2010 Michigan State Spartans football team
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University
in the Big Ten Conference
during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
. Head coach
Mark Dantonio
was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium
in East Lansing, Michigan
, U.S.
In the hours following the Spartans' September 18, 2010 victory over Notre Dame
, Coach Dantonio suffered a heart attack for which he was hospitalized, and received a coronary stent
. His recovery was complicated by the subsequent development of a blood clot in his leg. While he recovered, offensive coordinator
Don Treadwell stepped in as acting head coach, leading the Spartans against Northern Colorado
and Wisconsin
. Dantonio resumed his head coaching duties for the sixth game of the season against Michigan
, although he coached that game and the next week's game against Illinois
from the press box instead of the head coach's traditional place on the sidelines. He returned to the sidelines for MSU's road win against Northwestern
.
The Spartans finished the regular season with eleven wins (the most in school history), one loss, and secured their first share of the Big Ten Championship in twenty years.
The Spartans rushing attack was the theme of the day. To open up the scoring, Edwin Baker scampered for 28 yards for a TD. WMU responded with 1-yd TD pass from Alex Carder to Juan Nunez on 4th down. The Spartans would strike early in the 2nd quarter when QB Kirk Cousins hit QB turned WR Keith Nichol on a 20-yd TD pass.
Both offenses then struggled until late in the 2nd quarter when true freshmen Le'Veon Bell broke a 75-yd run. The drive ended with a 7-yd Edwin Baker TD run and the following Spartan drive ended with a 2-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell. MSU drove down the field at the beginning of the 3rd quarter which ended with an 18-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell.
WMU would score once more with 2-yd TD reception Blake Hammond and that would be it offensively for the Broncos. The Spartans would add a field goal by Dan Conroy and walk away with a season opening win.
Le'Veon Bell became the first freshman running back at Michigan State to rush for more than 100 yards in his opening game. He finished with 141 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD's. Edwin Baker also had over 100 yards with 117 yards on 17 carries with 2 TD's.
With Coach Dantonio out for a second week following his heart attack, Michigan State hosted eventual co-champs Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium in the conference opener. MSU rolled up 444 yards of offense on the Badgers in a 34-24 win. The Spartans took the lead for good with 8:11 left in the 2nd quarter when Keshawn Martin returned a punt 74 yards for a TD. A clock-draining 15-play TD drive late in the 4th quarter put MSU up by 10 and set the tone for the rest of the Big Ten season.
In week 6, Michigan hosted their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans for the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy
. This year's meeting marked the 103rd game between the two schools. This was only the second time in the history of the rivalry that both teams enter the game undefeated. The last time was in 1999 when MSU beat Michigan 34–31 in East Lansing. The only score of the first quarter was Michigan's 34 yard field goal. In the second quarter Michigan State responded with a 61 yard rushing touchdown by Edwin Baker
. Michigan took the lead minutes later with a 12 yard catch by Martell Webb. The Spartans responded with a 41 yard run by Le'Veon Bell. They added to their lead with a 38 yard field goal by Dan Conroy just before halftime. MSU built on their lead in the third quarter with 2 touchdowns: first a 41 yard catch by Mark Dell, and an 8 yard rush by Larry Caper. Michigan's only points of the second half came on a 4 yard rushing TD by Denard Robinson. Michigan State sealed their win with a 28 yard field goal midway through the fourth. Denard Robinson had perhaps his worst game throwing three interceptions and being held to only 84 yards rushing.
With this win, Michigan State has defeated Michigan three years in a row, the first time that Michigan State has accomplished that since 1965–67.
Michigan State came back from a 3–6 deficit while not allowing any second half points to defeat the Illini by 20 points and advance to 7–0 for the first time since 1966, the year they won the national championship.
The Spartans found themselves down 17–0 late in the first half, before Kirk Cousins found Mark Dell for a touchdown with 2:34 to go in the second quarter to make it a 17–7 game at halftime. With a ten point deficit early in the fourth quarter, the Spartans were situated with a 4th and 6 at the Northwestern 30 yd line, but out of field goal range because of a heavy wind. After calling a timeout and taking a delay of game, MSU went out in punt formation. After punter Aaron Bates received the snap, he faked the punt and threw a 15 yd pass to Bennie Fowler for a first down. During the post game interview, Coach Dantonio was asked about the play, when he replied "That's called Mousetrap, and we let 'em take the cheese." The Spartans scored on a Kirk Cousins pass on the next play to make it 24–21. After a Northwestern field goal, the Spartans drove 88 yards in five minutes to take the lead 28–27. The Wildcats went four and out on their next possession, but had another chance to tie the game after Edwin Baker ran for a 25 yd touchdown with a minute left to make it 35–27. However, Michigan State's Eric Gordon intercepted the ball two plays later to ice the game.
