2006 Michigan State Spartans football team
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football
during the 2006 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, and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8. The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.
, , and Pittsburgh
. The following week, Michigan State led Notre Dame
, 37–21, in the third quarter, but surrendered 19 points to lose the game. The Spartans then lost all but one game on the remainder of their schedule.
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. 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. 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
.
After the record-setting victory, it appeared that Smith's job was temporarily secured, but the administration fired him shortly after a loss to Indiana
the following week. The Spartans ended the season with four consecutive losses to finish with a 4–8 overall record and 1–7 against Big Ten opponents. In November, Mark Dantonio
was hired as the replacement head coach.
.
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 National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
during the 2006 season. Michigan State competed as a member of 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...
, and played their home games at 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...
. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach John L. Smith
John L. Smith
John L. Smith is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coach at the University of Arkansas, under head coach Bobby Petrino...
. Smith had compiled a combined 18–18 record in his previous seasons at Michigan State, and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8. The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.
Season recap
Michigan State teams during Smith's tenure were "known for their late season collapses". The Spartans started the 2006 season with a 3–0 record with victories over Idaho2006 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2006 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in NCAA Division I FBS college football during the 2006 season. Idaho competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facilty on campus in Moscow, Idaho...
, , and Pittsburgh
2006 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2006 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2006 college football season.-Schedule:-Team Players drafted into in the NFL:...
. The following week, Michigan State led Notre Dame
2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was a college football team which represented the University of Notre Dame during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Charlie Weis in his second year as head coach and played their home football games at Notre Dame...
, 37–21, in the third quarter, but surrendered 19 points to lose the game. The Spartans then lost all but one game on the remainder of their schedule.
On October 21, Michigan State traveled to Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
to face Northwestern
2006 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2006 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Randy Walker died unexpectedly on June 29, 2006 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 52...
. By the third quarter, Northwestern had extended its lead to a commanding 38–3. Michigan State gained momentum in the fourth quarter when Devin Thomas
Devin Thomas
Devin Thomas is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State...
blocked a Northwestern punt, which was then returned for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
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. Placekicker Brett Swenson
Brett Swenson
Brett Swenson is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Michigan State University.-Early life:...
made good the game-winning field goal with 0:13 remaining to play, and Michigan State won the greatest comeback in college football history
2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game
The 2006 edition of the Michigan State Spartans / Northwestern Wildcats football game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA history. The Spartans, after falling behind to the Wildcats 38-3 with 9:54 remaining in the 3rd quarter, rallied to score 38 unanswered points to defeat the Wildcats...
.
After the record-setting victory, it appeared that Smith's job was temporarily secured, but the administration fired him shortly after a loss to Indiana
2006 Indiana Hoosiers football team
The 2006 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers were coached by Terry Hoeppner, who was in his final season as head coach before he died of brain cancer in mid-2007. The Hoosiers played their home games in...
the following week. The Spartans ended the season with four consecutive losses to finish with a 4–8 overall record and 1–7 against Big Ten opponents. In November, 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 hired as the replacement head coach.
Schedule
2007 NFL Draft
The following players were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL Team |
| Drew Stanton Drew Stanton Drew Emeric Stanton is a quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans.-Early life:... |
2 | 43 | Quarterback | Detroit Lions 2007 Detroit Lions season The 2007 Detroit Lions season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League. After starting the 2007 season with a 6-2 record, the Lions lost 7 of their last 8 games. They finished with a 7-9 record for their seventh consecutive losing season... |
| Clifton Ryan Clifton Ryan -St. Louis Rams:Ryan was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. On July 14, 2007, the St. Louis Rams agreed to terms with Ryan on a three-year $1.24 million contract that included a $129,000 signing bonus. In his debut season he played in all 16 games finishing... |
5 | 154 | Defensive Tackle | St. Louis Rams 2007 St. Louis Rams season The 2007 St. Louis Rams season was the 70th season for the team in the National Football League and their 13th in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the worst season for the Rams during their time in St. Louis up to this year, and their worst overall since 1991, when the Rams were in Los Angeles,... |
| Brandon Fields Brandon Fields Brandon David Fields is an American football punter for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.-Early years:Fields attended St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo,... |
7 | 225 | Punter | Miami Dolphins 2007 Miami Dolphins season The 2007 Miami Dolphins season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and 42nd season overall. The team nearly went winless for the season, but on December 16, the third to last game of the regular season, they beat the Baltimore Ravens, giving them a final record of 1–15... |