American college football season
The 1954 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College in the 1954 Big Ten Conference football season . In their second season in the Big Ten Conference and their first season under head coach Duffy Daugherty ,[ 1] the Spartans compiled a 3–6 overall record and 1–5 against Big Ten opponents.[ 2] [ 3]
The Spartans' prospects were diminished when their best back, Leroy Bolden, was injured in the early in the 1954 season.[ 4] Michigan State tackle Randy Schrecengost was selected as a first-team player on the 1954 All-Big Ten Conference football team .[ 5]
The 1954 Spartans won one of their three annual rivalry games. In the annual Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry game, the Spartans defeated the Hoosiers by a 21 to 14 score to give Daugherty his first victory as head coach. In the Notre Dame rivalry game , the Spartans lost by only one point, 20-19, to a Fighting Irish team that finished the season ranked #4 in the final AP Poll .[ 6] And, in the annual Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry game, the Spartans lost by a 33 to 7 score.[ 7]
In non-conference play, the Spartans routed Washington State by a 54 to 6 score,[ 8] and concluded their season with a 40-10 victory over Marquette.[ 9]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance September 25 at No. 12 Iowa No. 7 L 10–1450,000
October 2 No. 5 Wisconsin No. 13 L 0–651,194
October 9 at Indiana W 21–1427,411
October 16 at No. 8 Notre Dame * L 19–2067,238
October 23 No. 13 Purdue Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI L 13–2752,619
October 30 at Minnesota L 13–1963,575
November 6 Washington State * Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI W 54–645,849
November 13 at Michigan L 7–3397,239
November 20 Marquette * Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI W 40–1039,354
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 10]
Roster
References
^ "MSC Names New Coach" . The Daily Sun, San Bernardino, Calif . January 16, 1954. p. 19.
^ "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Michigan State University. pp. 146, 154. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017 .
^ "1954 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2017 .
^ "Daugherty To Speak at Elks' Grid Banquet" . The News Palladium . November 17, 1954. p. 18.
^ "Editors Pick Big Ten Squad" . Daily Illini . November 23, 1954. p. 9.
^ "Notre Dame noses Spartans, 20-19, in Rain" . The Independent Record, Helena, Montana . October 17, 1954. p. 8.
^ "Michigan Thumps MSC" . Independent Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif . November 14, 1954. p. E6.
^ "Michigan State Massacres Washington State, 54 to 6" . San Bernardino Sun Telegram . November 7, 1954. p. 46.
^ "Michigan State Rocks Marquette By 40-10 Score" . The Pantagraph . November 21, 1954. p. 14.
^ "1954 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results" .
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