Happy Friday everyone! There's a lot of links to go through, but first another matchup in the favorite Spartan Athlete bracket. I am determined to bring this to completion even if it takes me until Summer of 2012. The next battle features NCAA soccer record holder for consecutive shutout minutes Avery Steinlage against one of the newest Jets, Plaxico Burress. As always, vote or die.
A great article about Roe's burgeoning movie career, which is seeing him collect $20,000 for a role in AWOL, a movie about two soldiers who go AWOL to win back an ex-girlfriend. Don't worry, his priorities aren't shifting:
"His first love is basketball," Izzo added. "People have the perception that he's more interested in being an actor than in basketball. That's not the case."
He's up for two more roles: one as the Talking Tree in Oz (being shot in Detroit by fellow Spartan Sam Raimi) and a possible leading role in a movie called Game Time about a potential NBA player who suffers a knee injury in college. You think he could play that?
MSU ranked No. 17 in preseason coaches poll | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com
At least with this ranking MSU will have a shot to go to a BCS game if they falter once or twice. You know what would also help? If Mark Dantonio covered up more of his players' transgressions to keep them eligible.
/still bitter
/hopes OSU fans have to travel to Shreveport for a bowl game this year
USA Basketball: Roster Announced For 2011 USA Men's World University Games Team
Thanks to Ducking Delvon for the link, and congratulations to Draymond for making the team! The U.S. team begins play against Mexico on August 13th. He'll have familiar help, as Minnesota forward Trevor Mbakwe made the team as well. For what's it worth, Mike Miller at Beyond The Arc considered Green to be one of the locks, and very well could start.
Remembering Bubba Smith - The Triangle Blog
Very, very good article from Grantland about Bubba Smith and how racially charged college football was in the mid-60's, especially at Notre Dame. It's got a couple of racial slurs so it may be NSFW, but it is definitely worth your time.
Greg Jones Part Of Young Linebacker Group Aiming To Impress - Big Blue View
Jones know his future may be on special teams for the time being, and he's more than willing to accept that role.
I think this is possible because DeHaan is in graduate school at GVSU, but this will be interesting to watch. DeHaan played two years of volleyball in high school, gathering all-conference honors.
Spartan QB Cousins already eyeing Blackshirts test
Kirk Cousins talking about Nebraska in the way that true team leaders do -- being complementary and innocuous such that no bulletin board material can be gathered in the slightest.
Michigan St.'s Kirk Cousins Reads Your Criticism of Him and His Team
Speaking of bulletin board material, the Cousins clan is gathering all of it and using it as fuel. I don't think they'll have to worry about a shortage, given the number of articles I've seen predicting a downfall because of losing starters on the offensive line (a valid concern), winning many close games (Michigan State wins close games now. Deal with it.), and the loss of two starting linebackers (I think MSU will be fine) and two starting defensive backs (a little more concern here -- Isaiah Lewis will be key).
Recruiting: Michigan State seeking top safeties | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
The two MSU appears to be most focused on are Pennsylvania's Demetrious Cox (27 scholarship offers), and Florida's Jordan Diggs (brother of Jeremy Ware). The Spartans are only looking to take 5-7 more players in this class, so they can afford to wait and be picky.
Further Acquaint Yourself With Javon Ringer. - Music City Miracles
Ex-Spartan Javon Ringer finds himself atop Titans' RB depth chart | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Lastly, with Chris Johnson's holdout Javon Ringer is the #1 running back for the Titans. SB Nation blog Music City Miracles has very nice things to say about that.