Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Football Personnel Update
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
August 11, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head football coach Nick Saban announced Tuesday that red-shirt freshman offensive lineman Shawn Murphy and sophomore defensive lineman Artie Steinmetz "have been absent from practice for several days for personal reasons and their futures with the team are uncertain."
Murphy, a 6-foot-4, 285-pounder from Cincinnati, was competing with junior Casey Jensen for the starting job at left guard. He had moved inside from left tackle following spring practice.
Steinmetz, a 6-4, 261-pounder from Edgewood, Ky., was scheduled for back-up duty at defensive tackle. He appeared in eight games as a true freshman in 1997, playing behind Robaire Smith at right defensive end. Steinmetz recorded six tackles last season, including five solo stops.
In addition, Saban announced the suspension of sophomore linebacker T.J. Turner for the first two games of the 1998 campaign for "conduct detrimental to the team." Turner, a 6-2, 240-pounder from Hillsboro, Ohio, was a contender for the starting role at WILL linebacker following the loss of four-year starter Ike Reese. He played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 1997, primarily on special teams, and produced 10 tackles.
