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Derrick Nix will receive his undergraduate degree on Saturday. MSU Athletics
 Grinz On Green: Nix Graduates
There are plenty of photographs showing Derrick Nix wearing his Michigan State basketball uniform while standing next to head coach Tom Izzo. But the one taken Wednesday of Nix in a cap and gown is why Izzo is affectionately calling the former Spartan center Âgthe miracle on Birch StreetÂh these days.

Andrew Maxwell, who started all 13 games in 2012, threw for 2,606 yards and 13 TDs. MSU Athletics
 Spartan Quarterbacks Focus On Creativity
Broken plays are going to occur throughout the course of just about every game, so for the first time under head coach Mark Dantonio, quarterbacks Andrew Maxwell, Connor Cook and Tyler O'Connor are working diligently at implementing escape plans under game conditions during spring practice.

Keith Appling and the Spartans could see great success in 2013-14. MSU Athletics
 Grinz On Green: Izzo Optimistic For 2013-14
Barring another combination of multi-month rehabs, inexplicable illness, a schedule made up by descendents of Ivan the Terrible and a series of disruptive injuries that begin with the first game, there aren't a lot of scenarios Michigan State coach Tom Izzo isn't envisioning with a smile for 2013-14.

Complete Archives

05/03/2013 - Grinz On Green: Nix Graduates
04/03/2013 - Grinz On Green: Izzo Optimistic For 2013-14
04/03/2013 - Spartan Quarterbacks Focus On Creativity
03/30/2013 - Grinz on Green Blog: Duke
03/30/2013 - Grinz on Green: Nix Era Comes to a Close
03/28/2013 - Grinz on Green: Harris Relishing Opportunity to Play Back Home
03/28/2013 - Grinz on Green Blog
03/27/2013 - Grinz on Green: Same Formula of Defense and Rebounding Equals Success for Spartans
03/24/2013 - Grinz on Green Blog
03/23/2013 - Grinz on Green: MSU Goes into 'Hydra Mode' Against Memphis
03/22/2013 - Grinz on Green: Spartans Need to Limit Turnovers Against Memphis
03/21/2013 - Nix's Double-Double Sparks MSU's Win Over Valpo
03/21/2013 - Grinz on Green Blog
03/20/2013 - Grinz on Green Blog
03/20/2013 - Grinz on Green: Detroit Natives Nix and Appling Looking to Leave Their Mark at MSU
03/20/2013 - Grinz on Green: Dawson Ready for First NCAA Tournament
03/17/2013 - Grinz on Green: Familiar Signs for Spartans as NCAA Tournament Begins
03/13/2013 - Grinz on Green: Spartan NFL Draft Prospects Show They're Ready for the Next Level at Pro Day
03/09/2013 - Grinz On Green: Senior Day Will Be Special For Nix
03/04/2013 - Grinz On Green: Sports Can Be Cruel At Times
02/20/2013 - Grinz On Green: Slow Start Too Much To Overcome
02/18/2013 - Scene Set for Top-5 Matchup Between Spartans and Hoosiers
02/11/2013 - Grinz On Green: MSU-UM Rivalry Reaches New Level
02/07/2013 - Grinz On Green: Battered Spartans Find A Way
02/06/2013 - Signing Day Ushers In 2013 Football Season
02/06/2013 - Grinz On Green Blog: Stories From The Recruiting Trail
02/06/2013 - Grinz On Green Blog: Stories From The Recruiting Trail
02/01/2013 - Grinz On Green: Spartans Resourceful In Comeback Win
01/20/2013 - Grinz On Green: Appling Comes Through In The Clutch
01/14/2013 - Grinz On Green: MSU Wins In Unusual Fashion
01/05/2013 - Grinz On Green: Healthier Spartans Lead To Bright Future
12/30/2012 - Resilient Spartans Rally For 17-16 Win Over TCU
12/30/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog: Combination of Bell, Cook & Defense Key Second-Half Comeback
12/29/2012 - Bowl Victory Would Help Propel Spartans Into 2013 Season
12/28/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog: Hammock Anxious To Contribute At Fullback
12/27/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog: Bell Looks Forward To Showdown Against TCU's Run Defense
12/27/2012 - Spartan Offense Strives To Improve Red-Zone Results
12/27/2012 - Minus Veteran Adams, Secondary Expects To Be Tested By TCU
12/26/2012 - Thomas Prepared To Contribute On Both Sides Of The Football
12/26/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog: Hoover Excited About Prospects Of Returning For Sixth Season
12/24/2012 - Spartans Arrive In Arizona; Focused On Winning Bowl Game
12/22/2012 - Grinz On Green: Nix Turns In Career Effort Vs. Texas
12/21/2012 - After Lengthy Layoff, MSU Hits Reset Button For Bowl Game
12/16/2012 - Grinz On Green: Spartans Turn Attention Forward
12/14/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog: Spartans Resume Bowl Preparation
12/13/2012 - Bell In No Rush To Make Weighty Decision
11/25/2012 - MSU Becomes Bowl Eligible Behind Bell's Career-Best Rushing Effort
11/21/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Young Receivers Seek Consistency
11/17/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: MSU Adopts One-Game Playoff Attitude
11/15/2012 - MSU, OU Athletic Directors Collaborate in Academic Arena
11/15/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Spartans Prepare For NU's Two-Quarterback System
11/12/2012 - Grinz On Green: Early Lessons Have Late Payoff
11/06/2012 - Educational and Cultural Experiences Await Spartans in Germany
11/05/2012 - 25th Anniversary - 1987 Big Ten & 1988 Rose Bowl Championship Season
