1966 Michigan State Spartans football team

1966 Michigan State Spartans football
National champion (Football Research)
Co-national champion (Helms, NFF, Poling)
Big Ten champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record9–0–1 (7–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPGeorge Webster
Captains
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
1966 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 $ 7 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 1
No. 7 Purdue 6 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Michigan 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Illinois 4 – 3 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Minnesota 3 – 3 – 1 4 – 5 – 1
Ohio State 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 6 – 1
Wisconsin 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 6 – 1
Indiana 1 – 5 – 1 1 – 8 – 1
Iowa 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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.[1]: 113 [2]

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).[3]

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

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17NC State*No. 2
W 28–1055,418[4][5]
September 24Penn State*No. 1
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 42–865,763[6]
October 1at IllinoisNo. 1
W 26–1057,747[7]
October 8MichiganNo. 1
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 20–778,833[8]
October 15at Ohio StateNo. 1
W 11–884,282[9]
October 22No. 9 PurdueNo. 2
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 41–2078,004[10]
October 29at NorthwesternNo. 2
W 22–044,304[11]
November 5IowaNo. 2
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 56–768,711[12]
November 12at IndianaNo. 2
W 37–1930,096[13]
November 19No. 1 Notre Dame*No. 2
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
T 10–1080,011[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

Rankings

Main article: 1966 NCAA University Division football rankings

Game summaries

NC State

See also: 1966 NC State Wolfpack football team

Penn State

See also: 1966 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Michigan State–Penn State football rivalry

At Illinois

See also: 1966 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Michigan

Michigan at Michigan State
Team 1 234Total
Wolverines 0 007 7
• No. 1 Spartans 7 0013 20
Scoring summary
Q1MSURaye 5 yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 7–0
Q4MSUApisa 7 yard run (kick failed)MSU 13–0
Q4MSUWashington 25 yard pass from Raye (Kenney kick)MSU 20–0
Q4MICHDetwiler 15 yard pass from Vidmer (Sygar kick)MSU 20–7
See also: 1966 Michigan Wolverines football team and Paul Bunyan Trophy

[16]

At Ohio State

Michigan State at Ohio State
Team 1 234Total
• Spartans 0 038 11
Buckeyes 2 006 8
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 84,282
  • Game weather: Rain, wind SE 20-35, 69 °F (21 °C)
Scoring summary
Q18:09OSUSafety, center pass through end zoneOSU 2–0
Q36:02MSUKenny 27-yard field goalMSU 3–2
Q414:53OSULong 47-yard pass to Anders (kick failed)OSU 8–3
Q47:09MSUApisa 1-yard run (Kenney pass to Wedemeyer)MSU 11–8
See also: 1966 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Purdue

Purdue at Michigan State
Team 1 234Total
No. 9 Boilermakers 0 0713 20
• No. 2 Spartans 7 14146 41
Scoring summary
Q1MSULee 3 yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 7–0
Q2MSURaye 16 yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 14–0
Q2MSUApisa 6 yard pass from Raye (Kenney kick)MSU 21–0
Q3MSUApisa 2 yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 28–0
Q3PURGriese 6 yard run (Griese kick)MSU 28–7
Q3MSUApisa 10 yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 35–7
Q4PURHurst 2 yard run (kick failed)MSU 35–13
Q4MSUCavender 2 yard run (pass failed)MSU 41–13
Q4PURGriese 2 yard run (Griese kick)MSU 41–20
See also: 1966 Purdue Boilermakers football team

[17]

At Northwestern

See also: 1966 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Iowa

See also: 1966 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

At Indiana

See also: 1966 Indiana Hoosiers football team and Old Brass Spittoon

Notre Dame

Notre Dame at Michigan State
Team 1 234Total
No.1 Fighting Irish 0 703 10
No. 2 Spartans 0 1000 10
Scoring summary
2MSUCavender 4-yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 7-0
2MSUKenney 47-yard field goalMSU 10-0
2NDGladieux 34-yard pass from O'Brien (Azzaro kick)MSU 10-7
4NDAzzaro 28-yard field goalTied 10-10
Main article: 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game
See also: 1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry, and Game of the Century (college football)

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.[18] 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.[19]

Roster

1966 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
FB 45 Robert Apisa Jr
RB Rich Berlinski
WR Al Brenner
RB 25 Regis Cavender So
OL Tony Conti
QB Bill Feraco
WR Maurice Haynes
WR Ken Heft
RB 26 Clinton Jones Sr
RB 34 Dwight Lee Jr
OL Mitchell Pruiett
OT 57 Joe Przybycki Jr
OL Ron Ranieri
QB 16 James Raye Jr
OL Lawrence Smith
OL Dave Techlin
WR 84 Gene Washington Sr
RB Frank Waters
QB Charlie Wedemeyer
OL Jerry West
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB Sterling Armstrong
DL 61 Charles Bailey So
DL George Chatlos
DL 55 Pat Gallinagh
DB Drake Garrett
LB Ron Goovert
DL Phil Hoag
DB Jerry Jones
DL Nick Jordan
S   Jess Phillips Jr
DE   Jeff Richardson Sr
DL 95 Bubba Smith Sr
DB 20 James Summers Sr
DB 41 Charlie Thornhill Sr
LB 90 George Webster Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 42 Dick Kenney Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

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.
Player Position Round Pick NFL franchise
Bubba Smith Defensive end 1 1 Baltimore Colts
Clinton Jones Running back 1 2 Minnesota Vikings
George Webster Linebacker 1 5 Houston Oilers
Gene Washington Wide receiver 1 8 Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Richardson Defensive end 6 146 New York Jets
James Summers Defensive back 9 217 Denver Broncos
Charlie Thornhill Defensive back 9 232 Boston Patriots
Dick Kenney Kicker 14 358 Philadelphia Eagles

[20]

References

  1. ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions (formerly called Division I-A)". ncaa.org. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  3. ^ "1966 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  4. ^ Bob Hoerner (September 18, 1966). "Spartans Answer Duffy's Questions: Raye, Apisa, Both Lines Play Well in 28-10 Triumph". Lansing State Journal. p. H1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Jones, Apisa, Raye spark MSU, 28–10". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Bob Hoerner (September 25, 1966). "Spartans Give Penn State Grid Lesson". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F3 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Roy Damer (October 2, 1966). "Battling Illini Beaten: Michigan State Thwarts Upset Bid, 26-10". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, 3 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bob Hoerner (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Find Enough Finesse to Win: Michigan Gives State Battle Before Yielding, 20 to 7". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G4 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Bob Hoerner (October 16, 1966). "Spartans Survive Buckeye Upset Scare". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Bob Hoerner (October 23, 1966). "Spartans' Balance Overcomes Griese: State Runs, Passes Over Purdue, 41-20". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Bob Hoerner (October 30, 1966). "State Finds New Weapon In Win Over Wildcats: Spartans Control Football". Lansing State Journal. pp. E1, E3 – via Newspapers.com.
  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. pp. F1, F2 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Dave Overpeck (November 13, 1966). "MSU Wins Big 10; Raps I.U., 37-19". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Bob Hoerner (November 20, 1966). "Deadlock Fails to Settle National Title: No. ? Irish, No. ? State Tie, 10-10". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Football Statistics Summary for 1966". msuspartans.com. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  16. ^ Jack Saylor (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Explode on U-M: Finish Strong in 20–7 Romp". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Spartans Win Easily Over Purdue, 41-20." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Oct 23.
  18. ^ Celzic, Mike (1992). The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-75817-2.
  19. ^ Jenkins, Dan (November 28, 1966). "An Upside-Down Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  20. ^ "1967 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
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