2011 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 2011 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Mark Dantonio was in his fifth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in Big Ten play to be champions of the Legends Division. They represented the division in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game where they lost to Leaders Division representative Wisconsin 39–42. They were invited to the Outback Bowl where they defeated Georgia 33–30 in three overtimes. Significantly, the Spartans were able to give 19 of their 20 true freshman redshirt years.

2011 Michigan State Spartans football
Big Ten Legends Division champion
Outback Bowl champion
Outback Bowl, W 33–30 3OT vs. Georgia
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionLegends Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 10
APNo. 11
Record11–3 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDan Roushar (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorPat Narduzzi (5th season)
CaptainKirk Cousins
Joel Foreman
Trenton Robinson
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(Capacity: 75,005)
2011 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Legends Division
No. 11 Michigan State x  7 1   11 3  
No. 12 Michigan %  6 2   11 2  
No. 24 Nebraska  5 3   9 4  
Iowa  4 4   7 6  
Northwestern  3 5   6 7  
Minnesota  2 6   3 9  
Leaders Division
No. 10 Wisconsin xy$  6 2   11 3  
Penn State x  6 2   9 4  
Purdue  4 4   7 6  
Ohio State  3 5   6 7  
Illinois  2 6   7 6  
Indiana  0 8   1 11  
Championship: Wisconsin 42, Michigan State 39
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

[1]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:30 p.m.Youngstown State*No. 17BTNW 28–675,910[2]
September 1012:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic*No. 17
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ESPN2W 44–070,249[3]
September 173:30 p.m.at Notre Dame*No. 15NBCL 13–3180,795[4]
September 2412:00 p.m.Central Michigan*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ESPNUW 45–772,119[5]
October 13:30 p.m.at Ohio StateABCW 10–7105,306[6]
October 1512:00 p.m.No. 11 MichiganNo. 23
ESPNW 28–1477,515[7]
October 228:00 p.m.No. 4 WisconsindaggerNo. 15
ESPNW 37–3176,405[8]
October 2912:00 p.m.at No. 13 NebraskaNo. 9ESPNL 3–2485,641[9]
November 512:00 p.m.MinnesotaNo. 15
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
BTNW 31–2472,219[10]
November 1212:00 p.m.at IowaNo. 13ESPN2W 37–2170,585[11]
November 1912:00 p.m.IndianaNo. 12
BTNW 55–374,128[12]
November 2612:00 p.m.at NorthwesternNo. 11BTNW 31–1732,172[13]
December 38:00 p.m.vs. No. 15 WisconsinNo. 11FOXL 39–4264,152[14]
January 2, 20121:00 p.m.vs. No. 18 Georgia*No. 12ABCW 33–30 3OT49,429[15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Youngstown State

[16]

Youngstown State at Michigan State
1 234Total
Youngstown State 0 600 6
Michigan State 0 1477 28
  • Date: September 2
  • Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
  • Game start: 7:38 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:11
  • Game attendance: 75,910
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Wind 3 mph (4.8 km/h) SW, Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Alex Kamp
  • TV announcers (BTN):
    Tom Hart (Play-by-Play)
    Derek Rackley (Analyst)
    Lisa Byington (Sideline)
Michigan State vs. Youngstown State

Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic at Michigan State
1 234Total
Florida Atlantic 0 000 0
Michigan State 14 13710 44

The Spartans earned their first shutout since 2008, which was also against FAU in a 17–0 win.

Notre Dame

Michigan State at Notre Dame
(Megaphone Trophy)
1 234Total
Michigan State 3 703 13
Notre Dame 14 773 31

Central Michigan

Central Michigan at Michigan State
1 234Total
Central Michigan 0 070 7
Michigan State 7 2477 45
  • Date: September 24
  • Location:
    Spartan Stadium
    East Lansing, MI
  • Game start: 12:01 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:07
  • Game attendance: 72,119
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Wind 5 mph (8.0 km/h) SSE, Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: Todd Geerlings
  • TV announcers (ESPNU):
    Pam Ward (Play-by-Play)
    Dan Hawkins (Analyst)

Ohio State

Michigan State at Ohio State
1 234Total
Michigan State 7 003 10
Ohio State 0 007 7

The Spartans were 16 seconds from their 2nd shutout of the year, but a touchdown pass put the Buckeyes on the board. Michigan State recovered the onside kick securing the victory, their first against Ohio State in 7 meetings.

