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By Elizabeth Cotter | @ekcotter18 Sports Capital Journalism Program ARLINGTON, Texas – They thought they knew the challenge they were facing. The Michigan State Spartans examined the strengths of the Alabama Crimson Tide, searched for any weaknesses and planned to rely on their senior leadership to find a way to reach the College Football Playoff …

By Elizabeth Cotter | @ekcotter18 Sports Capital Journalism Program ARLINGTON, Texas – They had not envisioned an exit quite like this. The Michigan State Spartans slowly, silently made their way to the locker room at AT&T Stadium. A night that had begun with the possibility of passing through a threshold and heading toward the College …

By Elizabeth Cotter | @ekcotter18 Sports Capital Journalism Program DALLAS – The day before the greatest challenge of his coaching career, the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Alabama, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio delivered a carefully crafted message. “This will be a great opportunity,” he said, “but a great challenge for us as a program. …

By Jessica Wimsatt | @Jessica_Wimsatt Sports Capital Journalism Program ARLINGTON, Texas — Alabama backup quarterbacks David Cornwell and Blake Barnett have a job that comes with a bounty of bumps and bruises. As Alabama created a path to the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Michigan State, Cornwell and Barnett have spent time at practice running …

By Elizabeth Cotter | @ekcotter18 Sports Capital Journalism Program DALLAS – In normal circumstances throughout Michigan State’s remarkable football season, the first player to touch the ball for the Spartan offense has been nationally recognized for his accomplishments on the field, in the classroom and as a prominent leader of his unit. No, not quarterback …

By Elizabeth Cotter | @ekcotter18 Sports Capital Journalism Program DALLAS — LJ Scott, Gerald Holmes and Madre London are the three young Michigan State running backs that power the Spartans, competing for touches and starts, but forming a self-described brotherhood that works toward the same goal. “We’re all brothers,” London said. “We love each other. …