2010 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 2010 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Mark Dantonio was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

2010 Michigan State Spartans football
Big Ten co-champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 14
2010 record11–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coachMark Dantonio (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorDon Treadwell (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorPat Narduzzi (4th season)
CaptainAaron Bates
Kirk Cousins
Greg Jones
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(Capacity: 75,005)
2010 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 7 Wisconsin $+  7 –1     11 –2  
No. 14 Michigan State +  7 –1     11 –2  
Iowa  4 –4     8 –5  
Illinois  4 –4     7 –6  
Penn State  4 –4     7 –6  
Michigan  3 –5     7 –6  
Northwestern  3 –5     7 –6  
Purdue  2 –6     4 –8  
Minnesota  2 –6     3 –9  
Indiana  1 –7     5 –7  
No. 5 Ohio State %  0* –0*     0* –0*  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • *All wins for Ohio State (12–1, 7–1) in the 2010 season are vacated
Rankings from AP Poll[1][2]
Michigan State vs. Minnesota

In the hours following the Spartans' September 18, 2010 victory over Notre Dame, Dantonio suffered a heart attack for which he was hospitalized, and received a coronary stent. His recovery was complicated by the subsequent development of a blood clot in his leg. While he recovered, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell stepped in as acting head coach, leading the Spartans against Northern Colorado and Wisconsin. Dantonio resumed his head coaching duties for the sixth game of the season against Michigan, although he coached that game and the next week's game against Illinois from the press box instead of the head coach's traditional place on the sidelines. He returned to the sidelines for MSU's road win against Northwestern.

The Spartans finished the regular season with eleven wins (the most to date in school history), one loss, and secured their first share of the Big Ten Championship in twenty years.

Previous season
Main article: 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team

Roster
(as of 12/06/2010) [3]
Quarterbacks
Wide receivers
  • 2 Mark Dell – Senior
  • 3 B. J. Cunningham – Junior
  • 7 Keith Nichol – Junior
  • 13 Bennie Fowler – Freshman
  • 15 Donald Spencer – Freshman
  • 17 Kyle Nichol – Freshman
  • 18 Jordan Benton – Freshman
  • 21 Josh Perryman – Freshman
  • 25 Keith Mumphrey – Freshman
  • 33 Jeremy Langford – Freshman
  • 81 Brad Sonntag – Junior
  • 82 Keshawn Martin – Junior
  • 87 Milton Colbert – Sophomore
  • 89 Cam Martin – Junior
Running backs
  • 4 Edwin Baker – Sophomore
  • 20 Nick Hill – Freshman
  • 22 Larry Caper – Sophomore
  • 24 Le'Veon Bell – Freshman
  • 26 David Spears – Sophomore
  • 34 Andre Buford – Sophomore
  • 37 Chris Hessell (FB) – Sophomore
  • 38 Nick Palazeti (FB) – Freshman
  • 42 Nick Bendzuck (FB) – Senior
  • 44 Josh Rouse (FB) – Senior
  • 45 Jeff Bobek (FB) – Freshman
  • 47 Adam Setterbo (FB) – Junior
  • 48 Drew Stevens (FB) – Sophomore
  • 86 Fred Smith (FB) – Sophomore
  
Offensive line
  • 54 Connor Kruse – Freshman
  • 58 Hugh Stangeland – Freshman
  • 59 D. J. Young – Senior
  • 60 Micajah Reynolds – Freshman
  • 61 Antonio Jeremiah – Junior
  • 62 Chris McDonald – Sophomore
  • 63 Travis Jackson – Freshman
  • 65 Michael Dennis – Freshman
  • 66 John Stipek – Senior
  • 67 Joel Foreman – Junior
  • 68 Ethan Ruhland – Sophomore
  • 69 Shawn Kamm – Freshman
  • 70 Skyler Schofner – Freshman
  • 71 John Deyo – Sophomore
  • 72 Nate Klatt – Freshman
  • 73 Henry Conway – Freshman
  • 74 Zach Hueter – Sophomore
  • 75 Jared McGaha – Junior
  • 77 J'Michael Deane – Senior
  • 79 David Barrent – Freshman
Tight ends
  • 83 Charlie Gantt – Senior
  • 84 Derek Hoebing – Freshman
  • 85 Garrett Celek – Junior
  • 88 Brian Linthicum – Junior
  • 92 Andrew Gleichert – Freshman
  
