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1957 Michigan State Spartans football team

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1957 Michigan State Spartans football
National champion (Dunkel)
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record8–1 (5–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPDan Currie
CaptainPatrick F. Burke
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1956
1958 →
1957 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Ohio State $ 7 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
No. 3 Michigan State 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
No. 6 Iowa 4 – 1 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
No. 19 Wisconsin 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Purdue 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Michigan 3 – 3 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Illinois 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Minnesota 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Indiana 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1957 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1957 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 264 to 75, finished in second place in the Big Ten Conference, and were ranked No. 3 in both the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2] Michigan State was named national champion by Dunkel System, an NCAA-designated major selector.[3]

The 1957 Spartans won all three of their annual rivalry games, defeating Indiana (54–0), Notre Dame (34–6), and Michigan (35–6).[2] In non-conference play, the Spartans also defeated California (19–0) and Kansas State (27–9).[2]

The Spartans gained averaged 263.0 rushing yards and 120.9 passing yards per game, while holding opponents to 117.2 rushing yards and 74.3 passing yards per game.[4] The team's individual statistical leaders included:

  • Quarterback Jim Ninowski completed 45 of 79 passes (57.0%) for 718 yards with six touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 150.8 quarterback rating.[4]
  • Fullback Walt Kowalczyk rushed for 545 yards on 101 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and scored nine rushing touchdowns.[4]
  • Dave Kaiser caught 19 passes for 267 yards.[4]

Six Spartans were selected as first-team players on the 1957 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Ninowski (AP-1, UP-1); Kowalczyk (AP-1, UP-1); center Dan Currie (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Pat Burke (AP-1, UP-1); end Sam Williams (UP-1); and guard Ellison Kelly (UP-1).[5]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28IndianaNo. 4
W 54–052,162[6]
October 5at California*No. 2
W 19–040,000[7]
October 12at No. 6 MichiganNo. 2
W 35–6101,001[8]
October 19PurdueNo. 1
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 13–2064,950[9]
October 26No. 16 IllinoisdaggerNo. 8
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 19–1464,353[10]
November 2at WisconsinNo. 6
W 21–749,826[11]
November 9No. 15 Notre Dame*No. 4
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 34–675,391[12]
November 16MinnesotaNo. 4
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 42–1365,718[13]
November 23Kansas State*No. 1
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 27–935,989[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 155. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "1957 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  3. ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 113. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "1957 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  5. ^ "Coaches' All-Big Ten Team". The Sandusky Register. November 30, 1957. p. 8.
  6. ^ George S. Alderton (September 29, 1957). "State Unleashes Powerful Attack to Numb Indiana in Opener, 54-0". Lansing state Journal. p. 59, 64 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Emmons Byrne (October 6, 1957). "Spartans Blank Fired-Up Bears: Hustling Cal Real Tough In 19-0 Loss". Oakland Tribune. pp. 57, 61 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Tommy Devine (October 13, 1957). "Spartans Brush Off M, 35-6". Detroit Free Press. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ George S. Alderton (October 20, 1957). "Top-Ranked Spartans Spilled By Purdue's 'Spoilermakers'". Lansing State Journal. pp. 57, 61 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ George S. Alderton (October 27, 1957). "Kowalczyk's Late Touchdown Gives Spartans 19-14 Victory". Lansing State Journal. p. 59 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Henry J. McCormick (November 3, 1957). "Michigan State Shackles Wisconsin, 21-7: Spartans Keep Title, Rose Bowl Hopes Alive". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ George S. Alderton (November 10, 1957). "Spartans Jolt Irish, 34-6". Lansing State Journal. pp. 59, 62 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ George S. Alderton (November 17, 1957). "Spartans Outclass Minnesota, 42 to 13". Lansing State Journal. pp. 59, 62 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ George S. Alderton (November 24, 1957). "Spartan Giant Awakes, Wins, 27-9". Lansing State Journal. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.
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