2009 Michigan State Spartans football team

2009 Michigan State Spartans football
Alamo Bowl, L 31–41 vs. Texas Tech
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	6–7 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Mark Dantonio (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Don Treadwell (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Pat Narduzzi (3rd season)
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium
Seasons ←  2008 2010  →

2009 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Ohio State $		7	–	1					11	–	2
No. 7 Iowa  %		6	–	2					11	–	2
No. 9 Penn State		6	–	2					11	–	2
Northwestern		5	–	3					8	–	5
No. 16 Wisconsin		5	–	3					10	–	3
Michigan State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Purdue		4	–	4					5	–	7
Minnesota		3	–	5					6	–	7
Illinois		2	–	6					3	–	9
Michigan		1	–	7					5	–	7
Indiana		1	–	7					4	–	8
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of the Michigan State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were coached by Mark Dantonio, who was in his third season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Denicos Allen LB	Hamilton, Ohio	Hamilton (OH)	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.56	Oct 7, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (77)
Edwin Baker RB	Oak Park, Michigan	Oak Park (MI)	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	4.40	Feb 26, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (81)
David Barrent OT	West Des Moines, Iowa	Valley (IA)	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	–	Jul 29, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (82)
Larry Caper RB	Battle Creek, Michigan	Battle Creek Central (MI)	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.55	Mar 6, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (80)
Henry Conway OT	Shaker Heights, Ohio	Shaker Heights (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	300 lb (140 kg)	5.10	Jan 21, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (77)
Dana Dixon WR	Detroit, Michigan	Renaissance (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.55	Jun 20, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (73)
Denzel Drone LB	Plant City, Florida	Plant City (FL)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.65	Jan 25, 2009
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (68)
Bennie Fowler WR	Beverly Hills, Michigan	Detroit Country Day (MI)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.4	Jul 12, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (77)
Dan France OT	North Royalton, Ohio	North Royalton (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	4.9	Aug 3, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (73)
Corey Freeman DE	University Heights, Ohio	Cleveland Heights (OH)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.55	Feb 4, 2009
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (40)
Jeremy Gainer LB	Livonia, Michigan	Clarenceville (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.50	Dec 18, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (75)
Tyquan Hammock LB	Fort Wayne, Indiana	Bishop Luers (IN)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.7	Jul 22, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (75)
Derek Hoebing TE	Vermilion, Ohio	Vermilion (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	4.9	Jul 13, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (67)
Jairus Jones S	Tampa, Florida	Wharton (FL)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.60	Jan 31, 2009
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (78)
Nate Klatt C	Canal Fulton, Ohio	Northwest (OH)	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	5.4	Jul 7, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (75)
Andrew Maxwell QB	Midland, Michigan	Midland (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.9	Mar 2, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (80)
Kevin Muma K	Troy, Michigan	Troy (MI)	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	–	Jan 19, 2009
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (75)
Chris Norman LB	Detroit, Michigan	Renaissance (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.60	Feb 5, 2009
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (79)
Micajah Reynolds OG	Lansing, Michigan	J.W. Sexton (MI)	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	317 lb (144 kg)	5.10	Jun 24, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (77)
Dion Sims TE	Orchard Lake, Michigan	St. Mary's Prep (OH)	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	4.60	Jan 13, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (79)
Donald Spencer WR	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Ypsilanti (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	4.5	Feb 23, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (78)
Blake Treadwell C	East Lansing, Michigan	East Lansing (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	273 lb (124 kg)	4.90	Mar 16, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (77)
Patrick White WR	Pickerington, Ohio	Pickerington (OH)	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	4.4	Jun 8, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (74)
Overall recruit ranking:    Scout: 37    Rivals: 17
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved October 6, 2009.

Schedule

This season saw the Spartans schedule a Division I FCS opponent (Montana State) for the first time since the NCAA split Division I football in 1978. This left Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and Washington as the only Division I FBS teams to never have played a lower-division opponent since the split. ^[1]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	12:00 p.m. [2]	Montana State *	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN [2]	W 44–3	74,518 [3]
September 12	12:00 p.m. [2]	Central Michigan *	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, Michigan	ESPN2 [2]	L 27–29	76,221 [4]
September 19	3:30 p.m. [5]	at Notre Dame *	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy)	NBC [5]	L 30–33	80,795 [6]
September 26	12:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	ESPN	L 30–38	80,123 [7]
October 3	12:00 p.m.	No. 22 Michigan	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	BTN	W 26–20 OT	78,629 [8]
October 10	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 24–14	62,870 [9]
October 17	12:00 p.m. [10]	Northwestern	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	W 24–14	71,726 [11]
October 24	7:00 p.m. [12]	No. 6 Iowa	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN [12]	L 13–15	74,411 [13]
October 31	8:00 p.m. [12]	at Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN [12]	L 34–42	50,805 [14]
November 7	12:00 p.m.	Western Michigan *	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	W 49–14	73,910 [15]
November 14	12:00 p.m.	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	ESPN	W 40–37	48,408 [16]
November 21	3:30 p.m.	No. 14 Penn State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Land Grant Trophy)	ABC/ESPN	L 14–42	73,771 [17]
January 2, 2010	9:00 p.m.	vs. Texas Tech *	Alamodome San Antonio, TX (Alamo Bowl)	ESPN	L 31–41	64,757 [18]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

