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Tag: Rocky Lombardi

  • Mark Dantonio views QB situation as ‘a good problem’

    For the first time in nearly two years, there are two names bolded at quarterback on Michigan State’s depth chart. It’s Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi as the starter under center for the Spartans (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten), who play at Maryland (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday.

    Source: MLive.com

  • Rocky Lombardi Named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week

    Rocky Lombardi has been named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after leading the Spartans to a 23-13 victory over Purdue in his first career start last Saturday in Spartan Stadium.

    Source: Michigan State Official Athletic Site

  • The Super Spartan Bros: Michigan State vs Purdue Recap

    The Super Spartan Bros breakdown the big win over Purdue at Spartan Stadium Saturday.  They also take a closer look at some of the rumors swirling around about Rocky Lombardi after his big debut performance.

  • Rocky Lombardi ‘brought a little extra’ vs. Purdue

    “We’ve gotten good leadership from our quarterbacks throughout this year and last year, really,” Dantonio said on his Sunday night teleconference. “I think Brian Lewerke does a great job with that, too. I think Rocky is an emotional guy, having his first start. And I thought he brought a little extra. He is like that. He is a dependable leader, and he studies the game hard.

    Source: Detroit Free Press

  • The Lombardi Affect

    Rocky, Rocky, Rocky chants were being shouted in the Michigan State football team’s locker room after a win against Purdue on Saturday. However, the Spartans weren’t making a Sylvester Stallone reference but they were cheering on their freshman quarterback, Rocky Lombardi who impressively led them to a W.

    Source: The Only Colors

  • The story behind Rocky Lombardi’s awesome name

    Rocky Lombardi was officially introduced to the college football world on Saturday. The redshirt freshman Michigan State quarterback threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 23-13 win over Purdue on Saturday, marking the second-most yards a Spartans quarterback has ever thrown for in his first start. Now, the college football world wants to know: what’s the story with that name?

    Source: MLive.com

  • Rocky Lombardi gets win in 1st start

    It is a dream scenario for every football player, really for any athlete at any level: To go from backup one week to starter the next, to hear their teammates chanting their name in the locker room after a major moment of glory.

    Source: Detroit Free Press

  • Rocky Lombardi leads Spartans over Boilermakers, 23-13

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    Rocky Lombardi steers Michigan State football past Purdue, 23-13 Detroit Free Press
    Rocky Lombardi got the start, and more injuries occurred. Michigan State’s offense sputtered and stalled under its new quarterback, but the Spartans moved the ball enough for a 23-13 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

    Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s Rocky Lombardi-led win over Purdue Lansing State Journal
    Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans’ performance Saturday against Purdue.

    Rocky Lombardi leads Michigan State to 23-13 win over Purdue MLive.com
    A change at quarterback sparked Michigan State’s offense early. And a defense that’s been stout all season delivered late. The Spartans topped Purdue, 23-13, on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium to earn a key bounce-back win a week after falling short at home in a rivalry game against Michigan.

    Michigan State Halts Purdue’s Run, 23-13 Michigan State Official
    Rocky Lombardi threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for Michigan State, and the Spartans halted Purdue’s four-game win streak, beating the Boilermakers 23-13 on Saturday.

    Lombardi, MSU defense the difference in win over Purdue Impact Sports
    Michigan State needed every inch to walk out with a 23-13 victory over Purdue and coming off one of the toughest losses of the season, this was one MSU needed badly. With quarterback Brian Lewerke out with an injury, the Spartans started redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi. Lombardi showed up, and late in the fourth quarter of the ball game with the Purdue defense staring him down, he threw the pass that defined the afternoon.

    Dantonio: Purdue win among most rewarding of Michigan State tenure MLive.com
    Dantonio afterward put the Spartans’ 23-13 win over Purdue at Spartan Stadium alongside any other in his career in Michigan State in terms of how rewarded he felt while standing at the media room podium. “This could be as rewarding a win maybe in our time here,” Dantonio said after the game. “We needed to get up off of the mat.”

    Rocky Lombardi stands tall, leading Spartans to a big win Spartan Nation
    Behind a stellar defensive effort and an efficient performance from backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi, making his first career start as a redshirt freshman, Michigan State would hold off a red-hot Purdue team, fresh off an upset win over Ohio State, for a 23-13 win.

    Fresh perspective: Lombardi delivers for MSU in win over Purdue Detroit News
    Michigan State’s season was teetering on Saturday, and with a redshirt freshman quarterback starting his first game, the odds didn’t look good for the Spartans. However, just a week after losing at home to its rival, Michigan State rode its defense and some inspired play from Rocky Lombardi at quarterback to a 23-13 victory over Purdue in front of 72,657 at Spartan Stadium.

