Michigan State kicks off the 2010 football season a week from Saturday against Western Michigan, and yesterday it was announced which players will be captaining the Spartans next week and throughout the season.
↵↵↵Senior punter Aaron Bates, junior quarterback Kirk Cousins and senior linebacker Greg Jones have been elected by their teammates to serve as Michigan State's captains for the 2010 season, head coach Mark Dantonio announced following Thursday's practice. An additional captain will also be selected each week.
↵Bates is the first punter to be named captain in 114 seasons of Spartan football, while Cousins and Jones will be captains for the second straight year. Last season, Cousins became only the second sophomore in school history to be named captain.
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Assuming Cousins is back as a captain next year, he will become only the second player in Michigan State history to serve as a captain for three years. The only player in MSU history to achieve that feat so far is Robert McCurry, who was captain from 1946-48.