Defensive line
  • 52 Denzel Drone – Freshman
  • 55 Corey Freeman – Sophomore
  • 57 Jonathan Strayhorn – Junior
  • 58 Jordan Sanders – Freshman
  • 65 Doug Curtis – Sophomore
  • 69 Blake Pacheco – Junior
  • 83 R.J. Kelly – Sophomore
  • 87 Todd Anderson – Junior
  • 89 Colin Neely – Senior
  • 91 Tyler Hoover – Sophomore
  • 93 Blake Treadwell – Sophomore
  • 94 Taylor Calero – Freshman
  • 96 Kevin Pickelman – Junior
  • 97 Dan France – Freshman
  • 98 Anthony White – Sophomore
  • 99 Jerel Worthy – Sophomore
Linebackers
  • 2 William Gholston – Freshman
  • 10 Chris Norman – Sophomore
  • 28 Denicos Allen – Freshman
  • 36 John Misch – Senior
  • 40 Max Bullough – Freshman
  • 41 Kyler Elsworth – Freshman
  • 42 Ty Hamilton – Freshman
  • 43 Eric Gordon – Senior
  • 45 Marcus Rush – Freshman
  • 47 Jeremy Gainer – Freshman
  • 49 TyQuan Hammock – Freshman
  • 50 Steve Gardiner – Sophomore
  • 53 Greg Jones – Senior
  • 54 Chad Setterbo – Sophomore
  
Defensive backs
  • 2 Mylan Hicks – Freshman
  • 5 Johnny Adams – Sophomore
  • 9 Isaiah Lewis – Freshman
  • 11 Marcus Hyde – Senior
  • 12 Dana Dixon – Freshman
  • 14 Chase Parker – Junior
  • 14 Tony Lippett – Freshman
  • 16 Chris D. Rucker – Junior
  • 19 Danny Folino – Freshman
  • 22 Josh Bodell – Senior
  • 23 Jarius Jones – Freshman
  • 26 Jesse Johnson – Senior
  • 27 Kurtis Drummond – Freshman
  • 29 Chris L. Rucker – Senior
  • 31 Darqueze Dennard – Freshman
  • 32 Mitchell White – Sophomore
  • 39 Trenton Robinson – Junior
Punters
  • 3 Mike Sadler – Freshman
  • 18 Aaron Bates – Senior
  • 20 Kyle Selden – Junior
Place kickers
  • 4 Dan Conroy – Sophomore
  • 17 Kevin Muma – Freshman
Long snappers
  • 51 Steve Moore – Sophomore
  • 56 Alex Shackleton – Senior

