1948 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1948 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College in the 1948 college football season. In their second season under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans compiled a 6–2–2 record and were ranked #14 in the final AP Poll.[1][2]

1948 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Independent
Ranking
AP	No. 14
1948 record	6–2–2
Head coach	Biggie Munn (2nd season)
Captain	Robert B. McCurry
Home stadium	Macklin Stadium (Capacity: 51,000)

1948 Midwestern college football independents records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Notre Dame			–					9	–	0	–	1
Bowling Green			–					8	–	0	–	1
Washington University			–					9	–	1	–	0
Ball State			–					6	–	2	–	0
Michigan State			–					6	–	2	–	2
Baldwin–Wallace			–					5	–	2	–	2
Detroit			–					6	–	3	–	0
Indiana State			–					4	–	4	–	0
Wabash			–					4	–	4	–	0
Wayne			–					4	–	4	–	0
Valparaiso			–					4	–	5	–	0
Toledo			–					5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State Normal			–					3	–	5	–	0
Central Michigan			–					3	–	6	–	0
Marquette			–					2	–	8	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Two Spartans received second-team honors on the 1948 College Football All-America Team. Guard Don Mason received second-team honors from the Associated Press,[3] and end Warren Huey received second-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America.[4]

The 1948 Spartans sustained their two losses in annual rivalry games against Notre Dame (26-7) and national champion Michigan (13-7).[2] In intersectional play, the Spartans beat Hawaii (68-21), Arizona (61-7), Oregon State (46-21), and Washington State (40-0), but tied with Penn State (14-14) and Santa Clara (21-21).[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 25	Michigan		Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	L 7–13	51,511
October 2	Hawaii		Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 68–21
October 9	at No. 1 Notre Dame		Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN (rivalry)	L 7–26
October 16	Arizona		Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 61–7
October 23	at No. 8 Penn State	No. 19	New Beaver Field University Park, PA (rivalry)	T 14–14
October 30	at Oregon State	No. 17	Bell Field Corvallis, OR	W 46–21
November 6	Marquette	No. 17	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 47–0
November 13	at Iowa State	No. 12	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	W 48–7
November 20	Washington State	No. 12	Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 40–0
November 27	at Santa Clara	No. 11	Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA	T 21–21
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 1: Michigan at Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 7 0 0 6 13 Michigan St. 0 0 7 0 7 Date: September 25, 1948 Location: Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI Game attendance: 51,511 Referee: George W. Rennix

Michigan State opened it 1948 season with a 13–7 loss to Michigan in East Lansing. The game was also the first to be played at Michigan State's new Macklin Stadium. Early in the opening quarter, fullback Don Peterson threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Dick Rifenburg. Peterson kicked the extra point, and Michigan's 7–0 lead held through halftime. Michigan State tied the game in the third quarter on a disputed play in which a pass from Lynn Chandnois was caught by both Hank Minarik and Wally Teninga. The official ruled that possession went to the offensive player as a touchdown. Peterson scored the winning touchdown for Michigan on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the extra point attempt. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State drove the ball to Michigan's two-yard line. With time running out, Teninga intercepted a Michigan State pass. Michigan's offense was held to 106 rushing yards and 117 passing yards in the game.[5][6]

A sluggish offensive performance and a narrow margin of victory over a team the Wolverines had beaten 55-0 in 1947 led some in the media to question Oosterbaan's selection as Michigan's new coach. The New York Times opined that Michigan's performance "lacked most of the precision which it had last year under H. O. Crisler."[5] H. G. Salsinger of The Detroit News wrote:

"Michigan's first game under Oosterbaan . . . was not impressive. They lacked the spark that distinguished them through the 1947 season. The offense was dull and poorly directed. . . . The critics who had judged Oosterbaan's football coaching skills on his record as a basketball coach considered their appraisal justified. The future looked dark for Michigan and Oosterbaan."[7]

Opinions of Oosterbaan changed as Michigan shut out ranked opponents in each of the next three games. The Spartans, under second-year head coach "Biggie" Munn proved to be stronger than expected, finishing the season ranked No. 14 in the final AP Poll.

References

1. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 154. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
2. "1948 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
3. Ted Smits (1948-12-01). "Bear Guard on A.P.A.A. Eleven". Long Beach Press-Telegram.
4. "FWAA All-America Since 1944" (PDF). Football Writers Association of America.
5. Walter W. Ruch (September 26, 1948). "Michigan Overcomes Michigan State on Touchdown in Fourth Period: Wolverines Take Hard Battle, 13-7; Peterson's Touchdown in Last Quarter Topples Michigan State at East Lansing". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
6. 1949 Michiganensian, p. 104.
7. H. G. Salsinger (October 27, 1948). "'Best Offense Mind in Football,' Crisler Tribute to Oosterbaan: Wolves Continue to Roll in Bennie's Bow as Boss; Fritz' Successor Marking 24th Year at Michigan as Player, Coach". The Sporting News.