2006 Michigan State Spartans football team
American college football season
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The 2006 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach John L. Smith. Smith had compiled a combined 18–18 record in his previous seasons at Michigan State,[1] and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8.[2] The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.[3]
- John L. Smith (4th season)
| 2006 Michigan State Spartans football | |
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| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 4–8 (1–7 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Dave Baldwin (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Chris Smeland (4th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Ohio State $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Michigan % | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Wisconsin | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 Penn State | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Season recap
Michigan State teams during Smith's tenure were "known for their late season collapses".[2] The Spartans started the 2006 season with a 3–0 record with victories over Idaho, Eastern Michigan, and Pittsburgh. The following week, Michigan State led Notre Dame, 37–21, in the third quarter, but surrendered 19 points to lose the game.[2] The Spartans then lost all but one game on the remainder of their schedule.[4]
On October 21, Michigan State traveled to Evanston, Illinois to face Northwestern. By the third quarter, Northwestern had extended its lead to a commanding 38–3.[3] Michigan State gained momentum in the fourth quarter when Devin Thomas blocked a Northwestern punt, which was then returned for a touchdown by Ashton Henderson. Northwestern was forced to punt twice more and Michigan State capitalized on each possession with a touchdown, which tied the game, 38–38.[3] Placekicker Brett Swenson made good the game-winning field goal with 0:13 remaining to play, and Michigan State won the greatest comeback in college football history.[3]
After the record-setting victory, it appeared that Smith's job was temporarily secured,[3] but the administration fired him shortly after a loss to Indiana the following week.[5] The Spartans ended the season with four consecutive losses to finish with a 4–8 overall record and 1–7 against Big Ten opponents.[4] In November, Mark Dantonio was hired as the replacement head coach.[6]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Idaho* | ESPN+ | W 27–17 | 70,711 | |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan* |
| ESPN+ | W 52–20 | 69,856 |
| September 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | ABC | W 38–23 | 47,956 | |
| September 23 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 12 Notre Dame* |
| ABC | L 37–40 | 80,193 |
| September 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Illinois |
| ESPN+ | L 20–23 | 71,268 |
| October 7 | 4:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Michigan | ESPN | L 13–31 | 111,349 | |
| October 14 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Ohio State |
| ABC | L 7–38 | 73,498 |
| October 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Northwestern | ESPN+ | W 41–38 | 29,387 | |
| October 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | ESPN+ | L 21–46 | 36,444 | |
| November 4 | 3:30 p.m. | Purdue |
| ESPNU | L 15–17 | 65,398 |
| November 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Minnesota |
| ESPNU | L 18–31 | 64,807 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at Penn State | ESPN2 | L 13–17 | 108,607 | |
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Game summaries
Northwestern
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Michigan State | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 | 41 |
| Northwestern | 7 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
- Date: October 21
- Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
- Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 29,387
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play) & Kelly Stouffer (Color)
| Q1 | MSU | Swenson 32 yard field goal | MSU 3–0 | |
| Q1 | NW | Lane 5 yard pass from Bacher (Howells kick) | NW 7–3 | |
| Q2 | NW | Bacher 2 yard run (Howells kick) | NW 14–3 | |
| Q2 | NW | Howells 30 yard field goal | NW 17–3 | |
| Q2 | NW | Herbert 18 yard pass from Roberson (Howells kick) | NW 24–3 | |
| Q3 | NW | Lane 22 yard pass from Bacher (Howells kick) | NW 31–3 | |
| Q3 | NW | Herbert 5 yard pass from Bacher (Howells kick) | NW 38–3 | |
| Q3 | MSU | Caulcrick 18 yard pass from Stanton (Swenson kick) | NW 38–10 | |
| Q3 | MSU | Jimmerson 4 yard run (Swenson kick) | NW 38–17 | |
| Q4 | MSU | Henderson 31 yard blocked punt return (Swenson kick) | NW 38–24 | |
| Q4 | MSU | Stanton 12 yard run (Swenson kick) | NW 38–31 | |
| Q4 | MSU | Williams 9 yard pass from Stanton (Swenson kick) | Tie 38–38 | |
| Q4 | :13 | MSU | Swenson 28 yard field goal | MSU 41–38 |
Coaching staff
- John L. Smith – Head coach
- Blaine Bennett – Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach
- Dave Baldwin – Offensive coordinator/Tight end coach
- Dan Enos – Quarterbacks coach
- Ben Sirmans – Running backs coach/special teams coordinator
- Jeff Stoutland – Offensive line coach
- Chris Smeland – Defensive coordinator/safeties
- Derrick Jackson – Defensive line coach
- Mike Cox – Linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator
- Chuck Driesbach – Defensive backs coach
2007 NFL draft
The following players were selected in the 2007 NFL draft.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Stanton | 2 | 43 | Quarterback | Detroit Lions |
| Clifton Ryan | 5 | 154 | Defensive Tackle | St. Louis Rams |
| Brandon Fields | 7 | 225 | Punter | Miami Dolphins |