2001 Michigan State Spartans football team
American college football season

2001 Michigan State Spartans football
Silicon Valley Football Classic champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–5 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMorris Watts (11th season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Miller (3rd season)
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
2001 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 Illinois $   7 – 1     10 – 2  
No. 20 Michigan   6 – 2     8 – 4  
Ohio State   5 – 3     7 – 5  
Iowa   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Purdue   4 – 4     6 – 6  
Penn State   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Indiana   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Michigan State   3 – 5     7 – 5  
Wisconsin   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Minnesota   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Northwestern   2 – 6     4 – 7  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2001 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bobby Williams, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Silicon Valley Football Classic, where the Spartans defeated Fresno State. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

The controversial final play of the home game against Michigan on November 3 led to a change in the official timekeeping policy of the Big Ten Conference. Beginning in 2002, a neutral official appointed by the Big Ten keeps track of the game time on the field.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 81:00 p.m.Central Michigan*
W 35–2173,879[1]
September 222:30 p.m.at No. 23 Notre Dame*
NBCW 17–1080,795
September 293:30 p.m.at No. 16 NorthwesternNo. 23
ABCL 26–2740,103
October 1312:00 p.m.Iowadagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ESPN2W 31–2873,680
October 2012:00 p.m.at Minnesota
L 19–2847,385
October 2712:00 p.m.at Wisconsin
ESPN PlusW 42–2879,108
November 33:30 p.m.No. 6 Michigan
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 26–2475,262[2]
November 1012:00 p.m.IndianaNo. 22
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
L 28–3773,990
November 1712:00 p.m.at Purdue
ESPN2L 14–2455,660
November 243:30 p.m.Penn State
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
ESPNL 37–4272,658
December 111:00 a.m.Missouri*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ESPN2W 55–772,823[3]
December 313:00 p.m.vs. No. 20 Fresno State*
FSNW 44–3530,456
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Note: The Missouri game originally scheduled for September 15 was rescheduled to December 1 because of the September 11 attacks.

Roster

2001 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Charles Rogers So
RB 8 T. J. Duckett Sr
QB 9 Jeff Smoker So
G 76 Will Whitticker Fr
TE 83 Chris Baker Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DE 95 Matthias Askew So
LB 42 Mike Labinjo So
LB 44 Ronald Stanley Fr
DT 95 Josh Shaw Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 16 Dave Rayner Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. ^ Jack Ebling (September 9, 2001). "Miscues don't cost MSU: Despite four blocked punts, three turnovers, Spartans too much for CMU, 35-21". Lansing State Journal. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Michigan vs. Michigan State". USA Today. November 3, 2001. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Spartans cruise, eye bowl bid". The Times Herald. Associated Press. December 2, 2001. p. 1C. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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