Michigan

Michigan at Michigan State
(Paul Bunyan Trophy)
1 234Total
Michigan 7 007 14
Michigan State 7 0147 28

Mark Dantonio and his Spartans earned their fourth straight victory over arch-rival Michigan. MSU's defense shut down quarterback Denard Robinson and sealed the victory on safety Isaiah Lewis' interception return for a touchdown. The Spartans wore unique Nike Pro Combat uniforms for the game.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin at Michigan State
1 234Total
Wisconsin 14 0314 31
Michigan State 0 23014 37

Michigan State found themselves down 14–0 early in the first quarter after two quick Wisconsin drives. Momentum turned at the beginning of the second quarter, when Russell Wilson committed an intentional grounding penalty in the endzone, resulting in a safety and two points for the Spartans. A subsequent touchdown made the score 14–9 UW. On Wisconsin's next possession, they marched down to the Michigan State 13-yard line, but their field goal attempt was blocked. MSU recovered and drove down the field to make it 16–14 MSU. With the second quarter clock running down, Wisconsin punted it away, but this too was blocked and recovered in the endzone for a Michigan State touchdown, making the halftime score 23–14 Spartans.
With 8:40 to play in the 4th quarter, the Badgers found themselves down 31–17. A quick score made it 31–24. The teams traded possessions and Wisconsin got the ball back with 4:28 to play. The Badgers marched down the field once again and tied the game at 31–31 with 1:26 to play.
Michigan State started the next drive at their own 22. After a first down QB Kirk Cousins was sacked for a ten-yard loss, and Wisconsin then called a timeout with 00:42 left. Following a twelve-yard pass to make a 3rd and 8 situation, it appeared Michigan State was willing to let the clock run out and take the game into overtime. However, Wisconsin called timeout again with 00:30 left. The Spartans completed passes of 11 and 9 yards on their next two plays to get to the Wisconsin 44-yard line and then called timeout with 00:10 to go. After an incomplete pass four seconds remained on the clock.
Michigan State lined up in a shotgun formation. Kirk Cousins took the snap and rolled out to the right before launching a Hail Mary to the endzone. Waiting there was BJ Cunningham, but he was screened by Wisconsin player Jared Abbrederis who had jumped too early to try to deflect the ball. The ball made it to Cunningham but went off his facemask, bouncing into the hands of Keith Nichol who was at the one-yard line. As Nichol fought to cross the goal line, he was met by two Badgers attempting to keep him out. After the whistles blew, the officials marked the ball at the one foot line, sending the game to overtime as the clock had run out. Then a call came down from the review booth to look at the play again on replay. After review, the officials found "The runner did cross the line", and Spartan Stadium erupted in celebration.
In the post game interview on the field, Dantonio was asked what the play call was, replying with "It's a Rocket play. You know, throw it in the endzone, let it be tipped around and see who comes up with it." It was the third game in two years to be labeled by a play name, with Rocket joining the 2010 games of Little Giants (Notre Dame fake field goal) and Mousetrap (Northwestern fake punt).

Nebraska

Michigan State at Nebraska
1 234Total
Michigan State 0 300 3
Nebraska 10 0140 24

Minnesota

Minnesota at Michigan State
1 234Total
Minnesota 14 370 24
Michigan State 7 14010 31

Iowa

Michigan State at Iowa
1 234Total
Michigan State 14 1733 37
Iowa 0 7140 21
  • Source:

The Spartans earned their first victory in Kinnick Stadium since 1989.

Indiana

Indiana at Michigan State
(Old Brass Spittoon)
1 234Total
Indiana 0 300 3
Michigan State 17 17147 55
  • Date: November 19
  • Location:
    Spartan Stadium
    East Lansing, MI
  • Game start: 12:01 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:05
  • Game attendance: 74,128
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), Wind 15 mph (24 km/h) SSW, Overcast
  • Referee: Bill LeMonnier
  • TV announcers (BTN):
    Eric Collins (Sideline)
    Chris Martin (Analyst)
    Dionne Miller (Sideline)

Win clinched at least share of Legends Division. The title became outright later in the day when Michigan defeated Nebraska.

Northwestern

Michigan State at Northwestern
1 234Total
Michigan State 3 1477 31
Northwestern 0 377 17
  • Date: November 26
  • Location:
    Ryan Field
    Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 12:01 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 32,172
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), Wind 13 mph (21 km/h) SSW, Light Rain
  • Referee: Dan Capron
  • TV announcers (BTN):
    Eric Collins (Play-by-Play)
    Chris Martin (Analyst)
    Dionne Miller (Sideline)

Michigan State secured sole possession of the Legends Division championship with the victory.

Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game)

Wisconsin vs Michigan State
(Big Ten Championship Game)
1 234Total
Wisconsin 21 0714 42
Michigan State 7 2273 39

Georgia (Outback Bowl)

Michigan State vs Georgia
(Outback Bowl)
1 234OT2OT3OTTotal
Michigan State 0 01413033 33
Georgia 2 14011030 30
  • Source:

The Spartans played their first overtime game since Notre Dame in 2010, and their first triple overtime game since 2004. Prior to overtime, the Spartans had a ten-play, 85-yard drive that tied the game at 27 with nineteen seconds left and sent the game into overtime. In the first overtime, Kirk Cousins threw an interception to end MSU's possession, but Georgia kicker Blair Walsh missed a 42-yard field goal to allow the game to continue into a second extra period. The teams traded field goals in the second overtime, and Michigan State opened the third overtime with a 28-yard field goal by Dan Conroy. On the final play of the game, Walsh's 47-yard kick was blocked by Anthony Rashad White, giving the Spartans a 33–30 victory. It was Coach Dantonio's first bowl victory with Michigan State, and Michigan State's first bowl victory since the 2001 Silicon Valley Bowl.