2009 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 8 Kirk Cousins So	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB Jeremy Ware	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Brett Swenson	Head coach Mark Dantonio Coordinators/assistant coaches Don Treadwell – Offenvie Coordinator/Wide Receivers coach Dave Warner – Quarterbacks coach Dan Enos – Running backs coach Mark Staten – Tight ends coach/Tackles/Recruiting Coordinator Dan Roushar – Offensive line coach Pat Narduzzi – Defensive Coordinator Ted Gill – Defensive line coach Mike Tressel – Linebackers coach/Special Teams Coordinator Harlon Barnett – Secondary coach Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Game summaries

Montana State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Montana State	0	0	3	0	3
•Michigan State	7	21	6	10	44

• Date: September 5
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 74,518
• TV announcers (BTN): Dan Gutowsky (Play-by-play), Ron Johnson (Color), & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Central Michigan

See also: 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Central Michigan	3	10	0	16	29
Michigan State	10	7	3	7	27

• Date: September 12
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 76,221
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Pam Ward (Play-by-play) & Ray Bentley (Color)

Notre Dame

See also: 2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Megaphone Trophy

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	3	14	6	7	30
•Notre Dame	13	3	10	7	33

• Date: September 19
• Location: Notre Dame Stadium
  Notre Dame, IN
• Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 80,795
• TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (Play-by-play), Pat Haden (Color), & Alex Flanagan (Sideline)

Wisconsin

See also: 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	0	7	10	13	30
•Wisconsin	7	14	3	14	38

• Date: September 26
• Location: Camp Randall Stadium
  Madison, WI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 80,123
• TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), & Chris Spielman (Color)

Michigan

See also: 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Michigan	3	3	0	14	0	20
•Michigan State	7	3	3	7	6	26

• Date: October 3
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 78,629
• TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color), & Brent Stover (Sideline)

Scoring summary

1	12:27	Michigan	Jason Olesnavage 36-yard field goal	Michigan 3–0
1	2:25	Michigan St	Larry Caper 1-yard run (Brett Swenson kick)	Michigan St 7–3
2	4:43	Michigan	Jason Olesnavage 42-yard field goal	Michigan St 7–6
2	0:00	Michigan St	Brett Swenson 26-yard field goal	Michigan St 10–6
3	6:09	Michigan St	Brett Swenson 24-yard field goal	Michigan St 13–6
4	14:49	Michigan St	Glenn Winston 15-yard run (Brett Swenson kick)	Michigan St 20–6
4	4:03	Michigan	Darryl Stonum 60-yard pass from Tate Forcier (Jason Olesnavage kick)	Michigan St 20–13
4	0:02	Michigan	Roy Roundtree 9-yard pass from Tate Forcier (Jason Olesnavage kick)	Tie 20–20
OT		Michigan St	Larry Caper 23-yard run	Michigan St 26–20

Michigan came into the game 4–0 (1–0 Big Ten) and ranked #22, looking to reclaim the Paul Bunyan trophy after losing to MSU the previous year. Michigan State dominated the first 55 minutes of regulation, building a 20–6 lead. Michigan rallied with two TDs in the final minutes to send the game to OT, but MSU quickly intercepted a pass and running back Larry Caper rushed 23 yards through multiple tackles for the game-winning score.

Illinois

See also: 2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Michigan State	14	3	7	0	24
Illinois	0	0	7	7	14

• Date: October 10
• Location: Memorial Stadium
  Champaign, IL
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 62,870
• TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color), & Rebecca Haarlow (Sideline)

Northwestern

See also: 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	7	0	7	14
•Michigan State	0	0	17	7	24

• Date: October 17
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 71,726
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Pam Ward (Play-by-play) & Ray Bentley (Color)

Iowa

See also: 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Iowa	0	3	0	12	15
Michigan State	3	0	3	7	13

• Date: October 24
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 7:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 74,411
• TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color), & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Final Seconds: With 2 seconds remaining in the game, on 4th and Goal from the Michigan State 7 and a half yard line, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi snapped the ball and passed the ball to Iowa WR Marvin McNutt into the end zone as the time expired to win the game.

