1977 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–3–1 (6–1–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorBob Padilla (2nd season)
MVPLarry Bethea
CaptainLarry Bethea, Al Pitts, Paul Rudzinski
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 9 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 11 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Michigan State 6 – 1 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
Indiana 4 – 3 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 7 – 5 – 0
Purdue 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 6 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Illinois 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 8 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1977 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1977 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by second-year head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–3–1 with a mark of 6–1–1 in conference play, placing third in the Big Ten.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10Purdue
W 19–1453,014
September 17Washington State*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 21–2350,263
September 24Wyoming*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 34–1656,214[1]
October 1at No. 14 Notre Dame*
L 6–1659,075
October 8No. 3 Michigan
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
L 14–2478,183
October 15at Indiana
T 13–1336,892[2]
October 22at Wisconsin
W 9–779,203
October 29Illinoisdagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 49–2070,589
November 5at Minnesota
W 29–1030,600
November 11Northwestern
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 44–361,238
November 19at Iowa
W 22–1643,700
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1977 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 91 Mark Brammer So
RB Jim Earley Sr
WR 23 Kirk Gibson Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 16 Mark Anderson So
DT 88 Larry Bethea Sr
LB 49 Dan Bass So
LB 37 Paul Rudzinski Sr
LB 57 Larry Savage So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 3 Tom Birney Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Michigan

1 234Total
• Michigan 0 10140 24
Michigan St 0 707 14
Scoring summary
Q2MSUGibson 19 yard pass from Smith (Nielsen kick)MSU 7–0
Q2MICHWhite 12 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)Tie 7–7
Q2MICHWillner 50 yard field goalMICH 10–7
Q3MICHR. Davis 3 yard run (Willner kick)MICH 17–7
Q3MICHLeach 3 yard run (Willner kick)MICH 24–7
Q4MSUEarley 11 yard run (Nielsen kick)MICH 24–14

On October 8, 1977, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 24–14, at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State took a 7-0 lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ed Smith to Kirk Gibson. Michigan responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rick Leach to White and a 50-yard field goal to take a 10–7 lead at halftime. Michigan extended its lead to 24–7 in the third quarter on touchdown runs by Russell Davis and Ed Leach. Harlan Huckleby rushed for 146 yards, and Russell Davis added 96 yards. Ralph Clayton caught three passes for 99 yards. Michigan completed four of 10 passes in the game and threw only one pass in the second half.[3]

References

  1. ^ Fred Stabley Jr. (September 25, 1977). "Spartans pass 'gut check,' 34-16". Lansing State Journal. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Stultz, Max (October 16, 1977). "I.U. Fumbles, Tumbles To 13-13 Tie With MSU". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 1, section 2. Retrieved December 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ Charlie Vincent (October 9, 1977). "U-M Struggles, 24-14". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 4E.


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