The Spartans overcame a 15-point deficit to secure their first 7 win undefeated home season.
The Spartans secured a share of the Big Ten title, their first conference championship since 1990.
.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for...
. Head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, U.S.
In the hours following the Spartans' September 18, 2010 victory over Notre Dame
2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2010 college football season. The team's head football coach was Brian Kelly. The Irish played their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana...
, Coach Dantonio suffered a heart attack for which he was hospitalized, and received a coronary stent
Coronary stent
A coronary stent is a tube placed in the coronary arteries that supply the heart, to keep the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart disease. It is used in a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention...
. His recovery was complicated by the subsequent development of a blood clot in his leg. While he recovered, offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Don Treadwell stepped in as acting head coach, leading the Spartans against Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
and Wisconsin
2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium...
. Dantonio resumed his head coaching duties for the sixth game of the season against Michigan
2010 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the Big Ten Conference. The season was the first since the renovation of...
, although he coached that game and the next week's game against Illinois
2010 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2010 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2010 college football season. The Fighting Illini, led by sixth-year head coach Ron Zook, are members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Memorial Stadium...
from the press box instead of the head coach's traditional place on the sidelines. He returned to the sidelines for MSU's road win against Northwestern
2010 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2010 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his fifth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois...
.
The Spartans finished the regular season with eleven wins (the most in school history), one loss, and secured their first share of the Big Ten Championship in twenty years.
Roster
| (as of 12/06/2010) | ||||||
Quarterbacks
Wide receivers
Running backs
|
Offensive line
Tight ends
|
Defensive line
Linebackers
|
Defensive backs
Punters
Place kickers
Long snappers
|
|||
Season
Michigan State came into the 2010 season after a 6–7 (4–4 Big Ten) 2009 campaign which saw the team qualify for its third straight bowl game, something that had not occurred since the 1995–97 seasons.Schedule
Western Michigan
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 9–2 | 2009 | MSU, 49–14 |
The Spartans rushing attack was the theme of the day. To open up the scoring, Edwin Baker scampered for 28 yards for a TD. WMU responded with 1-yd TD pass from Alex Carder to Juan Nunez on 4th down. The Spartans would strike early in the 2nd quarter when QB Kirk Cousins hit QB turned WR Keith Nichol on a 20-yd TD pass.
Both offenses then struggled until late in the 2nd quarter when true freshmen Le'Veon Bell broke a 75-yd run. The drive ended with a 7-yd Edwin Baker TD run and the following Spartan drive ended with a 2-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell. MSU drove down the field at the beginning of the 3rd quarter which ended with an 18-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell.
WMU would score once more with 2-yd TD reception Blake Hammond and that would be it offensively for the Broncos. The Spartans would add a field goal by Dan Conroy and walk away with a season opening win.
Le'Veon Bell became the first freshman running back at Michigan State to rush for more than 100 yards in his opening game. He finished with 141 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD's. Edwin Baker also had over 100 yards with 117 yards on 17 carries with 2 TD's.
Florida Atlantic
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1–0 | 2008 | MSU, 17–0 |
Notre Dame
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 27–45–1 | 2009 | ND, 33–30 |
Northern Colorado
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 0–0 | 1st meeting |
Wisconsin
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 27–21 | 2009 | WIS, 38–30 |
With Coach Dantonio out for a second week following his heart attack, Michigan State hosted eventual co-champs Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium in the conference opener. MSU rolled up 444 yards of offense on the Badgers in a 34-24 win. The Spartans took the lead for good with 8:11 left in the 2nd quarter when Keshawn Martin returned a punt 74 yards for a TD. A clock-draining 15-play TD drive late in the 4th quarter put MSU up by 10 and set the tone for the rest of the Big Ten season.