Schedule

Michigan State came into the 2010 season after a 6–7 (4–4 Big Ten) 2009 campaign which saw the team qualify for its third straight bowl game, something that had not occurred since the 1995–97 seasons.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 412:00 p.m.Western Michigan*
ESPN2W 38–1475,769
September 1112:00 p.m.vs. Florida Atlantic*
ESPNUW 30–1736,124
September 188:00 p.m.Notre Dame*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy)
ABC/ESPN2W 34–31 OT78,411
September 2512:00 p.m.Northern Colorado*No. 25
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
BTNW 45–770,926
October 23:30 p.m.No. 11 WisconsinNo. 24
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ABC/ESPNW 34–2473,108
October 93:30 p.m.at No. 18 MichiganNo. 17
ABC/ESPNW 34–17113,065
October 1612:00 p.m.IllinoisNo. 13
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
BTNW 26–674,441
October 2312:00 p.m.at NorthwesternNo. 8
ESPNW 35–2741,115
October 303:30 p.m.at No. 18 IowaNo. 5
ABC/ESPNL 6–3770,585
November 612:00 p.m.MinnesotaNo. 16
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
BTNW 31–871,128
November 2012:00 p.m.PurdueNo. 11
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
BTNW 35–3171,111
November 2712:00 p.m.at Penn StateNo. 11
ESPN2W 28–22102,649
January 1, 20111:00 p.m.vs. No. 15 Alabama*No. 7
ESPNL 7–4961,519
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Western Michigan
See also: 2010 Western Michigan Broncos football team
1 234Total
Western Michigan 0 770 14
• Michigan State 7 2173 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
9–2 2009 MSU, 49–14

The Spartans rushing attack was the theme of the day. To open up the scoring, Edwin Baker scampered for 28 yards for a TD. WMU responded with 1-yd TD pass from Alex Carder to Juan Nunez on 4th down. The Spartans would strike early in the 2nd quarter when QB Kirk Cousins hit QB turned WR Keith Nichol on a 20-yd TD pass.

Both offenses then struggled until late in the 2nd quarter when true freshmen Le'Veon Bell broke a 75-yd run. The drive ended with a 7-yd Edwin Baker TD run and the following Spartan drive ended with a 2-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell. MSU drove down the field at the beginning of the 3rd quarter which ended with an 18-yd TD run by Le'Veon Bell.

WMU would score once more with 2-yd touchdown reception Blake Hammond and that would be it offensively for the Broncos. The Spartans would add a field goal by Dan Conroy and walk away with a season opening win. Le'Veon Bell became the first freshman running back at Michigan State to rush for more than 100 yards in his opening game. He finished with 141 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD's. Edwin Baker also had over 100 yards with 117 yards on 17 carries with 2 TD's.

Florida Atlantic
See also: 2010 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
1 234Total
• Michigan State 10 1073 30
Florida Atlantic 7 073 17
  • Date: September 11
  • Location:
    Ford Field
    Detroit, MI
  • Game start: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 36,124
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Referee: Charles Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPNU):
    Rob Stone (Play-by-Play)
    David Pollack (Analyst)
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2008 MSU, 17–0

Notre Dame
See also: 2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry
Megaphone Trophy: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–1) at Michigan State Spartans (2–0)
1 2 34OTTotal
Notre Dame 7 0 147331
Michigan State 0 7 147634

at Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan

The 2010 rendition of the Battle for the Megaphone Trophy proved to be one of the most memorable in the series, as Michigan State beat Notre Dame 34–31 in overtime.[5]

The Fighting Irish were the first to score, with quarterback Dayne Crist completing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd in the first quarter. After multiple drives ending in turnovers for both teams, the Spartans got on the board with 2:22 left in the first half via a six-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Keshawn Martin. The score was 7–7 at the half. Michigan State received the kick-off in the second half, and on their second play from scrimmage, running back Edwin Baker scored a 56-yard touchdown run. Notre Dame's next possession also ended in a touchdown, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dayne Crist to tight end Kyle Rudolph. The Spartans and Irish once again traded touchdowns on the next two drives, with Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell scoring a 16-yard touchdown run, followed by Notre Dame scoring via a 15-yard pass from Crist to Theo Riddick, after which the score was 21–21 at the end of the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Dayne Crist completed another touchdown pass for the Irish, this time from 24 yards out, complete to Michael Floyd. The Spartans tied the game with 7:43 left in the game with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to B.J. Cunningham. Both teams failed to move the ball for the remainder of the game, and the game was sent to overtime.

