1947 Michigan State Spartans football team
| 1947 Michigan State Spartans football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| 1947 record | 7–2 |
| Head coach | Biggie Munn (1st season) |
| Captain | Robert B. McCurry |
The 1947 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College in the 1947 college football season. In their first season under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans compiled a 7–2 record.[1][2]
The 1947 Spartans lost their annual rivalry game with the undefeated 1947 Michigan team by a 55 to 0 score. The Spartans' only other setback was a narrow 7 to 6 loss to Kentucky. In intersectional play, the Spartans beat Mississippi State (7-0), Washington State (21-7), Santa Clara (28-0), Temple (14-6), and Hawaii (58-19).[2] The Hawaii game was played in Honolulu on November 29, 1947, with Bud Crane scoring four touchdowns for the Spartans.[3]
Game summaries
Michigan
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On September 27, 1947, Michigan State opened the season with a non-conference game against Michigan. Playing in Ann Arbor in front of 73,115 spectators, the Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 55–0. The game was the first as head coach of the Spartans for "Biggie" Munn, who had been an assistant coach at Michigan from 1938 to 1945. Michigan dominated the game, outgaining Michigan State 504 yards to 56. Michigan head coach Fritz Crisler played second, third, and fourth string players later in the game, using 37 players in all. Bob Chappuis ran for three touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass for another. Jim Brieske made seven of eight point after touchdown (PAT) attempts in the game.
Michigan scored twice in the first quarter on touchdown runs by Jack Weisenburger and Chappuis. The second touchdown was set up by a 53-yard run by Bump Elliott. The Wolverines added two more touchdowns in the second quarter on short runs by Chappuis and Bump Elliott. Three more touchdowns followed in the third quarter, including a long touchdown pass from Chappuis to Len Ford with Ford running the last 35 yards after the catch. Center Dan Dworsky also scored on a 36-yard fumble return.[4][5]
References
- ↑ "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 154. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- 1 2 "1947 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ↑ "Michigan State Wins in Hawaii". Sunday Times, Cumberland, Maryland. November 30, 1947. p. 31.
- ↑ "Wolverines Rout Spartans By 55-0: Chappuis Scores Three Times as Michigan Displays Its Running, Passing Skill". The New York Times. September 28, 1947.
- ↑ 1948 Michiganensian, Michigan State game summary, p. 92.