1939 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1939 Michigan State Spartans football 1939 Michigan State Spartans football team.png 285 Independent 4–4–1 Charlie Bachman 7th Notre Dame Box Lyle Rockenbach Michael Kinek Lyle Rockenbach Macklin Field The 1939 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1939 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 4–4–1 record and lost their annual rivalry game with Michigan by a 26 to 13 score. In inter-sectional play, the team defeated Syracuse (14–2) and Temple (18–7) and lost to Santa Clara (6–0).2016 Football Media Guide Michigan State University 146, 153 June 16, 2017 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf January 17, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170117203046/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf dead1939 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 16, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1939-schedule.html Michigan State was ranked at No. 74 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth E. E. Litkenhous Johnson City Sunday Press December 31, 1939 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123000367/vols-second-in-final-litkenhous-grid/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y September 30 Wayne Macklin Field East Lansing, MI W 16-0 October 7 at Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry) L 13-26 68,618 October 14 Marquette Macklin Field East Lansing, MI L 14-17 12,000 Marquette Field Goal Beats Spartans, 17-14: Heart-Breaking Penalty Sets Up Scoring Drive Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 15, 1939 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116717094/marquette-field-goal-beats-spartans/ Newspapers.com October 21 at Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN L 7-20 21,000 Boilermakers Turn Back Spartans, 20-7 The Indianapolis Star W. Blaine Patton October 22, 1939 23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122265115/boilermakers-turn-back-spartans-20-7/ Newspapers.com October 28 19398 Illinois Wesleyan Titans Illinois Wesleyan Macklin Field East Lansing, MI W 13-6 November 4 at Syracuse Archbold Stadium Syracuse, NY W 14-3 16,000 November 11 at Santa Clara Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA L 0-6 18,000 Spartans Lose Pacific Coast Game, 6 to 0 The State Journal (Lansing, MI) November 12, 1939 1, 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17672149/spartans_lose_pacific_coast_game_6_to_0/ Newspapers.com November 18 Indiana<hc> Macklin Field East Lansing, MI (rivalry) T 7-7 Spartans and Indiana Battle To 7-7 Tie Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 19, 1939 13, 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122295455/spartans-and-indiana-battle-to-7-7-tie/ Newspapers.com November 25 Temple Macklin Field East Lansing, MI W 18-7 8,500 Spartan Attack Clicks, Thumps Temple, 18-7 Lansing State Journal November 26, 1939 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52188413/spartan-attack-clicks-thumps-temple/ Newspapers.com Game summaries Michigan Week 1: Michigan State at Michigan Michigan State Michigan 0 0 7 6 7 19 0 0 October 7, 1939 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 68,618 Lyle Clarno (Bradley) On October 7, 1939, the Aggies opened their season with a 26 to 13 victory over Michigan. The game, the 34th played between the two programs,Michigan vs. Michigan St. David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse May 16, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=1988 May 26, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526234935/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=1988 dead was played at Michigan Stadium before 68,618 spectators that The New York Times called "a howling throng." Michigan took a 26 to 0 lead at halftime. The Wolverines' first points came on three-yard run around the right end by Paul Kromer, with blocking by Tom Harmon and Forest Evashevski, capping a 65-yard touchdown drive. On the opening play of the second quarter, Harmon scored on a two-yard run, capping a drive that started at Michigan State's 33-yard line. On the ensuing Michigan State drive, Archie Kodros intercepted a pass at the Spartans' 20-yard line, and after a 15-yard penalty was assessed, Michigan took over on the five-yard line. From there, Harmon threw a touchdown pass to Evashevski. Michigan's final score followed a second interception by Kodros, with Kodros catching the ball at the 45-yard line and returning it 17 yards to the 28-yard line. On fourth down from the four-yard line, Harmon threw his second touchdown pass to Evashevski. In the third quarter, Bill Batchelor of Michigan State intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans scored again on a 71-yard pass play from Bill Kennedy to Wyman Davis. Harmon and William Melzow each kicked one point after touchdown (PAT) in the game.68,618 See Michigan Gain 26-13 Victory: Wolverines Score All Their Points in First Half to Beat Michigan State The New York Times October 8, 1939 https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/08/archives/68618-see-michigan-gain-2613-victory-wolverines-score-all-their.htmlMichigan Rolls Over Michigan State, 26 to 13 Arch Ward Chicago Tribune October 8, 1939 2-1 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1939/10/08/page/29/article/michigan-rolls-over-michigan-state-26-to-13 References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football