1973 Michigan State Spartans football team

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]

1973 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1973 record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coachDenny Stolz (1st season)
CaptainMichael Holt, John Shinsky
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(Capacity: 76,000)
1973 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 2 Ohio State + 7 –0 –1  10 –0 –1
No. 6 Michigan + 7 –0 –1  10 –0 –1
Minnesota 6 –2 –0  7 –4 –0
Illinois 4 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Michigan State 4 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Purdue 4 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Northwestern 4 –4 –0  4 –7 –0
Wisconsin 3 –5 –0  4 –7 –0
Indiana 0 –8 –0  2 –9 –0
Iowa 0 –8 –0  0 –11 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 15at Northwestern
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL
L 10–14
September 22at Syracuse*
W 14–8
September 29No. 17 UCLA*
L 21–34
October 6at No. 8 Notre Dame*
L 10–14
October 13No. 5 Michigan
L 0–31
October 20Illinois
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 3–6
October 27at Purdue
W 10–7
November 3Wisconsin
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 21–0
November 10at No. 1 Ohio State
L 0–35
November 17Indiana
W 10–9
November 24at Iowa
W 15–6
  • *Non-conference game
  • 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
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    References
    1. "Michigan State Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
    2. "2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 146. 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.


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