1987 Michigan State Spartans football team
American college football season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1987 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 9–2–1 record (7–0–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 241 to 136, and won the Big Ten championship. They defeated USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP and UPI polls. It was the program's first top 10 finish since 1966.
| 1987 Michigan State Spartans football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten champion Rose Bowl champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 8 |
| AP | No. 8 |
| Record | 9–2–1 (7–0–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Morris Watts (2nd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Nick Saban (5th season) |
| Base defense | Stunt 4–3 |
| MVP | Lorenzo White |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Michigan State $ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 Iowa | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Michigan | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 218.3 rushing yards and 88.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to an average of 56.3 rushing yards and 150.5 passing yards per game.[1]
Running back Lorenzo White tallied 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 322 attempts, an average of 4.5 yards per carry.[1] He was a consensus All-American,[2] finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's most valuable player.[3] He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[4]
Other statistical leaders included quarterback Bobby McAllister (67 of 132 passing, 50.8%, for 1,042 yards), wide receiver Andre Rison (32 receptions, 694 yards, 21.7 yards per reception), and linebacker Todd Krumm (nine interceptions).[1] Seven Michigan State players received first-team honors on the 1987 All-Big Ten Conference football team: White; Krumm; offensive tackle Tony Mandarich; center Pat Shurmur; linebacker Percy Snow; defensive back John Miller; and punter Greg Montgomery. Rison was named to the second team.[5][6] Mandarich was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and head coach George Perles was selected by the conference coaches as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.[7]
The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans played the first night game ever at the stadium on September 7, 1987.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 19 USC* | ABC | W 27–13 | 77,922 | [8] | ||
| September 19 | 7:45 p.m. | at No. 9 Notre Dame* | No. 17 | ESPN | L 8–31 | 59,075 | [9] | |
| September 26 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 6 Florida State* |
| L 3–31 | 76,887 | [10] | ||
| October 3 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 17 Iowa | W 19–14 | 67,700 | [11] | |||
| October 10 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 12 Michigan |
| ABC | W 17–11 | 77,424 | [12] | |
| October 17 | 2:05 p.m. | at Northwestern | No. 19 | W 38–0 | 29,113 | [13] | ||
| October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | Illinois | No. 14 |
| T 14–14 | 76,513 | [14] | |
| October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 15 Ohio State | No. 20 | ABC | W 13–7 | 89,915 | [15] | |
| November 7 | 1:00 p.m. | Purdue | No. 15 |
| W 45–3 | 76,933 | [16] | |
| November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 16 Indiana | No. 13 |
| ABC | W 27–3 | 76,411 | [17] |
| November 21 | 2:05 p.m. | at Wisconsin | No. 11 | W 30–9 | 45,385 | [18] | ||
| January 1, 1988 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. No. 16 USC* | No. 8 | NBC | W 20–17 | 103,847 | [19] | |
| ||||||||
Game summaries
USC
At Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| • Fighting Irish | 19 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
- Date: September 19
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 7:45 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Television network: ESPN
| Q1 | ND | Ezor downed ball in end zone | ND 2–0 | |
| Q1 | ND | Gradel 27 yard field goal | ND 5–0 | |
| Q1 | ND | Brown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick) | ND 12–0 | |
| Q1 | ND | Brown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick) | ND 19–0 | |
| Q2 | ND | McAllister tackled in end zone | ND 21–0 | |
| Q2 | ND | Gradel 37 yard field goal | ND 24–0 | |
| Q3 | ND | Johnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 31–0 | |
| Q4 | MSU | Rison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister) | ND 31–8 | |
Florida State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • #6 Seminoles | 0 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 31 |
| Spartans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: September 26
- Location: Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI - Game attendance: 76,887
At Iowa
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Spartans | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| #17 Hawkeyes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: October 3
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
- Game attendance: 67,699
| 1 | IOWA | Early 19-yard pass from Dan McGwire (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 | |
| 1 | Mich St | White 5-yard run (Langeloh kick) | Tied 7-7 | |
| 2 | Iowa | Watkins 14-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 14-7 | |
| 3 | KSU | Langeloh 21-yard field goal | IOWA 14-10 | |
| 3 | KSU | Langeloh 46-yard field goal | IOWA 14-13 | |
| 4 | Iowa | Sargent 8-yard pass from McAllister (pass failed) | Mich St 19-14 | |
Michigan
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Michigan St | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
- MICH - Gillette 31 FG
- MSU - White 6 Run (Langeloh kick)
- MSU - White 2 Run (Langeloh kick)
- MICH - Morris 18 D. Brown (pass good)
- MSU - Langeloh 42 FG
- Passing: MICH D. Brown 12/26, 158 Yds, TD, 7 INT, MSU McAllister 5/7, 68 Yds
- Rushing: MICH Morris 31/108, MSU White 34/185, 2 TD
- Receiving: MICH Kolesar 4/65, MSU Bouyer 2/38
At Northwestern
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan St | 10 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Dyche Stadium • Evanston, Illinois
- Date: October 17
- Game attendance: 29,113
- Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 18.
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Illinois
At Ohio State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan St | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Ohio St | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 31, 1987
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 89,915
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV: ABC
- Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Purdue
Indiana
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Michigan St | 0 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
at Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan
- Date: November 14
- Game attendance: 76,411
- [23]
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At Wisconsin
Rose Bowl vs. USC
Personnel
| 1987 Michigan State Spartans football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1988 NFL draft
The following players were selected in the 1988 NFL draft.[24] Team members Tony Mandarich, Andre Rison and Percy Snow were drafted in later years.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo White | 1 | 22 | Running back | Houston Oilers |
| Greg Montgomery | 3 | 72 | Punter | Houston Oilers |
| David Houle | 6 | 145 | Guard | New York Giants |
| Tim Moore | 8 | 206 | Linebacker | Phoenix Cardinals |
| Mark Nichols | 8 | 209 | Nose Tackle | Pittsburgh Steelers |