Demonstration Hall. On the back: "Commencement exercises of June, 1931, in Demonstration Hall."

Congrats to all the new graduates.

Photo via

Linking Laconically is going pro in sports

2013-05-09T14:12:47Z

Kirk Cousins on the gay teammate question - NFC East Blog - ESPN

Cousins has an interesting mix of views. Good for him.

Former Michigan State OL Chris McDonald joins older brother, Nick, as New England free agent | MLive.com

Chris talks about trying to make a pro career.

Redskins teammates tease Kirk Cousins about singing - Washington Post

From what we saw in the spring game. I thought it was impressive.

Draymond Green helps lead Golden State Warriors to NBA Playoff Game 2 win over San Antonio Spurs | MLive.com

He started one game in the regular season, but started last night. He had five assists and seven rebounds.

Study: Michigan, MSU athletic departments in the black -- but still getting subsidies | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Two of just 23 programs making a profit, but the details can be a little sketchy. Either way, Mark Hollis doing a good job on and off the field.

ESPN's Dick Vitale says: 'this might be the best team that Michigan State has ever had' | MLive.com

Baby.

Gary Harris: 'I feel like I made the best decision' to return to Michigan State | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Talks about the decision to come back.

Big Ten releases hockey schedule

2013-05-08T23:26:23Z

Big Ten releases hockey schedule

Next season is the first for Big Ten hockey, and the schedule is out. In all, every team plays every other twice at home and twice on the road.

Michigan State to host North Carolina in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

2013-05-08T18:40:56Z

In a bit of a surprise, MSU will host North Carolina on Dec. 4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

I say surprise because most believed Duke would be coming to East Lansing. Instead, UNC has its second-straight road game in the challenge, while Duke has its second-straight home game. This will be the second time since 2007 that MSU is playing a challenge game at the Breslin Center after the 2008 game was played at Ford Field.

MSU is 2-2 against North Carolina in the challenge, and 3-11 all-time. MSU's challenge wins came in 1999 and 2000, while UNC's came in 2008 and 2009. That's right, MSU has reached the Final Four every time they've played North Carolina in the challenge.

The teams last met in the Carrier Classic to open the 2011-12 season. MSU has lost six straight to the Tar Heels (five on neutral floors), dating back to that 2000 game.

MSU is 6-7 in the challenge, including 5-1 at home.

Here is the release from MSU.

As far as nonconference games, we know MSU will play Kentucky in Chicago in the Champions Classic, as well in Brooklyn in Coaches vs. Cancer with a field that includes Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Seton Hall.