MSU spring game, youth clinic April 20

Published 3:44 pm Monday, April 8, 2013

Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell dives for end zone tying the game at 10-10 and eventually sending it into overtime at Camp Randall Saturday. The Spartans defeated Wisconsin 16-13.  (Leader photo/JOSEPH WEISER)

Michigan State will hold its spring football game and annual youth clinic Saturday, April 20. (Leader photo/file)

EAST LANSING — Michigan State football concludes its 15 spring practices under seventh-year head coach Mark Dantonio with the Green-White intrasquad game Saturday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.

Prior to the spring game, MSU’s coaching staff and players will conduct a free youth football clinic (no registration required). Children, ages 8-12, are invited to attend the youth clinic from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the grass practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building, located at the corner of Chestnut Road and Shaw Lane. Clinic participants and their parents are requested to enter the practice fields through the gate on Shaw Lane. Over the last 10 years, nearly 5,400 children have participated in the annual youth football clinic (record 885 youth clinic participants last April).

The purpose of the clinic is to introduce youngsters to the game by stressing fundamentals. No football gear is required. In addition, clinic participants will receive Country Fresh ice cream as well as a coupon for a complimentary hot dog and soft drink to be redeemed at a concession stand in Spartan Stadium during the spring game.

For the sixth year in a row, fans will have an opportunity to purchase press box seats and enjoy the same view as the media that cover Spartan football. Only 100 press box seats – priced at $50 each – are on sale for the spring game. (Note: Minimum age requirement is 12 for press box admission.) Proceeds from the sale of press box seats will benefit the George Webster Scholarship Fund. Fans may order press box seats online at msuspartans.com.

The deadline to order press box seats is 12 p.m. Friday, April 19.

Parking is free (in Lots 79, 62W, 63E/W, 67, 56, 39/40, 41; Ramps 2 and 5; Lot 62E has been reserved for disabled parking), and the stadium gates (Gates B, C, J and K) open at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Michigan State opened spring practice on Tuesday, March 19.

Additional spring game notes:

• Michigan State’s spring game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network, with Kevin Kugler and Kirk Cousins calling the action and Lisa Byington reporting from the sideline.

• Michigan State’s spring game also will be streamed live on BTN2Go, a live 24/7 digital extension of the Big Ten Network that gives fans the ability to watch the network live wherever they are via computer, smartphone or tablet. Full online access to BTN2Go is available to subscribers of participating TV providers at no additional charge. For more information, go to BTN2Go.com.

• BTN also will have highlights and analysis from Michigan State’s spring game on Saturday, April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on the “B1G Tonight Spring Football Edition” with Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith.

• The Spartan Sports Network will broadcast the spring game, with a list of statewide affiliates to be published in the near future.

• Michigan State’s spring football games have attracted crowds in excess of 20,000 each of the last six years, with estimated attendance totals of 25,000 in 2007, 27,000 in 2008, 26,000 in 2009, 30,000 in 2010, 35,000 in 2011 and 21,000 in 2012. Those spring game attendance figures have ranked among the nation’s Top 20 each of the last six years: No. 11 (tied with Florida State) in 2007, No. 17 in 2008, No. 19 in 2009, No. 15 (tied with Arkansas) in 2010, No. 13 in 2011 and No. 20 in 2012.

• The Spartan Bookstore will conduct its annual clearance sale in the Sideline Shop, located inside the south end of the stadium. The clearance sale also will feature merchandise and apparel from Spartan Spirit (MSU Union), Kellogg Center Gift Shop and the MSU Golf Pro Shop. Apparel and merchandise will be marked down 50 percent or more. The Sideline Shop will open at 10:30 a.m.

• Fans are reminded no bags or purses are allowed inside Spartan Stadium. This includes but not limited to: no backpacks, purses of any size, camera cases, binocular cases, wallets not stored in pockets, bags, diaper bags, seat cushions with pockets that are used for storage. If any of these bags are attached to a person’s waist or wrist, they still are not allowed in the stadium.

• Gates C and K are only for those individuals with true medical needs. Individuals entering those gates may bring the medical items in any bag. Those bags will be searched and tagged by an MSU Police Officer. The officer working that gate has the final determination if that item is a true medical need.

• Fans are reminded that the “open container” ordinance will be enforced on campus and in parking lots for the spring football game.