1952 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1952 Michigan State Spartans football 1952 Michigan State Spartans football team.png 285 Independent 9–0 1 1 Biggie Munn 6th Dick Tamburo Donald McAuliffe Macklin Stadium Consensus national champion The 1952 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1952 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans recorded a perfect 9–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 312 to 84, and were recognized as the 1952 national champion.2016 Football Media Guide Michigan State University 146, 154 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 dead1952 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 16, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1952-schedule.html The season was part of a 28-game winning streak that began in October 1950 and continued until October 1953. In the final AP Poll released on December 1, 1952, Michigan State was ranked No. 1 with 2,683 points, more than 400 points ahead of No. 2 Georgia Tech.Michigan State Wins Final AP Poll, Beating Out Georgia Tech: Spartans Take Emblem Of U.S. Championship, The O'Donnell Trophy Richmond Times-Dispatch December 2, 1952 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99038006/michigan-state-wins-final-ap-poll/ Newspapers.com The Spartans also finished with the No. 1 ranking in the final UPI coaches poll.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6SRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5125%2C449783 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press Michigan State tops press poll; jackets second December 2, 1952 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-JBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1918%2C4453330 Bend Bulletin Oregon United Press Miller Norman Board of coaches selects Michigan State's great Spartans for mythical title for '52 December 2, 1952 2 The team was also recognized as the 1952 national champion in later analyses issued by the Boand System, DeVold System, Dunkel System, College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin Ratings, and Williamson System.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 11, 2018113 It was Michigan State's first consensus national championship.120 Five other selectors chose Georgia Tech as national champion. It was also Michigan State's last year as a football independent, as the Spartans became a football member of the Big Ten Conference in 1953. Four Michigan State players were recognized on the 1952 All-America college football team: back Don McAuliffe (first-team honors from the United Press, All-America Board, and Collier's); center Dick Tamburo (first-team honors from the Associated Press, Central Press Association, and International News Service); guard Frank Kush (first-team honors from the Associated Press); and end Ed Luke (second-team honors from the Associated Press).ESPN College Football Encyclopedia 1228 ESPN Books 2005 1401337031 The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tom Yewcic with 941 passing yards, halfback Billy Wells with 585 rushing yards, end Ellis Duckett with 323 receiving yards, and halfbacks Don McAuliffe and Leroy Bolden with 54 points each.1952 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 3, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1952.html Schedule 1952 AP September 27 w y 1 Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 27–13 97,239 State Racks Up 16th Win in Row Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton September 28, 1952 1, 51 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99041430/state-racks-up-16th-win-in-row/ Newspapers.com October 4 w y 1 Oregon State Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 17–14 22,595 Gene Lekenta's Last-Play Field Goal Earns 'S' 17 to 14 Hair-Raiser Over Oregon State Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 5, 1952 53 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99041661/gene-lekentas-last-play-field-goal/ Newspapers.com October 11 w 2 Texas A&M Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 48–6 49,123 Spartans Spin Texans, 48 to 6 Lansing State Journal October 12, 1952 51 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99039697/spartans-spin-texans-48-to-6/ Newspapers.com October 18 w 1 Syracuse Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 48–7 38,254 Spartans –All 61– Win 19th Straight Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 19, 1952 53–54 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99039837/spartans-all-61-win-19th-straight/ Newspapers.com October 25 w y 1 Penn State 17 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 34–7 51,162 Spartan '11' Entertains Grads, 34 to 7 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 26, 1952 57, 61 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99040028/spartan-11-entertains-grads-34-to-7/ Newspapers.com November 1 w y 1 Purdue 8 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 14–7 49,500 Michigan State Stops Purcue, 14-7 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 2, 1952 61, 65 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99040715/michigan-state-stops-purcue-14-7/ Newspapers.com November 8 w y 1 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 41–14 22,000 State Wins Rough Tilt From Indiana: MSC Adds Hoosiers to Victim List Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 9, 1952 53 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99041523/state-wins-rough-tilt-from-indiana-msc/ Newspapers.com November 15 w 1 Notre Dame 6 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 21–3 52,472 MSC Defense Shines In 21 to 3 Decision Lansing State Journal George Alderton November 16, 1952 1, 57 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99040552/msc-defense-shines-in-21-to-3-decision/ Newspapers.com November 22 w 1 Marquette Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 62–13 35,845 State Ends Second Undefeated Season: Slaughters Marquette For No. 24 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 23, 1952 1, 51 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99040267/state-ends-second-undefeated-season/ Newspapers.com Personnel Roster thumb|right|250px|"Defensive stalwarts Weaver, Tamburo, Kush, and Timmerman glow over their impressive record." (Opponent rushing totals displayed on chalkboard.) thumb|right|250px|Michigan State coaching staff: freshman coach Devine, end coach Edwards, line coach Daugherty (seated), backfield coach Steve Sebo, and head coach Munn 25em Howard Adams, guard Wayne Benson, fullback Alex Bleahu, tackle Doug Bobo, end Leroy Bolden, halfback Leo Boyd, halfback Bob Breniff, guard Hank Bullough, guard Rex Corless, halfback Don Cutler, tackle Paul Dekker, end Don Dohoney, end Rollie Dotsch, guard/tackle Ellis Duckett, end Jim Ellis, safety Chuck Fairbanks Larry Fowler, tackle Al Fracassa, quarterback Chuck Frank, tackle Don Kauth, end Joe Klein, tackle Frank Kush, guard Gene Lekenta, fullback Ed Luke, end Don McAuliffe, halfback Jack Morgan, tackle Morley Murphy, tackle Jim Neal, center Dick Panin, fullback Vince Pisano, halfback Bill Quinlin, end Don Schiesswohl, guard Gordon Serr, guard Evan Slonac, fullback Dick Tamburo, center Willie Thrower, quarterback Ed Timmerman, fullback Ray Vogt, halfback Doug Weaver, center Billy Wells, halfback John Wilson, halfback Johnny Wilson, quarterback Tom Yewcic, quarterback Bert Zagers, halfback Spartans in Strange Role as Game Favorite Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton September 26, 1952 29 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99041259/spartans-in-strange-role-as-game/ Newspapers.com Coaching staff Head coach: Biggie Munn Assistant coaches: Duffy Daugherty, Dan Devine, Earle Edwards, Dewey King, Steve Sebo 1953 NFL draft Michigan State Spartans Player Position Round Pick NFL club Paul DekkerEnd3 27 Washington RedskinsDick TamburoCenter4 47 Cleveland BrownsEd TimmermanBack14 160 Washington RedskinsJim EllisBack25 299 Cleveland Browns https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1953.htm 1953 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com July 28, 2013 October 30, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101030104143/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1953.htm dead References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:College football undefeated seasons Michigan State Spartans football