In overtime, Notre Dame received the ball first and kicked a 33-yard field goal on 4th and 1. On the Spartans' following possession, Kirk Cousins was sacked on 3rd and 5 for a loss of 9 yards, and the Spartans appeared to line up for a 46-yard field goal attempt to send the game to a second overtime. Instead, kick holder and punter Aaron Bates stood up to pass, and threw downfield to a wide open Charlie Gantt for the game-winning touchdown. Head coach Mark Dantonio divulged after the game that the play was called "Little Giants":

We always name our trick plays after movies. We keep it fun. … We actually put it in on Wednesday. It worked every time. I made the call, ‘Little Giants,’ and I said a little prayer.[6]

— Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio

After the game, Mark Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack and was hospitalized. He had surgery and had a stent put in to relieve a blocked blood vessel leading to the heart. Offensive coordinator Don Treadwill was named acting head coach as Dantonio recovered.[7]

Northern Colorado
See also: Northern Colorado Bears football
1 234Total
Northern Colorado 0 007 7
• #25 Michigan State 14 2173 45
  • Date: September 25
  • Location:
    Spartan Stadium
    East Lansing, MI
  • Game start: 12:01 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:01
  • Game attendance: 70,926
  • Game weather: 53°F, Wind: 14 MPH WNW, Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Dave Witvoet
  • TV announcers (BTN):
    Mike Morgan (Play-by-Play)
    Muhsin Muhammad (Analyst)
    Stacy Paetz (Sideline)
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–0 1st meeting

Wisconsin
See also: 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
1 234Total
#11 Wisconsin 0 1077 24
• #24 Michigan State 3 1777 34
Overall record Last meeting Result
27–21 2009 WIS, 38–30

With Coach Dantonio out for a second week following his heart attack, Michigan State hosted eventual co-champs Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium in the conference opener. MSU rolled up 444 yards of offense on the Badgers in a 34–24 win. The Spartans took the lead for good with 8:11 left in the 2nd quarter when Keshawn Martin returned a punt 74 yards for a TD. A clock-draining 15-play TD drive late in the 4th quarter put MSU up by 10 and set the tone for the rest of the Big Ten season.

Michigan
Paul Bunyan Trophy
1 234Total
• #17 Michigan State 0 17143 34
#18 Michigan 3 707 17
See also: 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team and Paul Bunyan Trophy
Overall record Last meeting Result
30–67–5 2009 MSU, 26–20

In week 6, Michigan hosted their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans for the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy. This year's meeting marked the 103rd game between the two schools. This was only the second time in the history of the rivalry that both teams enter the game undefeated.[8] The last time was in 1999 when MSU beat Michigan 34–31 in East Lansing. The only score of the first quarter was Michigan's 34-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Michigan State responded with a 61-yard rushing touchdown by Edwin Baker. Michigan briefly took the lead minutes later with a 12-yard catch by Martell Webb. The Spartans responded with a 41-yard run by Le'Veon Bell to take the lead for good. They added to their lead with a 38-yard field goal by Dan Conroy just before halftime. MSU built on their lead in the third quarter with 2 touchdowns: first a 41-yard catch by Mark Dell, and then an 8-yard rush by Larry Caper. Michigan's only points of the second half came on a 4-yard rushing TD by Denard Robinson. Michigan State capped their win with a 28-yard field goal midway through the fourth. Denard Robinson threw three interceptions and was held to only 84 yards rushing.

With this win, Michigan State has defeated Michigan three years in a row, the first time that Michigan State has accomplished that since 1965–67.

Illinois
See also: 2010 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
1 234Total
Illinois 3 300 6
• #13 Michigan State 0 31310 26
Overall record Last meeting Result
24–17–2 2009 MSU, 24–14

Michigan State came back from a 3–6 deficit while not allowing any second half points to defeat the Illini by 20 points and advance to 7–0 for the first time since 1966, the year they won the national championship.