Minnesota

See also: 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	3	7	21	3	34
•Minnesota	14	7	7	14	42

• Date: October 31
• Location: TCF Bank Stadium
  Minneapolis, MN
• Game start: 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 50,805
• TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color), & Rebecca Haarlow (Sideline)

Western Michigan

See also: 2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan	0	0	14	0	14
•Michigan State	21	14	7	7	49

• Date: November 7
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 73,910
• TV announcers (BTN): Ari Wolfe (Play-by-play), Anthony Herron (Color), & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Purdue

See also: 2009 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Michigan State at Purdue

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Michigan State	7	10	6	17	40
Purdue	10	10	7	10	37

• Date: November 14
• Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 48,408
• TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), & Chris Spielman (Color)

• Source: ESPN

Scoring summary

1	14:53	MSU	Chris L. Rucker 11-yard fumble return (Brett Swenson kick)	MSU 7–0
1	10:58	PUR	Keith Smith 26-yard pass from Joey Elliott (Carson Wiggs kick)	Tied 7–7
1	3:42	PUR	Carson Wiggs 20-yard field goal	PUR 10–7
2	11:18	PUR	Carson Wiggs 42-yard field goal	PUR 13–7
2	9:59	MSU	Andrew Hawken 4-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick)	MSU 14–13
2	5:47	PUR	Ralph Bolden 9-yard run (Carson Wiggs kick)	PUR 20–14
2	1:49	MSU	Brett Swenson 28-yard field goal	PUR 20–17
3	13:24	MSU	Brett Swenson 52-yard field goal	Tied 20–20
3	4:52	PUR	Cortez Smith 3-yard pass from Joey Elliott (Carson Wiggs kick)	PUR 27–20
3	1:06	MSU	Brett Swenson 52-yard field goal	PUR 27–23
4	11:52	PUR	Ralph Bolden 1-yard run (Carson Wiggs kick)	PUR 34–23
4	11:34	MSU	B.J. Cunningham 73-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick)	PUR 34–30
4	6:59	MSU	Blair White 9-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick)	MSU 37–34
4	2:38	PUR	Carson Wiggs 49-yard field goal	Tied 37–37
4	1:51	MSU	Brett Swenson 21-yard field goal	MSU 40–37

Penn State

See also: 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Land Grant Trophy

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Penn State	0	7	28	7	42
Michigan State	0	7	0	7	14

• Date: November 21
• Location: Spartan Stadium
  East Lansing, MI
• Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 73,771
• TV announcers (ABC/ESPN): Mike Patrick (Play-by-play), Craig James (Color), & Heather Cox (Sideline)

Alamo Bowl

See also: 2010 Alamo Bowl (January) and 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	7	14	3	31
•Texas Tech	7	13	7	14	41

• Date: January 2
• Location: Alamodome
  San Antonio, TX
• Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 64,757
• TV announcers (ESPN/ESPN Radio): Mike Patrick (Play-by-play), Bob Davie (Color), & Heather Cox (Sideline)/Bill Rosinski (Play-by-play), Dennis Franchione (Color), & Joe Schad (Sideline)

2010 NFL draft

Only one Spartan was selected in the 2010 NFL draft. ^[19] However, wide receiver Blair White signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL team
Jeremy Ware	7	215	Cornerback	Oakland Raiders

References

1. Huguenin, Mike (February 23, 2009). "Even the SEC's best are not looking good". Rivals.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
2. "Kickoff Times Set For Montana State, CMU". Michigan State Sports Information. June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
3. "Montana State vs. Michigan State – Football 2009". Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
4. "Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN . September 12, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
5. "Notre Dame Announces Kickoff Times For 2009 Home Football Schedule". University of Notre Dame Sports Information. February 14, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
6. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Box Score". ESPN . September 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
7. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Wisconsin Badgers Box Score". ESPN . September 26, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
8. "Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN . October 3, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
9. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . October 10, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
10. "MSU homecoming game against Northwestern at noon". The Detroit News . June 5, 2009. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
11. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN . October 17, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
12. "Spartan Football Schedule Features Two Prime-Time TV Games". Michigan State University Sports Information. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
13. "Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans". ESPN . October 24, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
14. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score". ESPN . October 31, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
15. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN . November 7, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
16. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Purdue Boilermakers Box Score". ESPN . November 14, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
17. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN . November 21, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
18. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Box Score". ESPN . January 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
19. "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2025.