Amid 'horrible' offseason, Spartans hope to repair image

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State football team has been in the news this offseason for all the wrong reasons, and as the program dealt with sexual assault allegations against four players, the rest of the Spartans generally stayed out of the public eye.

That changed Tuesday when a handful of players were made available to the media -- and had a chance to talk about what they can do to improve the program's image.

"We represent Michigan State," quarterback Damion Terry said. "There's going to be eyes on us, no matter where we go."

Michigan State dismissed three players from the team last week after criminal sexual conduct charges were brought against them, and another player was dismissed after a separate criminal sexual conduct charge against him in April .

The team largely stayed quiet while investigations loomed over the program, and although the charged athletes are no longer on the team, there's no telling how much damage has been done to the Spartans' reputation.

Terry said community involvement has become a point of emphasis lately. Michigan State has been teaming up with Lansing Promise, a program aimed at helping young people in the area have access to education and career training following high school.

Terry and safety Khari Willis both talked a bit about visiting schools and interacting with kids.

"That goes a long way -- just seeing all those kids and how much we can impact them," Terry said. "We just want to keep being that light and spreading that light among the football program, during a horrible offseason."

"I dunked on a couple kids," Willis joked. "Nah, it was good. They've got a few programs with the Lansing Promise, and I feel like that's a real good avenue for me in the future as well."

In addition to the criminal allegations currently in the court system, the Spartans are also clearly dealing with some internal issues that may have affected the team's performance last season, when Michigan State went 3-9 after winning the Big Ten the previous year. Running back Gerald Holmes was asked bluntly if leadership was lacking in 2016.

"Yes, it did. I think this year that will change," said Holmes, who will be a fifth-year senior. "As bad as last year was, it definitely helps you now. It was still a lesson, at the end of the day."

Holmes said he's helped start player-led meetings that he hopes can enable players to grow closer.

"It's still growing in how we're going to do things, but it kind of started off first, just bringing up guys who normally don't talk, just to share something," he said. "Just kind of get guys to open up, and have guys that are sitting down watching, kind of feel that person. I feel like the main thing is that we don't communicate enough on the team."

NOTES: Dantonio spoke before the players were made available, and he said DB Vayante Copeland is no longer part of the program. He was vague as to why. "There are certain things you've got to be able to make as you process yourself through from junior to senior and things of that nature," Dantonio said. "Vayante's done a great job here. He was not thrown off this football team. We wish him the best." ... The Spartans announced that they have promoted Sheldon White to be the football team's director of player personnel, and that offensive line coach Mark Staten has been promoted to assistant head coach and will serve as recruiting coordinator.

Mike Gundy signs new, 5-year contract with Oklahoma State

At a time of significant change in the Big 12, Oklahoma State went for stability.

Longtime football coach Mike Gundy has signed a five-year contract extension that will pay him $4.2 million this year, followed by a $125,000 raise each year afterward.

Gundy, a former quarterback at Oklahoma State, is the school’s longest-serving and most successful head football coach with a 104-50 record. His current contract, which paid $3.9 million annually, was set to expire at the end of 2019. Upon approval by the Oklahoma State/A&M Board of Regents, the agreement announced Tuesday will automatically roll over each season.

“I’m very pleased with the new contract because it reflects our mutual commitment and long-term vision to take our football program to an even higher level in the years to come,” Gundy said in a statement.

Gundy has been the head coach at Oklahoma State for 12 seasons, which is fifth nationally among active coaches at their current schools. He has led the program to a school-record 11 straight bowl games, including appearances in the Fiesta, Sugar and Cotton Bowls. Oklahoma State has reached double figures in wins five times in the past seven seasons.

Meanwhile, Texas and Oklahoma will enter the fall with new head coaches.

“Today is a good day for Oklahoma State football,” athletic director Mike Holder said. “The new contract recognizes coach Gundy’s success at building and sustaining a premier college football program and reflects our appreciation and our long-term commitment to coach Gundy.”

The announcement comes months after star quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington announced they will return to school for their senior seasons. The school is pushing Rudolph for the Heisman Trophy, and the Cowboys expect to contend for the Big 12 title this season. Oklahoma State finished last season at 10-3 and ranked No. 11. The Cowboys went to the Alamo Bowl, where they defeated Colorado 38-8.

The Cowboys won the Big 12 title in 2011 and lost to Oklahoma in 2015 and 2016 in games that decided the conference crown. Oklahoma State was in the mix for the national title in 2011 until a surprise loss to Iowa State. The Cowboys ended that season with a Fiesta Bowl win over Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal and a No. 3 final ranking.

Oklahoma has been a thorn in Gundy’s side -- the Sooners are 10-2 against the Cowboys since Gundy took over.

Even with those struggles, the school saw fit to extend his deal based on his overall success.

“His players love playing for him because he is the consummate players’ coach,” Holder said. “While I believe his achievements are often overlooked nationally, he’s certainly appreciated by those of us at Oklahoma State. We are excited about the future of our football program under the direction of Mike Gundy.”

SWAC will drop title game after season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference has decided to end its annual football championship game following the 2017 season.

The winner of the SWAC’s regular-season title will now go directly to the Celebration Bowl and play against the winner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl was created in 2015.

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said in a release that “by focusing on the Celebration Bowl, we can continue to grow the AFRCB as an (historically black colleges and universities) classic for the teams and fans of both conferences and for HBCU football nationally.”

The SWAC championship game has been played since 1999. The conference said it will work with SWAC members to develop a tie-breaker procedure and deal with schedule changes that might arise from the new format.