Northwestern
1 234Total
• #8 Michigan State 0 7721 35
Northwestern 7 1073 27
See also: 2010 Northwestern Wildcats football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
34–16 2009 MSU, 24–14

The Spartans found themselves down 17–0 late in the first half, before Kirk Cousins found Mark Dell for a touchdown with 2:34 to go in the second quarter to make it a 17–7 game at halftime. With a ten-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, the Spartans were situated with a 4th and 6 at the Northwestern 30 yd line, but out of field goal range because of a heavy wind. After calling a timeout and taking a delay of game, MSU went out in punt formation. After punter Aaron Bates received the snap, he faked the punt and threw a 15 yd pass to Bennie Fowler for a first down. During the post game interview, Coach Dantonio was asked about the play, when he replied "That's called Mousetrap, and we let 'em take the cheese." The Spartans scored on a Kirk Cousins pass on the next play to make it 24–21. After a Northwestern field goal, the Spartans drove 88 yards in five minutes to take the lead 28–27. The Wildcats went four and out on their next possession, but had another chance to tie the game after Edwin Baker ran for a 25 yd touchdown with a minute left to make it 35–27. However, Michigan State's Eric Gordon intercepted the ball two plays later to ice the game.

Iowa
1 234Total
#5 Michigan State 0 006 6
• #18 Iowa 17 1370 37
See also: 2010 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
18–21–2 2009 Iowa, 15–13

Minnesota
See also: 2010 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
1 234Total
Minnesota 0 008 8
• #16 Michigan State 7 1437 31
  • Date: November 6
  • Location:
    Spartan Stadium
    East Lansing, MI
  • Game start: 12:01 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 71,128
  • Game weather: 34°F, Wind: 4 MPH NNW, Sunny
  • Referee: Bill LeMonnier
  • TV announcers (BTN):
    Tom Hart (Play-by-Play)
    Anthony Herron (Analyst)
    Lisa Byington (Sideline)
Overall record Last meeting Result
25–17 2009 MINN, 42–34

Purdue
1 234Total
Purdue 14 773 31
• #11 Michigan State 7 6022 35
See also: 2010 Purdue Boilermakers football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
31–28–3 2009 MSU, 40–37

The Spartans overcame a 15-point deficit to secure their first 7 win undefeated home season.

Penn State
Land Grant Trophy
1 234Total
• #11 Michigan State 7 777 28
Penn State 3 0019 22
See also: 2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Land Grant Trophy
Overall record Last meeting Result
12–14–1 2009 PSU, 42–14

The Spartans secured a share of the Big Ten title, their first conference championship since 1990.

Alabama (Capital One Bowl)
Capital One Bowl
1 234Total
• #15 Alabama 7 21147 49
#7 Michigan State 0 007 7
See also: 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–0 1st meeting –

Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP NR RV RV 25 24 17 13 8 5 16 10 11 11 7 7 14 
Coaches RV RV RV 23 21 16 11 8 5 15 10 11 10 7 7 14 
Harris Not released 12 8 5 16 10 10 10 7 7 Not released 
BCS Not released 7 5 14 11 12 10 8 8 Not released

2011 NFL Draft

The following players were selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

PlayerRoundPickPositionNFL Team
Greg Jones6185LinebackerNew York Giants
Chris L. Rucker6188CornerbackIndianapolis Colts
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References
  1. "Big Ten Conference Standings - 2010". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  2. "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 16". ESPN. December 7, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  3. 2010 Roster at msuspartans.com
  4. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20090917/SPORTS0202/909170435/MSU-Fla.-Atlantic-game-in--10-to-Soldier-Field-or-Ford-Field%5B%5D
  5. "Michigan State scores winning TD on fake FG in overtime". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 19, 2010.
  6. "Remembering Michigan State's epic "Little Giants" fake field goal against Notre Dame". USAToday.com. September 18, 2017.
  7. "Mark Dantonio OK after heart attack". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 20, 2010.
  8. Tramel, Berry (October 9, 2010). "Michigan State, Michigan Set to Put Undefeated Records on the Line". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
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