2011 Michigan State Spartans football team
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Michigan State Spartans football team competes on behalf of Michigan State University
in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference
during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season
. Head coach
Mark Dantonio
is in his fifth season with the Spartans. Michigan State plays their home games at Spartan Stadium
in East Lansing, Michigan
.
The Spartans earned their first shutout since 2008, which was also against FAU in a 17-0 win.
The Spartans were 16 seconds from their 2nd shutout of the year, but a touchdown pass put the Buckeyes on the board. Michigan State recovered the onside kick securing the victory, their first against Ohio State in 7 meetings.
Michigan State found themselves down 14-0 early in the first quarter after two quick Wisconsin drives. Momentum turned at the beginning of the second quarter, when Russell Wilson committed an intentional grounding penalty in the endzone, resulting in a safety and two points for the Spartans. A subsequent touchdown made the score 14-9 UW. On Wisconsin's next possession, they marched down to the Michigan State 13 yard line, but their field goal attempt was blocked. MSU recovered and drove down the field to make it 16-14 MSU. With the second quarter clock running down, Wisconsin punted it away, but this too was blocked and recovered in the endzone for a Michigan State touchdown, making the halftime score 23-14 Spartans.
With 8:40 to play in the 4th quarter, the Badgers found themselves down 31-17. A quick score made it 31-24. The teams traded possessions and Wisconsin got the ball back with 4:28 to play. The Badgers marched down the field once again and tied the game at 31-31 with 1:26 to play.
Michigan State started the next drive at their own 22. After a first down QB Kirk Cousins was sacked for a ten yard loss, and Wisconsin then called a timeout with 00:42 left. Following a twelve yard pass to make a 3rd and 8 situation, it appeared Michigan State was willing to let the clock run out and take the game into overtime. However, Wisconsin called timeout again with 00:30 left. The Spartans completed passes of 11 and 9 yards on their next two plays to get to the Wisconsin 44 yard line and then called timeout with 00:10 to go. After an incomplete pass four seconds remained on the clock.
Michigan State lined up in a shotgun formation. Kirk Cousins took the snap and rolled out to the right before launching a Hail Mary to the endzone. Waiting there was BJ Cunningham, but he was screened by Wisconsin player Jar Abbrederis who had jumped too early to try to deflect the ball. The ball made it to Cunningham but went off his facemask, bouncing into the hands of Keith Nichol who was at the one yard line. As Nichol fought to cross the goal line, he was met by two Badgers attempting to keep him out. After the whistles blew, the officials marked the ball at the one foot line, sending the game to overtime as the clock had run out. Then a call came down from the review booth to look at the play again on replay. After review, the officials found "The runner did cross the line" and Spartan Stadium erupted in celebration.
In the post game interview on the field, Dantonio was asked what the play call was, replaying with "It's a Rocket play. You know, throw it in the endzone, let it be tipped around and see who comes up with it." It was the third game in two years to be labeled by a play name, with Rocket joining the 2010 games of Little Giants (Notre Dame fake field goal) and Mousetrap (Northwestern fake punt).
With the win over Indiana, Michigan State clinched a share of the Big Ten Legends Division Championship and secured a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. Michigan's win over Nebraska put Nebraska two games behind Michigan State with one game to play, and Michigan State holds the tiebreaker over Michigan by virture of their head-to-head win earlier in the season. Michigan State can win the division outright with a win against Northwestern.
Michigan State secured sole possession of the Legends Division championship with the victory.
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 the Legends Division 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...
during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, began on Thursday, September 1, 2011...
. Head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
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...
is in his fifth season with the Spartans. Michigan State plays 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...
.
Schedule
Youngstown State
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting |
Florida Atlantic
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2–0 | 2010 | MSU, 30–17 |
The Spartans earned their first shutout since 2008, which was also against FAU in a 17-0 win.
Notre Dame
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 28–45–1 | 2010 | MSU, 34-31 |
Central Michigan
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3 | 2009 | CMU, 29-27 |
Ohio State
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 12-27 | 2008 | OSU, 45-7 |
The Spartans were 16 seconds from their 2nd shutout of the year, but a touchdown pass put the Buckeyes on the board. Michigan State recovered the onside kick securing the victory, their first against Ohio State in 7 meetings.
Michigan
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 31–67–5 | 2010 | MSU, 34-17 |
Wisconsin
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 28-21 | 2010 | MSU, 34-24 |
Michigan State found themselves down 14-0 early in the first quarter after two quick Wisconsin drives. Momentum turned at the beginning of the second quarter, when Russell Wilson committed an intentional grounding penalty in the endzone, resulting in a safety and two points for the Spartans. A subsequent touchdown made the score 14-9 UW. On Wisconsin's next possession, they marched down to the Michigan State 13 yard line, but their field goal attempt was blocked. MSU recovered and drove down the field to make it 16-14 MSU. With the second quarter clock running down, Wisconsin punted it away, but this too was blocked and recovered in the endzone for a Michigan State touchdown, making the halftime score 23-14 Spartans.
With 8:40 to play in the 4th quarter, the Badgers found themselves down 31-17. A quick score made it 31-24. The teams traded possessions and Wisconsin got the ball back with 4:28 to play. The Badgers marched down the field once again and tied the game at 31-31 with 1:26 to play.
Michigan State started the next drive at their own 22. After a first down QB Kirk Cousins was sacked for a ten yard loss, and Wisconsin then called a timeout with 00:42 left. Following a twelve yard pass to make a 3rd and 8 situation, it appeared Michigan State was willing to let the clock run out and take the game into overtime. However, Wisconsin called timeout again with 00:30 left. The Spartans completed passes of 11 and 9 yards on their next two plays to get to the Wisconsin 44 yard line and then called timeout with 00:10 to go. After an incomplete pass four seconds remained on the clock.
Michigan State lined up in a shotgun formation. Kirk Cousins took the snap and rolled out to the right before launching a Hail Mary to the endzone. Waiting there was BJ Cunningham, but he was screened by Wisconsin player Jar Abbrederis who had jumped too early to try to deflect the ball. The ball made it to Cunningham but went off his facemask, bouncing into the hands of Keith Nichol who was at the one yard line. As Nichol fought to cross the goal line, he was met by two Badgers attempting to keep him out. After the whistles blew, the officials marked the ball at the one foot line, sending the game to overtime as the clock had run out. Then a call came down from the review booth to look at the play again on replay. After review, the officials found "The runner did cross the line" and Spartan Stadium erupted in celebration.
In the post game interview on the field, Dantonio was asked what the play call was, replaying with "It's a Rocket play. You know, throw it in the endzone, let it be tipped around and see who comes up with it." It was the third game in two years to be labeled by a play name, with Rocket joining the 2010 games of Little Giants (Notre Dame fake field goal) and Mousetrap (Northwestern fake punt).
Nebraska
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | 2003 | NU, 17-3 |
Minnesota
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 26-17 | 2010 | MSU, 31-8 |
Iowa
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 18-22-2 | 2010 | Iowa, 37-6 |
Indiana
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 40-15-2 | 2008 | MSU, 42-29 |
With the win over Indiana, Michigan State clinched a share of the Big Ten Legends Division Championship and secured a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. Michigan's win over Nebraska put Nebraska two games behind Michigan State with one game to play, and Michigan State holds the tiebreaker over Michigan by virture of their head-to-head win earlier in the season. Michigan State can win the division outright with a win against Northwestern.
Northwestern
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 35-16 | 2010 | MSU, 35-27 |
Michigan State secured sole possession of the Legends Division championship with the victory.
Big Ten Championship vs. Wisconsin
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 29-21 | October 22 | MSU, 37-31 |