11/03/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Healthy O-line Pays Dividends
11/01/2012 - Spartans Poised For Another Late-Season Run
10/28/2012 - Fowler, Maxwell Find Redemption in OT Win over Badgers
10/28/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Spartans Shutdown UW Running Game
10/25/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Piecing Together the Offensive Line
10/24/2012 - Spartans Remain Motivated For Stretch Run
10/21/2012 - Clark Solid in First Starting Assignment
10/21/2012 - Spartans Lose Another Nail-Biter
10/18/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Mission - Contain Denard Robinson
10/16/2012 - Spartans Welcome Pressure to Produce Historic Win Against U-M
10/13/2012 - MSU Can't Afford to be Caught Looking in Rearview Mirror
10/13/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Fourth-Quarter Mistakes Costly
10/12/2012 - Biggie, Duffy and the Golden Age of Spartan Football
10/11/2012 - Grinz On Green: Unlikely Duo To Lead Spartans
10/10/2012 - Grinz on Green: Spartan Offense Dealing With Injuries, Lineup Changes
10/09/2012 - Grinz On Green: Spartans Excited For 2012-13
10/06/2012 - Burbridge Helps Passing Game Click
10/06/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Defense Responds With Its Back Against The Wall
10/04/2012 - Grinz On Green: Maxwell Showing Progress in First Season as a Starter
10/03/2012 - Grinz on Green: Resilient Spartans Looking to Bounce Back Against Indiana
09/29/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: O-Line Depth Tested
09/27/2012 - Grinz on Green: Michigan State's Ohio Connection
09/26/2012 - Statistics Not True Measure of Spartans Heading Into Big Ten Play
09/23/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Dion Sims Steps Up in Second Half
09/22/2012 - Spartans Win Despite Missed Opportunities
09/20/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: Clinton Jones
09/20/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: Shawn Respert
09/19/2012 - Now In Its Third Year, Shinsky Orphanage In Mexico A Resounding Success
09/19/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: George Szypula
09/19/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: Emily Bastel
09/18/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: Carl Banks
09/18/2012 - 2012 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class: Diane Spoelstra
09/16/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Offensive Line Retooled
09/16/2012 - Spartans Determined to Rebound After Loss to Irish
09/12/2012 - Grinz on Green: Spartans Continue to `Overachieve'
09/08/2012 - Maxwell Impresses in Homecoming of Sorts against CMU
09/08/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: MSU Loses Shutout Late
09/06/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog
09/05/2012 - Grinz on Green: Spartans Looking For Improvement in Week Two
09/01/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: MSU Defense Passes First Test
09/01/2012 - Bell Makes Quite An Impression In Season Opener
08/30/2012 - Grinz on Green: Spartans Looking to Slow Potent Boise State Offense Up Front
08/29/2012 - Grinz on Green: Time is Now for Andrew Maxwell
08/23/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Notes and Quotes
08/20/2012 - Grinz on Green: Sims Making Strides at Tight End
08/17/2012 - Grinz on Green: Spartans Feature Formidable Cornerback Combo
08/14/2012 - Grinz on Green Blog: Assessing MSU's First Preseason Scrimmage
07/28/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog
07/27/2012 - Spartan Defense Features Star Power & Quality Depth
07/26/2012 - Spartans Believe Pieces Are In Place For Another Big Ten Title Run
07/26/2012 - Grinz On Green Blog
 MSU Athletics

About The Author

Follow Steve Grinczel on Twitter @GrinzOnGreen 

Steve Grinczel, an award-winning journalist who covered Michigan State Athletics for more than 20 years with Booth Newspapers, began writing exclusive content for msuspartans.com in July 2011.

Grinczel began covering Michigan State Athletics in 1986, and has attended nearly all of MSU's top moments since, including the 1988 Rose Bowl and six Final Fours. He won a United States Basketball Writing Association (USBWA) Award for "spot news" for his coverage during Michigan State's national title run in men's basketball in 2000. Grinczel served as the Michigan State beat writer for the Booth Newspaper chain, which included the Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, and Saginaw News, as well as MLive.com.

He spent 10 years as the Big Ten football and basketball correspondent for Sports Illustrated. Grinczel previously served as a Heisman Trophy voter and on the USBWA Board. Grinczel also has covered four Olympics, 14 Final Fours, two Super Bowls and two MLB All-Star Games. In addition, he was part of a three-reporter team that won the top Michigan Associated Press Award for investigative reporting in 1980.

Grinczel recently co-authored his third book, which entails the history of high school track and field in Grand Rapids, Mich. His other two books are: Michigan State Football - They are Spartans; and Gregory Kelser's Tales of Michigan State Basketball.