1973 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndy MacDonald (1st season)
MVPRay Nester
CaptainMichael Holt, John Shinsky
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
1973 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Ohio State + 7 –0 –110 –0 –1
No. 6 Michigan + 7 –0 –110 –0 –1
Minnesota 6 –2 –07 –4 –0
Illinois 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Michigan State 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Purdue 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Northwestern 4 –4 –04 –7 –0
Wisconsin 3 –5 –04 –7 –0
Indiana 0 –8 –02 –9 –0
Iowa 0 –8 –00 –11 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1973 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Denny Stolz, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 overall record (4–4 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1][2]

Defensive Bill Simpson was the only Spartan to be selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as a first-team player on the 1973 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Simpson received first-team honors from the UPI and second-team honors from the AP. Other Spartans received second-team honors, including defensive tackle John Shinsky, linebackers Ray Nester and Terence McClowry, and defensive back Mark Niesen.[3][4]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15at Northwestern
L 10–1427,305
September 22at Syracuse*
W 14–821,821
September 29No. 17 UCLA*
L 21–3460,850
October 6at No. 8 Notre Dame*
L 10–1459,075
October 13No. 5 Michigan
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
L 0–3178,263[5]
October 20Illinois
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 3–663,303
October 27at Purdue
W 10–755,291
November 3Wisconsindagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 21–054,010
November 10at No. 1 Ohio State
L 0–3587,600
November 17Indiana
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 10–950,116
November 24at Iowa
W 15–631,119
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1973 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB Charlie Baggett So
TE Mike Cobb Fr
WR 21 Dane Fortney So
RB Mike Holt
QB Tyrone Willingham
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    Season summary

    At Ohio State

    Michigan State Spartans at Ohio State Buckeyes
    Period 1 2 34Total
    Michigan St 0 0 000
    Ohio St 7 14 7735

    at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

    • Date: November 10
    • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
    • Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
    • Game attendance: 87,600
    • Box Score
    Game information

    References

    1. ↑ "Michigan State Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
    2. ↑ "2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 146. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
    3. ↑ "1973 AP All Big Ten Football Team". Piqua Daily Call. November 27, 1973. p. 11.
    4. ↑ "Bucks, Wolves Dominate: Buckeyes Place 10 On All-Big Ten Team". The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio). November 28, 1973. p. 11B.
    5. ↑ Charlie Vincent (October 14, 1973). "No Contest! M 31, MSU 0: No. 4 Wolverines Frolic in the Rain". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 4E. Retrieved June 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


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