Michigan
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 30–67–5 | 2009 | MSU, 26–20 |
In week 6, Michigan hosted their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans for the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy
Paul Bunyan Trophy
The Paul Bunyan–Governor of Michigan Trophy is a college rivalry trophy awarded to the winner of the annual American football game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines. The winner retains possession of the trophy until the next year's game...
. This year's meeting marked the 103rd game between the two schools. This was only the second time in the history of the rivalry that both teams enter the game undefeated. The last time was in 1999 when MSU beat Michigan 34–31 in East Lansing. The only score of the first quarter was Michigan's 34 yard field goal. In the second quarter Michigan State responded with a 61 yard rushing touchdown by Edwin Baker
Edwin Baker
Edwin Albert Baker, was a Canadian co-founder of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind ....
. Michigan took the lead minutes later with a 12 yard catch by Martell Webb. The Spartans responded with a 41 yard run by Le'Veon Bell. They added to their lead with a 38 yard field goal by Dan Conroy just before halftime. MSU built on their lead in the third quarter with 2 touchdowns: first a 41 yard catch by Mark Dell, and an 8 yard rush by Larry Caper. Michigan's only points of the second half came on a 4 yard rushing TD by Denard Robinson. Michigan State sealed their win with a 28 yard field goal midway through the fourth. Denard Robinson had perhaps his worst game throwing three interceptions and being held to only 84 yards rushing.
With this win, Michigan State has defeated Michigan three years in a row, the first time that Michigan State has accomplished that since 1965–67.
Illinois
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 24–17–2 | 2009 | MSU, 24–14 |
Michigan State came back from a 3–6 deficit while not allowing any second half points to defeat the Illini by 20 points and advance to 7–0 for the first time since 1966, the year they won the national championship.
Northwestern
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 34–16 | 2009 | MSU, 24–14 |
The Spartans found themselves down 17–0 late in the first half, before Kirk Cousins found Mark Dell for a touchdown with 2:34 to go in the second quarter to make it a 17–7 game at halftime. With a ten point deficit early in the fourth quarter, the Spartans were situated with a 4th and 6 at the Northwestern 30 yd line, but out of field goal range because of a heavy wind. After calling a timeout and taking a delay of game, MSU went out in punt formation. After punter Aaron Bates received the snap, he faked the punt and threw a 15 yd pass to Bennie Fowler for a first down. During the post game interview, Coach Dantonio was asked about the play, when he replied "That's called Mousetrap, and we let 'em take the cheese." The Spartans scored on a Kirk Cousins pass on the next play to make it 24–21. After a Northwestern field goal, the Spartans drove 88 yards in five minutes to take the lead 28–27. The Wildcats went four and out on their next possession, but had another chance to tie the game after Edwin Baker ran for a 25 yd touchdown with a minute left to make it 35–27. However, Michigan State's Eric Gordon intercepted the ball two plays later to ice the game.
Iowa
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 18–21–2 | 2009 | Iowa, 15–13 |
Minnesota
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 25–17 | 2009 | MINN, 42–34 |
Purdue
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 31–28–3 | 2009 | MSU, 40–37 |
The Spartans overcame a 15-point deficit to secure their first 7 win undefeated home season.
Penn State
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 12–14–1 | 2009 | PSU, 42–14 |
The Spartans secured a share of the Big Ten title, their first conference championship since 1990.
Capital One Bowl vs. Alabama
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 0–0 | 1st meeting | - |
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | RV | 25 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 14 | ||||
| Coaches | RV | 23 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 14 | |||
| Harris | Not released | 8 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||
| BCS | Not released | 5 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||
2011 NFL Draft
The following players were selected in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL Team |
| Greg Jones | 6 | 185 | Linebacker | New York Giants 2011 New York Giants season The 2011 New York Giants season is the 87th season for the team in the National Football League. The Giants finished with a 10–6 record in 2010 however they missed the playoffs... |
| Chris L. Rucker Chris L. Rucker Chris L. Rucker is an American football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.-External links:**... |
6 | 188 | Cornerback | Indianapolis Colts 2011 Indianapolis Colts season The 2011 Indianapolis Colts season is the franchise's 59th season in the National Football League, the 28th in Indianapolis and the third under head coach Jim Caldwell. The Colts are coming off a 10–6 record in 2010 and a second consecutive AFC South championship, as well as a ninth consecutive... |
See also
- Michigan State SpartansMichigan State SpartansThe Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
- Michigan State Spartans footballMichigan State Spartans footballThe Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...