    Spartans Spar with Boilermakers, Lombardi Impresses in 23-13 Win Great Lakes Divide
    The day began with Michigan State missing five starters on offense, but that excuse melted away with the proficiency of Rocky Lombardi at the quarterback position as the Spartans held their own against one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten – a 23-13 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.

    Behind Rocky Lombardi, Michigan State responds with crucial win Spartan Tailgate
    In his first career start, redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi was better than average against Purdue. That is what MSU has received from the quarterback position through this season under Brian Lewerke.

    Michigan State football stock watch post-Purdue Spartan Tailgate
    Needing a win after falling at home to Michigan last week, the Michigan State football team responded behind a stingy defense and a strong impression from Rocky Lombardi to defeat Purdue 23-13.

    Michigan State ‘stayed focused’ in win over Purdue The Only Colors
    Michigan State beat Purdue at home Saturday 23-13 to improve to 5-3. The Spartans also continued their now seven-game winning streak against the Boilermakers. After last weekend — Michigan State losing to Michigan and Purdue beating a No. 2 Ohio State team — today’s outcome was not necessarily expected. However, head coach Mark Dantonio felt like the Spartans rose to the occasion.

    Rocky Lombardi delivers ‘tremendous’ performance in first career start MLive.com
    The visiting locker room at Spartan Stadium was loud last Saturday, and not in the way the home team wanted. One week later, it was Michigan State’s turn to celebrate and one player was singled out. “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky,” is how the chant went, according to defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

    Michigan State defense gets back to basics in win vs. Purdue Detroit Free Press
    After getting gashed on the ground the past two games against Penn State and Michigan, Michigan State defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said the Spartans had to return to the basics. That is the MSU staple of stopping the run and harassing the quarterback. Tressel said opposing quarterbacks were getting too comfortable in the pocket, being able to throw or scramble comfortably. So it was back to step one for the Spartans.

    Michigan State football report card: High marks for Rocky Lombardi Detroit Free Press
    Chris Solari rates the Spartans on a scale of 1 to 10 after their 23-13 win over Purdue on Saturday.

    Stellar Spartans defense suppresses potent Boilermakers’ attack Detroit News
    Through Michigan State’s ups and downs this season, pinning much of the blame on the defense has been hard to do. The Spartans have given up their share of yards through the air, but it’s a unit that has kept Michigan State in every game it has played this season, just waiting for a depleted offense to take advantage.

    Spartans’ injury picture taking turn for the better Detroit News
    It wouldn’t be a typical week around the Michigan State program without an update on the injuries. And while Michigan State suffered a few more in Saturday’s 23-13 victory over Purdue at Spartan Stadium, all the news isn’t bad.

    Injuries whittle roster even more vs. Purdue Detroit Free Press
    Cody White jogged out for warmups in his green uniform. Josiah Scott did as well. Neither played, but Michigan State appeared to be getting closer to full-strength Saturday morning. That changed quickly. The Spartans, who already were playing without starting quarterback Brian Lewerke and four other offensive starters, suffered even more injuries during Saturday afternoon’s 23-13 win over Purdue.

    Tyler Hunt has torn ACL and Josiah Scott serves suspension MLive.com
    The slew of injuries Michigan State has encountered this year continued at an unlikely position. Redshirt freshman walk-on punter Tyler Hunt is out for the season due to a knee injury sustained in practice this week. “We lost our punter Tyler Hunt on Thursday in a non-contact deal,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said after Saturday’s 23-13 win against Purdue. “He blew out his ACL, so he’s done for the season.”

    Couch: What Rocky Lombardi did against Purdue can’t be ignored – just ask Mark Dantonio Lansing State Journal
    Mark Dantonio and Dave Warner had a chance to shut down talk of a quarterback controversy. They chose otherwise. Which means they saw what we saw from Rocky Lombardi in Michigan State’s 23-13 win over Purdue on Saturday. Without top receivers Felton Davis and Cody White, MSU’s offense hummed like it hadn’t all season — even in scoring just 16 points through the first 58 minutes. That can’t be ignored.

    Spartans go the distance with plucky underdog QB Detroit News
    Mark Dantonio said all week his team “needed to get up off the mat.” So, naturally, Michigan State’s coach turned to a quarterback named Rocky to get the job done. And by the time the final bell sounded on Saturday’s slugfest against Purdue, with Rocky Lombardi and the beaten-down Spartans finally taking a late-round decision, the sound in the victorious locker room was unmistakable.

