Spartan Speak

We're only a mere eight days away from Michigan State football's season-opening game against Central Michigan. And since the last podcast, some developments have occurred. On this week's episode, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari take a look at the Spartans' depth chart and break the roster down position by position.  Who will be MSU's starting quarterback? Can certain defensive players look good against Big Ten competition? What about the kicking game? They'll break it all down for you here. 

Quite frankly, we've been gone way too long. Almost three months, in fact. But that changes today as Michigan State football's fall camp begins Thursday. Fall is near, and that means that Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari emerged from hiding and will return on a near-weekly basis.  This week, Graham and Chris thoroughly discuss each MSU position group: Who emerges as the starting QB, Noah Kim or Katin Houser (or Sam Leavitt?) Still trying to fill Kenneth Walker's shoes at running back Questions abound with the WRs And much, much more

Michigan State football news was hot and heavy on Sunday, as the Spartan football lost three starters to the transfer portal: First, it was two-year starting QB Payton Thorne; then, expected No. 1 receiver Keon Coleman left; and last, CB Charles Brantley announced he was leaving.  Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari react to the news and discuss the state of MSU's program following the departures.  They end the podcast discussing Jayden Reed, Bryce Baringer and Ameer Speed being selected in the NFL draft. 

Michigan State held its spring football game on Saturday. Although it was mostly a glorified practice, there was plenty for Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari to see.  They discuss the QB competition between Payton Thorne, Noah Kim and Katin Houser and other highlights from Spartan Stadium.  They also delve into basketball, with Tyson Walker and Malik Hall announcing their return for next season. And finally, they discuss what matters more: Moneyball or spring football.

The boys are back from NYC following Michigan State's NCAA tournament loss to Kansas State in the Sweet 16. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari reflect on the Spartans' loss and whether it was a missed opportunity, and then project what next year's roster will look like. In the final part of the podcast, they discuss spring football, Keon Coleman, the upcoming QB battle and more. 

The Lansing State Journal's Graham Couch and the Detroit Free Press' Chris Solari and Shawn Windsor break down Michigan State's Sweet 16 overtime defeat to Kansas State, in what was an instant classic. 

There's a reason the "January, February, Izzo" saying exists, and the Michigan State basketball team is advancing to its 15th Sweet 16 under Tom Izzo, upsetting 2-seed Marquette 69-60 on Sunday.  Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari break down the MSU win piece-by-piece, preview the Kansas State game and discuss the Big Ten's performance in the NCAA tournament.

It was a busy past two days in Michigan State athletics, and we're here to cover it all for you: The Spartans are set to play USC in the NCAA Tournament, spring football practice begins, and women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant is stepping down after 16 seasons.  Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch is joined by beat writer Brian Calloway at the beginning of the podcast to discuss Merchant's departure. Then, Graham and Detroit Free Press MSU beat writer Chris Solari break down the Spartans' tournament opener against USC (and potential second-round game against Marquette) and discuss MSU's quarterback situation.

On this week's Spartan Speak, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari preview this week's Big Ten tournament, discussing which schools need wins the most and predict who will win the tournament.  Then, moving on to football, they discuss the decommitment of 4-star WR Nick Marsh, discuss recruiting on the whole before moving on to Brandon Jordan's decision to leave the MSU coaching staff for a job with the Seattle Seahawks. 

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari get caught up on the Michigan State basketball's last two games against Iowa and Nebraska, look ahead to this weekend's senior day contest against Ohio State, how the Spartans can still get the double bye in the Big Ten tournament, and what seed they could receive in the NCAA tournament. 

It has been a difficult week, to put it lightly, following the shooting at Michigan State on Feb. 13 that left three students dead and five wounded. In the background of that horrific event, Saturday's Michigan State-Michigan basketball game was played in Ann Arbor which saw both communities come together in this moment.  Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the game in the context of everything surrounding it. They also look ahead to the Indiana game and potential schedule changes.

On this week's podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' win over Maryland on Tuesday, the struggles of Malik Hall and the three-man center rotation of Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, and Sunday's game against Ohio State.

In the midst of a condensed schedule, the podcast returns following Michigan State's loss at Indiana on Sunday. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' 82-69 loss to the Hoosiers, including: MSU's inability to contain Trayce Jackson-Davis Mady Sissoko and Pierre Brooks' struggles The handling of AJ Hoggard's foul situation Plus, a discussion on the rotation, or lack thereof, and how some of next year's freshmen might fit in. 

After a month off, Spartan Speak returns! Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari have plenty to discuss with the MSU men's basketball season in full swing.  They discuss Keon Coleman's decision to play basketball this year, Malik Hall's return after missing games due to a foot injury, and deep dive on MSU football's recruiting class and transfer portal signees. 

After traveling to State College and Portland, respectively, Chris and Graham are back for the latest episode of Spartan Speak.  They discuss the Michigan State football team's loss to Penn State, likely a season-ender with a 5-7 record, the basketball team's performance at the PK85 tournament in Portland against Alabama, Oregon and Portland, and the latest news from the tunnel fight at the end of the MSU-Michigan game back in late October. 

Things are looking up for the Michigan State basketball team after the Spartans beat Kentucky in double overtime, thanks in large part to Malik Hall's dunks at the end of regulation and the first overtime. But the biggest revelation has been the emergence of third-year player Mady Sissoko, who's becoming a force in the paint.  Graham and Chris also preview Friday night's basketball game against Villanova, before moving on to the Spartan football team. It is one game away from bowl eligibility after last week's win over Rutgers and they can get it with a win Saturday over Indiana.

Wednesday was National Signing Day for college basketball, and all four of Michigan State's commits - Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand - sent in their letters of intent, meaning coach Tom Izzo has secured the nation's No. 3 recruiting class for 2023, according to 247Sports. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' excellent haul and discuss Monday's season-opening win over Northern Arizona. They also discuss MSU football's home game Saturday against Rutgers and the latest in the MSU-Michigan tunnel skirmish from two weeks ago.

There was a game played Saturday night, but nobody's talking about that. Instead, the post-game altercations that occurred in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after the game have taken center stage. Eight Spartans have been suspended - and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch are here to discuss it all.  Plus, we preview Saturday's game vs. Illinois and the men's basketball team's exhibition opener against Grand Valley.

There's no mistaking it. The Michigan Wolverines are flying high with a 7-0 record and a No. 4 national ranking. Michigan State is 3-4 and recently ended a four-game losing streak with an overtime win over Wisconsin.  But this in-state rivalry has produced some great games over the year, especially the last 14 years, with the Spartans owning a 10-4 advantage in that stretch, including a number of wins where they were the Vegas underdog.  Can MSU pull it off again and derail the Wolverines' dreams of a national title? Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and host Phil Friend preview Saturday's game. 

With the Spartans on a bye week, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch brought out their red pens this week to grade the Michigan State football team offense, defense, special teams and coaching.  Along with host Phil Friend, they also discuss Saturday's win over Wisconsin with a sprinkling of comments on MSU's game against Michigan on Oct. 29.