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1966 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season

American college football season

FieldValue
year1966
teamMichigan State Spartans
sportfootball
conferenceBig Ten Conference
short_confBig Ten
CoachRank2
APRank2
record9–0–1
conf_record7–0
head_coachDuffy Daugherty
hc_year13th
mvpGeorge Webster
captainClinton Jones
captain2George Webster
stadiumSpartan Stadium
championNFF co-national champion
Big Ten champion

Big Ten champion

The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1966 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 13th season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 9–0–1 record (7–0 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 293 to 99, won the Big Ten championship, and were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls. They played to a 10–10 tie against No. 1 Notre Dame. While the AP and UPI polls recognized Notre Dame as national champion, the College Football Researchers Association selected Michigan State as national champion, and the Helms Athletic Foundation, National Football Foundation (NFF), and Poling System selected the Irish and Spartans as co-national champions.

The Spartans gained an average of 230.5 rushing yards and 124.4 passing yards per game, while holding opponents to an average of 51.4 rushing yards and 157.9 passing yards. The team's individual statistical leaders included halfback Clinton Jones (784 rushing yards), end Gene Washington (27 receptions for 677 yards), and quarterback Jimmy Raye (1,100 passing yards).

Three Spartans were consensus first-team All-Americans: Jones; defensive end Bubba Smith; and defensive back George Webster. End Gene Washington and fullback Bob Apisa also received first-team All-America honors. Smith, Webster, and Washington were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Four Spartans were among the first eight players picked in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft: Smith (first); Jones (second); Webster (fifth); and Washington (eighth).

Big Ten rules barred the same team from representing the conference in the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons and barred teams from appearing in any bowl game other than the Rose Bowl. Accordingly, Michigan State was ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl or any other bowl game. The former rule was rescinded in 1972 and the latter in 1975.

Schedule

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Rankings

Main article: 1966 NCAA University Division football rankings

Game summaries

NC State

Penn State

At Illinois

Michigan

At Ohio State

--

Purdue

At Northwestern

Iowa

At Indiana

Notre Dame

Main article: 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game

The 1966 Michigan State vs. Notre Dame football game ("The Game of the Century") remains one of the greatest, and most controversial, games in college football history. The game was played in Michigan State's Spartan Stadium on November 19, 1966. Michigan State entered the contest 9–0 and ranked No. 2, while Notre Dame entered the contest 8–0 and ranked No. 1. Notre Dame elected not to try to score on its final series, thus the game ended in a 10–10 tie. Notre Dame retained its No. 1 ranking in the AP and UPI polls.

Roster

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Team members in the NFL

  • In the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, four of the top eight picks in the draft were players from Michigan State.
Dick KenneyKicker14358[Philadelphia Eagles](1967-philadelphia-eagles-season)

References

References

  1. (August 2018). "2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  2. "Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions (formerly called Division I-A)". ncaa.org.
  3. "1966 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
  4. Bob Hoerner. (September 18, 1966). "Spartans Answer Duffy's Questions: Raye, Apisa, Both Lines Play Well in 28-10 Triumph". Lansing State Journal.
  5. (September 18, 1966). "Jones, Apisa, Raye spark MSU, 28–10". Battle Creek Enquirer.
  6. Bob Hoerner. (September 25, 1966). "Spartans Give Penn State Grid Lesson". Lansing State Journal.
  7. Roy Damer. (October 2, 1966). "Battling Illini Beaten: Michigan State Thwarts Upset Bid, 26-10". Chicago Tribune.
  8. Bob Hoerner. (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Find Enough Finesse to Win: Michigan Gives State Battle Before Yielding, 20 to 7". Lansing State Journal.
  9. Bob Hoerner. (October 16, 1966). "Spartans Survive Buckeye Upset Scare". Lansing State Journal.
  10. Bob Hoerner. (October 23, 1966). "Spartans' Balance Overcomes Griese: State Runs, Passes Over Purdue, 41-20". Lansing State Journal.
  11. Bob Hoerner. (October 30, 1966). "State Finds New Weapon In Win Over Wildcats: Spartans Control Football". Lansing State Journal.
  12. Bob Hoerner. (November 6, 1966). "Clinton Jones Zooms In State's 56-7 Romp: Halfback's 268 Yards Sets Big 10 Mark". Lansing State Journal.
  13. Dave Overpeck. (November 13, 1966). "MSU Wins Big 10; Raps I.U., 37-19". The Indianapolis Star.
  14. Bob Hoerner. (November 20, 1966). "Deadlock Fails to Settle National Title: No. ? Irish, No. ? State Tie, 10-10". Lansing State Journal.
  15. "Football Statistics Summary for 1966". msuspartans.com.
  16. Jack Saylor. (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Explode on U-M: Finish Strong in 20–7 Romp". Detroit Free Press.
  17. http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1966/1966-4-MichiganState.pdf {{Bare URL PDF. (November 2021)
  18. (September 2022)
  19. "Spartans Win Easily Over Purdue, 41-20." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Oct 23.
  20. Celzic, Mike. (1992). "The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966". Simon & Schuster.
  21. Jenkins, Dan. (November 28, 1966). "An Upside-Down Game".
  22. "1967 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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