Roster

2011 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
C 66 Jack Allen Fr
FB 42 Todd Anderson Sr
QB 12 Peter Badovinac Jr
RB 4 Edwin Baker Jr
RB 24 Le'Veon Bell So
FB 45 Jeff Bobek Jr
OT 70 Skyler Burkland  Fr
WR 11 Juwan Caesar Fr
RB 22 Larry Caper Jr
TE 85 Garrett Celek Sr
OL 76 Donavon Clark Fr
OT 73 Henry Conway So
QB 18 Connor Cook Fr
QB 8 Kirk Cousins Sr
WR 3 B. J. Cunningham Sr
OT 65 Michael Dennis  Fr
G 71 John Deyo Jr
OT 51 Fou Fonoti Jr
G 67 Joel Foreman Sr
WR 13 Bennie Fowler So
OT 59 Dan France So
TE 92 Andrew Gleichert  Fr
RB 20 Nick Hill  Fr
TE 84 Derek Hoebing So
G 74 Zach Hueter Jr
C 63 Travis Jackson  Fr
OL 69 Shawn Kamm  Fr
C 72 Nate Klatt So
OL 54 Connor Kruse  Fr
WR 23 Takudzwa Kubvoruno Fr
TE 83 Paul Lang Fr
TE 88 Brian Linthicum Sr
G 53 Kyle Lints Fr
WR 82 Keshawn Martin Sr
QB 10 Andrew Maxwell So
G 62 Chris McDonald Jr
OT 75 Jared McGaha Sr
WR 25 Keith Mumphery  Fr
WR 7 Keith Nichol Sr
WR 17 Kyle Nichol So
FB 38 Niko Palazeti  Fr
FB 37 Trevon Pendleton Fr
G 73 Arthur Ray Jr. Sr
WR 16 Chris D. Rucker Sr
C 68 Ethan Ruhland Jr
FB 47 Adam Setterbo Sr
TE 80 Dion Sims So
WR 21 Andre Sims Jr. Fr
WR 81 Brad Sonntag Sr
TE 48 Drew Stevens Jr
C/OG 64 Blake Treadwell Jr
QB 19 A.J. Troup Fr
QB 16 Tommy Vento Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 5 Johnny Adams Jr
LB 28 Denicos Allen So
LB 40 Max Bullough So
DE 94 Taylor Calero  Fr
DE 89 Shilique Calhoun Fr
DL 87 Brandon Clemons Fr
CB 36 Arjen Colquhoun Fr
DT 65 Doug Curtis Jr
LB 54 Nestor Padilla Fr
CB 31 Darqueze Dennard So
CB 12 Dana Dixon So
DE 52 Denzel Drone So
S 27 Kurtis Drummond  Fr
DB 29 Spencer Elliott Fr
LB 41 Kyler Elsworth So
S 19 Danny Folino So
DE 55 Corey Freeman Jr
LB 47 Jeremy Gainer So
LB 50 Steve Gardiner Jr
LB 2 William Gholston So
LB 42 Ty Hamilton  Fr
LB 49 TyQuan Hammock So
LB 45 Darien Harris Fr
DE 92 Joel Heath Fr
CB 6 Mylan Hicks  Fr
DE 91 Tyler Hoover Jr
NT 61 Antonio Jeremiah Jr
S 23 Jairus Jones So
LB 34 Taiwan Jones Fr
DL 81 James Kittredge So
DE 93 Damon Knox Fr
DB 35 Chris Laneaux Fr
CB 33 Jeremy Langford  Fr
S 9 Isaiah Lewis So
CB 14 Tony Lippett  Fr
LB 10 Chris Norman Jr
DL 69 Blake Pacheco Sr
NT 96 Kevin Pickelman Sr
DT 56 Matt Ramondo Fr
NT 60 Micajah Reynolds So
LB 48 Pat Rhomberg Fr
S 39 Trenton Robinson Sr
LB 54 Nestor Padilla  Fr
NT 58 Jordan Sanders  Fr
DT 97 Mark Scarpinato Fr
DT 57 Jonathan Strayhorn Sr
LB 8 Lawrence Thomas Fr
CB 15 Trae Waynes Fr
NT 98 Anthony Rashad White Jr
CB 32 Mitchell White Jr
S 26 R.J. Williamson Fr
DT 99 Jerel Worthy Jr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 4 Dan Conroy Jr
LS 58 Matt Giampapa Fr
LS 51 Steve Moore So
K 17 Kevin Muma So
P 3 Mike Sadler  Fr
P 20 Kyle Selden Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Pat NarduzziDefensive Coordinator
  • Dan RousharOffensive Coordinator
  • Harlon BarnettSecondary
  • Ted Gill – Defensive Line
  • Brad Salem – Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Terrence Samuel – Wide Receivers
  • Mark Staten – Offensive Line
  • Mike TresselLinebackers/Special Teams
  • Dave Warner – Quarterbacks

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP171715RVRVRV2315915131211111211
Coaches1716152325201913101613121091310
HarrisNot released221511171312111113Not released
BCSNot released1611171715141317Not released

References

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