  • Brian Lewerke likely out vs. Purdue

    Michigan State football will be down a key figure on Saturday afternoon when the Spartans take the field against Purdue as Brian Lewerke will likely be out. Get used to hearing the name Rocky Lombardi, Spartan fans.

    Source: Spartan Avenue

  • Rocky Lombardi comes from a football family

    Spartans fan already know Rocky Lombardi for his football-famous name. They might get a chance to learn more about the redshirt freshman as a quarterback Saturday. Starter Brian Lewerke remains questionable with a right shoulder injury, which means Lombardi could make his first career start, with the task of jump-starting the Spartans’ stagnant offense against Purdue.

    Source: Detroit Free Press

  • Rocky Lombardi is ready if Michigan State needs him

    Mark Dantonio made the decision early in the fourth quarter on Saturday that he would play starting quarterback Brian Lewerke for one more series, then make the switch to backup Rocky Lombardi. Lewerke got his final series, a three-and-out that ended with a punt with 9:19 left. Then Michigan took over, and Lombardi could just stand and watch. And watch some more.

    Source: MLive.com

  • Questions are plenty, answers scarce with Spartans QB picture

    Dantonio said redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi, who played the final series against Michigan, took the bulk of the No. 1 reps last week along with freshman Theo Day. So, if Lewerke can’t go, odds are Lombardi gets his first start. That will be determined throughout the week.

    Source: Detroit News

  • Brian Lewerke’s shoulder injury makes Michigan State’s QB situation murky

    Michigan State is four days away from hosting Purdue and it’s unclear who the Spartans will start at quarterback. That is due to redshirt junior Brian Lewerke’s injured right throwing shoulder. He played through it in last week’s 21-7 loss to Michigan but struggled mightily before being pulled late in the fourth quarter for redshirt freshman backup Rocky Lombardi.

    Source: MLive.com

  • MSU football should start Rocky Lombardi — for now

    Not a long term idea, but it seems like a no-brainer short term idea Hey, we all watched the same game on Saturday. The quarterback play was…wow. After the game, it made sense that Brian Lewerke didn’t practice all week due to a shoulder injury. You know what didn’t make sense? Leaving him out there for the entirety of a 5-25 passing performance where coaches wouldn’t even let him run the option.

    Source: The Only Colors

  • Will Brian Lewerke start vs. Purdue? Too early to tell

    What happens moving forward with Lewerke’s shoulder could dictate a move to either Rocky Lombardi or Theo Day, the 12th-year coach said Sunday night on a teleconference to recap the Spartans’ 21-7 loss to Michigan a day earlier.

    Source: Detroit Free

  • Left turn: How Rocky Lombardi’s lobbying led to him becoming Michigan State’s punter

    Rocky Lombardi was brought to Michigan State for his arm but desperately wanted coaches to check out his leg. One of the top quarterback prospects in the nation in the 2017 class, he was learning the offense and taking a redshirt as a true freshman last year but wanted to do whatever he could to contribute. So, with the Spartans preparing for opponents that featured left-footed punters, he not-so-subtly offered to give a glimpse of the different spin generated by that kick.

    Source: MLive.com

  • Lombardi fully embracing his role as MSU’s interim punter

    Rocky Lombardi yearns to be near the action. Just get him on the field and he’s content. Doesn’t matter how he gets there. That’s why, as a true freshman last year, he pitched himself to punt for Michigan State’s scout team in practices. Brought to East Lansing to play the game’s most glamorous position, the quarterback will gladly sacrifice prestige for a chance to enter the fray.

    Source: Spartan Tailgate

  • MSU depth chart: Indiana

    Redshirt sophomore Brandon Bouyer-Randle is set to start at strong-side linebacker for Michigan State in its trip to Indiana this weekend. Rocky Lombardi is listed as the starting punter, which head coach Mark Dantonio said would be the case last week. Cole Chewins and redshirt sophomore Luke Campbell are co-starters again.

    Source: Spartan Tailgate

  • Hartbarger Injury Could Change In-Game Approach

    The one outcome from last Saturday’s loss to Arizona State that may have the most long-lasting impact on the Michigan State football season is the loss if punter Jake Hartbarger. The senior punter was hit on a dead play after the whistles had blown, and was lost for the next 6-8 weeks to a bone bruise or fracture in his leg. In his absence, backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi will take over the punting duties for the Spartans. Lombardi had one punt for 32 yards coming immediately following the injury to Hart

    Source: The Only Colors

  • Rocky Lombardi is now MSU’s punter and even his dad was surprised by debut

    As a former college player and longtime coach, Tony Lombardi knows football. And he, more than anyone else, knows the talent and potential possessed by his son, Michigan State redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi.

    Source: MLive.com