1950 Michigan State Spartans football team

1950 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 8
Record	8–1
Head coach	Biggie Munn (4th season)
MVP	Sonny Grandelius
Captain	LeRoy R. Crane
Home stadium	Macklin Stadium

1950 Midwestern college football independents records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Valparaiso			–					9	–	1	–	0
No. 8 Michigan State			–					8	–	1	–	0
Xavier			–					8	–	1	–	0
John Carroll			–					8	–	2	–	0
Baldwin–Wallace			–					5	–	2	–	1
Michigan Tech			–					4	–	2	–	1
Marquette			–					5	–	3	–	1
Wabash			–					4	–	2	–	3
Butler			–					4	–	4	–	1
Notre Dame			–					4	–	4	–	1
Toledo			–					4	–	5	–	0
Bowling Green			–					3	–	4	–	2
Dayton			–					4	–	6	–	0
Youngstown			–					3	–	5	–	0
Ball State			–					2	–	4	–	1
Washington University			–					2	–	7	–	0
Wayne			–					2	–	7	–	0
Indiana State			–					1	–	7	–	1
Rose Poly			–					0	–	8	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1950 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State College (now known as Michigan State University) as an independent during the 1950 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 243 to 107, and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP poll.^[1][2]

The 1950 Spartans won their annual rivalry games against Notre Dame (36–33) and Michigan (14–7). In intersectional play, they beat Oregon State (6–0), William & Mary (33–14), and Pittsburgh (19–0), but lost to Maryland (34–7).^[2]

On offense, the Spartans tallied 3,227 yards of total offense, consisting of 2.424 rushing yards (269.3 per game) and 803 passing yards (89.2 per game). On defense, they gave up 1,951 yards consiting of 874 rushing yards (97.1 per game) and 1,077 passing yards (119.7 per game).^[3] The individual statistical leaders included:

• Fullback Sonny Grandelius tallied 1,023 rushing yards on 163 carries for an average of 6.2 yards per carry.^[3] Grandelius received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, International News Service, and Central Press.^[4][5][6]
• Quarterback Al Dorow completed 45 of 105 passes (.429 completion percentage) for 654 yards with nine interceptions.^[3]
• End Bob Carey tallied 19 receptions for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and an average of 13.1 yards per recepton.^[3]

End Dorne Dibble also received first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America.^[7]

The team played its home games at Macklin Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Oregon State	No. 19	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 38–13	32,500	[8]
September 30	at No. 3 Michigan	No. 19	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	W 14–7	97,239	[9]
October 7	Maryland	No. 2	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	L 7–34	39,376	[10][11]
October 14	William & Mary	No. 20	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 33–14	35,656	[12][13]
October 21	Marquette		Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 34–6	29,029	[14]
October 28	at Notre Dame	No. 15	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	W 36–33	57,866	[15]
November 4	Indiana	No. 13	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	W 35–0	45,237	[16]
November 11	Minnesota	No. 12	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 27–0	47,361	[17]
November 18	at Pittsburgh	No. 10	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA	W 19–0	28,679	[18]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 1: Michigan State at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan St. 7 0 0 7 14 Michigan 0 0 7 0 7 Date: September 30, 1950 Location: Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 97,239

Michigan, ranked No. 3 in the country, opened the 1950 season playing against Michigan State College in Ann Arbor. Though favored by two touchdowns, the Wolverines were upset by the Spartans 14–7. The defeat was Michigan's first loss in the opening game of a season since 1937. Michigan played most of the game without its leading player, Chuck Ortmann. Ortmann was injured while being tackled on a 35-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. On the next play, Ortmann dropped back to pass but fell to the ground and was unable to return to the game. Michigan State took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter on a touchdown run by Sonny Grandelius. Michigan tied the score in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Don Peterson to Fred Pickard. Michigan's touchdown was set up when Frank Howell intercepted a Michigan State pass and returned it 32 yards to the Michigan State 20-yard line. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State returned a punt to the Michigan 19-yard line and scored on a run by Michigan State fullback Leroy Crane. Michigan drove to the Michigan State 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, but the drive ended when quarterback Bill Putich threw an interception.^[19]

See also

• 1950 in Michigan

References

1. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 154. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
2. "1950 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
3. 1951 Wolverines (MSC yearbook), pp. 238-239.
4. "Two Platoons Selected for All-American Team". Janesville Daily Gazette. December 6, 1950.
5. Lawton Carver (November 27, 1950). "Youth Dominates INS All-America Teams". Lebanon Daily News.
6. "Central Press Captains' All-American". Titusville Herald. December 2, 1950.
7. "FWAA All America" (PDF). Football Writers Association of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
8. George S. Alderton (September 24, 1950). "MSC Unleashes Early Attack to Thump Oregon State, 38-13: Bob Carey, Grandelius Earn Offensive Honors As Spartans Win Opener". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
9. George S. Alderton (October 1, 1950). "Spartans Beat Michigan, 14-7, To End 13-Year Gridiron Fast: Grandelius, Crane Score Touhdowns; 'M' Rally Stopped". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1 (section 1), 1 (section 4) – via Newspapers.com.
10. George S. Alderton (October 8, 1950). "Michigan State Bows to Maryland's Strong Ground Attack: Terrapins Score Three Touchdowns in Fourth Quarter to Win, 34 to 7". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Terps upset MSC, 34–7". Port Huron Times Herald. October 8, 1950. Retrieved December 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. George S. Alderton (October 15, 1950). "Michigan State Eleven Roars Back on Victory Road, 33-14: William and Mary Sags After Briefly Holding Lead in Opening Period". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 3 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Michigan State downs William & Mary, 33–14". Wisconsin State Journal. October 15, 1950. Retrieved December 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. George S. Alderton (October 22, 1950). "Michigan State Eleven Easily Rolls Past Marquette, 34 to 6: Grandelius Leads MSC Ground Attack; Dibble, Panin Each Score Twice". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
15. Paul Neville (October 29, 1950). "Spirited Irish Toppled, 36-33: Final Quarter Surge Brings M.S.C. Victory". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1 (section 1), 1 (sectin 3) – via Newspapers.com.
16. George S. Alderton (November 5, 1950). "Grandelius Leads Spartans to 35 to 0 Victory Over Indiana: Powerful Ground Attack Romps Past Hoosiers for Five Markers To Banish Post-Irish Game Jinx". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
17. George S. Alderton (November 12, 1950). "Spartan Seniors Sparkle as State Runs Over Gophers, 27-0: Grandelius Sets New MSC Rushing Recor; Equals Scoring Mark". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
18. Carl Hughes (November 19, 1950). "Panthers Hit For Big Loss In Yardage". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 41. Retrieved July 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "97,239 See Michigan State Vanquish Wolverines, 14-7". The New York Times. October 1, 1950.