You might have noticed a change in the masthead yesterday, so I'll go ahead and make it official -- HeckDorland is now a member of the TOC staff. Wish him a warm welcome all.
Second, I will have the Favorite Spartan Athlete done sometime this year, honest. In that pursuit, here's the next match-up: Justin Abdelkader vs. Anthony "Pig" Miller. The poll's at the end of this post. Next in this post? The links.
History of Michigan State Football & Michigan State Basketball Jerseys There's a new website that details the different jerseys the football and basketball teams have worn over the past few decades, and boy do they look fantastic (both the jerseys). Head on over to spartanjerseys.com and give 'em a look.
MSU's Kirk Cousins looks forward to learning from Peyton Manning - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel Cousins will be in Louisiana this weekend to coach at the 2011 Manning Passing Academy, and will be in Southern California later this month to serve as a counselor/coach at the Elite 11 camp.
Michigan State Spartans | Tom Anastos driven to lead Spartans hockey | The Detroit News It sounds like Anastos is saying all the right things. I remain skeptically optimistic (if that's even a thing), but I don't think hockey could get any worse than it did last season.
Friendly rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State's new golf coaches began at early age | MLive.com MSU's new coach Casey Lubahn went to school at Cedar Springs, while UM's new coach Chris Whitten went to school at Rockford, a few miles down 131.
B1G players on Bednarik, Maxwell lists - Big Ten Blog - ESPN Edwin Baker and Kirk Cousins are on the Maxwell Award watch list (given to the nation's top player), and Jerel Worthy is on the Bednarik watch list (given to the nation's outstanding defensive player).
Under 19 team's Tim Hardaway, Keith Appling advance to medal round | Detroit Free Press | freep.com Team USA lost to Croatia today 87-85, but still won their group and will start play in the medal round on Friday. Keith Appling had three assists in seven minutes, and has settled into the back-up point guard role behind Memphis's Joe Johnson.
MSU baseball: Pickens' choice: Tigers or Spartans | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com Pickens was one of four future Spartans taken in this year's MLB draft, and the Tigers have until August 15 to offer him a contract. For what it's worth, Jake Boss expects all four players chosen to enroll this Fall.
BONUS LINK! The highs and lows of summer recruiting CBS Sports' Gary Parrish will be following around Tom Izzo on the recruiting trail today through Friday, posting as he goes.