1976 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record4–6–1 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorBob Padilla (1st season)
MVPRich Baes
CaptainRich Baes, Tommy Hannon
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
1976 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Michigan + 7 –1 –010 –2 –0
No. 6 Ohio State + 7 –1 –09 –2 –1
Minnesota 4 –4 –06 –5 –0
Illinois 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Indiana 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Purdue 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Iowa 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
Wisconsin 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
Michigan State 3 –5 –04 –6 –1
Northwestern 1 –7 –01 –10 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 Michigan State Spartans football team is an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled a 4–6–1 overall record (3–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference.[1][2]

Seven Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) for the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: tight end Mike Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Tommy Hannon (AP-1, UPI-1); flanker Kirk Gibson (AP-2, UPI-2); center Al Pitts (AP-2, UPI-2); defensive tackle Larry Bethea (AP-2, UPI-2); offensive tackle Tony Bruggenthies (AP-2); and defensive end Otto Smith (UPI-2).[3][4]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 11at No. 4 Ohio State
L 21–4986,509
September 18Wyoming*
W 21–1057,183
September 25at NC State*
T 31–3138,300
October 2No. 18 Notre Dame*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
L 6–2477,081
October 9at No. 1 Michigan
L 10–42104,211
October 16Minnesotadagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 10–1456,166
October 23at Illinois
W 31–2352,680
October 30Purdue
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 45–1352,222
November 6Indiana
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 23–050,376
November 13at Northwestern
L 21–4215,204
November 20Iowa
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 17–3048,412
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 5: Michigan State at Michigan
1 234Total
Michigan State 10 000 10
• Michigan 14 1477 42
Scoring summary
1MSUNielsen 24-yard field goalMSU 3-0
1MICHLytle 75-yard run (Wood kick)MICH 7-3
1MICHHuckleby 38-yard run (Wood kick)MICH 14-3
1MSUBrammer 10-yard pass from E. Smith (Nielsen kick)MICH 14-10
2MICHLeach 3-yard run (Wood kick)MICH 21-10
2MICHHuckleby 1-yard run (Wood kick)MICH 28-10
3MICHHuckleby 2-yard run (Wood kick)MICH 35-10
4MICHZuver 60-yard interception return (Wood kick)MICH 42-10

On October 9, 1976, Michigan State played its cross-state rival Michigan in the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines had won six straight games with the last victory for the Spartans dating back to 1969. Michigan extended the streak to seven games with a 42-10 victory at Michigan Stadium.[5] Michigan's 42 points was the most it had scored against Michigan State since 1947.[6]

Fullback Rob Lytle rushed for 180 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard gain on a fake punt and a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After the game, Bo Schembechler said of Lytle, "If that guy isn't an All-American, I don't know who is."[7] Lytle added, "All backs like to break away on a long one like that. It was the longest run I've had at Michigan. In fact, I think this was my biggest day ever."[7] Harlan Huckleby rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Russell Davis added 91 yards on 13 carries. In all, the Wolverines rushed for 442 yards on 62 carries against the Spartans. Quarterback Rick Leach completed five of seven passes for 93 yards and rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries.[5] Wolfman Jerry Zuver scored Michigan's final touchdown on a 60-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.[6]

In the AP Poll released on the Monday after the game, Michigan retained its #1 ranking with 57 out of 60 first-place votes and 1,194 points out of a possible 1,200 points. Pittsburgh was ranked #2 with the remaining three first-place votes.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Michigan State Yearly Results (1975-1979)". 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. ↑ "Michigan, Ohio State Pace All-Big Ten Team". Toledo Blade (AP story). December 3, 1976. p. 27.
  4. ↑ "Illini place two on All-Big 10". The Pantagraph. November 24, 1976. p. A11.
  5. 1 2 "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2012.(To retrieve team statistics, enter the applicable year in the "Enter Year" box under the heading "Games & Totals by Season." Press "Display Season." At the next prompt, click the box for "Michigan State" and then click icon for "Display Chosen Game Stats".)
  6. 1 2 "Michigan Romps Over Mich. State". The New York Times. October 10, 1976.
  7. 1 2 "Michigan runs away from Spartans, 42-10". Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon. October 10, 1976. p. 8C.
  8. ↑ "Terps Fifth As Michigan Remains No. 1". The News and Courier (AP story). October 12, 1976. p. 1-C.
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